Mum and her boyfriend, Colt Kymmer, who also happens to be my biological father in a brand-new body (believe me when I say that story will do your head in and I really can't be bothered to explain it) escorted me to the Lapide docks at the end of the week. It was the morning of the day before classes begun and I wanted to get in to get lost, unpack, and catch up with people. You know, the usual stuff.

"Are you sure you have everything?"

I rolled my eyes, taking my bags from my mum. "Yes, mum, I'm sure."

"Books? Tablet?"

"Yes, mum?"

"Weapons?"

"Yes, mum."

Colt chuckled, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders as he handed me my final bag. "Relax, Amneris. She will be fine."

Mum pouted. "I'm allowed to fuss over my only daughter."

"You fuss so much you have forgotten to give her that going away present."

I perked up at that. "Present?"

Mum reached into an inner jacket pocket and handed me a small dagger. Its silver hilt was amazingly crafted and fit my hand perfectly. Several pale blue and clear gemstones were embedded into it. I removed the leather sheath and held the silver knife up to the sun. The light glittered off it incredibly. "It's beautiful," I said.

"It may or may not be from the Royal Archives." Mum gave a nonchalant shrug at my shocked expression. "Oh, come on. I own them. I think I'm allowed to give my daughter a pretty dagger that apparently belonged to an ancestor so she can defend herself in case something goes wrong at school—OW!"

Mum glared at Colt who'd pulled her hair to shut her up. I won't lie. I did laugh at that.

Colt smiled kindly at me. "You have nothing to worry about, Hathor. The Forgotten War is over, the new Rebels have gone into hiding, and that Dex boy is still in prison. Go have fun with your friends and learn things."

"I intend to." I slipped the dagger into my final bag and put it over my shoulder. "Nothing else important any of us have forgotten?"

"Only one." Mum hugged me tightly. So tightly I felt something pop. I tapped her shoulder. "Mum. Super strength."

She yelped and stepped away. "Sorry! I'm just really gonna miss you, baby."

"I'll miss you, too," I said with a smile.

"You'll call as soon as you get to the Academy, right?"

I rolled my eyes fondly and spread my silver Fae wings. "Bye, mum."

"Tonight?"

"Bye, mum."

When I started flying into the sky, mum called after me, "IN A WEEK?"

I called back down, "Goodbye, mum!" and begun the short flight to the Academy.

*

I say 'short'. It's a good half hour flight up north to Academy Island from Lapide. The air turned a little colder the further north I went, but it wasn't really enough to bother. Of course, I was wearing Lyriumian threads and those things are good for almost all weather conditions.

I flew over the bright blue ocean, enjoying the feel of the wind in my hair and wings as I flew the familiar path to Academy Island. It appeared on the horizon, the three Towers glistening in the sunlight. I flew past the new shield generators and landed on the docks between the Grasslands and Caves. I followed the stone path until I reached the outskirts of the Westside Dorms.

I should probably backtrack here and explain Academy Island's layout. It's quite impressive, especially when you add in the fact it's a man-made island first build back in the Time of the Ancients. It doesn't look the way it did back then, of course, but it is still pretty impressive.

Academy island has three outer rings and an interior circle.

The outermost ring is what we call the Landscapes. As you can guess from the name, it's filled with landscapes. Each one is for species who require that environment to thrive and so people get less homesick. We've got the Mountains, Grasslands, Caves, Firepits, Icelands and the Cove. Each one has a barrier surrounding it so the areas don't overlap, and a path separating them so we can get to whichever of the six docks without being limited because of biology. It's pretty awesome.

The next ring has the Dorms and Temples. Yeah, yeah, we have temples. It's not as weird as you might think it is. Lyriumia is one of the two God Worlds, and a lot of us have a personal relationship with a Deity and our world's Patron First Being Naiu (who just happens to have a very close personal relationship with my family. Yikes!) We've also got Deities from other worlds for others who have a personal connection. Everyone has a right to their beliefs and their practices, so long as they don't cause harm to others. I would go into explanations about how ironic that is, but this isn't the time. The Dorms are all pretty nice, but I have no idea what they look like anymore. Everything got rebuilt!

