A week later, Hathor was escorted to the water edge of Lapide. It was a little embarrassing having her mother with her, but she didn't mind. Especially since her mother was carrying the heavier one of two bags. Both were dropped when they reached the docks, the two women stretching. 

"Have you got everything?" Amneris asked.

"Yes, mum."

"Phone? Books? Tablet? Clothes?"

"Yes, mum."

"Knives?"

"Yes, mum."

Amneris twisted the lid of the bottle in her hands - a tonic from Kayla - as Hathor hefted both bags over her shoulders. "Are you sure you don't want me to-"

"I know the way," Hathor interrupted. "I've done this flight many times now. Unless the island has magically moved in the last few weeks, I'll be fine." 

"But are you-"

"Mum! Seriously! Chill!"

"I'm chill!"

Hathor put her arms around her mother, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'll be fine. Promise."

Amneris kissed her cheek as they pulled apart. "Call me when you get there."

"Bye, mum," Hathor laughed, turning to face the bright blue ocean.

"Tonight?"

With one flap of her wings, she was in the air.

"In a week?" Amneris called from below.

"Bye, mum!" Hathor yelled back with a wave.

The docks faded into the distance - her mother with them - as Hathor flew the path she had taken so many times now. The path to the Academy. It was a twenty minute flight from the Lapide docks, though there were a variety of ways to get there. Boat, hoverbike, wings, teleportation. Hathor preferred flight. 

The island she was headed for soon came into view. Overall, it was massive. The Academy itself covered the entirely of it. As this was the case, everyone just referred to the island as the Academy. In the center of the island were the Towers. Silver-capped and towering over everything - thus the name - this was where classes took place. 

Moving outward from the Towers came the Dorms. Each building was named after the Gods themselves. They took up the most amount of room. A large amount of students meant a large amount of accommodation. Once given a room, it was yours until the day you graduated. Most dormitories held up to six people while others could go as high as ten. Boys and girls were mixed as were species - unless there were special circumstances which you had to speak to the Headmaster for. The Headmaster then had to gain approval from the Queen.

Between the Towers and the Dorms were a large amount of shops, cafes, bars, clubs, and even a massive library. Plenty of study areas were dotted here and there, though most remained close to the Dorms. As no one could be bothered to make the trip into Lapide - the closed city - unless they had a day or two free, most people stayed on the massive campus. 

As a wide variety of students from a wider variety of species and worlds came to the Academy, there were certain areas of the island attributed to a different type of landscape. From lava pools to hot springs. From snow-capped mountains to dark caves. From forests to the coast. There was a little bit of everything surrounding the Dorms.

Hathor came down on one of the many landing pads a short walk from the Dorms. She followed the pale stone path into the maze of buildings. It took weeks to get the hang of this place, especially at ground level. As she walked, a few familiar faces waved or called out greetings, asking how her break was. She did the same. 

Her building - Naiu - came into sight. Hathor placed her hand on the scanner. Her face appeared on a small screen above it, saying she had permission to enter this building. The reinforced glass doors slid open. When they closed behind her, the mass noise vanished entirely. Hathor wandered through the dark blue carpeted hallway to the nearest stairwell and begun the hike up six levels to the top floor. 

The dark blue carpet continued over the stairs and into the hallway of the top floor. Hathor counted apartment numbers until she reached hers. Room eighty-five. She placed her hand on the scanner and the words Hathor Topanga. Recognised.  flashed over the screen. The wood-like door slid open. Hathor stepped into the main area. Oh, how she'd missed her shared apartment. 

A small hallway led into the main area. A white L-shaped kitchen rested on pale tiles and had a matching island table which meals were eaten at. To the right was the mini lounge room: three lounges, a long low-lying table, and a wide-screen television sitting on a small cabinet all of which were on a similar carpet to the one outside. On the back wall were six doors, each leading into a separate bedroom. A balcony was accessible through a sliding door and wrapped around the building though it was separated by a wall at regular intervals for privacy between neighbours. 

The apartment itself was not empty. Hathor was spotted within seconds of her arrival. She had enough time to drop her bags to the floor before being hugged. Hugged was a nice way to put it. Tackle would have been more accurate. 

Imogene Nura grinned, the Firebringer's long flaming hair flaring with her excitement. "Long time no see, girlfriend!" she exclaimed, strawberry eyes bright against her warm orange-bronze skin. "How was your break?"

"Same old same old," Hathor laughed, hugging her back. "Missed you guys like crazy."

Isaiah Kai hugged her next. "We missed you, too, Hath."

Isaiah was Imogene's exact opposite. Where she was fire, he was ice. Literally. Isaiah was a Glacis. His frost-blue skin was chilling to touch and his eyes were the colour of thawing ice. Hathor ruffled his short-cut white hair. Small flakes flew from it and she laughed.

"What's all the commotion?" came another voice. A head peaked out from the third room and a grin broke across the girl's features. "Hathy is here!"

Hathor braced herself for the incoming hug from Madelyne Ague, yelping as she was almost thrown to the floor. Maddie was purebred Lyriumian and lived in Iraliya - her tanned skin a clear sign of all her time flying. Her periwinkle-purple eyes seemed to be made of excitement. When she pulled back, her short honey-gold fishtail braid slipped over a shoulder.  

"Are the others here?" Hathor asked.

The three shook their heads. 

"They should be soon," Isaiah said. 

Imogene and Maddie grasped her hands, dragging her to the lounge. "Tell us everything that happened over break," Imogene said, taking up the spot to her right.

"Yes," Maddie said, sitting at her left. "Did anything exciting happen?"

Hathor looked back at her bags still sitting in the hallway. "Don't you think I should-"

Maddie snapped her fingers. Hathor spotted a flash of light in her own room - the fifth one - and could just make out the outline of her bags on the bed. 

"That works, too."