Welcome to Gaia! ::

Standing in front of the large doors leading into the main lobby of the Spirit Academy, Kegashi pulled out the letter of acceptance once more and read it over. Looking up he sighed heavily.

'I really do hope I can have a better life living here than I did at "home".' He thought as he put his hand on the doorknob and pushed the door open.

At first glance he felt it seemed to be a regular sort of lobby. The principal's office on one side and stairs straight ahead going to higher floors for classes, but standing there gazing around he began to feel a sort of... power, emanating all around. It was a strange sensation but it didn't seem worth dawdling over. Going over to the principal's office he stood in front of the door, looking through the glass to see if anyone was inside. Deciding he may have to wait, he slowly opened the door, went in, and took a seat on one of the many chairs along the wall as the door swung shut.

'I hope the principal of this place is a nice person. I don't know if I could deal with a mean principal right now,' He thought with a worried twinge to his mouth, not affecting his angry seeming gaze in the slightest. 'I guess I'll just have to wait and see...'

After waiting a while in the principal's office to no avail, Kegashi stood, and walked to the door, glancing over his shoulder one last time to see if anyone had come from the back room. Seeing no one he opened the door and walked out into the lobby once again.

Looking around he noticed someone standing by the main entrance, worried about a first contact he quickly began to walk at a brisk pace, going in the opposite direction of the new comer.

'I thought I was going to be able to get settled in without meeting anyone,' He thought as he neared the large staircase spiraling to the second floor. He had never been good at making friends or being social in his old town. 'I guess it was just too much to hope for. But then, I can make this just seem like I was going to find someone on an upper level.'

Reaching the bottom of the staircase he began to ascend.

Hearing footsteps echoing behind him but not coming toward him, Kegashi stopped and looked over his shoulder. From his vantage point on the stairs he watched as the girl walked into the office and shook his head.

"Maybe I should walk in and tell her I waited for over fifteen minutes without seeing a single person.." He muttered to himself studying the lobby, trying to decide whether to go to the office or out the main entrance. "Actually, it may be better if I just go my own way, I won't have to deal with mean people if I just keep to myself."

Sprinting down the stairs two at a time he sped toward the entrance, across the marble floor. Quickly bursting out into the drive of the academy he stopped suddenly and looked around. Rows of trees stretched the full length of the stone paved drive on either side, anything could be hidden among those trees, including a wolf named Valrhios, his best childhood friend.

Kegashi watched with a confused curl to his lip as the girl atop the steps blushed and averted her gaze, which deepened as she rushed down the steps and off toward an unknown destination to his right.

"I wonder where she's off to.." He pondered to himself. "Maybe she met someone inside the office?" With that he began to walk slowly toward the door for fear that someone else might come out.

At the bottom of the stairs he turned to face Valrhios. "You go off and play again," He said softly. "I'll be back soon. I just have to... take care of something for school." He finished nervously then smiled as Valrhios began to wag his tail in that knowing way and dashed off toward the trees. Turning again he began to ascend the steps to the main entrance once again.

Reaching the entrance he quickly opened the door and looked around the lobby. There was no one in sight. Slipping in he walked quickly to the office on his right and stood in front of the door, hesitating on whether or not to proceed.

Taking a deep breath, steeling himself, he opened the door and was met by a friendly "Hello."

Freezing in terror and raising his hands as if to shield himself he stopped them with an obvious effort and stood straight with a bit of shock still pulling his mouth down slightly at the corners but doing nothing to change the expression of his eyes, facing the woman who had greeted him, sitting behind a desk with scattered papers on it's surface.

"Hello," She repeated with a smile as she looked up from her work. Seeing his face her smile slid slightly but instantly came back as soon as she caught his mood. "There is no reason to worry young man. Come in and sit down on one of the chairs over there." She said as she motioned toward the comfortable chairs along the wall.

"Th-thank you." He replied stiffly and took a seat on a chair closest to the door.

"Well, you must be knew so allow me to introduce myself," She said rising from her desk. "I am Ms. Sing, the secretary of the office. What is your name?" She asked in a gentle voice.

"M-my name is K-Kegashi." He replied quickly and unsteadily.

"It's nice to meet you Kegashi, now if you will just give me a moment I will get you your dorm room key and a map of the grounds." Rummaging through the top desk drawer she pulled out a small envelope with black lettering on the top, that Kegashi could not make out, and set it on the top of her desk then proceeded to open another drawer and pull out a map of the ground which she laid down beside the envelope. "Come and get them Kegashi. Don't worry, I won't bite." She said with a note of amusement in her voice.

Standing slowly Kegashi walked over to the desk, ready at all times to run if it came to it. Reaching the desk he picked up the envelope and paper then took a few steps back from the desk, never taking his eyes off of Ms. Sing for more than a few seconds. "Thank you." He said with a bow and turned to leave.

"The boys dorm rooms are to the right when you exit the main entrance!" Ms. Sing called after him as he opened the door to leave. "Take care!"

Breathing erratically, Kegashi stumbled outside from the lobby, nearly falling over and catching himself with his hands on his knees. He found it hard to deal with anyone no matter how harmless they seemed or how nice they may pretend to be. He learned after years of torture from his father, never to judge a book by it's cover.

Standing erect, Kegashi looked around and spotted a path to his right leading around the other side of the building, the same sort of path the girl went along before. Turning, he lifted his hand and put his thumb and forefinger into his mouth as he walked, and blew, making a loud, piercing whistle. As he reached the beginning of the path he heard a faint rustling in the bushes under the trees a few feet away but kept walking at a steady pace, leaving Valrhios to run to catch up and fall in beside him, wagging his tale and panting beside him wish his tongue hanging lazily out of his mouth.

Turning the corner Kegashi stopped and stared at the place that was to become his new home. Valrhios gave off a soft whine sensing his mood. A mood of uneasiness and distress at what might lie in wait behind those doors. Though through the window it looked calm. No one else was around that he could see.

Walking to the door he peered inside to get a better look. There were many comfortable looking chairs and a sizable television on the wall. There was a bar on one end, though it was doubtful they served alcoholic beverages in a school, and there were plenty of tables with high backed chairs all around them. It was a big common room that looked as though it could fit well over one hundred people. But oddly there was not a single person to be found.

Opening the door he went in, holding it open long enough for Valrhios to slip inside as well then began walking toward the hallway at the back of the room. Looking down the hall he realized that the doors going up and down the left and right must be the dorm rooms. Tearing open an end of the envelope, he tilted it over his other hand and a key slid out into his palm. Turning the key over he saw the number '13' engraved on it in an elegant way.

'This must be my room number.' He thought as he turned to the right toward the higher numbers.

"Come on Valrhios, it's time for us to check out our room." He called over his shoulder to his curiously sniffing friend as he made his way down the hall to room number thirteen.

Standing in front of his room he took a deep breath, inserted the key into the lock, and went in.