One thing I've learned about our group- we are total opposites.

For the last bit, as Dodobi is talking about expectations and such, we have been standing as before waiting to be able to leave,

Hana has been talking a mile a minute— not to me or Cedrick, but to Danial. They seemed familiar with each other, which either meant that all people from one type knew each other— making me the odd one out yet again—, or that they just know each other from something else.

From what I've gathered from our brief interactions, Hanas a wild card. Her outfit spoke of her rebellious streak, and the fact that she constantly had her and on one or the other reptile told me she was brave

Cedrick was giving me the opposite vibes. He looked nervous and almost scared and stood slightly behind me as to be the farthest away from Hana and Danial. I guess the feud boils down to not only hatred between the types, but also fear.

Danial is like Cedrick in the fact that he wants nothing to do with the other type, and has angled his body away from the direction of us while listening attentively to Hana. That was where the similarities ended. He seemed like a generally closed-off person, and while Hana seemed familiar and let-loose, he didn't share that energy. Though it could be that me and Cedrick were behind them.

"Once again, I would like to welcome you all to the new school year. This marks the end of the assembly. You have the rest of today to get suited to your rooms and teammates. Classes start tomorrow. Good luck."

As soon as he finished, Hana and Danial, as well as the rest of the student body, ran off.

And then there were two. Me and Cedrick stood awkwardly as I gestured for him to take a seat in one of the now-empty chairs. I grabbed an apple and sat in the chair opposite him.

I thrust out my hand and took a bite of my apple, saying "Olivia. Guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other, huh?"

He gingerly placed his hand in mine and shook it, "Cedrick Quille II"

I was hoping to ask Yolene about the whole group thing, but since she was hellbent on hating me, I would just ask Cedrick.

"What's the deal with the whole group thing here," I ask, inspecting my apple.

He looks relieved to know we won't make any small talk, "It's something that FiziTal Obasi does, to help fix the ties that Linopia and Gostilios have. We're the only school in the Parax world that still does it. Hell, we're the only ones who still has a mixed Linopia and Ghostilios setting. Most schools now are monotypes", he gestures towards me and says," So if you were at a different school before, this would be your first time in a group".

While I was okay with letting him think I was a transfer, it would rebuke the fact that Yolene knew I was a Leavling. Steeling myself, I decided I would go with what would keep my lie intact.

"No actually, I'm a whatever-generation Leavling, so this is my first time being exposed to the Parax way of life. So what do we do in the groups, just acknowledge the other type?" If so, Danial and Hana already failed this.

My attempt at changing the subject succeeded as Cedrick replies. "Not just acknowledge, but work with and withstand," he says, "The schools sets up some activities, obstacles, and stuff that you have to complete as a team. Truthfully, they can only be completed if you do work together. Anyway, your group record, which consists of your tasks completed, and your overall grades, count in the end for which team wins and receives the Kayis Award"

Seeing the look on my face, he says, "Your task completion, grades, and getting along add up, in the end, to decide which team earned the most points".

"Grades?' I ask, "as in for multiple subjects? Our average?"

"Yes and no. Your grades as an individual count, but as compiled with your whole team's grades as well".

"Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. I could be rocking Chem, and either Danial or Hana-"

"-Or me" he cuts in.

"-Or you" I add in, " Fail, then that affects my mark?"

He nods, "Yup, that's about it".

I rock back and forth in my chair and decide to leave this topic. It's already upsetting as it is.

"So how long have you been at this school?"I ask Cedirck as he grabs something to eat.

"Ever since I entered high school" he replies vaguely, suddenly uncomfortable with the attention placed on him.

"And what about your other team? Why are you in a new one?".

He counts off on his hand, "One switched schools, one became a Leavling, and one decided they couldn't stand me and left." He gave me a small smile which I returned.

A huge clock strikes somewhere in the distance, the chime echoing throughout the school.

Cedrick checks his watch. "Woo, it's 8:30 pm already"

I get up as he does and say, "It's not that late" as I watch him scramble to get his stuff.

"Not that late'', he scoffs, "We need to get to our dorms unless you plan on sleeping in the library or grass or something. Doors close at 9, and if we're not in there by then, you won't be able to get in until the next morning". At that, we both rush out of the tent.

"Do you know who we're bunking with?" I ask as we jog to the main building, where we will split up and go separate ways.

