As Headmaster Gruelcraft and the other professors returned to the confines of the main building, a group of a dozen admin staff swooped in, all smiles and ready to deliver some news. In no uncertain terms, they informed us we had the freedom to roam around the Academy until classes started on Monday. Nice. A chance to stretch our legs and get a feel for the place. I’m waiting for someone to drop a big secret or give us a heads-up about what’s next, but nope, just the standard ‘explore the grounds’ routine.
I watched as my classmates exploded into action. Some headed straight for their dorms, looking to settle in and make things feel like home. Others seemed ready to tear the place apart, trying to uncover whatever was hidden in the tucked-away spaces of the Academy. The staff gave us directions to our dorms, but a few of us started wandering off, looking for something to do beyond the obvious.
As for me? Well, I was just standing there, unsure of my next move. Not a single clue on what to do, just a whole lot of stillness. Then, of course, my stomach started protesting. I had missed my breakfast, and it was making itself known. I tracked down the staff again, and they pointed me toward the nearest dining hall. They had signs everywhere, like they were trying to make sure nobody got lost, because, let’s face it, the layout was confusing as all get-out.
I left my new classmates behind, scattered on their own missions, and followed the path to food. The campus had an old-school charm. Ivy crept over stone walls, statues of creatures I didn’t even recognize, and trees that made the place look like it was stuck in a different time. With signboards as my guide, I made my way toward the dining hall, which, thankfully, had its doors wide open.
Inside, the smell hit me with unexpected strength, the aroma of freshly cooked food that looked way too good to be real. The tinkle of silverware and quiet chatter filled the room. I noticed a few senior students casually loitering near the tables, enjoying their meal in peace.
I grabbed a table in the sunlight and settled in. The place was massive, with chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings and murals on the walls. I dug into my meal, and the variety was unreal. Fruits, proteins, grains… It was like they knew exactly what my body needed to keep moving.
Stuffed and feeling a little more energized, I figured I’d take a quick detour around campus before heading to my dorm. Why wait? I was here. I had time, and it was all new.
As I walked, I saw other students doing their own thing. Some argued over whatever academic nonsense they cared about, while others were hard at work, practicing spells or getting their combat skills up to par.
I ended up on one of those sky bridges that connected the buildings. The view was insane, with greenery everywhere, stretching out under the bright, constant sunlight. I turned a corner, lost in the moment, and then, bam! Out of nowhere, I slammed into a professor, his arms full of books.
We both went down. It was a mess. Books flying everywhere, pages fluttering like mad. I hastily got to my feet, feeling like a total idiot. The professor’s face was all serious, and his dark clothes just added to the vibe, like this guy meant business. His hair was disheveled, though, and he had that look like he always had a trick up his sleeve, even when he was pissed.
“Watch where you’re going!” he snapped, glaring at me like I was the worst thing to ever happen to him.
I was mortified, my face probably the color of a ripe tomato, and I stammered out an apology, trying to salvage whatever dignity I had left. But the guy wasn’t done yet. He kept glaring at me, undoubtedly not impressed.
While he was still on me, I spotted a book on the ground, its black cover standing out. I reached for it, and when my fingers brushed over it, I froze. There was a symbol on the cover, something I’d seen before when I was little, but I couldn’t quite place it. My brain started scrambling, but before I could even ask about it, the professor snatched it away from me like it was a treasure.
“Give me that!” he snapped again, and that was it. He stormed off, leaving me alone in the hallway with questions overflowing my mind. What was with the book? What was the deal with the symbol? And why the hell was the professor so damn protective of it?
I was left standing there, wondering what the heck had just happened and what it all meant.
After the whole mess with the professor, I decided to check out another building called the House of Arcane. It looked impressive, with spires that had carvings of mythical beasts all over them. Unquestionably bold, but I guess that’s what they’re going for here. My wandering ultimately led me to a sky bridge that connected to the Common House building. While walking through one of the hallways, I turned a corner a little too quickly and, bam! Again. I slammed right into some guy carrying a stack of books, and we both hit the ground.
Why am I so clumsy today? It’s like every corner I turn, I end up making some mishandled mess of things. I swear, it’s like each unintended collision felt like a tiny earthquake, disrupting the flow around me. Frustration was fizzing up, but I pushed it down. It’s not like I could avoid apologizing, so I did. My voice all tight and awkward.
“Sorry about that,” I said, feeling the heat rise in my face.
The guy didn’t seem too bothered, though. “No worries, it’s nobody’s fault,” he said, sounding genuinely kind about it. I took a second to actually look at him. He had this scholarly ambiance, round glasses hanging on his nose, and he looked like someone who enjoyed studying. He introduced himself as Grun Handwerk, but everyone just called him Hans. He was a final-year arcane student studying the Magical Arts.
As we picked up his books, a conversation kicked off. I casually asked him about his class, especially how it all worked, since magic and swordplay fascinated me. Hans immediately lit up, his face glowing as he started explaining. His hands were moving all over the place, like he couldn’t stop himself from getting excited about it.