The inner ring is what we call the "fun ring". It's got all the shops, cafes, study nooks and little private spaces all over the place. If you want to chill but don't feel like making the trek to your district in the Landscapes, this is the place. It's suited to all species (obviously) with plenty of protection and access to the weather around here. Apparently there are some new stores. It's not that surprising. When one of the Towers fell last year, a lot of damage was done. The Fun Ring is also where the main entrance to the Library is.

Which brings us to the central circle – the Three Towers and Library. All classes take place here. There's also a few small shops and food places for between classes, and a lot of medical wings for obvious reasons. There's also been a new addition, but that will come up later.

I made my way from the path between the Caves and Grasslands (the closest port to Lapide) and turned left to where I knew my Dorm – Naiu – stood. I wove my way through the other Dorms, each one named after a Deity of the God Worlds, until I reached the ones closest to the Mountains and Cove. Naiu Dorm stood tall and proud with a new coat of pale blue paint and silver decorations which sparkled in the sunlight. I went to place my hand on the old scanner to get inside before realising it was no longer there. Instead, there was a flash of blue-green light as I was scanned head to toe. To the side of the door, a small screen appeared. It showed a picture of me, my name, species, and year level. The doors slid open. I won't lie, that saved a lot more time than having to balance stuff on one arm to scan your hand!

Inside was basically the same – the large main area still had dark blue carpets, walls and lounges. The hoverplatorm was exactly where it had been, right next to the old staircase which had been given a paint job. I still doubt anyone would use it. You'd have to be crazy to climb those things all the way to the top.

I took a moment to check my room details on my phone. Number 185. The same as before, thank the Gods. I was relieved to know I wouldn't be stuck trying to find a new room for half the term. I stepped onto the hoverplatorm and pressed the button for the top floor. A shield slid around the platform before it zoomed upward. The ride might sound bumpy from an outsider, but it's actually really smooth.

The only thing different about the top floor was the new lights. An improvement, if you ask me.

I found my apartment's door easily. The old hand scanner was still there – a pity, really, but hey. Better than nothing all things considered. When I placed my hand on the scanner, a holoscreens showed just my name and face. The door clicked as it unlocked. I picked up the bags I put down and stepped inside.

Now, I'd like to say I wasn't at all impressed with the new layout of my apartment, but I did have a bit of a squeal. Who wouldn't? I can think of a few people, actually, but that's not important. What was important was that the apartment really had been given an upgrade. And it was a good upgrade.

The L-shaped kitchen was new, shining, and freshly polished. The dark carpet looked so soft that I was already making campout plans later. The dining table had changed from a rectangle to circle. That would make it so much easier for everyone to fit! The three lounges had also been replaced with new ones of a similar design. The old coffee table looked the same, though it had clearly been given a good scrub. The large TV had been cleaned and the cabinet it sat one looked like it had a new paint job. Bookshelves had been added to the wall beside the sliding door leading out to our small balcony. I poked my head out there and found a new clear-coloured table and some comfy looking chairs. Not only that, but there was a small unused garden bed. I had a giggle at that, knowing full well I would be using it later.

From here, I made a B-line for my old room. This time, I really did squeal. A bigger bed, new curtains on the windows, and a fresh layer of paint. The old bookshelves had been replaced with something bigger. The new desk, wardrobe and bedside table were all clean, dustless and ready to use. There were even more charging ports. Amazing.

I dropped my bags on the floor and sat on my bed. I bounced lightly. It felt comfy, not too soft or hard. I had been told about the new improvements in advance, of course. The Academy didn't have a choice. It would be pretty stupid if we all showed up with the wrong sized sheets or something like that. Even so, everything looked so much better than I had been told.

I heard the front door open and hurried to see who was there. Maddie was looking around in wonder, one of her bags slowly slipping from her shoulder. Maddie's eyes landed on me. She squealed. I squealed. We hugged each other tightly.

When we pulled apart, I grabbed one of Maddie's bags and helped her carry them to her room. It looked the same of mine, of course. All the rooms were the same, but they all became 'ours' over the course of the semester.

