"If you have eaten, you may retire. Three bells will wake you in the morning, a forth will inform you breakfast is ready, and a fifth will tell you o come here, if you ignore the bells, there wikk be consequences" spirit said, then disappeared in a wave of light.

shakuntala shivered slightly, such blantened use of magic. She had, as she was sure everyone had, been taught to hide it, and yet here...here they could use it whenever. It was indeed somewhat frightening. Shenglanced about at the others

"are we expected to do dishes?" Sage asked. figureing that the Elements were always listening

"You will eaxh have chores" water said, "to be given to you tomorrow"

"yea i figured youd say something like that. well goodnight everyone, see you in the morning. I call dibs on the shower" he got up and went to the boys halls. he had to figure out a way to wash his pants since they were dirty. But they were all he had. not even a shirt.

When the students e tered their rooms, they would find a bed, a desk, and a closert, on the bed was a small pile of packages. Those packages contained two wizard robes, and a selection of pants and shirts. Two sets of each.

If they were to shower, they would find the water was cold, with no apparent way to warm it.

---

Shakuntala soon neaded to her room. It was strange being the only girl down the empty hall way, so she chose a room closest to the boys side.

She opened the door, shivering st the slight chill in tne room. She looked about, seeing the packages on the bed. Curious, she opened them after setting her homemade pack on tne ground. What looked like robes, pants and shirts fell out of them. Somewhat heartened at this, she hung them up in ner closert. Then quickly made her way to a bathdoom, and the shower. She turned it on, and was puzzled for a moment by the cold. Then she smiled.

She came out five minutes later, rosy cheeked, and headed to ner room, going to bed.

---

Pakuna was tired. He chose a room, Rhyme following him, shifted the packages off the bed, and climbed in. He was asleep in moments, a thump on the bed meaning Rhyme had joined him

Erik returned to his room and looked around. It was the first room closest to the door. He walked over to the bed, brushing his fingers over the wood of his bow. He looked at the packages and opened them then flinched. Would he be expected to wear those? He walked out and out into the hall. He said," will we be expected to wear the clothes provided?" He was actually worried. He didn't like having to wear something that stood out so much. His clothes, while not correct for the castle, provided him a sense of security.

"The robes, yes" wind replied, "however, if you have clothes of your own you are welcome to wear them. But the robes must be worn at all times during lessons"

Erik almost visibly flinched. Almost. He said," ok. Thank you." He walked back into the hall then his room, putting the robes up. He then stripped down and climbed into bed, folding his arms over his bare chest, staring at the ceiling. He then closed his eyes, drifting to sleep.

Sage didnt mind the cold water. he rarely ever had hot water back home so he enjoyed the shower, cold water and all. when he was finish he wrapped a towel around his waste and walked back to his room. he put on one of the pairs of pants and laid across the bed. He never really like shirts. sleep didnt come easy but at least it did come

Wind sighed.

"Do not worry," earth said to her, "they will come to see that they need the robes"

She still sighed.

---

Shakuntala climbed into bed, content. And for the first time in a long time, ahe felt safe. Sleep came easily

Mathias remained quiet for the duration of the meal, preferring to eat his food in silence then converse with the other students. When it was over he quickly made his way to his room and closed the door. The demon had taken up his prattling again, and he had remained quiet to keep enough concentration to block out the other voice in his head. "Y'know I actually like this place." The demon sneered. "I'll need you strong as possible for you to actually be worth something."

Mathias planted himself on his bed as he gritted his teeth in frustration. Could he really keep this demon inside of him in check while he was here? "Shut your mouth! This is my body and I won't have telling me what to do with it." His statement was met with a loud drawn out cackle. There was no way he was getting to sleep tonight now.

With a flash of light, Spirit appeared in Mathias room. He didn't say anything for a moment. Simply took the appearance of the boy in. "Earth was right, I see" he let out a sigh.

"Foolish boy. Ignorance should be blamed for this, but perhaps this is partially my fault as well" he said, "well, we will have to see what we can do about this. The longer the demon is bonded to you, the harder it will be, and I suspect it will already be hard"

"After classes tomorrow, I will come to you, and we will begin to see what e can do" it was clear there was ti be no arguments, "for now" and here Spirits voice softened, taking out a flask from his robes, "drink this. It will out you into a deep sleep, allowing your body and mind to rest so you can resist the demon easier on waking. I will teach you how to make this, and you will continue to drink it until we can sort this binding out. Otherwise, it will just continue to get worse for you"

He set the flask down, and then was gone in another flash of light.

Spirit appeared in front of water, "a seven students has appeared" he said "You will go collect him"

Water didn't argue, even though she herself was tired. She closed her eyes, and when shenopened them, she had appeared in front of Michael. She stifled a yawn. "Hello, Michael. I am Water"

The digits entangled into the murky waters.. digging inward into it to collect moss from the clean river. The pale skin of his arms shown as the sleeves rolled up above his forearms. Opening his eyes to reveal his Mediterranean-blue eyes in the distance, matching his bowl of hair that wrapped around his head and covered his scalp. His hands were pocketed into his onyx pants. Michael sat upon a small rock with his hands under his chin.

