Mortals, Mythlings, and Mischief - Chapter 1

It was my first day at a new school. Always a terrifying prospect even at a normal school. And this one was far from normal.

I stared up at the ornate wrought iron sign arching over the drive that proclaimed itas "Euryale High School". Below the scrolling letters, in smaller but no less elegant script, were the words "For the Education and Betterment of Mythlings".

Looking at the sign, I shook my head. If they only knew who they were letting in through the gates.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward onto the cobblestone path leading up to the school's main entrance. The grounds were like something out of a dark fantasy. Twisted, gnarled trees dotted the landscape with strange, luminous flowers blooming in beds along the path. In the distance, I could make out what looked like a hedge maze, its walls so tall and dense they seemed to swallow all light.

As I approached the main building, I couldn't help but gawk. It was an enormous, sprawling structure that seemed to defy architectural logic. Spires and turrets jutted out at odd angles, some connected by bridges that didn't look entirely stable. Stained glass windows depicting various mythlings adorned the walls, their colors vivid and hypnotic even from the outside.

I pulled open one of the massive double doors and stepped inside. The interior was just as unsettlingly grandiose as the exterior. A vaulted ceiling soared overhead, supported by twisting columns that looked like they were carved from obsidian. The floor was a mosaic of dark and darker stone, polished to a mirror sheen. Strange statues stood in alcoves along the walls, showing different mythlings from history, from sirens to harpies.

Students milled about the cavernous foyer. I'd never seen so many different types of mythlings in one place. Harpies perched on the banisters while group of what I could only guess were trolls lumbered past and several werewolves, or maybe one of the other canine varieties of mythlings, roughhoused in a corner.

I got stares from them all as I passed, but I ignored them, and the whispers that came with them, as I navigated the labyrinthine halls in search of the principal's office.

After a few wrong turns, I finally found myself standing before an imposing door of dark, polished wood. A brass plaque affixed to it read "Principal Shteno" in curling script. I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, a voice called out from within.

"Enter."

I pushed open the door. The office was surprisingly normal compared to the rest of the school. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with thick tomes bound in what I fervently hoped was leather. A large desk of dark mahogany dominated the room, and behind it sat the principal herself.

A manticore. The principal was a gods-damned manticore!

Tawny fur covered her body from the neck down, ending in a leonine tail that twitched back and forth like an agitated cat. She fixed me with a stern expression, her slitted pupils boring into me.

"Daniel Edmund, I presume?" she inquired.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without croaking.

"Do you know why you're here, child of man?" she asked.

I did, but I couldn't tell her. My father had explained it to me before he talked to the mayor, who owed him enough favors to get me on the list as the first human student.

I she knew the truth, she’d send me on my way before I could finish this meeting.  Or maybe just tear me limb from limb.  I come from a family of mythling hunters, going back as far as we could trace, beyond my grandfathers, grandfathers, grandfather. Or we were. Mythling hunting wasn't what it used to be. It had gone mainstream. Taken over by the syndicates in Syldan and Cynestra, who’d turned it into a trade of amateur. Or so his father always said when he complained that no one wanted to take the time to train real mythling hunters anymore, so most of the training schools closed down. Without the ability to study mythling and learn from them, most of the real mythling hunting families either went into something else or … weren't trained enough to survive.

When my father heard about the premier mythling school accepting it’s first human student, he thought it a perfect way for me to get firsthand experience. The only problem was, I didn't particularly want to be a mythling hunter.

Not that what I wanted, mattered. My father had given his command, and I had to follow it.

"To ... to foster unity between humans and mythling-kind?" I managed, my mouth dry as a desert.

She snorted, a curl of smoke jetting from one nostril. "A pretty sentiment. And a false one.  Humans and Mythlings have no place together. You are here because t The Council of the Chosen, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the first step to mending centuries of bad blood is to feed a human to the wolves."

"I'm not here to cause trouble, Headmistress. I just want to learn, the same as everyone else."

"Do you have any idea the kind of animosity you're walking into, boy?" She stood abruptly, her bulk making the room feel suffocatingly small. "These students have lost mothers, sisters, friends to your kind. You'll find no welcome here."

"With all due respect, ma'am, I'm not responsible for the sins of the past, just as you aren’t responsible for you’re ancestors actions in the beginning days, when Mythlings hunted humans. I'm here to build a better future. One where we aren't defined by what we are, but who we are."

Pretty words. And all bullshit.

