[b]Arcana (Featuring Grey)[/b]

As students filed in, the din they made seemed far-away to Arcana, whose eyes couldn't be stripped away from the stage, not even to say hello to the new students who sat to the left and right of her. Her curiosity about the Ruler of Ouroboros - the [i]Headmaster[/i] they called it - was boiling over in her brain, her attention for all else was nil. Suddenly, the noise dulled as a singular voice demanded attention, a voice [i]so[/i] beautiful, [i]so[/i] kind, that tears threatened to come unbidden from Arcana's eyes.

On the stage was the [i]most incredible[/i] being Arcana had ever seen. The being had the fairest skin, so pale it glowed. Long, pure white tresses of hair trailed behind it on the stage, save for what was held in two looping buns atop it's head with ornate hairpins. It's flowing robe was made from the constellations, each star glimmering as if it was in the night sky as Arcana gazed at it. Floating behind the being's head was a golden ornament shaped like the sun with its many rays. Beams of light from the sky overhead falling upon it's form only emphasized the perfection of the being.

[i]"You can call me Grey! First things first, as I see some whispering going on, some of you may have noticed that your friends and companions are seeing me as something different than what you see."[/i]

[i]'No one else can see what I see?'[/i] Arcana thought, shocked. She looked this way and that at her fellow first-years, but everyone wore a different expression. She could only imagine what her own face looked like right now. As the speech continued, she gripped her braid even more tightly as her heart attempted to leap from her chest. She stayed that way until Grey's voice magnified, cascading over Arcana in waves. The once heart-strikingly beautiful being grew in size before her as it spoke, somehow morphing into a hulking white-furred creature with red paint across it's forehead and glistening fangs. It's mouth was [i]impossibly big[/i], a gaping black hole threatening to swallow everything before it. Arcana hands let go of her braid as the strength drained from her body.

[i]"We do NOT tolerate intolerance. You will represent your species and yourself with the utmost pride and respect for others. There will be no fighting. There will be no discrimination. Those who break this rule will face the consequences of their actions. NO exceptions."[/i]

Just as quickly as Grey had morphed, it changed back into the painstakingly beautiful being from before. Arcana let out the breath that she had been holding, feeling suddenly intensely fatigued. Silence had fallen across the colosseum, the absence of noise only heightened her nervousness before Grey spoke once more, to officially welcome them to the academy. Arcana sat, stupefied, as other students milled out around her after a roar of applause exploded from the stands. She barely registered walking out of the building; she kept turning her head to catch whatever glimpse she could of Grey in the throng. One thought was on her mind:

[i]'What kind of creature [b]is[/b] our Headmaster?'[/i]