Class Morganite
Read the First Chapter or Read Other things in other places with the help of this
Life feels faster since getting a tour of the college, despite Rowan not really doing a lot, the week and a half have seemed to just fly by.
Although the world around them seemed stressed, Indigo especially. Everything was secretive and hidden in whispers, Indigo was hiding in her home library carrying around a notepad or her laptop and being oddly quiet. It was or rather seemed to be all for the new year’s orientation.
Casper and Sloan came to visit, during the past week and half, mostly to see how Rowan was doing, but there was a moment where Sloan and Indigo stepped outside and talked for a rather long time. It felt odd, not knowing what was really going on, but it was also none of Rowan’s business.
Today is no different from the recent oddness, “What’s with the outfit?” the teen asked, walking in the foyer of Indigo’s home, seeing the woman dressed in a very formal outfit.
She’s in a floor-length turtleneck dress with an attached long cape, all white with golden accents. All with the addition of gold and expensive jewelry from her own personal collection.
“These are outfitting that college staff and council members have to wear to events and when we have meetings,” Indigo answered, she sounded tired which complemented the bags under her eyes.
“I thought the college’s colors were red and brown,” Rowan pondered.
“I have wondered the same thing,” Calvin chuckled, walking into the room, wearing an outfit that is more of the same, yet more masculine, more of a 3-piece white suit with a large suit coat, “As far as I know it’s just tradition.”
“Damn it,” Indigo muttered, before turning from the mirror she was in front of to look at Calvin, “Grenade, can you go get my necklace, please?”
He smiled at her, holding up her necklace, that black chained pendant with a heart-shaped ruby stone, “Already have it,” he replied as he took a place behind her, and latched her necklace around her neck.
“What’s so important about that necklace?” Rowan asked innocently, “You’re never without it.”
Indigo smiled, “It was a gift from my parents, but it also symbolizes my right in my family home,” she answered, “Child of house ruby, the stone that represents the Corals family who are descended from France.”
“All the “high nobility” houses are symbolized by gemstones, just like the classes,” Calvin explained, when Rowan looked at them confused.
“Oh, speaking of necklaces!” Indigo interjected before running off and reentering the room a few moments later, “I found this among some more of your mother’s things I had hidden away,” she started, looking down at an item in her hands, “You can have all the stuff I re-found, most of it is books and such- anyway! I want to give you this now.”
The French woman handed Rowan a velvet necklace box, watching them mostly excitedly open revealing a golden necklace, with a gold-plated circular ornament hanging from it, with a bouquet of marigolds engraved on the adornment, “It was a gift from your father to your mother, and it’s only right that you have it now.”
“Thank you,” Rowan croaked, “Thank you so much.”
The two of them shared a hug, “We need to get going,” Indigo mentioned.
Rowan and Calvin nodded before leaving their home and setting off to the college. The campus was full, not only of students, but eccentric staff members, all adorned in similar formal white and gold outfits. Stopping at the auditorium doors, fully open showcase many booths for the club, class, and pathway exhibit part of the orientation.
“We’ve got to split, kid. Why don’t you go look at the exhibits?” Calvin commented, “Maybe even make a friend or two?”
“I don’t see that happening,” Rowan retorted with a sad chuckle, "People and I don't really mix well."
“Try anyway, jellyfish,” Indigo yawned in a sad tone before she and Calvin walked out of view.
The college’s auditorium is full of a large range of unique individuals. Some looked human – whether they were or not was a different story – others were not of the human variety, that much was obvious by their insect, animal, arachnid, or “monster” appearances. Everyone is at booths or socializing, seeing friends after the winter break, or learning about the college and one of its three pathways.
It’s all a bit overwhelming.
“Maverick, look look, over there! Isn’t that who was with Calvin the other day?”
“I think so… they look lost.”
“Why don’t we go say hi.”
“Georgia, I don’t know if that is a good idea.”
“I’m gonna do it!”
Rowan hadn’t really moved since entering the hall, only moving aside so others could get past them. Then there was a tap on their shoulder that made them jump and turn around quickly. They were greeted by a feminine plus sized person, with her dark, voluptuous, curly hair, light brown eyes, and freckles covering her dark skin, enhanced by gold make-up to make her freckles shimmer. She stared off into space for a few moments before shaking her head and flashing a huge smile, “Hi, my name is Georgia, I would like to be your friend!”