"Are the others here yet?" Maddie asked as we dumped her stuff in her room.

"Just me," I answered, "but I'm sure the others will be here sooner or later." The door opened again. "Or they could be here right now." We rushed to see who it was.

Sky's jaw hung open as he took in the new look of our apartment. "Okay," he said. "This is pretty cool."

"Skyyyyyyyyy!" Maddie jumped into his arms without warning, almost knocking the two of them over, and kissed his cheek. "How are you?"

"Better now that I'm here."

He held a hand out to me. I laughed and joined them in a group hug. "We missed you, Sky."

"Been here long?" he asked as we pulled apart.

"A few minutes," Maddie said. "Hathy recons the others will be here soon."

'Soon' turned out to be an overestimate as the door chose than exact moment to open once again. Both Isaiah and Troy came in at the same time, chatting between themselves. We watched as they talked – re: argued – over something.

"It's bitter as fuck," Troy was saying as he put his bags on the floor in the kitchen. "You need cream in it."

Isaiah gave him a bewildered look. "Why would I put cream in—"

"Um, hello?" Maddie wiggled her fingers as the pair looked at us, surprised to see other people had already arrived. "Are you two seriously fighting on the first day?"

Troy bristled. "It's not argument."

Isaiah nodded. "It's a friendly debate."

Maddie crossed her arms and demanded, "About what?"

"Coffee," they answered.

Maddie threw her hands in the air and went to the lounge. I had to bite back on a laugh.

"Looks like we're just missing Imogene," Sky said as he and Troy bumped fists.

Isaiah held up his phone. "She wanted to check out the new garden."

I clapped my hands together, excited. "I want to see it, too!"

*

Not to brag, but I think the new garden is awesome. Okay, I'll totally brag. It was my idea, I came up with it, I designed the entire thing. You can all thank me and my genius for this fabulous thing. I got so many people to agree to the idea that even Headmaster Orion couldn't say no. Mum thought it was a great idea, too, but not just because I'm her daughter. She liked the reasoning behind it and when she presented it to the Council for their approval (and money), they agreed without hesitation. At least, that's what mum told me. I have no idea if she was exaggerating.

The Memorial Garden lay in the small, unused space between the three Towers. A way for us to remember those who fell in battle last year. A small private space for grieving and remembrance.

Bright green grass was covered in multi-coloured flowers and a few strategically placed boulders. Shrubs and trees in a variety of colours provided more decorations. There were a few stone-and-dirt paths from each side of the garden leading straight to the central feature – a large sculpture of the twisting Lyriumian and Terpolite symbol of Rebirth. The names of the fallen teachers and students shimmered across its dark stone surface. Small gifts had been left by their friends and loved ones – books, gemstones, candles, flowers, small meals and spices, and even a few pieces of clothing a jewellery.

It was here we found Imogene. She knelt at the base of the sculpture, eyes closed and hands clasped together in front of her. She looked like she was praying. We waited a few minutes before having a silent argument over who would talk to her.

I lost.

I moved beside Imogene and knelt, pressing the back of one hand to the other's palm and raising them to my head, blowing slightly at the sculpture. Once done, my hands rested in my lap as I turned to Imogene. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She smiled sadly. "Just wish they were here, you know?"

I returned the smile. "I know." Yeah, we all lost a lot of friends that day. But a lot of them also made it through and made recoveries. All things considered, it could have been a lot worse. "We'll make sure it never happens again," I told her.

"Yeah." A little more brightness came to Imogene's pink eyes. "So, new apartment?" She pulled me to my feet and linked our arms. "Girl, tell me everything."

Classic Imogene. Always bouncing back.

*

After helping carry Imogene's matched luggage (I'm not joking, she really has matched luggage) to the apartment and letting her geek out at it like the rest of us have, my mates and I went off the explore the new campus.

