Tails and Silver sat down. As nervous as they were, they also felt very relieved because of the principal's warm welcome.
The school bell rang loudly. They heard rumbling noises coming from the hallway as students entered the building and passed the office. Their voices sounded excited as they walked to class. Through the blinded window of the office you could see their laughing silhouettes passing by.
``Please stay a bit longer,'' the principal urged them, as he saw the two youngster attempted to stand up to get to their classroom as well. ``There are a few things I would like to inform you about before you start your classes'' the two sat down again and waited patiently. The rumbling noises in the hallway faded as they heard some doors slam shut, which meant the students arrived in their classrooms.
``As I said'' The principal continued. ``Welcome to our school. I'm Mr. Knuckles, the principal of this school. I've invited you over because we heard so many good things about the two of you while you were still in high school. Your grades went through the roof!'' The echidna spoke animated. Tails and Silver smiled proudly at each other from hearing the big compliment. ``We think it will be good for you to start here at the second year, since the first year is mostly an introduction to everything. But you two are way passed an introductory year.''
``Are you sure? Isn't it going to be too difficult for us to start second year?'' Tails asked surprised, this would mean they would have skipped three school years at once since the end of the school year at high school.
``You will both do great, believe me! You don't have to worry, we have enough teachers who know about your situation and they are all willing to help. And if you really start developing problems with the material we can always see what we could change, but I really feel you need the challenge at this point. Otherwise it will all be a big waste of your intelligence''
``W-well okay then, we will try our best'' Silver said, as they were still doubting theirself.
``That's what I like to hear'' Mr Knuckles said with a wink. He sat down at his desk again and opened the top drawer. ``I have to say, I am very impressed with your class choices.'' He pulled out some papers and laid them out on his desk while flipping through them. ``Miles, I can see you are really going in the direction of electrical engineering, good choice. There will always be a lot of job opportunities in that field of study. Have you already tried something with electrical engineering before?''
``Yes sir'' Tails replied `` My dad is a mechanic, he has a workshop at home. Since I was 8 years old I've been helping him out most weekends, designing and building prototypes for new gadgets.'' The principal looked impressed. ``I'm mostly interested to learn more about animatronics and robotics'' Tails added.
``Nice! Well I think you will fit right in. We have a big lab and workshop which I think you will like'' He pulled a paper out from the pile and looked at it a bit worried. ``Silver...''
Silver's ears perked up by hearing their name. The echidna looked worried, ``I see you submitted for all the classes, are you sure about that? It can be very hard to do so.''
``Yeah I know, but they all sounded so interesting'' Silver replied with a shy smile on their face.
``Maybe it's best if you just do the same classes as Miles, then you will already have more than enough classes and homework to do. Then you can help each other out as well. I'm afraid you can't keep up with everything otherwise, it sure are too many classes'' Mr Knuckles took out a pen and wanted to cross out some of the classes to match Tails' list of classes.
``N-no wait'' Silver said a bit shocked, ``As much I like the gadgets Tails builds with his dad, I don't think that direction is the best fit for me''
``Well what is it you would like to do then? When you have finished your studies?'' The echidna asked with his pen hovering above the papers.
``I-i'm not completely sure yet, but I really think I would like to help people in need''
``Okay then I suggest you skip the art and cultural classes, as they aren't of much use anyway'' he said not really understanding why they were still teaching those useless classes. He put the pen on the paper to draw a line.
``No please!'' Silver said feeling himself pushed aside ``I really am interested in arts, I sure don't want to miss out on those classes'' The ivory hedgehog thought quickly, ``Also I think the study of art evolves your perspective on life itself and can make you a better person. You can explore different points of view, you don't need to agree with all of them, but you can understand them and accept where the others view is coming from.''
Knuckles' yaw dropped, impressed by Silvers explanation. ``So that's what art is for? That kind of sounds pretty important''
``For me it is sir'' Knuckles stared at Silver and back at the paper, you could see his eyes scanning the lessons to see which class could be dropped. Silver thought for a moment and asked, ``Can't I just try out all the classes and homework and such? Just let me experience it all, and incase it's too much for me I can always drop a class, right?'' You could see Knuckles think about their suggestion.
``I think that could be a good idea'' Mrs Rose interjected from behind the principal. ``I could help him around the art and history classes if necessary.'' She winked and smiled softly at Silver, ``I think we should give him the opportunity to find his way through the classes, and as he said, he can always drop a class if it becomes too much, since he will already be doing more classes than the average student.''
``Maybe you're right, just try it all out and see if you can do it'' Mr Knuckles confirmed as he put down the paperwork. ``Just be careful and prepare yourself for the hard work, don't be afraid to ask for help and failing a class is not something to be ashamed of. We are only Mobians, we make mistakes and learn from them. Failure is something you just need to experience once in a while to just pick yourself up and look at it from a different angle. Besides that, you two are three years younger than the other students, so you are already winners''
``Thank you sir, I will do my best'' Silver spoke with a soft smile. ``I will not disappoint you''
``Well, okay then'' the principal winked proudly at them as he was impressed by Silver's determination. Mr. Knuckles continued more seriously, ``Next up, college can of course be hard, but it's not the level of the classes I worry about. The students here are much older than you and are probably intimidated by your intelligence.'' Tails and Silver blushed a bit. ``Some of them will undoubtedly give you a hard time, but don't let them get to you. Our school nurse has taken some mental health classes during the summer, just in case you need some help or are struggling with some students opinions. It is very important that you let us know if something is going on, or if some students aren't treating you in a respectful manner'' Silver gulped a bit as their thoughts went back to the gang of five that were already belittling them, but Silver didn't want to complain about it at the start of the year, ``Please don't try to be tough or let them get to you. Just let us know when something is up''
``Yes sir'' Tails and Silver replied in unison. Mr Knuckles looked at them satisfied.
``Ow, one more thing before you go to your class...'' Knuckles pulled one paper out of the pile and handed it over to Silver. ``We have sent this proof of registration to you by mail. But we haven't received it back signed by your parents'' Silver looked at the paper.
``Okay, I will ask them to sign it, the post man can't always find our address.'' He said with an awkward expression. ``Could you maybe hand those papers to me the next time or slide them in my locker? This isn't the first time something went wrong with the mail, it would be a shame if we missed out on such important letters like these.'' Silver slid the paper in their backpack.
``I will do so'' The principal replied, ``You can hand the form in tomorrow in my mailbox next to the door.''
``Will do'' the ivory hedgehog responded.
``Thank you. Then I think it's time for you to head to your first class, Mrs Rose will lead the way. Good luck with everything and if there is something we can help you with, please let us know'' Silver and Tails rose from their chairs and followed Mrs Rose.
``Thank you for this opportunity'' Tails said towards the principle before heading out.
``Yeah, we really appreciate it'' Silver added.
Mr Knuckles watched them leave and looked proud but also curious at what these two fellas will accomplish in the future.
``Come on, I will take you over to the biology class. Ms Tikal will be your mentor for the year and is already aware of your special treatment.'' Mrs Rose stopped at the door of the biology classroom and knocked the door. Ms Tikal opened the door curiously. ``Good morning Tikal, I bring you your new students Miles and Silver''
``Great'' She said with a kind smile as she looked over at them, ``Welcome at Mobia college, please come in''
