Strangers [P1]

Golden eyes cast a glance up at the top of the stairs where they seemed to be waiting patiently for him, figuring that they'd appreciate the "ladies first" gesture, but quickly deciding not to think much of it. He headed up the stairs after them, brushing past the two girls and headed into his office. It was simple, much like the room Ms. Elizabeth worked in, decorated with humble picture frames and long rows of books stacked up against the walls.

The Headmaster made another motion towards the two small, plush seats at the front of his desk, getting comfortable in the large chair on his own side. "So," he started, looking at Anke. She seemed to be the most forthright of the two. "What can I do for you?"

Elodie followed Anke and the Headmaster up the stairs, slipped silently through the door after them, and took a seat at the desk opposite of Nathaniel Wright. "We've come to ask your help, Monsieur," she cut in, before Anke could speak. "In our time of need." She folded her hands in her lap and gave him a serene, sleepy smile, pausing to let her words sink in before continuing. "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us for bringing our troubles to your school, and asking you to risk your students for our sake. We would not have come if the need was not dire." Her gaze slowly began to drift, over his shoulder and down his chest. "And I pray you can forgive me for my rudeness, Monsieur, but we understand that your school was attacked only a year ago. We were very regretful and shocked to hear of it back at the Académie. I could not have imagined what I might have done if the same had happened in Sofia, but I know that this must have left... scars." She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes again, her composed expression giving nothing away. "In the hearts and minds of your students, and on your school's reputation as a safe haven. We know that you must fear the same thing happening again. These are troubled times after all, Monsieur. I'm sure you know this better than most."

As Anke went on with her polite introduction, Anke laid the onyx colored suitcase on his desk gently, fumbling with the combination on its accessible face and taking a moment to swipe sweat from her forehead. It was hot in Greece, often scorching, but she did not expect similar heat to linger in a place as north as wear Beata lay. When the German lifted the leather lid of the case, she withdrew a document, eggshell and written on a quality piece of paper. She handed it to the headmaster gingerly to read. The paper contained the following:

Athens, Greece
Sofia Akademia

Dear Mister Nathaniel Wright, HM,

Greetings. My name is Agathe Apo Collytus, and I am the current reigning headmaster of Sophia Akademia, located in Athens, Greece, the first school of its kind. We hope Beata Academy is in a wonderful condition, even better than its original incarnation. Much of our body, both the students and the faculty, were elated to discover that the American gifted were finally given the help they deserve.

We at Sofia Akademia are about this as well. We strive to help children and to provide them with the utmost safety. I feel this safety is being threatened. In a mission of reconnaissance carried out by our brave students, it has become apparent to me that an attack is being planned on my school. We do not know the size of the attack for certain, but there is little doubt that it is to be problematic and severe. Sofia Akademia has been standing for thousands of years, since Plato built the school with his students, and this is the first danger we have encountered in centuries. Enrollment has gone down in the last few years, and I fear the worst for my students' safety. Sofia is in danger of being flattened by an unidentified group, and we are in need of help.

I beseech you to send whatever students you can to help fight this threat. I feel it is something big, something that will not stop at Sofia. A force is rising against our schools, and the gifted students that we have sought to protect and nurture are in danger of losing their school, and even their lives. We will give any means of reimbursement for aid in our defenses, and said reimbursement will never expire for as long as Sofia Akademia is standing.

Please. For the children.

Sincerely,
Miss Agathe Apo Collytus, HM


"There are messengers going to China, Africa, Nepal, Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia." piped Anke after a long, drawn out silence. "We fear that most of them will not take us seriously..."
There was a desperation in her voice, a sadness in her calm face. She feigned professionalism and mannerism, but she was scared. It showed through the little things; the shifts in her eyes, the nonstop twiddling she did with the dials of the suitcase. She dare not move, in hopes that her actions would influence the headmaster's denial.

Nathaniel said nothing as they spoke, looking rather thoughtful as he listened to Elodie's plea. Such dire words spoken in an elegant manner, much unlike her partner, who could do little to hide her distraught. Empath or not, her fear was obvious as her fingers stumbled to open the slick black case in front of her. He watched Anke for a moment, trying to figure out of her intentions were true as he gently took the paper away, leaning back in his seat and reading it over quickly.