Suddenly, the water behind him began to overwhelm eachother, spiraling in laps of uncontrollable rage. He could easily see that the presence of something else was doing this.. he could feel it. The energies of another person with the same abilities of him, but somehow.. stronger. He remembered the first time he used the water, though this time it had a price. Killing an animal for the water in its blood, to quench the thirst of himself, his father, and his mother, who unfortunately did not make it into the city.

Oh, how many horrible things he had done, just to stay alive. Shunning himself by turning his head away and lifting his right hand, to calm the waters and send them back into the calming state. Though still, the energies still lingered, even before the avatar his powers wavered into the area. Standing up an tossing his satchel over his right shoulder, staring towards the one called 'Water'.

Not bothering to say 'Hello' or ask any other foolish questions, he just said: "Show me where to go." With a low sigh escaping the imprisonnment of his lips.

Mathias tried to open his mouth and say something Spirit, but he couldn't bring himself to bother. Ignorance was why the demon now haunted him just because he wanted to watch them pay and die just as his mother had. With a sigh he accepted the flask from Spirit but before he could offer a thank you he was gone. With a sense of unease he tried to bring the flask to his lips curious to how the demon would react. "Enjoy your damned sleep, despite it I will still be here in the morning. Discouraged by the demons response, but now knowing he wouldn't stop him he guzzled down the flask contents. As he could feel his body get drowsy and his eyelids grew heavier he heard one last thought in his head. "I'm not going to let Spirit take you from me that easily, Mathias"

Water stared at Michael, and then enveloped him in a hug. The young man before her didn't appear to have seen much good in the world, "you will be strong, child, yet the most imoortant lesson you will learn is that of love"

She didn't wait for an answer, simply pulled away. In those few seconds, she had transported herself and Michael to the castle, in the main hall. "Eat your fill, then down that hall way you will find bedrooms. Occupied ones are those with the doors shut, unoccupied with the door open. Rise at the ringing of the three bells tomorrow. You can meet your classmates then"

she stepped back to stand with Fire, earth and Wind. "Know that we will be watching over you, and everyone else in this school, and sleep well"

---

Spirit was standing utop the castle, starimg up into the night sky. This was going to be a challenge, more so than he nad ever predicted. He cast the magic around tne castle for protection and safety.

As the students sleep, the five watched. The dark was getting stronger, beings if light slowly being corrupted by the need for revenge.

As the sun broke the horizon, the three bells tolled.

---

Shakuntala rose as the third bell finished. She sighed, rubbed her eyes, and got up. She dressed, pleased with the gifted clothes. She put on the robe, pleased for its warmth as the castle had grown cold during the night.

Pakuna woke groggily. Rhyme meowed, and pushed him off the bed. "Rhyme!" He cried. But now he was awake. He washed, dressed and headed out

Erik rose easily, bouncing lightly on his toes. He brought two pairs of the same outfit with him, allowing one to be washed while the other was worn. He slipped out the comfortable green clothing that he grew up with, shuddering as he grabbed the forgein object that he would need to wear. He gazed at his cloak, considering wearing that as well before shaking his head. He would probably be too hot if he did. He slipped out the robe with a sigh, raking his hand through his air before heading out of the guys side and into the hall. As always, his knives were attached to his left hip, but his bow and quiver remained behind him.

Johnny sat on his bed, watching the sun come up, he hadn't slept. He had never done much of that anyway, but he had gotten to know his new accomadations throughout the night, he must have stared at every bit of it for hours on end, every piece of furniture, every item in the bag, every drop of water from the shower, the miraculous cold hitting his body feeling like steam was coming off of his flesh. The feeling of finally having a bed to sleep in, and a room to himself, it brought all the memories that he had attempted to push down and burn, back. the faces of his brothers making a wall for his escape, the tears streaming down his own, their blood being splattered over the walls of the nearby buildings.

As Johnny heard the bells he was suddenly snapped back to the present, he looked outside and saw the colors intermingling, as he did he smiled, the bags under his eyes being lifted as he remembered where he was, he quickly got up and got into the shower, warming it with his abilities, as he stepped out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his lower body, his muscled pecks dripping hot water, as he got dressed, and finished getting himself ready. The final step being putting on his sunglasses, he knew that people were here for this sort of thing, but he didn't trust anybody enough to walk around without them on yet.

When the students entered the main Hall, they would find a table with food, and seven folders.

Inside the folders would be their schedules. They would spend an hour together with each elemental, then two hours physical training, followed by two hours study. There was a list of chores for each-they would have to start cooking their own food, cleaning, maintaining the castle itself.

Shakuntala picked up one of the folders, and sat down reading through it, roast in ine hand, munching on itp