He nods. "Your same-gender teammate"

I sigh heavily, "I have Hana".

"Don't be too upset", he says. "I have Danial".

I laugh as we wave goodbye and run— after he guides me to where I need to be in the next half hour.

Cedrick didn't seem bad at all. He seemed rather nice.

Let's see how you are Hana, I thought I jog up to the building that was supposedly the girl's dorm.

It wasn't even a building, more so multiple buildings aligned in a way that connects to glass corridors to form a network of passages. It was behind the main school, and Cedrick had told me that the guy's dorm was across us on the other side of the school, separated by a huge flowing river in the middle

I walk up the steps and step through the dorms. A map was on the wall, and looking at it, found out that my room was on the fourth floor.

Not knowing how to get there— the map provided little real directions- I followed a group of girls who I had overheard also going to the fourth floor.

Ahead of us was a weird opening in the wall. It was almost a dent, with nowhere to go once you entered. They steppe onto it while still talking aimlessly. I stood back, watching. One of the girls did something on the wall, and all of a sudden, they blasted upwards with a huge gush of air.

I shrieked as they disappeared.

I stood there watching when they had stood, panting loudly. What in the world was that?

Cautiously, I walked up to the place they had been and looked around it. Blocked from the sides, open from the top. After a while of motivating myself and gathering the courage, I finally was able to step onto that opening.

I stood on it with shaky steps and closed my eyes as I waited for the jump.

It never came.

I opened my eyes to see a girl in front of me. I mumble "hello" as she gets on while watching me with a masked face.

"What floor?" she asks.

"Fourth".

She nodded, and on the wall, wrote a four. On the wood, imprinted a four by the movement of her finger. How does that work?

I went to inspect it, and it started to fade until it was no longer there. I'm forced to fall back as we are flung upwards, screaming as we soar. Looking down, You can see a gust of air pushing us up, and once we reach another floor, the air frozen as if it was solid as it continues to hold our weight.

The girl steps off and waits for me as well. I scramble off as I realize that I was suspended in the air.

"That can't be safe" I mutter to myself as we both watch the air fall back down and another rush of air passes by with another set of students.

"It's called the Whoosh", the girl says as I turn around to face her. "It's overwhelming to first-timers," she says as she watches me stumble trying to walk.

"First the Gyre, now this- the Whoosh?" I say, "Is there any normal way of transportation in the Parax world?"

She shrugs, "To us, this is normal."

"Fair enough" I reply

"What type are you ?" she asks, looking at me sideways.

I brace myself for rejection as I tell her, but it never comes.

She breaks out into a smile and hugs me, and after seeing the look on my face says, "I'm Ghostilios too. Do you want to sit and talk?" she asks. "I mean before we're stuck with Linopia girls for the rest of the night?"

I nodded, anything to delay meeting Hana. Her attitude didn't seem the nicest. She leads me through a lounge, where besides us, were many other girls.

"This is the fourth-floor lounge, every floor has one", she says as she sits on a stool. I take a seat on the rocking chair.

"Do we need to be in our rooms before 9?" I ask as I check my watch. It's 8:47.

She shakes her head no, "You need to be in your dorm by 9. You need to be in your rooms by 10."

We talk for a while, enough for me to learn about her.

Her name is Avery Mon. She's a sweet girl— to other Ghostilios. She can be a complete jerk to Linopias, from what I've gathered. She won't even look at them when they pass.

Her family's one of the longest attending families to FiziTal Obasi, so it's in her past to come to this school, although I can see she would rather be in an all Ghostilios school.

By 9:50, the room starts emptying, and me and Georgia walk out in search of our rooms. Upon reaching hers, she visibly depresses on seeing her roommate. Nothing about the girl seemed like she would make a bad roommate, but it was the whole 'not-my-type' issue.

She takes reluctant steps towards the door after she hugged me goodbye, and I sigh as I walk away. This is racism, isn't it?

Room #37. I open the door and peer inside, and after seeing no one, step inside.

It was a grand room, just the size alone was impressive. The room was split down the middle, but almost identical on both sides.

There were 2 canopy beds and spacious desks. As I walk along the sides, I notice the bookshelves were already filled with an array of textbooks and pleasure reads. The entire ceiling was filled with stars, and in the dim light the windows provided, it revealed that the stars glowed. The entire back of the room was windows, which looked extremely pretty and provided a great view but did nothing for privacy. Thankfully there were some curtains along the sides ready for use.

