"Wake up!" HollyAnn shook Piper awake. Piper could have sworn she heard a loud trumpet in her dreams.
Piper groaned and sat upright. "Huh, what?"
HollyAnn had changed into her uniform. "Get dressed; we have morning drills in a few minutes."
Piper frowned. "Are you kidding?"
"Well, I wouldn't want to be you when the drill commanders come up here." HollyAnn spoke and quickly hurried out of the room. Piper could see a few girls walk past the hallway.
She was kidding, right?
Piper rubbed the sleep from her eyes and picked the scroll from her nightstand. Morning drills were scheduled for the crack of dawn. She threw her head back and groaned with dread.
It took twenty minutes to get ready because the armor was complicated. By the time she arrived at the morning drill parade, it was at least forty-five minutes later.
Commander Remington's broad shoulders and chiseled features commanded respect, he wore a suit like them, only his uniform was silver.
"Squire Black, how lovely it is for you to grace us with your presence." He said icily, as his voice dripped with sarcasm.
The students had formed lines, fists close to their sides, their eyes fixed forward. Piper adjusted the helmet over her head and quickly mimicked their position.
Commander Remington marched up to her and held a granite-hard expression. "Stand straight, Squire."
Piper quickly slammed her fists to her side; she swallowed hard and met his stern gaze.
"This is your first parade; therefore, I'll be... lenient." He said with authority. "Here at the Academy, there is no room for laziness, incompetence, procrastination, and jest. So forget everything you ever knew."
Piper doubted if she had the makings of a slacker anyway.
"If you show up late again, there will be consequences." The commander warned. "Am I clear?"
"Sure." Piper replied.
He narrowed his eyes on her and made a low grunt of disapproval.
"Yes, sir." She corrected.
The Commander turned to everyone. "We'll begin with some warm-up."
* * * * * * * *
The warm-up turned out to be a two-mile run and strenuous exercises. Piper's legs were still burning up after breakfast, and everyone had to attend assembly in an amphitheater.
She couldn't find HollyAnn but managed to take a seat, gathering stares from the kids around her.
"...I hear Terrans still live in caves." Someone whispered behind her.
"...Do you think she's a cannibal?" Another girl whispered.
Grunts of disgust echoed around Piper. She had to turn to see a light green-skinned girl in a third-year uniform.
Piper turned to face the speaker in annoyance. "Omigod, please stop, I'm not a cannibal."
Everyone else grimaced at her.
"Piper, there you are." HollyAnn sat next to her.
Piper flinched at the sight of HollyAnn. "Where did you—"
Piper felt someone grab a handful of her ponytail. She turned to see a goth girl with a buzz cut and dark make-up sitting next to her.
"You have split ends." The girl said flatly. "We saw you at Drills.You run like a newborn lamb."
"Wow, thanks for noticing." Piper murmured, patting her hair down.
HollyAnn chuckled. "Ivy, be nice."
"No promises." Ivy replied, staring at Piper. "Ivy Littleston, you must be that odd Terran girl everyone's been gossiping about."
Piper shut her eyes. "Nice to meet you too."
Ivy leaned in a creepy tone. "Word of advice: always carry a small charm; it might ward off...things."
Piper widened her eyes; she was about to ask what 'things' when a fanfare blew. The stadium grew quiet as the red drapes slid open.
A beautiful red-haired woman dressed in a silver dress and armor stood, along with a few of the staff behind her.
"Who's that?" Piper whispered to HollyAnn.
"Headmistress Brunhilde Kent." HollyAnn answered.
"Good morning students," Brunhilde began with a warm smile. "I trust you're enjoying your week..."
Brunhilde drifted off to remind everyone to respect codes by not sneaking out of school or going for joyrides on the pegasus.
"... I also remind all fairies that we have a strict law on flying around campuses and not to use your powers as a quicker way of getting to classes early." Brunhilde said with full authority in her tone.
Out of the corner of Piper's eyes, HollyAnn shrank back with a guilty expression.
"Ah yes," Brunhilde smiled. "Lest I forget, let us welcome our newest student, who will make her mark in the school as the third Terran magic folk to be admitted in a century..."
Oh no. Piper shrunk back in realization as Brunhilde searched the crowd, eyes leveled to hers.
Brunhilde stretched her hand. "Step forward, Piper Black."
"Perfect." Piper murmured under her breath.
Only HollyAnn applauded as Piper rose to her feet but immediately stopped when no one else joined in.
Piper made her way to the front; everyone had their eyes on her.
Here comes anxiety. She thought.
Piper's hands grew sweaty; her heart fluttered.
They hate me. She thought. Why was it necessary to do a formal introduction anyway?
"It is with great honor to have you among us, and we hope you forge strong bonds with your classmates." Brunhilde said warmly.
Piper merely nodded. That sounds easy enough.
"Let us welcome Piper Black once again." Brunhilde announced.
HollyAnn, again, hooted with rapid applause, shaking her fist up, while everyone else remained silent. Piper's face grew hotter as she forced a smile watching HollyAnn cheering.
Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.
"And may the light of Grimm guide us all." Brunhilde announced.
"For Honor and Bravery." Everyone else chanted.
When assembly was over, everyone began to leave for classes. Piper recognized the voice behind her.
"...No, we have Advanced Elf History; Combat Training is right after lunch..." The voice spoke.
"...Why do we need Elf History again?" Another boy asked.
"No way," She paused and turned around. "Leslie?"
The boy who had practically stalked Piper for weeks, froze, staring at her. He stood amongst two other guys and a girl.
"Wow, it's you," Piper noted his uniform. "Third year too. Do they send other students to kidnap first years?"
He rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for this. Let's go."
Then he and his friends brushed past Piper without a word. Piper felt her heart drop to her stomach.
HollyAnn placed a hand on her shoulder with a sympathetic pat. "If it makes you feel better, he barely notices anyone besides Raina."
"Who's Raina?" Piper asked in confusion.
"Simon's girlfriend?" Ivy responded. "Keep up, Terran."
"Get to class, Piper," HollyAnn advised. "Best of luck."
Piper simply stared in the direction Simon and his friends had wandered off to.
What do you know?