She held my gaze for a long, tense moment before a rumbling chuckle shook her frame. "Bold words, little human. But words are wind. You want to change minds? You'll need to prove yourself with action. Succeed where generations of your kind have failed. Maybe then your fellow studentswill see you as more than a walking appetizer."

"I won't let you down, Headmistress," I said, bowing my head respectfully.

"For your sake, you better not. Now get out of my sight. And Daniel ..." she fixed me with a meaningful look as I turned to go, "watch yourself. Old grudges die hard."

I nodded soberly and took my leave. As the door closed behind me, I caught Headmistress Stheno's parting mutter, "Why the mayor chose a human for this instead of the dozens of qualified mythlings is beyond me..."I hurried down the hallway, trying to keep my head down and avoid drawing attention to myself. Easier said than done when you're the only human in a sea of mythlings. I was jostled from all sides by creatures of every shape, size, and species imaginable.

A group of trolls rough housing, pushing each other and laughing and I accidentally made eye contact with one of them. She, or maybe he, growled at me, baring teeth like tombstones. I quickly looked away.

As I walked, a fairy darted right in front of my face, her gossamer wings nearly brushing my nose. I startled, stumbling back into a display case. Pictures and awards rained down around me, narrowly missing my head.

Laughter rang out. I looked over to see a cluster of catgirls, tails swishing in amusement.

"Look at the clumsy human!" one of them cackled. "No wonder you're all so easy to catch."

Heat rushed to my face, but I bit my tongue. Starting a fight on my first day wasn't going to win me any points. I started to pick myself up just as an earsplitting shriek pierced the air.

I yelped, hands flying to my ears. It took me a second to realize it was the school bell. Maybe it would be designed for the enhanced hearing of mythlings but to me, it sounded like a banshee wailing directly into my brain.

Covering my ears, I hurried off to class, praying to any god that would listen, that I wouldn't be late on top of everything else.

I stumbled through the corridors, trying to find my class and shake off the effects of the bell. The sound had hit me like a sledgehammer, and I was feeling pretty rattled. I glanced down at my schedule again: Beginning Creative Animagi Arts, room D131.

The problem was, not all of the class labels were in English. Many were written in strange symbols I didn't recognize. I honestly had no idea how I was ever going to find my class.

I hadn't even actually started school yet, not really, and it was already going great. I spotted a mythlings up ahead of me.

Mustering my courage, I called out, "Excuse me! Could you tell me where room D131 is?"

She whirled around, her slitted yellow eyes narrowing as she took me in. A forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

"Why should I help you, human?"  She practically spat the last word.

I raised my hands in a placating gesture. "I'm just trying to find my class. I don't want any trouble."

"Tough luck," she hissed, baring her fangs.

Then she turned on her heel and stomped off, leaving me alone in the dimly lit corridor.

I sighed. Ten minutes and several wrong turns later, I finally found the classroom. I'd hoped to just sneak in, but the door creaked loudly as I pushed it open. Instantly, every eye in the room turned to stare at me, none of them particularly welcoming.

"You must be Daniel Edmund," a melodic voice said.

I looked up to see the most stunning woman I'd ever laid eyes on. She had long, auburn hair that shimmered under the lights, framing a face of otherworldly beauty. High cheekbones, full lips, flawless porcelain skin. But it was her eyes that really caught me - a vivid, emerald green that seemed to glow with an inner light.

She smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "I'm Ms. Belladonna Morwen, but you can call me Ms. B. Welcome to Beginning Creative Animagi Arts."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My tongue felt like it had been glued to the roof of my mouth. I’d heard of sirens before, but I hadn’t ever seen one in person.  Her voice wormed it’s way into my head.

"Why don't you take a seat?" she gestured to an empty desk in the front row. "We were just about to begin."

I hurried to the only seat available, one in the very front of the class, feeling the weight of everyone's stares on my back. The chair scraped loudly against the floor as I pulled it out, making me wince.

"Now then," Ms. B said, clapping her hands together. "Let me tell you a little bit about what we'll be doing in this class. Creative Animagi Arts is a unique class, one that celebrates the special abilities and talents of each and every one of you. Here, you will have the opportunity to explore your mythlings heritage, to embrace the powers that make you unique. In this level, you’ll learn basic manifestation and control of you abiltiis. In more advance levels you’ll take through your four years at Euryale, you’ll do more than just larn to control them, but to harness them and use them effectively, but that is for another year."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the room.

"Throughout this year, we will be focusing on understanding how each of your basic abilities works, and those of your classmates.  It’s important, when living in a complex society, to not be versed on your own kind, but all the mythlings you might meet.."

