Ch1: Accepted

A letter dropped through the mail slot of an urban apartment, making a sound so soft, it wouldn't have woken a dog. But, it did wake something else.

A large, golden mass of scalle stirred awake, cracking one softball sized eye to see what made the noise.

"What the hell?" it mumbled, standing up in the too small room. "Who's sending me mail?" The creature started to walk toward the door, and with each step, it became smaller, and more upright, until it became a tall teenage boy with brown hair, and blue eyes. He bent down and picked up the letter, and opened it.

"Dear Mister Gallagher," he began to read. "We are very excited to inform you that you have bben accepted to the Okunote Academy for the Gifted. What? I didn't even apply for this. What the hell's going on?" He began to pace. "We know of your 'special' condition, and welcome you with open arms to be among others as different as you are. Classes start on Sept. 23, in one week. Please be at the Bus stop at 1316 Elderberry Lane at 3:00 PM on the date specified for your escort. We expect to see you at orientation. Sincerely, Professor Froidz, Dean of Okunote Academy."

"This is bizare, what did he mean by 'special condition'? Did he mean the fact that I'm a dragon? And if so, how did he find out? I've lived here since I hatched, and no one's found out."

This guy, this dragon I should say, is me. Names Brian Gallagher. I am indeed a dragon, only 15 years old, and just about to start high school in the human world, or so I thought. I've lived on my own since I was two. Both my parents were killed by an old clan of dragon hunters, I was smuggled out by an old friend of my parents. He took me to the human world, gave me an apartment and left. I've been recieving money through the mail since then, from who, I don't know. And I've been going to human school ever since I could change to human form.

So as to how this school found out what I was, is a mystery to me. But, there was only one way to find out.

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I walked down the street, my bag with literally everything I owned, slung over my shoulder, heading to the bus station. I walked in silence, thinking on what it was this school wanted him for. And how they knew I was a dragon.

After about twenty minutes, I arrived. "3:04, they're late." and as if that was the signal, a door opened up, in the middle of the air. "What the..." I trailed off, as a man looking to be in his twenties with snow white hair poked his head out.

"So sorry to be late." he said, beaming. "Come on then, you're going to be late." he said, gesturing at me to go through the door.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Name's Bartimaus, now lets go!"

"Why am I supposed to go to this school?" I didn't guive a damn if I was late, I wanted answers.

"Look, you can ask Profesor Froidz all your questions when we get there." He nearly shouted, boy was he impatient.

"Fine. But you'd better be right." I said as I stepped throug the door. As I stepped through, I walked into a huge room, filled woth hundreds of other kids around my age. "Where are we?" I asked him.

"We're in the grand hall, orientation will be held here."

"Right about that, where exactly is here?"

"This is Okunote Academy, duh. That was in your letter."

"No, I know that. What is this school for?"

"It's for us beasts of lore, creatures of myth, mythical creatures, whatever you want to call us. It helps us to keep in touch with our ancestral roots, and to learn everything you'll need to know about living in the world of us creatures, or the human world."

"So, I'm not the only one here that's not human?" I asked a smilrcreeping onto my face.

"Of course not. Theres not a human on campus."

"Wow... This is amazing! I don't have to act like a human anymore!" I yelled as I beganto change back into a dragon.

"Wait! If you change here, you're going to cause a riot!"

"What?!" I shouted, all mt scales and claws dissapeared. "Why?"

"No ones seen a dragon in a long time, most people think they're extinct."

"What? That can't be, I thought there were more of us."

"No, the dragons are a dissapearing race, they've been hunted to near extinction by humans."

"Humans, they're not strong enough! They're the weakest race on earth!"

"Yes, pysicaly speaking. But they have technology, and that's how they did it. But, please don't blame all humans, it's only a small percentage that did it, and even less than that even beleive in us anymore."

"Yeah, I guess. So I can't tell anyone what I am?"

"No, you can if you choose. There's no rule against it. Just try not to cause too much trouble." he said, smiling. "Oh look! The Dean is getting ready to start." he said pointing up at a small raised dais at the front of the hall. A small old man was standing at it, gesturing for silence.

When all was quiet, he spoke. "Welcome all new students! And welcome to all returning students. We hope this year will be even better than the last. Now, I know there are a lot of questions, but for now, I will answer only one. Why? Why are you all here? It is simple, to learn. To learn to exist and survive in both the human and hidden world. We also help you younger generations to keep in touch with your ancesteral roots. We also teach survival, weaponry, magic, and other such classes. Now then, Mr. Frostpelt will lead the boys to their dorm, and Ms. Rainlily will lead the girls to , go! Find your rooms!"

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"Holy shit Bartmaus! What's with all the stairs!?" I shouted at him.

"We're in a massive castle smart one. What'd you expect."

"Well I didn't know we were in a castle, I came through some stupid door." I mumbled.

"Quiet down" he said, turning to the large crowd of boys behind him. "Alright, all of you who came here last year, you have the same dorms as last year." A large portion of the boys present left down the hall, and into their dorms. "As for the rest of you, your room assignments are posted on the wall." Hefinished and left to his own dorm.

We all crowded around the sheet posted on the wall, and one by one, left to find our rooms.

"Hmmmmm, Gallagher, Gallagher, Gall- Ah here it is. Gallagher, room 716." I grabbed my bag and walked down the hall. A little waysdown, I found my room,I went inside to find a tall brown haired and brown eyed guy.

"Oh, hi!" he said cheerfuly, dropping his bag on one of the bedson the room. "My name's Furion Elderforest."

"Uhh, hi. I'm Brian Gallagher."

"Hmmm, that's an odd name. Sounds almost human."

"Well, I can assure you, I'm not human."

"Well, if you don't mind me asking. What are you?" he asked, a nervous tone creeping into his voice.

"Naw, not at all. I'm a dragon." I said as I started to put my clothes in the dresser.

"No way." he said, his jaw dropping. "I thought you guys were extinct!"

"Nope just really rare, apparently."

"Yeah!" he shouted, throwing his hands up in the air.

"So, you know what I am, what're you?" I asked.

"Oh me? I'm just a centaur." he replied.

"Really? I've never seen one."

"You serious? We're not exactly uncommon." he said, laughing a bit.

"Well, I've never really been to the hidden world, or whatever y'all call it. I've lived in the human world since I was little."

"Really?" he said, stopping his unpacking. "That's strange. I thought dragons lived in thou mountains."

"Usually we do, but I was orphaned when I was young, and someone took me to the human world. I've lived on my own ever since."

"Wow, I'm really sorry." he almost whispered.

"It's fine, dragons abbandon their young when they can fly anyway. Well, I need to go see the dean. See ya." I saidm leaving.

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Well there's the first chapter, hope you like it. Next chapter, we find out why Brian was sent to the school , and his past is revealed.

R&R!