Welcome to Sofia [P3]

7:26 A.M. Somewhere in Greece, Europe
(11:26 P.M. in Rosebury, ND, NA)

Twenty hours of non-stop travel.
Three hours of riding a train.
Sixteen hours of being stuck on a plane.
There was hardly ever personal time in-between the two.

But they were finally here.

Several cars parked in front of the large school. Where they were exactly in the country couldn't be said for sure, everything seemed so new to you - especially the large towering, ancient columns and temples that surrounded the area. Even the school itself, as pristine as it was, had an old and comforting feeling to it. Everything was so grand, pleasant, and completely peaceful looking; it was certainly hard to believe that they could ever be here on a defense mission of all things - that such a beautiful place could ever possibly turn into a battlefield. It made Beata look lame in comparison.

The American Headmaster was the first to step outside, blinking his eyes against the early morning sun, holding back a yawn. Normally, he might've been asleep by now after a long day of troublesome paperwork. Instead here he was on short notice in Greece, watching an entirely new school begin to wake up and start their day. Letting out a small huff, he glanced around as the others stepped outside, wondering if someone nearby that he didn't notice was waiting to greet them - or if there was simply no one there yet. Now that Nathaniel thought about it, things did seem rather quiet.

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Yeah, yeah. This wasn't a vacation. This had to be taken seriously, etc. No time for snoozing around.
That was exactly what Jason did, though. They'd left the day before at the most obscure hour to go off onto this mission, so you couldn't have blamed him for when he fell asleep the car window, right? It took him a few moments, other students shuffling out of the other way and out of the car for him to wake himself up and out of it. Letting out a loud yawn, the blonde manage to pull himself out of the car, letting out a few good stretches and glance around. It took him a minute for his thoughts to catch up with him, but this place was pretty damn impressive. And huge, for sure. At least twice Beata's size. He couldn't help but think, though, while in Beata's entrance there were almost always students talking or hanging out, practicing their gifts or doing homework. Out here, it was like a ghost town.

Still awesome looking though. Jace took a minute to pull out his phone, taking a few pictures of the place and sending them to few choice people back at home.


Ever since the second that Beata's students had stepped off the plane and into Europe, Ethan had been completely fascinated. He'd had a camera and a small notepad out, taking pictures of everything and anything, writing things down he found strange or particularly interesting - he'd run through half of the little book already. When they'd passed a few several monuments, you'dve thought that he was a kid who just saw the first of Disneyland. The Greeks were legends of their own time and it was amazing to see what they left behind in person. Think of all the history written here!
And to be going to another gifted school founded by some of the greatest scholars themselves? There was too much to do, so much to be learned. Forgetting the seriousness of the subject, he figured that getting his hands dirty a little would be alright... So long as he got to see Sofia's library.

"This is it?"

Kayla somehow managed to get out of the car, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She was stiff. She was tired. She was grumpy, and the lightning rippling down her arm was ample evidence of that. It was a miracle she hadn't brought a thunderstorm down on their car or struck their plane down by accident. Tempers flared, having to deal with so many idiots in such an enclosed space. As for Sofia, Kayla was thoroughly unimpressed. It had a rich marble facade, trimmed with blue like their uniforms, and the pale Greek sun peeping over the mountaintops had bathed it in a warm morning glow. Birds sang, their voices carrying across the empty courtyard. The place was big, at least. Bigger than Beata, and looking more like a sacred temple than a school. The towering white pillars made everything look so... antiquated. Was that the word?

She stuffed her hands in her pockets and sauntered forward, her cap casting a shadow over her face. Listening to all those dire warnings, she'd expected the place to be blown apart when they arrived, but it looked as tranquil and peaceful as Beata did. Even more so. Beata always had people doing stuff outside, at least. Kayla supposed that the Europeans were too "mannerly" to have any fun. And speak of the devil...

