《Canyon的魔法师们》塔里

3、开学

　　The prelude of the Open Ceremony was nothing like what I had imagined. New comers like me were to walk across the Crim Dell Bridge on campus one by one while all other people were standing on the end of the bridge on both sides, screaming at us and holding hands to high-five with each of us. I felt sorrowful for my reddish right hand afterwards, but I liked this crazy way of greeting. Being separated with my parents, and most importantly, my brothers, I need something to cheer me up.

　　Paige, Catherine, and Dorothy were second-year students, so they did not have to go through the crazy process. I met them in the Low Hall to join the official ceremony. It was as dull as that of any other schools. While the school master was giving his speech of cliches, my mind wandered into my own thoughts. I was thinking about how long it was going to take for mom and dad to get me back to home to be tutored. I did not care about going to schools, but I miss my tutor Mr Davis. He is the person that digged out most of my potentials, and taught me seven foreign languages when I was veryyoung. Maybe I was a bit gifted in picking up tones and words, that I became the most promising pupil he had and he was genuinely fond of me. It was as painful to leave him as to leave my family: He was my best friend.

　　Few months ago, we started working on an ancient language. Asmodian, so it was called. People on this continent who have proper religious beliefs will think it's sinful to learn the language. Fortunately, I did not share my parents' religions and actually felt excited about learning it. It was hard, as hard as any language can ever get with complicated figures and fancy symbols. Discouraged though I was but I still wanted to work on that again with him. Mom and Dad cannot stay away for long...

　　"The practice of magic is strictly banned in this school! Any one, students or faculty members who are found out to violate this rule will be expelled immediately and held to the Continental Bureau of Magicians. " The school master's voice revived an echo from my memory. Herbert was a magician, he was the only one in our family, so were my parents, which was why Herbert and I were to go to different schools. Did they send him to a magical school Then it must be a secret place where he could not write to me, otherwise I might have got letters from him by now. It was a funny thing, my parents never told us anything about magical blood in our family,yet I found that out along with Henry through my observant eyes and his logical mind. We had formed a conspiracy: we were careful both in keeping the family secrets and in keeping our intelligence unknown to our parents. The government had executed many magicians in the years right after the Extermination Rule, and people were scared, but them magicians, they were proud of their blood, and they still practice their power, but they became so discreet these days that hardly one magician was found out by the CBM (Continental Bureau of Magicians) and prisoned everyyear.

　　"...Personal Combat, course number PT208 in the Physical Training apartment will remain cancelled this semester for the safety of most student members... " The school master went on announcing the million rules in this school as my mind strayed and wandered in my own thoughts.

　　"Kate! Hey! What are you thinking about We are to go the academic building and register for classes!" Catherine's voice dragged me back to reality.

　　"Oh,you are right, I'm sorry. Let's go now. " Catherine and I were in the same apartment while Paige was in Social Science and Dorothy in Science and Engineering.

　　"Do you remember the story I told you just last night about that boy" She suddenly whispered to me, as if she had already accepted me as one of her secret gossiping group.

　　"That legendary warrior who took on boy who was older than he is"

　　"His name is Jin Baili, a Collerian boy. For sure he has come back! I saw him in the third grade group! I could not understand the school committee! They had cancelled a class for him because he was such a bad influence to other boys, and a mar on our school's reputation! I just cannot understand, who could stand sitting in the same class with a murderer! " Catherine was so indignant that her voice rose higher and higher until she has to stop to catch her breath.

　　"Maybe it was an accident, maybe he did not mean to do it." I was trying to calm her down, but I was wrong. She was provoked by my remarks and carried on another round of indignant speeches about how we girls were easily deceived by good-looking and quiet boys like him. I stayed silent on the subject all the way to the academic building. My curiosity, however, was aroused. He was an Collerian, since there I myself was half Collerian and half Kriscainian, I anticipated to see him in person. However, for the past several months, I had regretted this wish more than anything.