"Ah, Helmuth, I remember those old days... How memorable, how memorable," Geoffrey sighed, strolling from the kitchen with Mr. Chisel. It seemed to both Ermand and Jack that they must be talking about their weird, old past.

"At least say goodbye to Mr. Coop, both of you. He's departing," Mrs. Chisel whispered to the boys. She stole a glance at the men exchanging their final pleasantries.

"Goodbye, Mr. Coop. Hope to see you soon! " both of them sang in league.

Mr. Coop's thin, pale lips widened into a grin as he glanced at the boys. His eyes sank between his black, furry eyebrows and raised pink cheekbones.

"Haha! See ya soon, kiddos!"

Mr. Coop stepped out of the house quietly. Mr. and Mrs. Chisel waved at him.

"Now, you should be getting ready, Ermand," Mr. Chisel reminded him as his eyes found the tiny black clock. It was eight past ten.

As Mrs. Chisel heard her husband, she turned at them, frowning.

"I should have known it. Jack, get yourself ready. Ermie, you too."

She hurried into the kitchen and Jack climbed up the wooden stairs. Ermand stood there, he couldn't believe that the reality of him going to Agledon finally dawned upon him.

"I think you should get yourself ready, Ermand," Mrs. Chisel from the kitchen, noticing him staring at the floor.

Ermand cut his gaze from the floor, nodded at her and immediately climbed up the stairs. He was blocked by Jason on his way up. He was ready in his ironed, college uniform. He even carried his satchel stuffed with books.

Why would anyone carry so many books on the very first day of the year? Ermand thought.

"Feeling excited, are we?" Jason quipped, scanning Ermand top to bottom.

"Anyone would be..."

He smirked and climbed down past Ermand, leaving Ermand staring after him.

Why do I feel like I got more than what I deserve? he thought.

"I don't want this. I'll eat at the college cafeteria. I'm off. Bye!"

Downstairs, the kitchen walls echoed Jason's shrieky voice that could shatter all of the glass in the kitchen. Ermand sighed and walked toward his room. He grabbed a notebook covered by a thick lavender-coloured paper and a tiny bottle of black ink along with a wooden pen. Just in case.

"Psst!"

Ermand turned toward the doorway to see Jack sneaking into his room.

"What is it, Jack?"

He brought his finger to his lips.

"Have you got your things ready?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Let me tell you this. Your first class will be with Derek Chestnut, not today, probably tomorrow or the day after. He's the teacher for clan studies and Ultimate levels. You will not have the Ultimate levels in your first, second or third year. He'll be there for you as a clan studies teacher. Make sure you don't attract his attention." Ermand's eyes widened.

"Attention?"

"Just do as I told you," he hissed. Ermand responded to him with a partial nod.

"Okay, and don't tell mum and dad that I told you this. And as for Jason, I know you wouldn't. Bye, and all the best. I'll be waiting for you downstairs. Okay?"

Ermand nodded. Don't attract his attention? He pondered.

He tried to ignore Jack's remark, and took his necessary things for the first day. He ran downstairs with the satchel in his hands. Mrs. Chisel stood waiting for her sons.

"All set?" she asked, smiling at her youngest son.

Ermand was unsure, but he tried not to hesitate.

"Yes."

"There will be a lot of things to set up for today. Helmuth, is everything sufficient? The money?" Mrs. Chisel turned and glanced at her husband.

"It is, Annie."

Guilt washed over Ermand. The Chisels had showered him throughout his life with all of the blessings they could provide him. He felt as if he never deserved any of it. They brought him up as their own son with love and care. He felt his lips trembling a bit.

Jack was looking forward to more tricks this year. Meanwhile, his little brother felt jumpy.

"The bus will be arriving at the nearby stop at around - Oh my goodness! We nearly have a minute to reach there!" Mr. Chisel said, his voice becoming antsy as his eyes bulged out at his old bronze wristwatch.

It was a big pastel-grey, double decker bus, which had the symbol of Agledon University inscribed as KMUS in silver. Two range-red fiery rings surrounded the letters, one big and the other slightly smaller. The bus does not have any wheels and the whole vehicle was soaring on air, defying the laws of gravity.

Jack winked and stepped into the bus. Ermand followed suit. He was unaware of the wonders that awaited him.