Some things were still the same, of course. Certain shops and cafes had either been rebuilt or were luck enough to only have a bit of damage to fix. There were a lot more sitting and study areas than there had been last time, and there were new shops and cafes. Troy was practically drooling at the shops filled with food. Maddie wasn't much better, especially after she caught a glimpse of some very cute looking cupcakes. Sky basically forced us to check out a mixed book-and-tech shop and ran around like a kid. Imogene screamed so loudly at the sight of some new clothes shops that some of the other students looking around came to make sure no one had died. I, personally, remained calm while looking in the windows of an art supply shop. We also made a stop at the Temples, relieved to see it looked as good—if not better—as it had last time we were here.

When it reached lunch time, we were all starved and decided to try one of the new cafes simply called C&C – Coffee and Cake. Very creative name. We made sure there was a shady spot for Isaiah (the Glacis aren't fans of heat for obvious reasons) before ordering, chatting and eating. It was pretty decent. We all agreed to come back and try some more another time.

We found some more study nooks then decided to be practical and find some food places. Sky created a map on his phone, marking everything down as we went with different coloured dots so we could read the big map in our apartment better. We also made a point to pick up a few food options as we went. The first few days were always tiring and we rarely felt like cooking. Plus, midnight feasts. Very important.

Before we realised it, the sun had set and the day was over. We returned to our apartment exhausted and ready for a good night's rest. While we'd normally sit up and talk late into the night, we all wanted to unpack our things and find what would be needed for classes tomorrow.

Preparedness is something my family tries to do but seriously sucks at. Thankfully, I'm pretty good for it. I managed to get my stuff ready for the next day within half an hour, after which I promptly flopped onto my bed. After laying there for a moment, I reached over for my phone and called mum.

She picked up after the fourth ring. "Hey, baby. How's school?"

"Love the garden," I said, twisting a strand of hair around my finger. "Well worth the wait to see. It looks great."

Mum laughed. "I'm glad you like it. You did design it. Wouldn't be all that Queenly for me to change it."

"Debatable."

"How's the new campus? Your apartment?"

"A-ma-zing. So much was done in the year!" Sure, it was only possible because my aunt and the Terpolites lent a hand, but the timing still was incredible. Isn't peace an amazing thing? "How are things back home?"

Mum sighed dramatically. "Oh, you know how it is. Paperwork, idiots, more paperwork, and more idiots."

"No one interesting to play with?" I teased.

She snorted. "That would be the day. Be grateful the crown isn't passed through our bloodline. No fucking way I'm putting you through this bullshit."

Within reason. I would still have my duties as Princess, but at least I didn't have to deal with the big stuff like all the meetings and stuff. Ew. "Part of me wants to thank you," I said, "but the rest of me questions your sanity at keeping the job."

"Do you seriously want to deal with this much paperwork? I have entire rooms of this shit."

That was fair.

"Are you ready for your first day tomorrow?"

A very subtle change in subject. "Ready as I'll ever be!" My eyes drifted to the bag laying outside my closed wardrobe. "Pretty sure I got everything but I'll check in the morning."

"That's my girl." I could hear mum smiling as she asked, "Will I be hearing from my dear daughter again any time soon?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear to stick my tongue out at it. "First week is always hectic with admin stuff, but you know I'll call when I can. I know how much you worry."

"Hathy, you make that sound like a bad thing." A moment of silence. "You'll let me know if there's any issues, right? I have this nagging feeling we haven't sorted out everything at the Academy just yet."

"People are still gonna be pretty freaked," I said with a sigh. "We'll keep an eye on things. And I'm sure you'll be Orion's first call should anything go down."

Mum hummed, not convinced. "Just stay out of trouble, okay? Don't go looking for it."

I gasped, placing a hand over my heart. "When have I ever—"

"Do you really want me to answer that? Really?"

I giggled. "Love you, mum."

"Love you, too, baby. Sleep well."

"You, too."

Don't go looking for trouble, she said. I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble finds me. It's a family trait. It's quite literally in my blood. No matter how much I try to stay out of trouble, I always get dragged into something sooner or later. Hell, I've started almost getting into as much trouble as mum, and that's saying something.

I placed my phone back on its charging pad and shimmied under my quilt, hoping this term would be less eventful than the last one. As much as I hated to admit it, I actually wanted to focus on stuff like school.

But, hey. What were the chances of something bad actually happening?