As the Headmaster finished, he read through it once more, slower - to be particularly sure that he wasn't reading anything wrong. Whatever the threat was, it had to be serious to concern Miss Collytus so, sending two frightened students to his doorstep with little more than a hastily written letter. His gaze flickered back at Anke as she rambled off, her words practically choking; with so many other schools given word too, it became increasingly obvious that this was not a request for back-up, so much as it was a cry for help.

This unidentified group though, Sofia had absolutely no idea who they were? Only that they posed a serious threat to the school. In his thoughts, he pictured men and women in black, a once trusted friend looming over him; and he wondered if they were one in the same. After so long, he tried to imagine why they'd decide to strike the European school so suddenly. And if they weren't, then who could they be? Who could pose such a huge threat? "These are troubled times." The Headmaster said, setting the letter down in front of him on the desk. "Surely you must understand the weight of what you're asking." It felt wrong to send off these two back to their school, to face whatever threat this was alone, but he had to think for the safety of his own school as well.

After another long silence, he let out a sigh. "I'll have to think about it," Nathaniel said earnestly. "Hopefully, you'll have your answer by tomorrow. In the mean time, you're welcome to stay in the dormitories with my own students. I believe there's a few extra rooms, if that's alright with you."

Time. It was a delay, a night, but it was not a no. He did not turn them down. Anke couldn't help but grant him a light smile, cute and half reserved. "Danke. Thank you, Herr Wright." she said politely. There was a pause at the mention of dorms. Anke thought of sharing rooms with Americans. Her English was superb, but the girl was just now meeting her first Americans. She did not know what to expect. Nevertheless, she obliged with a nod, gladly accepting foreign sleeping quarters over a direct no. "And where are these dorms located?" she asked. Her tone lingered interrogatively.

The Headmaster nodded, glancing down at the letter once before standing up out of his seat. "We'll find someone to take you there," He said simply, walking around the desk and back down the stairs. Normally he'd go ahead and ask someone else to take them, but seeing as it was so late into the evening, he supposed there wasn't much else of a choice. The man led them down from the offices and into the hallways, hopefully running a student along the way.

if not oh well idfk.

Elodie dipped her head and stood to her feet, gingerly pushing the chair back. "Of course, Monsieur. We thank you for your hospitality." She gently took Anke's hand and followed the Headmaster across his office, out the door, and down the stairs. "We only ask that you think carefully on this request." They walked through the empty congested halls, quiet except for their echoing footsteps. Most students would be outside, enjoying the warm sunlight, oblivious to what was happening half a world away. Right now, Sofia Académie would just be waking up. Depending on how their mission went, it might be the last sunrise they'd see.

Again, Elodie pursed her lips and began to whistle. It was a dreamlike melody loaded with feelings of love and romance and a bittersweet wistfulness, and it pierced the heavy silence hanging over them. She swung the arm holding Anke's hand, still carrying herself with that carefree sauntering waltz that might have been called a swagger, depending on how you chose to look at it. Her song grew quieter before trailing off. "Pardon, Monsieur," she said. "For intruding on you like this. If it is too much trouble, we can find rooms somewhere in Rosebury. We would not want to overstay our welcome..."

Casually walking down the hall was a little blond-headed Penny with a Tootsie-roll pop hanging out of her mouth. She was pretty bored and with it being so late in the evening, there really weren't many people to hang out with... Well, it was either that or there wasn't anyone that wanted to hang out with her. Rather, she ran into Headmaster Wright who was being followed by two ladies she had never seen before. They weren't even dressed as if they went to this school. It confused her a bit, but whatever. Wright's business was Wright's business. "Hello Mr. Wright," She said simply in passing over the lollipop in her mouth. It sounded funny, but whatever.