“U…uhm,” Rowan sighed, confused, and overwhelmed, she felt familiar, not as if they knew her before, but more so she looked familiar.
“Ah, forgive her,” someone else remarked from a small distance, “she’s extremely extroverted.”
“Oh, come on, Maverick, I’m just trying to make a friend,” Georgia huffed with puffed cheeks and a comical frown, turning around to the masculine individual that approached from behind her.
He had pale skin, gray chin length wavy hair, and red eyes. His right eye was a lighter color than his left as there was a scar on his face spanning from his forehead to the bottom of his lower lashes. He likewise seemed familiar to them, he was wearing more academic styled clothing in a dark sweater with the college’s insignia on the front and slacks. Whereas Georgia very much seemed like a cottagecore girl in her long skirt and ruffled top.
“I’m Rowan.”
Georgia smiled, facing Rowan again and clapping her hands together, “Oh yeah, this means we’re friends now!”
“Just because you introduced yourself and told them your name doesn’t make you friends,” Maverick remarked.
“It worked with you,” Georgia fought back.
“We were children!”
Georgia huffed, “Fine, then how about this: you join us while we walk around the exhibit, and then, maybe and hopefully that will make us friends!”
“Georgia it’s obvi—”
“…I would like that,” Rowan remarked, interrupting Maverick, “I honestly don’t know where to start.”
Georgia linked arms with Rowan, “I’m assuming you’re a freshman,” they nodded, “do you know what track you wanna study?”
“Kinda,” Rowan answered unconfidently, which earned them a look from the teen girl on their arm, “…Not really.”
“Let's get you some pamphlets, and hit all the booths, maybe it will help in your decision making,” Georgia gushed, “Now let’s go onward!”
Rowan let out a slight giggle, “Could you let me go first?”
“Yeah, sorry,” Georgia laughed.
The trio walked through the auditorium, stopping by the magic, alchemy, and natural track booths before visiting the booths for the many clubs/extracurricular activities at the college, stopping by the yearbook club’s booths. “Hey, sorry, all of our freshman spots are full,” one of the booth runners mentioned.
“We’re just here to see a friend,” Georgia retorted, to which Rowan looked at the girl beside them in confusion.
A long white-haired individual emerged from the back curtain of the booth camera in hand, and dressed in feminine casual clothes, and he smiled once he locked his blue eyes with Georgia and Maverick.
“Hey guys,” his voice was more on the masculine side, nothing like his appearance. Oddly enough, he was yet another face that looked familiar.
“Hey,” Georgia said as Maverick waved, “Elias, this is Rowan, Rowan this is Elias.”
There was a small moment, where Elias looked at them, his lips parted, and he just stared, “Uhm it’s…” Elias’s voice cracked, causing him to clear his throat, “it’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” Rowan replied.
“You wanna join in a quest to hit every booth, before orientation speech starts?” Georgia asked, while Elias stepped outside of the yearbook club booth, “If you’re not too busy.”
“Yes, actually,” he said with a smile, “I’ve got to take pictures of the exhibits before the speeches.”
Georgia exhaled a nonsense noise of happiness, “Onward, the great Elias, onward!”
Rowan found themself smiling, most likely due to Georgia’s happiness which seemed to be infectious, not only to themself but Elias and Maverick haven’t stopped smiling around her either. She’s bright, like the sun.
“Have you thought about what track you’re going to study?” Maverick asked as Georgia and Elias held their own conversation a few steps ahead.
Rowan could feel his stare, as they walked, he seemed anxious and shy, yet the constant staring at the back of their head, made them think he wanted to speak to them. So, why not respond, “Kind of, I really like how the natural studies looks,” Rowan answered, shuffling through the pamphlets in their hands, “I like the idea of being about to learn about both magic and alchemy before actually committing to a craft.”
Maverick nodded, “I can say from experience it’s a lot of hard work, if you make it difficult.”
“Difficult describes my whole educational career,” Rowan joked, making Maverick chuckle, “School hasn’t been much of an issue for me, if I’m honest, it was the amount of work I was doing not the subjects.”