She swept her arm out, encompassing the whole room. "In this class, there are no limits, no boundaries. Only your imagination. I want you to push yourselves, to discover new aspects of your identity."

Her gaze landed on me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as she said, "And that includes you, Mr. Edmund. I know you may feel out of place here, but I believe you have just as much to contribute as anyone else. Your unique perspective as a human among mythlings is invaluable."

I swallowed hard. I hadn't expected such a warm welcome, especially not from a teacher.

She gave me another dazzling smile. "Wonderful. Now, let's begin with a simple exercise to get those creative juices flowing, shall we? Please, tell us your name, your animagi form, and something interesting about yourself."

She gestured to a harpy girl in the front row, who stood up, her feathered wings rustling. "I'm Zara. I'm a storm harpy. I love flying through the clouds."

Next was a boy with radiant, golden skin covered in scales. "Kairos, a siren. I can hold my breath for over hours underwater."

On it went, each mythlings showcasing her unique abilities. A dryad who could communicate with plants, a girl with dog ears and a tail who could turn into a dog, a fire nymph who could create fire from her hands and head, and so on.

Then it was my turn. I stood up, acutely aware of how plain I looked compared to my classmates. "I'm Daniel Edmund. I, uh, I don't have an animagi form. Because I'm human."

Snickers rippled through the room. I felt my face heating up as I quickly sat back down.

Ms. B clapped her hands, drawing the attention back to her. "Thank you all for sharing. Now, for our first exercise, I'd like everyone to practice shifting into their animagi forms, if you have one, or a simple display of your ability, if you do not."

There was a flurry of movement as the mythlings began to transform. Feathers sprouted, scales shimmered, tails unfurled. In moments, the classroom was filled with a menagerie of mythical creatures.

And then there was me, still very much human. I felt like a sore thumb sticking out.

"Why do we even have to be in class with a human?" a voice complained loudly. I turned to see a kitsune girl with flaming red hair and nine fluffy tails glaring at me. "He can't do anything."

"Akira," Ms. B chided gently. "In this class, all are welcome, regardless of their form. Daniel's perspective as a human is valuable to us."

Akira huffed but didn't argue further.

Ms. B turned to address the class. "Over the course of this year, we will be learning to master partial transformations, allowing you to tap into your animagi abilities while still in human form. We will also be exploring how to imbue your art with animagi magic, creating pieces that are truly unique and powerful."

I raised my hand tentatively. "Ms. B? How will I be graded in this class? Since I can't, you know, transform or use magic?"

"I want you to work with the other students. They will be tested on how well they understand the human perspective of their power, and you on how much you have learned about mythlings. We're building bridges, and you'll be graded on effort, creativity, and participation; just like everyone else."

An excuse to study them without anyone thinking it strange? My father would be thrilled.

"Now, I'd like you all to partner up," Ms. B instructed. "Choose someone with a different animagi form than yours. You'll be working together on various projects throughout the year."

The room burst into chatter as the mythlings began pairing off. I looked around, trying to catch someone's eye, but no one seemed eager to work with the lone human.

"Looks like no one wants you, human," Akira sneered as she sauntered past me to join a harpy girl.

She wasn’t wrong. Everyone seemed to be pointedly ignoring me. Great. Not only was I the lone human in a school full of mythlings, but now I was going to be the kid who couldn't even find a partner.

"Daniel, why don't you pair up with Lily?" Ms. B suggested, gesturing towards a girl with furry dog ears and a fluffy tail.

Lily's ears perked up at the mention of her name, but when her gaze landed on me, her tail drooped. She looked about as thrilled as I felt. Nonetheless, she gathered her things and plopped down in the seat next to me.

"Let's get one thing straight. You better not slow me down, human."

"Hey, I'm just here to learn, same as you. I'll do my best to keep up."

She huffed, clearly not convinced, but turned her attention to the assignment Ms. B had written on the board. We were supposed to be practicing partial transformations, focusing on specific body parts.

Lily closed her eyes, her brow furrowed in concentration. A few moments passed, but nothing happened. She tried again, her hands clenched into fists, but still no change.

"Ugh, this is impossible!" she whined, her ears flattening against her head.

"I'm sure this stuff takes practice."

"What do you know about it, human? It's not like you can change shape."

"You're right, I can't. But that doesn't mean I'm not interested in learning about it."

She eyed me warily. "What do you mean?"

"Well, like, what's it like being a lupine? Can you actually talk to other dogs? Do you have a heightened sense of smell?"

