I glance around to see if other first years are feeling the same way I am, and judging from the rapt expressions on their faces, they are. That knowledge makes me feel a little better, like maybe I really am catching up after my disastrous beginning here.
Just then, Dr. Themis claims center stage. This time, as she begins to speak, no one in the entire amphitheater dares to make a sound. It’s like everyone is holding their breath—including me.
“As we embark together on your new and exciting lives here at Anaximander’s, I want you to know just how pleased we are that you’ve chosen to spend the next six years of your lives with us. We will expect great things from you and will return even greater rewards. You will receive an unparalleled education, not to mention entry into a world—and an understanding of yourself—that is, today, beyond your wildest imaginings.”
She spreads her arms as she speaks, her eyes slowly scanning the crowd as if she is trying to take in every single one of us. And maybe she is. For the very brief second that her gaze meets mine, I feel like she can see every part of me.
A shiver runs through me, and I shrink back despite myself. But then she’s moving on, her golden gaze drilling into student after student as she takes her time weighing and measuring each of us in turn.
The excitement builds a little more with each secondthat passes—with each student she examines—until the entire amphitheater is throbbing with the expectation of what comes next.
And she doesn’t disappoint, even as she tosses her head back and lets out a laugh that rings like the church bells in my town square—loud and melodious and impossible to ignore.
“You are talented!” she proclaims after the echoes of her laugh die down around us. “And you are strong. Here at Anaximander’s we will polish those talents, and we will make you stronger than you ever imagined.
“You will grow in the wisdom and strategic thinking of Athena, the compassion and generosity of Aphrodite, the shrewd protectiveness of Poseidon, the strength and loyalty of Hades, and the unparalleled power of Zeus. You will be tested. You will be measured. And you will triumph, because that is the Anaximander way.
“While the next half hour will determine which of these gods and their human counterparts will best guide you on your journey here, know that wherever you end up, you are there because the gods think it is where you will be most nurturedandmost challenged.”
She lowers her arms, and this time when she looks through the crowd, her expression is filled with joy. “Now, let the fun begin.”
She turns to her right, and for the first time I realize there’s someone else on the stage. It’s the man with the long locs and kind eyes that I saw earlier. While his skin gleams a warm, rich brown in the sunlight, it’s obvious that—unlikeDr. Themis—he’s just a regular person like the rest of us. A teacher, yes. But still just a regular guy.
He steps up to the microphone with a wide grin. “I’m Dr. Indigo Britomartis, and I’m the head of Zeus Hall.”
His introduction is followed by an explosion of cheers from a group of upperclassers in the stands, many of whom are wearing the deep, royal purple their hall is known for.
He waves a hand at them in a way meant to quiet them, but the cheers only get louder until he finally lowers his hands in the universal gesture that warns them to simmer down. When they eventually comply, he continues, “I know we’ve already gone over the rules of the coin search, but here are a couple of quick reminders.”
Nerves erupt in my belly as I glance over at Paris. He never said anything about rules or a coin search. Just how much did I miss? I start to ask him for details, but I’m too afraid to miss whatever “reminders” Dr. Britomartis is going to give us.
“The Hall of Legends is directly behind me.” He gestures to a long, rectangular building with stained glass windows, a gold roof, and more columns than I want to count. “Your coin will be hidden somewhere in the center hall or the two wings on either side of it.
“Now, there are a lot of you, which means there are a lot of coins. Make sure you grab the one that’s meant for you.
“Don’t take more than one.” He starts ticking the rules off on his fingers. “Don’t hurt anyone. And finally, make sure to hurry. You have to be back in this amphitheater, with your coin, in less than twenty-seven minutes. Or—”
He breaks off with a chuckle. “We don’t need to talk about that right now. None of you are going to be late, are you?”
We all shake our heads back and forth at the same time.
“That’s what I thought,” he answers with a grin. Then points to the large screen at the left edge of the stage.
Instantly 27:00 pops up on it.
“Okay, those are the rules. And now it’s time to get this party started.”
A little twirl of his finger and dance music starts pouring through the amphitheater—just as a flashing countdown replaces the twenty-seven minutes on the screen.
“10, 9, 8, 7—” The entire arena starts chanting the numbers with him. “6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”
“Go!” he shouts, and all around me kids take off running for the main entrance like their social lives—and maybe more—depend on it.
8.Coin Me If You Can
I TAKE OFF RUNNING WITHeveryone else, determined to stay with the group so I don’t get lost. Plus, if I have to fend off any more snakes or sparkly things, I’d much rather have other people around so we can do it together.
Teamwork makes the dream work and all that.
