Ceilia opened her door a crack and peered out, seeing a nervous first year student standing before her door, her eyes locked on the floor.<br/><br/>"Yes?" she asked, trying to perform a warm smile. She could tell the student was nervous, or scared, she wasn't sure.<br/><br/>"The principal asked me to give this to you." she said, handing over an envelope. Ceilia took the envelope and the student nodded and went along her business.<br/><br/>Closing the door she drew a fingernail along the seam, then unfolded the paper to read the principal's words. Panic welled in her throat, "Counsellor? He want's me to be the teacher students would go to for personal help?" she spoke aloud. At first, she doubted her ability. He was sure there should be someone else more suited for the position. But then again, she has been around and saw enough social and cultural interaction to be a good judge of things. She figured herself to be a very empathic person as well. Her inclination to help others was probably what inclined the Principal to appoint her the position. She laid the letter on her desk and looked out the window, now seeing more movement in the bushes where she noticed before. As her first action as counselor, she would see what was going on. It was common for some students to hide and be afraid of this place. Everyone had their reasons. With a snap of her fingers, she vanished from her office, appearing once more outside at ground level in front of the trees.<br/><br/>---------------------------------------<br/><br/>Pythos heard the bushes rustling but couldn't really move to see what it was. Only slightly awake, he remained on the precipice of consciousness, struggling to clear his thoughts enough to focus on the sound, to find out what was coming at him, but his focus was fading repeatedly, slipping back into sleep once more only for a moment before struggling to stay awake again. He saw someone or several people by the sound of the number of footsteps, someone stumbled and he slipped once more into darkness.<br/><br/>"Hello?"<br/><br/>It was another voice, not belonging to the one who stumbled upon him. This person was further away, perhaps just outside the bushes. Still he had no strength to open his eyes let alone answer. He thought he heard bushes rustling again from the direction of the voice, yet his focus wavered once more...<br/><br/>----------------------------------------------<br/><br/>"Hello?" she called. Ceilia cautiously walked into the bushes, trying to make as little sound as possible. She pulled apart a hedge and stepped through, her robes snagging on a twig. When she finally freed it, she turned to see a pair of Centaurs, one lying on the ground.<br/><br/>"Oh, hello." She said in surprise, "Is he alright?" Without waiting for a response she knelt beside him and laid a hand on his head, "Oh my, He's exhausted!" She closed her eyes and spoke a silent spell, her mouth moving but no sound left her lips. Hands softly glowing she placed them on his bare chest. When the light had subsided, she jumped when he woke with a start and his eyes locked on first her, then the other Centaur.<br/><br/>"W-Who are you two?" he demanded, now slipping on the dead leaves trying to stand. Ceilia stumbled backward to avoid the flailing hooves.<br/><br/>"Calm down!" she said, "I'm one of the teachers! The Counselor in fact!" with a snap of her fingers an apple appeared in her hand and she held it out to him, the groundskeeper may not even notice it missing in the small orchard behind the school, "Here, eat. Regain your strength. You wish to enroll, correct? Neither of you have nothing to fear here. Everyone is different here. Some just more so than others."<br/><br/>Pythos was conflicted. On one side was another Centaur, something he never thought he would ever see, and for her to be so beautiful, he thought he had to have died and this was the afterlife. On the other side, was a woman who could use magic, yet looked human as far as he could tell. Probably just a witch or something, spouting how everyone was different. He has heard of plenty of Witches in his day. They weren't so special.<br/><br/>"There are plenty Witches around. You have no idea what it's like to be as special as me." he paused for a moment, glancing at the other Centaur, then added, "As us, I mean. Everyone stares. Everyone sizes us up and look at us like we're freaks among freaks. I hate the way they look at me!"<br/><br/>Ceilia smiled, "You did miss the opening ceremony, so you wouldn't know." she said. A soft light behind her and her large white wings fluttered gently behind her, "I'm no Witch."<br/><br/>This confirmed it. He had died. An angel had come to take him to the afterlife. Fear flashed across his face and he felt like running, but his legs wouldn't work.<br/><br/>"No. I'm not dead. No Angel is taking me yet!" he yelled. Ceilia recoiled for a moment and started laughing, quickly stifling her laugh.<br/><br/>"No, no. I'm not an Angel either. I'm a Daeva." she said, "I'm not even from this realm! That's how different I am. I understand how you two feel." she paused for a moment then added, "Although I can hide who I am. You two can't. How about this? Let's head inside and get to class. Come to me anytime you need help, in return, I will display my wings and be noticed as much as you."<br/><br/>"You would subject yourself to the same as us?" he asked, "Why?"<br/><br/>"To prove it's not as bad as you think. Even I have my reservations, yet I'm willing to understand what you two are experiencing." she said, holding out the apple, "I'm Ceilia Alun, History teacher and school Counselor. Daeva at your service!"<br/><br/>"I'm P-Phytos." he said awkwardly, then turned to the other Female Centaur, "I suppose I won't be alone now. It's nice to meet you both."