"No, I can't talk to dogs. I'm not a dog. Stupid humanist," she started to say, devolving into mutters.

"Sorry, I didn't know. See. I don't even know what I'm not supposed to say. I mean, that's why I'm asking. If you tell me, then I'll know and there will be one less stupid human, right?"

"Doubtful."

"Worth a try. So, you can't talk to dogs of course, because you're a lupine. Even asking that is rude and insulting. Got it. What else? Like, you're here to learn about your abilities, right? What are those?"

For a moment, she just stared at me. Then, slowly, her posture relaxed a bit. "I can smell things really well. Way better than humans."

"See. That's cool. And you said earlier you can shift into a dog form. I had no idea you guys could shift or whatever. Is it hard? Does it hurt?"

"I don't think it hurts, but … I haven't ever really been able to do it, so who knows. And yeah, it's hard. I'm trying to just transform my legs, but it's not working."

As she kept concentrating, I pulled out the textbook Ms. B had handed out at the start of class and flipped through it until I found the section on partial transformations.

"So it says you're not supposed to force it. The more you try, the harder it is. You have to think about the part and what it should look like. Get a picture in your mind, and then kind of … breathe. Huh. Okay, that's not so helpful. Maybe it's like … just relax and let it happen."

"I know that," she said, but I saw her give me side eye as she kind of … deflated.

I could tell she was actually trying to do it. She closed her eyes, but her face didn't scrunch up this time. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, her legs started to change. Fur sprouted, her feet elongated into paws. But something wasn't quite right. While her lower legs had transformed, her upper legs and hips remained human.

She stood up, wobbling unsteadily on her mismatched legs. "Whoa!"

She started to pitch forward, but I jumped up and caught her before she could faceplant.

"Hey, you did it!" I exclaimed as I helped her back into her seat. "Well, mostly."

She looked down at her half-transformed legs and groaned. "This is so embarrassing."

"Are you kidding? That's amazing! You actually transformed, even if it wasn't perfect. That's way more than I could do."

"I guess," she said, and then eyed me again. "Thanks. The visualization thing kind of helped."

Before I could respond, a yelp sounded from across the room. I turned to see the fire nymph, Ember, frantically patting at her desk, which had burst into flames. She must have gotten frustrated with her own attempts at partial transformation.

I nodded towards the smoldering desk. "See? You're not the only one having trouble."

Lily followed my gaze and snorted out a laugh. "I guess mismatched legs aren't so bad compared to setting the classroom on fire."

For the rest of the class, we kept working on Lily's transformation. She managed to shift back to fully human, then tried again with just her legs. By the end of the period, she could consistently transform her lower half into a dog, though the transition at her waist was still a little awkward.

As it got close to the bell ringing, Ms. B came by and put two little ear plugs in my hand. I don't know how she knew, but I was thankful. I managed to just get them in, before the ear-splitting sound happened again.

As I started to gather my stuff up and head out of class, I almost ran over Lily, who'd come back after getting her stuff. Her tail was wagging slightly, which I guess meant I'd made a good impression once we got over that first hump.

"So … you're not so bad. Thanks for, you know, being my partner." She said it kind of offhandedly, but her tail was still going and she didn't walk away. "Do you live in one of the dorms here or in Wyllbrook? Like, what kind of things do you do for fun?"

"I'm in Wyllbrook. I think they didn't want to throw me in the deep end too fast. Besides, I'm not sure if any of the dorms are set up for humans. And for fun, I guess just normal stuff. Read, play games, whatever."

"Ohh, do you ever …"

"Lily!" a voice called out.

We both turned to see two girls approaching, a yokai with wildly curly black and green hair, and a dryad with long, silvery-blonde locks that seemed to move like leaves. Mochi and Callie, if I remembered right from the introductions, although they said those were nicknames.

Mochi bounded up, looping her arm through Lily's. "C'mon, we're gonna be late for math."

Callie followed more sedately, but her deep green eyes were fixed on me, and not in a kind way. They didn't even get two steps away, out of my hearing, before they started asking her questions.

"What are you doing talking to the human?" Callie asked.

Lily's ears drooped a bit. "He's not so bad. He was helping me with partial transformations."

Mochi looked over her shoulder at me and snorted, "Right."

Lily looked back at me too, with kind of an apologetic expression, and said, "See you later, Daniel!"

I waved halfheartedly, as her friend rushed her out of the room. Well, at least one mythling didn't completely hate me. That was something, right?