" You guys actually... well… look like typical...witches." Lawrence
stuttered the moment he saw the girls.
Both Landy and Janice blushed into the colour of overripe tomatoes.
Boon Kee had to slap on Lawrence's back before he could stop staring at the girls.
The voice that boomed a moment ago boomed once again.
"Attention all students. Attention all students. Please stop fooling around. Step into the platform in five minutes time. If you do not want to serve detention in your first day of school" loomed the voice.
"Whose voice is that?" asked Landy, rushing out of the compartment.
"Shh… lets just get out of here as soon as possible" hushed Chee Hao.
The boys quickly crammed their pockets with sweets and the girls quickly stepped into the platform.
A man standing at the platform was shouting at the top of his voice amidst the noise.
"First Years! First Years! Please step forward! First Years please step forward!"
"That's us!" Landy whispered.
They quickly walked towards the man, where there were already a few pupils surrounding him, not sure of what to do.
"Follow me." The man replied, when seeing that all the first years had arrived. They were led to another direction. What they saw next made everything shriek and gasp.
"Ohmigosh! Is this real? I thought they only existed in fairy tales!" one the girls in the crowd shrieked.
Janice had to agree with the girl. It was unreal. This had to be a dream, she thought. It was a huge Phoenix and a really huge Dragon. The phoenix, in Janice's opinion, was the most beautiful creature she had ever met. It had a rich plumage of red and gold feathers and had really huge wings. The dragon, on the other hand, had huge golden wings and to Janice's surprise, they were very tame.
"Okay then, girls, you will sit on the body of the Phoenix. As for boys, you will sit on the dragon. Don't worry, it's very tame." He assured them.
Slowly, Janice and Landy climbed onto the body of the Phoenix. Janice half expected the Phoenix to snap its beak towards them. But it merely gave a soft hoot that somehow gave Janice a bit of courage on what's coming ahead. Before she knew it, the Phoenix had spread its huge wings and it began to take flight. They were now off to Yap Ee Chian.
"Is that.... a castle?" Landy whispered, pointing at something in particular in the dark.
After staring into the dark for a few minutes, she finally understood what Landy meant. They were heading towards a castle.
"Yes, it is a castle, Landy" Janice whispered. The castle was the most beautiful building she had ever seen. It was perched on top on a hill, with lots of lights luminating the castle, giving it a very homely feel.
Thump. The Phoenix had landed. Clumsily, Landy and Janice climbed out from the
Phoenix and they took a look around. Just as Janice was wondering when would
the boys arrive, there was a loud roar behind them. The boys had arrived.
"So, how was the trip, Lawrence?" Janice asked sweetly.
Lawrence climbed out from the dragon, his face rapidly turning into a brillant shade of green. "Horrible, if you ask me. Jerky ride, you could say." He replied shakily. He had to be supported by Boon Kee and Chee Hao just to speak to Janice.
Janice was about to tell Lawrence how wonderful their trip was when the man who led them earlier shouted again. "Follow me to the castle, first years!"
Straightening her robes, Landy and Janice began to follow that man to the castle.
They were being to some sort of basement where there was a witch in dark purple
robes standing at the front door. The moment she saw the man, she replied, "
All here, Eswaran?"