Elodie waltzed forward out from the car, drawing every eye toward her, especially the male eyes. She almost seemed to glide along the ground, graceful as a dancer, instead of someone who spent the last twenty four hours sitting in a cramped train. Kayla scowled. The morning light turned her honey hair into a fine polished gold, and sunlight seemed to reflect and ripple in the two crystal pools of her eyes. "Welcome, everyone," she said, in that stupid dreamy tone of hers. Her scowl deepened looking at that serene, sleepy smile. "We cannot thank you enough for volunteering and joining us here. Madame Collytus will show you every hospitality, I'm sure. You are honored guests here."

Kayla shoved past, stalking toward the unfriendly looking set of steps that led up to where Sofia Academy sat, with three sets of great wide doors. Beata looked shabby in comparison, and so did she. Neither of them had the opportunity to shower in the last twenty four hours, yet Elodie still somehow smelled like flowers and summer, and her hair tumbled perfectly down her shoulders without any effort. Kayla smelled like sweat and cramped train compartments, and her hair was a mess of lusterless brown locks underneath her hat. Elodie was tall, with long legs and a chest that drew some lingering looks from all the boys nearby. If they looked at Kayla at all, they saw a scrawny short girl in khaki shorts and an old weathered baseball cap, who could probably pass for a small boy if you looked at her from the right angle. And the sparks. Nobody could forget the sparks, least of all Kayla. One cracked in the air and fizzled around her head. Her eye twitched as she reached the foot of the steps.

The only thing she wanted to do was lay down on the warm polished steps and go to sleep for the next year or two, but no doubt that would draw more stares, so she took the first weary step with a muffled sigh. Who builds stairs this big anyways? At least she'd get to tell Lain about it. Lain had always wanted to go to Europe. Well, it's not Paris, but it'll do, I guess. She reminded herself to take a picture later and pretend to smile.

"The students will likely be in the Great Hall to await you, with the faculty and la principale," Elodie was saying. "They will all be grateful beyond words, so please. Anke and I can lead you there."

Kayla didn't stop to wait. She climbed another step. This place blows already. If my legs give out I'm suing.

"God, that had got to be the longest I've ever been in one spot in my whole life...!" Regina grumbled and growled in her agitation as she emerged from the bus and into the approaching light. She couldn't help but get a little satisfaction as she popped her bones-- quite literally, might I add-- and released her tight muscles, but her pleasure was diminished a little by the odd looks she was receiving from some of the on looking students. Feeling a lot more self-conscious, the orange haired girl reached into her camouflage backpack and extracted Grant's- her thick pair of gloves. Just a precaution, she told herself, this is a new place, and were here to help people, not scare or hurt them... The tall girl's mental pep talk was quickly ended as soon as someone stepped into her general vicinity.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad!" Sebastian argued Regina's words as he exited the bus behind her, "I mean, it's not first class, but it was better than that one time I had to fly from Brazil all the way the India, and not the short way either...!" despite his tone dripping with drama, the boy spoke the truth. He couldn't help but cringe visibly as the orange haired girl cracked more of her bones; watching her bend her fingers like that made him unconsciously start rubbing his hands, almost to protect them. The two friends had ridden together on the bus, Regina, keeping as far from Sebastian and other people as she could, had been pressed up against the window for most all of the trip. No wonder she'd be sore and her bones all seized up...! he thought to himself as he turned away, not being able to watch her 'relaxation ritual' any further.

Are we here? Finally? With a great, big yawn, Ashleigh shambled wearily out of the car and stretched her arms over head, the girl's entire body feeling stiff and cramped from nearly an entire day of nothing but travel. She quickly had to put her arms down and lean against the hood, though, pain wracking her entire body. It wasn't only that she felt tired, but pretty damn ill as well. All of this travel wasn't something she was used to. Sure, staying up late wasn't a concept she was wholly unfamiliar with, but this was entirely different territory. The sixteen hours they had spent on the plane was particularly brutal, and she had started to feel unwell once they reached the country. Slowly forcing herself up, Ashleigh began to shuffle along with the rest of the crowd toward the school.