“Lucky,” Maverick commented, “Regardless, I think you’ll be fine… you’re with Indigo and Calvin after all!”
Rowan raised their eyebrows in his direction, “How did you know I am staying with them?”
“I saw you with Calvin the other day, it looked like he was giving you a tour,” he answered, “My boyfriend also saw you, Indigo, and Calvin leave together that day, I just assumed.”
Rowan thought back to the day Indigo and Calvin took them on the tour of the college, remembering stopping and looking into the combined music and art room, seeing that small group, “OH!” they remarked loudly, “That was you guys?!”
“In the art room, yeah,” Maverick replied, “If you can’t tell Georgia caught a glance of you and hyper-fixated and was even more excited to hear you and Indigo were close.”
Rowan chuckled slightly.
“Hey, Rowan, you said you liked bugs, right? They have an insect study club!” Georgia called, before gesturing to them to follow her, which they did.
“You okay, Mave?” Elias asked, resetting his camera to take some pictures.
Maverick stood in place, eyes wide, frozen in time with a shocked expression, “…They don’t remember anything.”
“What do you mean?”
Maverick looked at Elias for a second, “Didn’t you say they looked familiar the other day?” Maverick’s voice cracked as he got the sentence out, as if he was thinking of his words as he said them.
“I mean kinda, but if they’re who I’m thinking of, I don’t expect them to remember me, we were kids after all,” Elias replied, taking a picture of one of the booths.
Maverick held a somber look, something about his facial expression said that he was upset about whatever Elias was talking about, “Don’t look so down, Maverick, it’s fine,” Elias remarked.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Maverick replied, “Where’s your brother?”
“The music club booth.”
Maverick thought for a moment as Elias continued to take pictures, “Tell Georgia I went to find him, I’ll catch up with you all later.”
“Alright, Bud—” Elias turned around to look at Maverick, only to find he was already gone, “dy… okay.”
Rowan and Georgia were still at the insect club booth when Elias rejoined the two of them. “Did you make these stuffed animals?” Georgia asked the booth runner, as she pointed to the stuffed bugs on display, some crochet, others seeming like store bought soft plushies.
“I made the crochet ones, but the others we bought online.”
“So, what do I have to do to get my hands on one of them?” Georgia questioned.
“Nothing, really.”
“Seriously?!”
“Yeah, they are incentives for signing up, but most people are just getting the shirts.”
Georgia looked towards Rowan, who was looking through one of the bug encyclopedias on one of the booth’s tables, “Can I get two? One is for my friend over there,” Georgia inquired.
The booth keeper nodded, before she grabbed a crochet bee, and a brown beetle plushie, and took it over to the jellyfish haired teen, “I hope you like beetles,” she remarked.
Rowan’s eyes lit up, “It’s so cute,” taking the very rotund boy from Georgia, “Where did you get this?”
“The booth, I got one too!” she replied, holding up the crochet bee she had picked up, “Bug buddies!”
“Bug buddies,” Rowan said with a smile.
“Hey, Elias, do you know if there’s anywhere, we could get a bag?” the teenaged girl asked, looking over at the boy who was, yet again, taking pictures, not too far from them.
“I think the conservation club is giving out free tote bags,” he answered, rejoining them.
Georgia whipped her head back and forth quickly, as if she just noticed something, “…Where’s Maverick?”
“He went to find Nemo,” Elias said.
“Who’s Nemo?” Rowan asked.
“...My brother,” Elias replied.
Rowan hummed, as they came upon the conservation booth. They took one of the free tote bags, so Rowan could shovel all their goodies into the pale colored bag with nature designs all over it. Shortly after the group found Maverick once again, who was hand and hand with a gentleman who looked like Elias, but more masculine. Wearing all black from his ripped jeans and hoodie. His hair was the opposite of his brother’s, Nemo’s hair being quite a bit shorter & raven black, with sweeping bangs almost covering one his blue eyes.
“Rowan, Nemo. Nemo, Rowan,” Georgia introduced the two that hadn’t met yet.
“Hi,” Rowan remarked quietly.
“Hey,” Nemo grunted out.
“Could those in attendance, please make their way to the auditorium stage, orientation is about to start.”