Elodie often would hold Anke's hand, would often swing herself when in joy and bring Anke with her. Normally, the German would limply follow along, often putting a half hearted effort into the ordeal. Today, however, Anke was pretty jovial. She swung her arm along with Elodie, humming along the French tune that her friend recited so often. The promise of good news did this to people. Nostalgia kicked in as she and her friend did this, but Anke did not know for certain the origins of this. Lost memories were plentiful in the place of her early life.

The Headmaster said nothing as they walked down the hallways, saying nothing as he tried to think things over, half-listening to Elodie's seemingly carefree tune. He slightly wavered in his walk as the girl went on suggesting they go back into the town for the night, but he quickly waved off the idea with a shake of his head. "No, it's alright. We have plenty of room for you." Although the initiate dorms were getting rather crowded, and he wouldn't wish to put this two with the unsorted, newly arrived bunch; he knew of a few rooms that were unoccupied that he felt they could settle into well for the night.

"Miss Carson," he greeted back, feeling a little relieved that they'd finally found someone. He knew most of the students by name, even if he never talked to them. Nate had seen their faces on file many times and would often go to watch the kids while in training. "Could you do me a favor? This is Anke and Elodie," the Headmaster made a small gesture to them. "Anke will be staying in the Spring dorms for the night, and Elodie in Summer. Could you take them there, please?" He reached into his pocket, having grabbing spare pairs of keys for the rooms shortly before leaving his office.

Penny stopped as soon as the headmaster kept talking, and before long, she was glancing between the two girls walking with him. So they obviously weren't from around here since they were randomly placed in rooms in the dorms, but she didn't have an issue with it. Pulling the lollipop out of her mouth, she nodded her head. "Can do, Mr. Wright," she replied lightly.

Elodie bowed her head in greeting and smiled softly at the new girl as she, Anke, and the Headmaster all came to a stop in the middle of the hallway. "Bonjour," she said, with a small step forward, dragging Anke along. She looked over her shoulder to the Headmaster. "You and your students have been very helpful, Monsieur. Thank you." Her eyes found Penny's again, and Elodie tilted her head. "We hope we aren't being a burden. I know you must have better things you want to do rather than play escort."

They were going to split Anke and Elodie up. Anke felt a smidgeon of resentment towards the idea, ceasing her soft hum and examining Lindsey. She seemed charismatic and kind, her tone light and friendly. Would she be in these Spring dorms? What exactly entailed the Spring dorms to be different than the Summer dorms? Sofia didn't have such an odd system. Their dorms were named after the Greek greats: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Xenophon. Beata's system seemed a little simpler, almost juvenile. Nevertheless, she smiled a genuine smile at the American, but did not say anything. Elodie greeted her well enough, as was typical. Her mind was too focused on sleeping near American strangers, alone, without a familiar face around. What were they like?

Penny laughed at the girl's comment about her having better things to do. The only other thing she could be doing right now is watching the grass grow. That was never fun. Sticking the Tootsie-roll pop back into her mouth and putting it on the inside of her cheek so she could at least talk a bit, she turned around after motioning for them to follow her down the hallway. Thankfully, they weren't too far from the dorms. "I definitely don't have anything better to do. It's pretty boring being here in the summer. A lot of kids have gone home for their time off but living so far away, it wasn't much of an option for me." She told them, her blonde hair swishing from side to side as she walked. "So where are you two from?" she asked as they grew closer to the dorms.

Elodie cast one last unreadable glance to the Headmaster and then followed, the sound of footsteps coming back into the hall. "I see, I see," she said, pulling at Anke's hand. "I am from France, and Anke is from Germany. We both attend Sofia Académie in Europe." It wasn't long before they were out the doors and into the dying sunlight. The sun had sunk behind the mountains, lining them with a fiery orange haze, and a faint lonely moon hung in the pale blue sky as shadows began to creep over Beata's campus. They followed a stone path toward what she could only presume were the four House Dorms in the distance. Her eyes swept over all of it, drinking it all in. The smell of fresh cut grass and blooming flowers tinged the summer air. "We're here on a trip. It is a pleasure to visit your school, Madame. The scenery is truly lovely. Don't you wish we could stay longer, Anke?"