That New Book Smell

@"King"

Aris was a bit unexpectedly busy this day, even if his classes were still going to be a little later on in the day. There was a new student, and getting that student acquainted with the academy was meant to be someone else's job - someone else who did not show up. It irritated him a bit.

As such, he was walking down the hallway to the lobby, and instead of footprints grass grew and died in his wake, sprouting up, growing, and turning to dust in seconds. His massive frame moved through the hallways quickly, not wanting to keep the unmet student waiting for much longer.

He arrived to see him reading, which was a welcome sign. At least, he didn't seem to be the kind who would suddenly burn things out of boredom. Aris observed for a while, and cleared his throat. He tried to keep his face friendly, which was rather difficult for him, what with that scar on his eye, his horns, his green skin, and his almost perpetually rough expression.

"Daniel, I presume?" Aris asked, extending a handshake.

"I am Aris Karaas Euez, an instructor here at Starlight Academy who has been somehow assigned the task of guiding you around campus last-minute. This is not my specialty - I am an instructor of the study of plant life, not geography." He put a palm to his face and sighed softly, as he knew he was most likely sounding hostile. "Bear in mind that I am not complaining, I am simply clarifying."

"Moving on. As you are well aware, Starlight Academy is a place for gifted individuals. People here can do wondrous things..." he trailed off, as sunflowers grew beside him, growing past even his seven-foot frame, and then turning brown and falling to the ground, becoming dust.

"...and you being here means that you are capable of the same thing. It also means that you are very dangerous, and must be treated as such. Here you are in a vast powder keg with other people as potentially dangerous as you, and I - we all expect that you will stay in line while you are within the domains of Starlight. Am I being clear?"

@"King"

"Good." Aris' expression softened slightly - he often wore a rather stern face in front of students when it came to professional matters, but right now he was just meeting a new student, and as such he could afford to relax. He slouched slightly and wore a warmer smile.

"Now, I am sure you have your own plans. If you have any particular place you would wish to visit first, let me know - if not, then I will simply lead you to your dormitory, where you shall stay unless you arrange for different lodgings elsewhere." Aris didn't quite know what to do - he'd never actually had to guide a student through the school before. He knew the geography enough, but... how did a tour even work? He wasn't given a route or anything.

Maybe if he really didn't have any other recourse, he could pass him to another instructor better equipped. However, that would leave a very bad taste in his mouth. "What do you wish to see first? If it is within the premises, I may lead you there."

@"King"

Aris nodded with a curt smile. It was rare for people to ask to see the library first, and the last case was someone who went there because he was sleepy. Naturally, that particular student was promptly whacked awake with a vine. "If you'd follow me..."

He checked his buttons again and finding that they were all in place, he began to walk, his steps slow to make sure he didn't end up leaving behind Daniel with his great stride.

"I must say, I am impressed. Not many would ask for a library visit as their first thought. Maybe we can expect great things from you in the future?" he spoke as he led on, directing Daniel to the library, grass still living and dying in his wake. A few students passed by them and greeted him, which he returned with similar warmth.

"Some come here to Starlight Academy and excel, with a clear purpose in their mind - like those earlier. Some others came by accident and adapted, from more tumultuous walks of life, such as myself. Some others arrived following a plan set forth by other people and discovered freedom and identity. And some arrived here and went out of control... such as my brother. Whatever you may pursue here in this academy - I pray that you stay on whatever path it is you wish to follow. I would not wish losing their way upon anyone."

Aris sighed as he opened the doors to the library, and gave a weak grin. "I apologize if I ended up being too serious. Feel free to look around for a while."

@"King" @"CourageCureRage"

Every second that passed, the more hopeful Aris felt for Daniel. He seriously had enough of those other students who were more interested in following their loins instead of their brains. He clapped on Daniel's back, as if pushing him forward. "The tour can wait. Feel free to look around. The first day is always allocated to allowing newcomers to get themselves familiarized with the campus. But first..."

Aris led Daniel to the librarian Azza, someone Aris hadn't met yet but heard of from the other librarian... mostly in the form of complaints. Still, he had to reserve judgment until he could see for himself. He towered over her and the desk, and eyed her cautiously.

"You must be Azza. I have heard... things about you and your way of handling things. This is Daniel, a new student - he will require a library card, and based on preliminary observation, he will be here a lot. We will also require your guidance around the shelves. His files are here," Aris said, almost intimidating and imposing with his forward lean over the desk and his dropping of the files.

Azza was organizing files and books near the entrance of the library when Aris went near her. She quickly faced the visitors as she replied, "Oh! Hello there and welcome to the library! You must be Mr. Aris? Greetings Daniel." Grabbing Daniel's hand accompanied by Azza's energetic vocals that still mess with the readers in the library. As she felt the gazes of the readers and the people who went to the library for a nap and a familiar stare from her back, she quickly toned her voice down.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She whispered. "I still don't get why libraries are quiet, it kinda bores me sometimes. Oh, well... Follow me to the counter over there" She pointed upon receiving Daniel's files. She transformed, flew up, dived into the counter while making a flip. He landed on some sort of flap and three "10" signs popped up beside him. He bowed, transformed back to his human form and organized the files at hand. She prepared the 'Newbies Guide to Starlight Academy's Library 1st Edition' she made herself. It contained all basic information anyone should know about the library. From steps on borrowing books, rules on overdue books, to do's and don'ts (except "do maintain silence at all times or don't talk aloud") inside the inside the library.

"Okay, so first, here's your library card. Please don't accidentally lose it or insert it in an ATM machine and embarrass yourself. If you want to search for books, you can ask any of the staff here or just search it in the computers over there, I have included the interface in this booklet (pointing at the Guide) so you wouldn't accidentally turn the computers off or delete the entire database- well not that you can." She giggled. Azza handed the booklet and library card to Daniel.

"Are there any questions? You can ask me on who's the top ten beauties who visits the library." She closed her face to Daniel's and whispered. "But dude, I call dibs on Tamara okay?" She backed away and gave him a wink."So you want me to tour you around or exercise your freedom?"