The bus brakes squealed to a stop. Jace (a boy with shaggy brown hair, white shirt and blue jeans) unbuckled his trunk from the overhead rack and walked to the front. “Thanks for the ride.” he said to the driver and stepped out into the cool evening air. He set down his trunk taking a folded sheet of paper from his pocket.

Take the 4o’clock
Plane to England Airlines.
From there take the number 2 bus to
Hogshead Tavern and Inn.
Transportation to the
Academy will arrive at 10’am.
Good luck, Weslin

“I’ll be awake long before it’s time to go.” Jace thought. He looked upon the tavern. Its walls a mixture of gray and black stones with a wooden door and a window in front. It was at least 3 stories high. Jace stood there for a moment, looking. “I’d have better get a room.” he said picking up his trunk and carrying it to the door. The knob was of old steel with a symbol carved exquisitely in to it. As he grasped it a feeling of remembrance or something flowed through him. Like, he had been here before. The door creaked open as he twisted the knob. An odd aroma filled the air as it found its way to Jaces nose. The scent was familiar yet alien to him. Where had he smelled it before? He searched his


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Mind and found where it was from. The memories of going to his grandparent’s house came flushing back. It was the smell of old ness. Not a bad smell, but one that’s comforting. He looked around the inside. It reminded him of a museum. Along the walls were suits of armor with an unlit torch behind each one. Old paintings of kings and dragons where a torch was not. A wooden floor, scuffed from years of wear. An old chandelier hanging from the ceiling. To his right was a desk with someone sleeping behind it? “Excuse me” Jace said in a voice that was almost a whisper. The figure had gray hair with a balding spot in the middle. He stirred and sat up. One of his eyes looked blind and was accompanied by a much scarred face. He must have been in some fights.
“Need something?” he said. His voice was as haggard as his face. Intimidating a little.
“Yes, sir a room.” Jace stuttered. The man got up off his stool. This guy was tall! At least a foot more almost than Jace. “Would you happen to be Mr.Varkins?” he said suddenly. Jace pondered a moment. “How does he know my name?” “Yeah, how’d you know?” The man walked from behind the desk and shook Jaces hand after he put his trunk down. “Weslin told me some new students would be staying here tonight.” he said. Weslin was always a few steps ahead “How many students are staying sir?” Jace asked while picking up his trunk. “There are about 5 of you at the present time.” The man walked to the left of his desk and opened a door. “This way please.” he said and Jace followed. The door led to a steep staircase with floors that creaked when you stepped on them. “My name is Philius Dunvar.” He said as they walked to the top of the staircase. “You can call me Mr.D or Mr.Dunvar. Either one is fine.” The stairs ended into a hallway with doors on each side. “Okay, room 8 is the 3rd door on the left. You’ll be sharing.” and
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with that he hurried down stairs. Jace waited until the footsteps faded away before opening the door. A single window was in the room with 2 dressers 2 beds and table in between. There was a boy sitting on one of the beds rummaging through his trunk. He had blond like hair with a camouflage shirt and khaki shorts. The boy looked up and stopped “Hello mate” he said and got off the bed. “I’m Michael Rome.” he said as they shook hands. “Jace Varkins, you heading to the academy as well?” he said and sat his trunk on the vacant bed. “You know it. Been waiting here since yesterday.” Michael commented and went back to his search in his trunk. Jace unpacked his pillow and blanket on to the bed. He pushed back his hair from his eyes and sat down on the mattress. “So Jace, where ya froms?” Michael said closing the top on his trunk. “Cleveland, Ohio.” he said lying down. Michael gave out a yawn and scratched his head. “I’m from Nelson Bay, Australia.” Jace turned his head towards him. “Thought your accent was familiar.” He said staring out the window. The sun was going down fast as it sat over the horizon. Creating a canvas of orange, yellow, and pink on the sky. He checked his watch and sighed. “Well, its 7:30, I wonder if-.” There was a knock on the door and Mr.Dunvar walked in. “Dinner’s ready out back you 2”. Michael hopped off his bed and walked to the door. “About time, I’m starving.” Jace lay there listening to Michael’s footsteps fading away. Like a memory that hasn’t been recalled in years because you didn’t have a use for it. Though he hadn’t eaten all day hunger wasn’t on his mind. “I wonder what the academy will be like.” A rumbling in his stomach distracted him from his thoughts. “I guess I should go and get something to eat.” he said getting off the bed. The moon cast its lunar light through the

sorry about it being scruched up like this.