She had never been so tired before. Even her fellow students who were exhibiting classic symptons of exhaustion were showing some forms of enthusiasm for their new surroundings, but Ashleigh couldn't even conjure up her usual well of excitement. Her long purple hair was all over the place, and she was having to constantly push it out of her eyes as she walked to keep herself from running into someone. Someone had began talking though, and so she turned her bleary green eyes to the blonde from the school. Uh, Ellie... Ela... Elea... Elodie! Yeah, that was her name. Elodie was thanking them, explaining where they were to go. She certainly was beautiful though. How did she not look akin to death like the rest of them? Maybe that's her power or something. To be beautiful at all times. All that was left to do now was to follow her fellow students up the steps. Ugh, steps. She began moving up them one at a time, feeling her head ache and stomach churn with each step she took. Maybe once they had finished being introduced and all that good stuff, they would allow her to sleep for a day or two. That'd make her feel better, yes.

Amy Rose squealed and shook Hosa's arm, showing no sign of fatigue (she never really did, anyway). "We're here! It's so cool!" She jumped up and down. "I have to write Amaya! And my parents! Oh, so cool!" She was in utter awe. It was gorgeous place, and she wasn't alone. Xander smirked as he looked around, holding onto one of Amber's hands. "Man, this place rocks! I can't believe the homeland is this pretty! Of course, not as pretty as you, cutie." She winked, but then yawned. That trip wasn't the best, but he'd managed to sleep in the plane for a while. That was a plus, on top of the plus of being with Amber. In Greece. He swore the only downside was the lack of sleep.

Stepping out of the bus, Grant wore dark shades, and a large grin. Unlike most of the others, he had slept the whole way, only being woken up a couple of times. "Show us every hospitality?" he whispered to himself. His already big grin seemed to grow at the thought of this. He turned to Regina, who thought it would be cool to break her bones, and shook his head. "You gotta make the people think about our powers. You can't just show them." He turned to Kayla, who was doing the opposite of what he had said. The noises of that electricity scared him a bit.This is why you have no friends. It might have been okay to display her gift, if it wasn't something that could kill you in an instant. She just looked scary now.

They finally have made it, the 15 voulenteers finally Have made it to Sofia Academy. The autumn had been having seconds thoughts of coming but now she was finally here, a rush of excitment rushed down her body. With a quick glances around the smile grew on her face the academy was so much beautiful then she thought. Her gaze looked over towards Xander as he said something, though she couldn't really here him. She wasn't really focusing. "Uhm yeah it is a beautiful place." The autumn nodded in agreement. Blushing at Xanders pickup line, Her bright brown eyes studying the academy again, knowing that this place could proabaly never get old.

No sunlight, go away.

A student back at the cars was refusing to get out. Not that he didn't want to be here, he just desperately wanted some sleep. With an annoyed pull, the driver forced Rhett out of the shady safety that was the car.

Grumbling to himself, he rubbed his tired brown eyes. A hand went through his messy bronze locks as he stared up at the magnificent school. The great white pillars caught his eye, tall and unmarred of cracks or large scratches. The giant building of a school made him feel somewhat small and slightly self-conscious, and he glanced down at himself. Crumbs and a few strands of hair were quickly brushed away and his shirt straightened.

With short realization the Spring noticed the student from this grand school was speaking. Anke? Who is Anke? Did I miss something? He gave out an unintended yawn. A thought struck him. If a school that looks so powerful and intimidating needed their help, what kind of thing would they be dealing with?

Nathaniel's gaze trailed from their young guides up to the large, grand staircases before them that led up to the main body of the school. He almost wanted laugh. The amount of steps was cruel, he thought, or maybe he was just tired and lazy from the long travel over across the world. Either way, he supposed this would wake them all up.
The Headmaster glanced back around with a mastered, reassuring smile. "Come on, then. Lets go introduce ourselves." The auburn stepped after the two Sofia students as they headed up the staircase and up to the large front doors, one of which already opened by a few students in neat white and sky blue uniforms that were both curious and curtious. Inside in the hallways, he was other teenagers walk by all in the same direction. Some were adorned in royal red uniforms, trimmed in a brilliant gold, all walking quietly and sticking close together. Others had far humble green and white outfits, shouting happily in what Nate thought he recognized as portugese.
"I guess we're not the only ones who came to the rescue, then." He mused aloud. Beata's dark blue and black colors would stand out against the others bright and vivid ones, he though, pausing to wait for the others nd for Elodie and Anke to show the way.