“Oh, I wonder who’s giving the speech this year,” Georgia pondered as the little group they formed walked away from the exhibits and toward the stage.
“Probably some old dude like last year,” Nemo retorted, “so it will just be as long and boring.”
“I thought the speech was good last year,” Maverick commented.
The sound of a clearing throat filled the auditorium turning everyone’s full attention to the stage, where Duke stood at a microphoned podium, “Good morning,” he stated, “It is very pleasing to see this auditorium so full, with the Emerald class, Bauxite class and the incoming Morganite class! Today marks the start of another wonderful year here at this pillar of education, which will showcase the teachings of the brilliant staff that we have at this institution!”
On cue the staff members, with the likes of Indigo, Sloan, and Calvin, came on stage. Standing in front of designated chairs behind Duke, once everyone was on stage they sat almost in unison.
“That’s odd,” Georgia remarked.
“Huh?” Rowan whispered.
“Calvin and Indigo aren’t supposed to be sitting next to each other,” she informed in a quiet tone, “See the three chairs in the front? Those are for the head professor of each track. Calvin should be in the middle of the regular professors.”
“Huh, I wonder why he’s sitting next to her,” Rowan pondered.
“On this glorious day, you have been able to adventure around the school’s exhibits to explore the different pathways, clubs, and activities we host at this school, to ensure you have a distinguished educational career—"
Rowan looked toward Indigo, who looked a mix of tired and disgusted, as Duke spoke. Indigo bounced her legs as they were crossed. “I could continue to speak about this outstanding institution, yet it would be quite boring. Allow me to introduce Indigo Corals, the head of the magic department and a mage professor, to continue my sentiments!”
Indigo stood up from her chair to the array of mummers and gasps, taking her place at the podium adjusting the microphone before speaking, “Good morning, it must be quite shocking to see me giving this speech instead of one of my older colleagues, thankfully they wish to stay around just a little bit longer. Most likely to see if this trainwreck will end any time soon,” she speaks like she’s made from the heavens and holds a venom in her voice that sounds like it’s from hell, “I stood on this stage at the age of 18, making history as one of the youngest professors in this body, because I was “made for the role.” Many of you have had me as a professor and know that I am straight forward, this speech will be no different. This school is far from easy, and it is even more difficult if you attempt to see this as just a house of education and less of a battle for your life. I look to the Emerald class, and hope that the Goddess allows you all to make it to your graduation, and I look to the new Morganite class, hoping things will change in your favor by the time you make it to your own graduation.”
Indigo finally found Rowan for a second before looking on to the large coward which was full of mumblings and murmurings about her depressing speech, “If it wasn’t for a late friend I would not be standing before you today. I would have left this intuition in favor of life elsewhere, but it seems I am still a tiny scholar beheld to the want to learn within these blessed ivory halls, along with being a woman of history and the social sciences. Although I wish my dear departed friend was here,” she looked at Rowan once again, “for you.”
Then she continued, “And yet, I stand here, glad that she doesn’t have to see the continued horrors that still happen in these pearl halls!” Indigo looked at Duke who was very displeased by her words, “If only you weren’t at fault,” she looked back at. that the crowd, “I hope you all have the opportunity to experience the best education, as you deserve it, and I hope to see some of your faces in my classroom, ready and willing to learn, thank you for your time.”
Indigo made it back to her chair forgoing sitting up straight, feeling Calvin’s hand lace in hers, before he kissed her knuckles, “Tu t'es bien débrouillée, yeux d'ange, je suis fière de toi,” he muttered against her hand before she leaned close to him from her chair.
“Rowan? Are you okay,” Georgia queried.
“Uh-muh?”
“Rowan, you’re crying.”
Rowan touched their cheeks, soaked by their tears, “Huh? ...I don’t even know why I’m crying.”
They wiped their tears, before half listening to the rest of the orientation. Once the orientation concluded, everyone shuffled towards the exits of the auditorium, where Rowan waited for Indigo and Calvin so they could all go home.
“You don’t have to stay here with me,” they mentioned, looking over at the chubby girl standing next to them against the wall, “You can find your friends.”