I saw a suitcase with spilled clothes on one bed, so I moved to the next. I collapsed onto it after a long day and enjoyed the calmness. It was my first time in a week sleeping in a bed, or rather, my first time in a week enjoying comfort. Yolene had taken over the couch in the lounge and I was stuck with a makeshift bed of blankets and pillows to make do with.

I reach out to grab my phone, but instead, hold a long scaly object in my hand.

I scream and jump off the bed upon seeing a snake— Hanas snake— sprawled across my bed.

A door opens to the side, and Hana walks out, armed with a toothbrush, as she takes in the situation. She rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh as she moves to grab the snake, mumbling to me "Sorry. Won't happen again."

I watch from the side, still in shock from the fear, as she gingerly picks up the snake and carries it over to her desk. She was talking quietly to the snake, and I heard a couple of phrases like 'not my bed', 'don't go there', and 'dad'.

"Dad?" I ask her, not expecting an answer. She looks over at me alarmed as if she already forgot I was here.

"Yeah, D.A.D", she says, "Darling And Danger". I nod okay and watch as she moves to give the snake food, and admire her closeness to this reptile. She also gives the lizard food who I never even noticed.

"What about the lizard?" I ask, "What's his name?"

"Her name is M.O.M. Mother Of Monsters". Great names.

She goes back to the bathroom and I go to my bed, closing my eyes as her voice fills the room. "And she's a chameleon".

The next morning I wake up excited for classes. It's been forever since I've been in a school routine when in reality, I was at school with Ten and Lukas almost a week ago.

Hana and I didn't talk much last night, just the bare minimum. She didn't seem like she openly hated me, as most Linopias react, but she definitely didn't like me either.

She had left early in the morning, with M.O.M and D.A.D.

I didn't pack any clothes with me, but my closet was filled with items, none particularly my style. My final decision was this black shirt with a windbreaker and dark jeans. I had on navy flats, and a ribbon tied around my ponytail.

I grabbed my backpack and fit as many books as I could from the bookshelf. I didn't understand what textbooks my classes required, so best to be prepared.

I put it on and fall backward by its weight. I shrug it higher and continue out the door.

Me and Cedrick planned to meet before classes today, in the courtyard.

I plan to find out more about the Parax world, and especially the Fizi Kuhl Jasus.

I haven't forgotten about Gran. I was going to save her.

☆ ☆ ☆

"Why do Linopias and Ghostilias hate each other?" I ask Cedrick as we walk along the side of the school.

He sighs, "People just hate others different to them, ya know?" I nod. Totally true. And plausible

"Has it always been like this?"

"I mean, throughout the past, there have been times where both types have gotten along, even worked together, but it always leads to them hating each other in the end," Cedrick says as he adjusts his backpack on his shoulder. "I don't think Linopia and Ghostilios can get along for long".

"I think the feud goes all the way back to Fizi Kuhl and Mena Tal," he says, after moments of silence.

I perk at that. "What? I thought they were the fathers of the Parax? Why would they start the feud?"

"I mean, not purposely. It's just that when people from our time go back and study their lives, they find things that make them reconsider things".

"What do you mean?" I ask, intrigued

"To be honest, I don't know. I just know that people will look at history and pick and choose information so that it suits their situation. You can ask our history teacher, Professor Grim, yourself if you'd like" he says as he guides me back to the school. "We have history today anyway. Even if he can't tell you, he can guide you to a part of the library or something."

"Why wouldn't he tell me?" I ask as we climb the steps.

He shrugs. "We have a curriculum to cover. The teachers are strict about finishing on time, or not going ahead when its something we're bound to cover".

I nod. Just like in any other high school

"Well, let's go to class, I'll show you the way to your next class", he says as he checks the time.

I take a quick look at my schedule, and I notice a couple of new things which I associate with my new life, but what bothers me is that there are some familiar things on thee as well.

"I still need to do math?". I make a sour face.

"They teach us everything that we need to know in the real world". He replies with a smile at my reaction, two dimples showing up.

We walked to class and parted ways, and as I took my seat and the lesson began, I forgot the reason why I was ever excited for school.