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Jason stuffed his phone in his pocket, shooting a long look at the pretty foreign blonde who welcomed them so politely to her school. In the sweet morning light, she looked almost like an angel, or at least he thought so. He wondered if anyone had told her that before, then figured she probably got compliments like that all the time.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, admiring the beauty Greece had to offer (there was nothing wrong with just appreciating, right?) before letting out a loud yawn and trecking after the rest of the students. He became all too more aware of how tired and starving he was exactly about halfway up the steps. Hopefully, whatever threat there was could wait until later.

Ethan was one of the last to head up, his eager smile wiped away and replaced with weariness once he realized how many steps there were exactly before them. Ah, stairs. His old foe. The young man backed away a little, pulling open the trunk of the car with the drivers help and taking out his steel crutches. Leaning heavily on them, letting out a heavy sigh all the while, the Winter slowly headed up the steps one by one. After this, he expected not to go back down again any time soon.

Her legs felt ready to buckle by the time she climbed that last step. Two white-clad students flanked an open door, smiling all politely in that stupid way Elodie smiled. Kayla scowled and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. I must look like a mess, she reflected again, holding back a yawn. Bags had formed under her eyes and a lack of sleep had made her look even grumpier than usual. She lifted her cap and ran sparking fingers through static-raised hair, already dreading the meeting with the other students. Couldn't they just find a feather bed to crash on?

Right. Picture. Yes. The sleep-muddled thoughts managed to surface above her internal grumbling. Friends. Also yes. Except she had no friends. That was problematic. Kayla placed her cap back on her head and scanned the crowd, searching until her eyes found a taller boy, alone in the crowd. "Hey. You." She snapped her fingers, sending up a cluster of blue sparks. "Over here. Phone. Picture. Pretend you know me and smile. Now."

OOC: Is nobody else posting?

Should I just bring in Elodie and the principal at this point?

OoC: Yeah, do that. I'll probably post then. Probably.

ooc;; just move it along xD there isn't much to give to work on atm anyways

Elodie led them inside, through bright-lit halls of marble. Exquisite paintings and curious students lined the walls, their students following the Americans as they trickled inside. The blonde greeted them all courteously and politely as she passed, skipping across the white tiled floor. Somehow it looked more graceful than childish, more like a figure skater gliding across ice. Was that her power? A pretty shitty power if you ask me... Sparks popped off around her head as if in answer, startling a nearby Slovenian girl who was leaning in a little too close. Kayla didn't so much as look in her direction.

Soon, after a turn or two, they were facing two grand oak doors that looked as splendid as they did ancient. Elodie stepped forward and pushed them gently open, revealing the Great Hall.

Sofia's put Beata's Great Hall to shame.

It was dizzyingly huge. The long trestle tables were already crowded with eating students, yet the whole room still felt half-empty as they walked in. Kayla snorted and stuffed her hands in her pockets, unimpressed. On the other side of the hall was a weathered looking woman who looked like the bastard love child of a bat and an old leather boot. She was flanked by a bizarre menagerie of adults that could only be Sofia Academy's faculty and staff. The woman started forward and the teachers followed, smiling broadly. "Nathaniel!" she called, her voice echoing in the hall. The students at the tables had all stopped to stare. "Welcome, welcome!"

When they met, she pulled the poor man into a bone-crushing hug. Kayla pitied him. "We cannot thank you enough for coming here to our school." She spoke almost perfect English, with only a hint of an accent. "We have been preparing for your arrival. There's many things we must do, yes, yes... Is this it?"

Walking inside the great hall, it was hard to miss how truly splendid it was. The place was marvelous, and groups of students sat around large tables eating, which caused Ashleigh's stomach to rumble. She hadn't realized how hungry she was, and for once she felt a bit embarrassed to look so out-of-sorts, considering how beautiful the place was in comparison. She could fix herself up after sleeping, though. She still felt exhausted, and looking at the food any longer would mess her up, so she looked over at the faculty instead, or at least who she assumed to be the faculty. There was supposed to be some kind of issue, right? Well, as far as she could tell, this place looked perfect. What could possibly be wrong?