He told me that arcane students were all about dual specialization, with potions being the first part of it. From healing potions to mana restoration, they were masters at creating everything needed for magical support. But it wasn’t just about mixing ingredients and casting spells. They also spent a lot of time helping swordsmanship students during their trials, offering healing and support when things got rough.
By the time we finished gathering his books, Hans offered to walk me to my dormitory. I wasn’t about to turn down a kind offer like that, since I still wasn’t sure where I was going half the time. As we walked, I couldn’t resist sharing the whole fiasco with the eccentric professor. Somehow, it seemed to trigger Hans’ interest. He leaned in a little, curious.
“Can you tell me what he looks like?” he asked.
I paused and described the professor, including how he looked and how his gaze felt like it could pierce right through you. Hans went quiet for a second, then gave me a little smirk and said, “Ah, I see. You’ve met the most unpopular staff member in the faculty.”
Apparently, the professor’s name was Zwart Ambacht, and he had a reputation for being a total jerk. He was notorious for insulting students, acting like he was too good for anyone, and basically making everyone’s life miserable. He was a researcher into mythical beasts in the Stegia archipelago, but that didn’t make him any more tolerable. Hans warned me loud and clear to stay far away from him if I knew what was good for me.
A couple of minutes later, we arrived at the female dormitory. I thanked Hans again, this time feeling a little more genuine about it. The guy didn’t have to help me, but he did, and I really appreciated it. Before we parted ways, he gave me a quick rundown of the academy’s schedule. Mornings were for theory and training, late afternoons were free for personal interests, and weekends were all ours. I felt a little relieved. At least there was some breathing room in this fast-paced academy life.
After saying my goodbyes, I stepped into the dormitory building, and damn, it was impressive. The lobby was open and spacious, with etchings on the walls depicting legendary creatures locked in epic battles. The marble floors were smooth and cool beneath my feet, making everything feel a little too fancy for someone like me.
The dorm itself was massive, a four-story building. The ground floor had everything. A cafeteria, lounges, stores, and communal spaces. The higher floors were where the actual sleeping quarters were. I could tell I’d be spending a lot of time here.
I made my way up to the reception desk, hoping for some help. A staff member checked her list, then pointed me to room seven on the second floor. I thanked her and headed up the carpeted stairs, feeling that familiar excitement of settling into a new place.
Finding my room wasn’t exactly a breeze, but after a few minutes of searching the hall, I stood in front of my bedroom door. I knocked a few times, but when no one answered, I gave the door a gentle push. It creaked open, and I stepped inside.
The room was bigger than I expected. Two single beds, plenty of storage for clothes, and a little seating area. A lot of natural light poured in through the window, and the shower room was a nice touch, offering a bit more privacy. It was exactly what I needed.
Just as I was getting comfortable, the bathroom door opened, and out came a cadet. She was much taller than me, with short blonde hair. As soon as our eyes met, she gave a friendly wave and offered a handshake.
“Hi there,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m Lina Ownrey from the Whirling Moon.”
I blinked. “The ‘Whirling’ what?” I asked, completely confused.
Lina laughed, amused. “Oh, right. I should’ve explained. I’m from a swordplay school called the Whirling Moon.”
“Ahhh, got it now,” I said, chuckling. “I’m Arianna Redgrave. I trained at a place I like to call the ‘Old Hut,’ under the guidance of the lone wolf, Johan Willcraft.”
Lina raised an eyebrow, puzzled. I could tell she was wondering where exactly I’d come from, so I told her the story of my training and explained how I’d been under the strict and private tutelage of my master Johan. When I finished, Lina burst out laughing. It was that kind of genuine laughter that made me feel like we’d hit it off right away. I could already tell she was someone I’d get along with.
As the mirth died down, Lina’s attention shifted to my auburn hair, an inheritance from my mother. She told me it was gorgeous, something I wasn’t used to hearing. I smiled and mentioned how sometimes it made me stand out even more when intense sunlight hit it just right. She immediately asked to see it, so we moved over to the window. I let a lock of my hair fall into the light, and in less than a minute, it slowly changed to a fiery shade of red.
“Arianna, it’s even more beautiful now,” Lina said, impressed. Her excitement was so genuine that it made me feel a little proud of it.
Lina promised we’d continue our chat later and headed off to the dormitory shops to grab some toiletries. I lay back on my bed, a satisfied smile playing at my lips. It was only my first day, but I was already starting to connect with people like Hans and Lina. I could feel myself slowly finding my place here.
But then, my thoughts drifted back to Professor Ambacht. His strange, rude behavior and that odd book he was carrying. I couldn’t shake the image of the symbol on its cover. It pestered me, like a half-remembered dream. It felt like something I should know, something important. That symbol felt familiar, like a tattoo engraved on a person’s skin.
No matter how much I stared at the ceiling, the details just wouldn’t come back.
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