In the freezing cold light of dawn, nobody would notice the young girl trudging through the white, cascading drifts of snow. Her dark eyes scanned the looming silhouette of the academy nervously, as the clammy fingers of fear clasped tightly at her heart, causing her breath to catch at her throat for the briefest of moments as her chest hammered with the exertion of the trip and the fear of that which will unfold in the coming months. Her breath was released in an icy, glittering cloud, as her boots crushed another foot of snow determinedly.
The large, ornate front doors creaked as the young girl pushed her way through them, and into the entrance hall. Another sigh escaped her lips as she purred from the warmth of the hall, quickly shutting the doors behind her to expel the cold draft that was gathering around her ankles menacingly. Her nose started dripping from the sudden change of temperature, but she was prepared; a white lace handkerchief flicked from her
creamy duffle-coat pocket covered up her small, oddly flat-looking nose as the little lady blew upon it, folding it up neatly and slipping it into her pocket again.
She slipped off her large,
thick leather boots and rummaged around the heavy leather trunk she had been dragging through the snow and the ice with much, much difficulty. Finally, after a few moments of careful burrowing did the girl find what she was looking for; a pair of little
white laced shoes, which she slipped her porcelain feet into for use indoors. She left the boots by the door; nobody would mind, nobody would think to steal size four boots..They wouldn't suit a lot of people anyway. But this woman appeared to have white all over her; it wouldn't be hard to figure out what belonged to her and what did not.
As she drifted towards the sound of the cafeteria, she noticed a few other students dip into the doorway on her way; and as she entered, the most wonderful and inviting smell of breakfast filled her nostrils and caused her to stop in her path, glancing around the exuberant chatter of the hallway with wide eyes and a pale, thin hand pressed delicately to her chest.
"Mon Dieu..."("My God...") breathed the lady, frozen in place near the entrance as she looked around at all of the wonderfully unique students and teachers enjoying their breakfasts.
Noémie was almost certainly new here, for one would remember her appearance if they ever saw her in their life. A long, flat sheet of white hair cascaded down her back to her behind, completely covering the back of her duffle coat like a veil. Around her neck were a string of pearls, shining in the warm light of the cafeteria. Her face was rounded and chilidsh, with very pale skin and the faintest hint of pink upon her lips. In stark contrast to her appearance were her eyes; so dark they were almost black in the iris, flickering around from face to face with a strange cocktail of excitement and overwhelming, paralysing fear.
She looked so out of place, standing by the entrance, unsure on what to do or where to go or who to sit with.
Bazmund