After crossing Seventh Street and Apple Avenue, the double decker bus finally halted at the college ground after crossing past its huge platinum gates. Ermand stuck his head out of the window. He had only seen a small picture of the university in the newspaper. Seeing it in front of his eyes was something he had never even dreamt of. His eyes scanned all of the spaces around. He was hit with a sudden jolt of happiness that brought up a grin on his face.

"Whoa!" Ermand gasped as his eyes wandered the colossal structure. He wasted no time, stepping out of the bus to gape at the pristine, white building.

Something hard brushed against his back, making him leap forward.

"Sorry, I didn't--"

"No, it's okay. It's me who should apologize, I shouldn't stand in the way," Ermand gave him a nervous smile.

"Nice hair! You dye it?" The boy smiled, his gaze never leaving Ermand's silky hair.

"No..." Ermand replied, brushing his messy hair with his fingers.

The boy was as tall as Ermand and looked like the Princes he saw in paintings. His glimmering sapphire eyes shone as bright as his sunflower-blond hair. He brushed his palms over a speck of dust on his T-shirt before turning back at Ermand again.

"It's a new shirt, I don't want to dirty it before I even get inside the building," he smiled. Ermand nodded, watching him brush the same side again.

"Whoa-your eyes... have they always been gold like that?" he gasped, studying Ermand's eyes with awe. Ermand nodded nervously, his cheeks turned a light shade of crimson. He wasn't used to compliments.

"Yes, they are," he chuckled. "I always thought I looked like a ghoul with my eyes and hair," he said, attempting to look normal.

"I like it. The combination is perfect," he added. "I'm a Chestnut, Timothy Chestnut. And you?"

The boy extended a hand, which Ermand hesitated to take. Ermand pursed his lips while staring at the boy's hand. Timothy sensed Ermand's hesitation and figured the golden-eyed boy didn't feel like he belonged with the high clan.

"I... belong to the Chisels."

"So? I don't mind whether you belong to the low or high clan as long as you look the part," He winked again.

Look the part? Ermand laughed to himself.

"I'm Ermand."

Ermand finally took Timothy's hand, but Timothy seemed to be unconvinced.

"Uh... is there a clan named, Ermand?" he asked.

"No. Ermand is my name. I'm a Chisel," he replied.

"Found yourself a friend so fast? You're one step greater than me, little brother!" Jack patted Ermand's back. His friends were stepping out of the bus.

"Is he the little brother you always talk about?" One of the boys said.

"He doesn't look like you or Jason," another friend of Jack commented. He wasn't as tall as Jack.

Ermand's heart raced at that remark.

"Because he's special," Jack said, beaming at Ermand. "He ain't like me or Jason, he is an exceptional guy..."

"I see... Hey, have you heard that Joffy lost this year's Spellcasters Association Election?"

They started blabbering, leaving Ermand alone with the Chestnut boy.

Ermand breathed a sigh of relief as they moved away from him. Jack had always understood Ermand's feelings. He was the kind of brother who made fun of Ermand like any brother would, but wouldn't tolerate anyone else to do the same. Ermand thought, for the millionth time, that he was blessed to have a brother like him.

"You're the last child?" Timothy asked, burying his hands in his pockets.

"Yes."

"That must be cool. Having a lot of siblings is actually an incredible experience," he sighed.

"You don't have siblings?"

"No. I'm the only child. They prefer not to have more than one. They kind of ignore me after the summer holidays and send me to my grandmother's home every year in the name of some stupid work they have. I'm more attached to my grandmother than to my very own mother. Do your parents treat you the same way?"

"No," Ermand faked a chuckle. Maybe a little too much, he thought, fumbling with the ends of his shirt.

"I envy you. But they aren't atrocious as the other members of the high clan," He shook his head.

"Just that... they don't have time for me..." Timothy mumbled to himself.

"Where do you live here?" Ermand changed the subject.

"New Tawarn."

"New Tawarn? That's a good distance from here," Ermand shrugged.

"It is, but I don't think it would be surprising if you think of the students coming from different parts of our magical planet, Iyerth. I'm closer. You're native to Tawarn?"

Ermand nodded . He was always proud to be a Tawarnian. Jack says that he always gets a little too patriotic than their president.

"Proud Tawarnian," he replied with a proud smile.

I can't believe this is real! It was the first time he realized his tiny world had begun to change.

***********

Editing credits ~ sticklady2015