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The train pulled away from the station, giving one last cheery whistle in farewell to its student cargo as it slowly started down the track. It built up speed as it rounded the bend, and could be heard rattling down the line, off to parts unknown. Students and their luggage trailed off the platform, making their way through the cobblestone streets of town and up towards the imposing castle of the academy. Past the pastel houses and storefronts, the lush flower gardens and lazy canals, the entire scene seemed like a fairytale setting. One where dreams came true and princes and princesses got married and lived happily ever after.

Pulling his heavy suitcase behind him, Richard could see that several streets had been cordoned off by thick red rope and the town’s volunteer police force, making a direct path from the train station to the school. The return of students in the summer was a big enough occasion to bring the traffic of the tiny town to a halt, and the locals cooperated with the school to ensure no students tried to sneak off and skip the first day. For second years, this was especially important, as today was the day they would take the [i]sacramentum[/i]. Today was the day mages would meet their familiars, and familiars would meet their mages. Both souls would be tied together in the ceremony, and they would be shown to their dorms afterwards. Where they would spend the next 10 months in what would be more or less the same room, with only a sliding wall to separate them. Richard hoped he didn’t get anyone noisy.

‘Speaking of noisy, where’d Bee go?’ he thought, scanning the crowd for any sign of the tiny brunette. She had sat with him on the train, annoying him every mile of the way. She was normally excited and annoying, but moreso today than of any other day in the past two months. She must be anxious about meeting her mage. To admit it, Richard was incredibly nervous as well. He still had yet to manifest his ability, and if it didn’t manifest after forming a [i]sacramentum[/i], he thought he might die of embarrassment. It was horrifying enough to be a late bloomer, if he had trouble manifesting his ability [i]after[/i] being bonded, he’d be a real failure. 

He eventually spotted the girl, struggling with an enormous trunk just outside of the station. He broke into a jog to catch up to her, lifting his own suitcase up so it didn’t catch on the cobblestones.
“Bee! Bee, wait up!” he called, reaching her and holding out a hand to steady the trunk.
“Oh my god, is this all your stuff? Why didn’t you grab a dolly? Do you need help?” he asked, eyeing the heavy crate. He knew Beatrice had developed her ability during their first year, but would she be okay carrying something that heavy?
“If you want, I can go grab a dolly or help you steady it? How much stuff do you have in there, anyway?” he asked. He knew it was a boarding school, but really, with the money they had and the town a ten minute’s walk away was such a huge chest really necessary?
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“Mooooonnnnntyyyyyy! Mooooonnnnntyyyyyy!” Felicity called out, standing on her tiptoes to try and spot her brother amongst the sea of heads. Blondes, brunettes, gingers, went by, black hair, red hair, dyed hair and hats. None of them belonging to her brother. She puffed out her cheeks in a sour pout, crossing her arms impatiently. How could he just run off like that?! Telling her to sit put while he got the luggage. Who did he think he was, treating her like a child? She was two whole hours older than him! She was the older one! There was no reason why she had to stay on the platform and wait while he got their suitcases. 

And besides, it was so boring, waiting for him! He’d already been gone over 5 minutes! People were already moving towards the school, suitcases and dollies in tow. She wanted to go to! If they were late because he goofed off or forgot something, oh, she’d let him have it! This was the most important day of their high school lives, and she was not going to miss it because of an overprotective twin. 

She strayed from the spot he’d told her to wait at, looking up at the pamphlets plastered on the station bulletin board. Train schedules, advertisements, a missing bearcat, all stapled on to the board. She looked out towards the town, pastel colored buildings and flower covered shops. Seeing Enklen always made her smile. It was such a quaint, cheery little town, slow and peaceful. Nothing like Maefeld, with its bright lights and bustling metropolis. Finally, she traced her gaze up the hilltop, to the academy, where its spires and buttresses stood out above the tree line. She had read the orientation email like everyone else. They were to make their way to the school, where the second years would be taken aside and led into the great hall. There, the Ceremony of Names would take place, and the binding of souls, the [i]sacramentum[/i], would begin. 

An excited shiver went up her spine, she couldn’t wait to meet her familiar! Would it be a girl? Would they be a boy? If it was a boy, she hoped they were cute, and single. She remembered her last issue of [i]Vague[/i] had reported that 35.7% of all first bonded couples got married! Maybe that would be her! Visions of wedding bells, white doves, and her own wedding dress flew through her mind. She’d have to design her own dress, of course, it was only befitting of a future designer! She reeled herself back in, shaking her head. Of course, that was only if her partner was a boy who liked girls. And she could only find that out if she met him. And she could only meet him if her brother hurried up!

Resisting the immense urge to slump against a wall and sigh, Felicity resorted to tapping her foot, glancing up at the station clock every few seconds and watching people go by. She was too excited to start school again. Too excited to see her friends after summer vacation, too excited to get her new uniform, too excited to pick out the electives in her schedule, and definitely too excited to meet her familiar. She had to just calm down and wait for her brother to return with their luggage. And hope he wasn’t off wasting time somewhere.