Aralyn's POV
I honestly didn't think the day could get worse, but Shadowvale clearly wanted to prove me wrong.
By the time I walked out of the second class, I felt like I'd been chewed up, spat out, and then stomped on for good measure. Professor Neryla, or whatever her name was, was exactly what Elyra had warned me about. Sharp-tongued, heartless, and terrifyingly good at making people feel small. I didn't even understand half of what she'd been teaching; she might as well have been speaking an entirely different language.
I rubbed the side of my temple as I walked down the hall, still feeling the sting of humiliation from being called "hopelessly behind" in front of everyone. Maybe she wasn't wrong, but still, there was something cruel about the way she said it. The way her eyes had flicked to me, like she was looking at something stuck to her shoe rather than a student.
If I'd been back home, I would've snapped something rude right back, but here? Here I didn't stand a chance.
I let out a slow breath, trying to push down the anger building in my chest. I wasn't going to cry, not in this cursed academy where everyone already thought I was weak.
As much as I hated to admit it, Elyra had been right again. The professor wasn't friendly. She wasn't even neutral. She was a witch, an actual witch who took joy in making me want to dig a hole and vanish, and now Elyra wasn't even around to walk with me.
She had other things to do, something about "preparations for the elemental division trials." I didn't fully understand what that meant, but she'd apologized before leaving, promising to meet me later. I didn't blame her. She had a life here long before I arrived, and unlike me, she belonged.
Now, it was just me, alone, hungry, and spiraling.
My stomach growled loudly, cutting through my thoughts, reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since last night. I'd skipped breakfast this morning because I'd woken up late, and I wasn't about to make the same mistake again.
Even if that meant facing the cafeteria.
The mere thought made my stomach twist with nerves. The cafeteria here wasn't some cozy dining hall; it was massive, bigger than any building I'd ever seen back in Vasthral. Hundreds of students would be there, and most of them had probably heard about me by now: the human girl with no magic, brought in by the High Priestess for some unknown reason, and if my experiences so far were anything to go by, they wouldn't exactly be thrilled to see me.
I slowed my steps, staring at the faint shimmer of sunlight filtering through the tall windows that lined the corridor. Maybe I could just skip lunch. Go back to my room, starve quietly, and pretend I wasn't slowly dying inside, but then again… I was starving.
My stomach let out another low growl, and I sighed. "Fine," I muttered under my breath. "Food first. Humiliation later."
The hallways leading to the cafeteria were busy. Students in elegant uniforms, robes, cloaks, and strange jewelry walked past me in groups, talking animatedly about their classes, their magical abilities, and their practice sessions. I caught bits and pieces of conversation, spells, ranks, and something about dueling tournaments.
I didn't belong here. Back in Vasthral, my life had been terrible, dark, filthy, and filled with memories I didn't want to remember, but at least I'd understood my place there. I knew how to survive. I knew who to avoid.
Here? I couldn't even begin to guess.
The thought of my uncle crept into my head, and I froze mid-step. The image of his face, furious, bloodied, and twisted with disbelief as he fell, flashed before my eyes. I squeezed them shut, shaking my head to drive it away.
No, I wasn't going to think about that.
I wasn't going to think about Vasthral. About the nights I spent hiding from him, and about the moment I pulled the trigger.
The sound still haunted me.
A breath hitched in my throat, and I forced myself to start walking again, faster this time. The corridor opened up to a set of doors, and I didn't need a sign to remind me that I'd reached the cafeteria.
Inside, voices echoed off the high ceilings. The smell of food, sweet, spicy, and unfamiliar, hit me immediately. My stomach tightened with both anticipation and dread.
There were so many people. Rows upon rows of tables filled with students of all shapes, species, and powers. I saw wings, tails, pointed ears, and glowing eyes. It was like stepping into a fantasy painting come to life, and then there was me.
I stood frozen at the entrance, suddenly very aware of how ordinary I looked. My plain academy uniform didn't hide my humanity, it made it worse. I wasn't glowing or shimmering or sparkling with magic like everyone else. I just… existed.
I caught a few stares, a few whispers, and the faint sound of laughter.
God, I wanted to disappear.
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and stepped forward. If I acted like I belonged here, maybe I could convince myself that I did.
I made my way toward what looked like a self-serve area, though "self-serve" was a bit misleading when the food trays floated on their own and the utensils moved to serve students without being touched. Every time I reached for something, the magic reacted awkwardly. The tray I tried to take slid away from my grasp, and the utensils ignored me completely.
I let out a shaky laugh. "Of course. Even the damn spoons are racist."
That drew a few chuckles from nearby students, not friendly ones, either. I didn't turn to look. I just grabbed a piece of bread that hadn't run away from me and found an empty seat near the back corner of the hall.
The noise faded slightly the further back I went, and I exhaled in relief. Finally. Peace.
I tore into the bread, trying to ignore the pit in my chest that had nothing to do with hunger. Maybe this was my life now. Hiding in corners, avoiding eye contact, and pretending not to notice the stares. Still, as bad as this place was, it wasn't Vasthral.
No one had hit me, and no one had dragged me by the hair or called me a dirty slut to my face. Not yet, at least, and for me, that counted as progress.
I leaned back, letting my eyes wander across the room. There was something mesmerizing about watching all the different species interact, elves like Elyra chatting with who Elyra had told me were phoenix-blooded students, fairies hovering just above the tables, and dwarves laughing loudly near the far wall.
A whole world of power, and I was the only powerless one in it.
For a second, that realization almost crushed me, but then I reminded myself that I was here for a reason. The High Priestess had said so. She'd been waiting for me for a hundred years, or something like that, and I just had to keep my head up until I figured out what my purpose was.
Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. I was still lost in thought when someone's shadow fell over my table.
I looked up and immediately regretted it.