“Nah,” Georgia sighed, staring at the floor, “Maverick is helping the art club take down their booth, Elias is going to develop his pictures from today, and Nemo’s probably went to the music room to play piano. Until Maverick is done, I’m basically on my own.”
“Oh, well thank you, for helping me get around today,” Rowan replied as she looked up at them.
“No problem,” Georgia said with a smile, “Does this make us friends now?”
They thought for a moment, “Yeah,” they said with a nod.
“Yippee,” she squealed, before turning her body towards them, “Can I see your phone?”
“Uhm… sure,” they replied, handing over their phone.
“You should really put a password on your phone, anyway,” Georgia typed on their phone a few minutes before handing them back their phone and typing on her own, “There you go! Now we have each other’s numbers, so if we have classes together this semester, we can exchange notes!”
Rowan laughed slightly, “Thank you,” before feeling fur against their ankles, seeing Hecate looking up at them, when they looked down.
“Hey, kiddo,” Calvin’s voice called, grabbing Rowan’s attention, they turned around to see Indigo, even more tired than before and the healer in question, walking towards them, “Ready to go home? …Oh, hi Georgia.”
Georgia waved, “I’ll see you later, Ro,” she said.
“See ya’ later,” Rowan remarked as Georgia reentered the auditorium.
“Mhm, you’ve gotten all kinds of goodies,” Indigo muttered as they all walked towards an exit.
“Yeah,” Rowan chuckled, looking down at the tote bag in their hand.
Once back home, Indigo had already begun pulling all the ornate bobbles off her clothing and her hair, huffing, and heading elsewhere in the house, assumingly to her room.
“How about you just chill for a few?” Calvin suggested to Rowan, “I…”
“Yeah, I understand,” Rowan replied with a nod, before watching him walk away.
Rowan may not fully understand the inner workings of their guardians’ relationship, but it was cute, from the outside looking in.
They headed to the kitchen for a small snack and then headed to their bedroom, they took out all of their little goodies from the cutely designed tote bag. They placed their lovely stuffed beetle friend on their bed first before continuing to unpack the bag.
“Angel eyes,” Calvin muttered while entering their bedroom, seeing Indigo’s orientation clothes discarded on the floor, leaving her in a soft underclothing in her flopped position on their large bed, “what would you like for dinner?”
“Uhm, shrimp pasta,” she slurred, moving from laying on her stomach to lay on her side to look at Calvin.
“Just shrimp pasta?” he asked, stripping himself off his many layers, so he was just in the white shirt and pants of his outfit, “Nothing special about it.”
“…Just the shrimp pasta you always make,” Indigo answered, while he leaned over her kissing her cheek multiple times, “Papa said he and Mère made croissants today, he left them in the bread box. We also need bread when you go out tomorrow.”
“Okay, angel,” Calvin cooed, against her cheek, “anything else?”
“I love you,” she slurred, holding his face in her hands, “I would be falling apart if you weren’t here, thank you, you could be anywhere and with anyone, and you’re here. With me, in this chaos.”
“I love you too, sweet girl,” he replied, “I’m always going to be here, only for you, I don’t want to be anywhere else. Even in all the chaos there is you.”
They kissed each other softly, before Calvin pulled away, “I’ll bring you, your food, angel,” he mentioned before heading from the door, “Wait! …Isn’t Rowan allergic to shrimp?”
“Non, they’re allergic to oysters,” Indigo slurred into her pillow.
“Got it,” Calvin said as he headed for the kitchen, hearing dings from a phone, coming from Rowan’s room.
Georgia ☀️👁️ as added you to “Arts Club🎨🎼”
Georgia☀️👁️: everyone say hi to Rowan, they are friend now!
Maverick🎨🎒: Hi to Rowan
Nemo🎹🩹: Georgia come on!
Georgia☀️👁️: They said that we were friends, so I invited them to our group!
Elias📷👗: hi Rowan ☺️
Somehow all of the people they had met hours earlier are now all in their contacts, symbolized by specific emojis and Rowan smiled looking at the few texts that were sent.
Rowan: hi guys 😁 thank you for being so nice today.
Georgia☀️👁️: you don’t have to thank us Georgia☀️👁️: now quick two emojis that describe you!
The semester may not be as bad as their anxiety was making it out to be!
