Chapter 150: First Day of School
Chapter 150: First Day of School
The second day of free exchange was largely similar to the first, but after the morning discussions, everyone collectively visited the important Underground Cave System below the Garden.
As soon as they entered the cave, they could feel a completely different coolness from the surface. The cave structure was complex, with different caves serving various purposes. Some were small, just big enough for people to converse, while others were as large as a Quidditch pitch, used for growing fungi. There were also medium-sized caves that were once used as classrooms.
At the very bottom of the cave system, there was a clear underground river that not only provided sufficient water for the inhabitants but also allowed for sealed boats to travel along the river, emerging undetected dozens of kilometers away.
However, after the school moved above ground following the resolution of a crisis, most of this underground system was sealed off as an emergency backup. Now, only the part closest to the surface is still in use, with some sections serving as classrooms for special courses and others as underground farms and livestock areas for growing edible and medicinal plants. For example, Liam saw a large Mushroom Room where many edible mushrooms were cultivated.
Unlike Hogwarts, Castrobrusso, located deep in the Amazon Rainforest, is far from human settlements, making it inconvenient to purchase supplies. The difficult transportation and the school's unique history have made farming a significant feature of the school. For instance, the mushrooms they had at last night's barbecue came from one of the mushroom gardens in this underground tunnel system.
After two days of free exchange, the time finally came for September 1st, the start of the new semester. Liam and the others, as special guests, attended the opening ceremony, with the Hogwarts students seated at the long tables representing the Freshmen. Castrobrusso has three houses: the combat-oriented Blood House, the academically inclined Feathered Serpent House, and the Great Tree House, which focuses on foundational studies and time manipulation.
Unlike Hogwarts, where students are sorted into houses upon arrival, Castrobrusso assigns students to houses at the end of their first year, based on the skills they demonstrate in various subjects. Therefore, in the Great Hall, there are four long tables, representing the Freshmen and the three houses. Liam and the other guests sat at the least crowded Freshmen table.
After a brief opening speech by the Headmaster, the feast began. The feasts at each school are always lavish, and the banquet at Castrobrusso Academy was no exception, featuring a wide array of local delicacies, including Peruvian Roast Beef and large skewers of Brazilian barbecue. There were also jungle specialties like fried insects and grilled alligator.
Additionally, to welcome the guests from afar, the feast included several British dishes. However, Liam found that, compared to the other delicacies on the table, both Fish and Chips and Haggis hardly qualified as gourmet.
As the main courses gave way to desserts, the atmosphere in the Great Hall grew more lively. During the conversation, Liam learned that there was also a special ceremony for Freshmen. Unlike Hogwarts, where the ceremony emphasizes the weight of history, the Freshmen Sorting Ceremony at Castrobrusso was more thrilling.
The young wizards would board the Giant Dugout Canoe, pulled by the Golden Dragonfish, from the dock in Wizardtown, a few kilometers downstream from the school. They would then travel upstream and climb hundreds of steps to reach the high ground where the school stood, finally entering the Great Hall through the path.
By the time everyone had finished their desserts, the Feast was over. Everyone hurried back to their dormitories to rest and prepare for the first class of the new term the next day.
The next morning, Liam woke up early. The exchange students followed the same class schedule as the students in their grade at Castrobrusso, and the first day of school began with a third-year class.
At Castrobrusso, the curriculum was divided into core and elective courses. Except for the first year, each grade had its own electives, some of which were specific to certain houses. As exchange students, Liam and his peers were allowed to choose any elective classes they wanted, without being restricted by their house. Additionally, the two professors from Hogwarts who accompanied them would offer an elective course for Castrobrusso students during this time.
Since they were completely unfamiliar with the school's teaching arrangements, the students had decided the night before to all choose the same elective course for each grade. This way, they could discuss any issues together and avoid falling behind due to unfamiliarity with the classes.
Because of this, after breakfast, Liam, Hermione, and Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin House headed to the second-floor classroom for their first lesson. Along the way, they encountered several Kepora, the small, furry, humanoid creatures unique to Castrobrusso.
As Liam and his friends walked down the corridor, a group of Kepora tried to drop a giant mushroom on their heads. Fortunately, Liam used a Disarming Charm to knock the mushroom down in time.
The large mushroom burst on the ground, splattering green slime everywhere.
"Oh, it's them again. Do they have nothing better to do than throw stink mushrooms?"
"Confinamiento, we're lucky it's not April. The smoke fruits they throw then are the real trouble."
With a spell Liam had never heard before, a girl with wheat-colored skin and mixed heritage waved her wand, gathering the slime and disposing of it in a bin. Liam then noticed a group of people ascending the stairs in the corridor, and a voice called out to them.
"Good morning, Liam. What class are you heading to?"
Hearing the greeting, Liam recognized David, who had been in their group and had discussed enthusiastically with them a few days earlier. He replied, "Good morning! We're headed to a combat class in Blood House. We're on our way to the classroom now."
Only then did Liam notice the symbol on David's uniform: a drop of blood, a wand, and a book. Curious, he asked, "Are you a student in Blood House?"
Before David could answer, the girl who had cast the spell interjected, "Of course, David is not only a student in Blood House, but also a third-year Prefect and the two-time champion of the Wizard Duel in his grade."
"Cousin, past glories are just that—past. No need to keep bringing them up", David said with a resigned look. Then he invited them, "I imagine it's your first time finding your way to the classroom. It might be a bit tricky. Why don't we go together?"
Liam was delighted to have such a smooth start to his first class. It was a good omen indeed.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
