"I think it'll be strange for US to get used to, never mind the students!" laughed Jake as Melissa swooped down next to him, bright as ever. "It's a somewhat daunting responsibility, do you not think? Teaching AND being responsible for the pastoral care of a whole house of students? Not that I don't want to do it," he said hurriedly, not wanting Melissa to infer an incorrect meaning to his words, "I'm looking forward to it...I suppose it's just another thing to consider while I'm working - I can't get as caught up in my research now as I used to, and I need to keep tabs on the students."
Inwardly, he was somewhat worried but he didn't want this to be expressed to his students or to Melissa, he enjoyed getting to know his students on a personal level but this made it so much more formal. The changes were strange...the Academy had never operated this way before...but he didn't want to say too much against them for fear of rocking the boat.
For example, this initiation assembly would normally be taken by Senior Management. The Principal would stand at the lectern, support staff and Deputies behind him and Professors to the side. But this year, Senior Management had sent a memo through to state that the Professors would be taking the orientation this year...hence why they were stood at the front of the Great Hall while the students filed in, sitting down in neat rows.
"I'll always remember the first time I came in here..." said Jake, looking around nostalgically with a smile, "I was so...over-awed by everything. It was the biggest thing in my life...I ju-" he stopped talking as he realised the students were all inside the hall now, and the door had been closed. Clearing his throat he raised his eyebrows slightly at Melissa. "Here we go...Welcome students!" he spoke loudly, the natural authority in his voice emerging and the chatter eventually subsiding. "I hope you've enjoyed your time here so far! Trust me, it's only going to get better...so, as you will have been informed you have been split into Houses this year. I, Professor Jake Green, am head of Earth House. My colleague here will introduce herself in a moment, and the Professor from Storm House has been delayed somewhat - hopefully they shall arrive soon." He paused, thinking hard. "In terms of any additional information...your schedules will be issued by your House tutor, lessons begin tomorrow morning. Breakfast is from 7.30am until 8.30am, lunchtime is from 12 - 1.30pm and dinner will be served from 5-6.30pm. Any free periods you have...well, officially I should advise that they are spent studying hard in our fantastic library...but they are yours to do with what you will." He looked at Melissa, gesturing forwards for her to take the floor.
Savannah - Great Hall
Savannah looked round her, seeing a Leafeon Gijinka and a Rotom Gijinka - Rotom! That was an Electric type Pokemon, she was sure of it. D*mn her for being so timid...she really did want to go and make new friends here, truly she did. This was a new side of the leaf for her, a change and a chance to live a better life...that wasn't going to happen if she isolated herself even when surrounded by Gijinka of her own age, who understood her...
She quietly voiced her thoughts to Raichu in a whisper, earning a huff from the lightning pokemon. "What, I'm not good enough for you now?" he sniffed, Savannah rolling her eyes. "That isn't what I said is it? Raichu you know how hard it is for us to talk to people...I blame your kind for your timid nature," she shot at the Pokemon who simply looked at her with a steadily raised eyebrow. "Just saying...oh you know what, I can't be like this for the whole year..." taking a deep breath, Savannah decided to do something she'd never done before. She braced herself, walking right up to the Rotom and Leafeon Gijinka in the hall and smiled at them.
"Hi! I'm Savannah...I would say I'm new here but I'm actually 16 so it's kind of strange...and this is my partner, Raichu," she said happily, gesturing down to the lightning mouse who was partially hidden behind her leg. Scaredy mouse...she rolled her eyes and grinned apologetically at the two Gijinka in front of her. "Sorry, he's very shy...we have that in common...may I ask your names?" she finished somewhat awkwardly before noticing that people were starting to sit down. She sat down at the end of the row of seats they were stood at, wondering if the Leafeon and the Rotom Gijinka would sit beside her...