The sun had only just begun its climb over the horizon, painting Aurelis in a mixture of soft lavender and gold. Mist curled through the ancient oaks lining the path to the Academy, giving the grounds an otherworldly glow. Evelyn tightened her grip on the strap of her satchel, her pulse quickening. Today, the unknown would no longer be just stories—today, it would be real.
Noctis Academy loomed ahead: towers of obsidian stone and silvered glass glinted in the morning light. Gargoyles perched along the spires, their eyes catching stray beams of sun, while intricate runes along the archway shimmered faintly. The sheer size of the place made Evelyn's chest tighten with awe.
"Breathe," she whispered to herself, stepping forward.
The courtyard was alive. Students moved in clusters—some laughing, some walking in silence. Evelyn noticed the subtle differences immediately. A boy with skin pale as porcelain and metallic grey eyes leaned against a fountain, exuding an almost icy authority. Though he said nothing, his presence made nearby students give way as if acknowledging a quiet power. Evelyn's breath caught at the sight—there was something magnetic, dangerous even, about him.
Nearby, a figure with reddish-brown skin and golden eyes strode past, hair dark as night flowing behind her shoulders. The air around her shimmered faintly, like a ripple of heat, and Evelyn felt the warmth radiate before the girl even spoke a word. She noticed the curious glances of others—the fire in those eyes, the untamed aura.
Evelyn took cautious steps forward, letting her gaze sweep over the rest of the courtyard. A young woman floated gracefully nearby, silver hair cascading over pale shoulders, eyes calm as a frozen lake. The way she moved—light, deliberate—made Evelyn's pulse slow in contrast, as though the air itself had softened around her.
A bell tolled in the distance. The sound was deep, melodic, and carried across the Academy grounds. Evelyn glanced around; it seemed to echo differently for each person it touched. Some hurried off, books in hand. Others paused, eyes reflecting the morning sun, and whispered to companions who lingered beside them.
A pair of younger students brushed past her, giggling, wings fluttering behind them. Evelyn blinked. Wings? For a moment, she thought she imagined it, but as they disappeared into the shadows, a faint trail of colored light lingered in the air. Celestial? Fire? She couldn't tell yet.
Adjusting her satchel, she followed the winding paths toward the Academy entrance. Her shoes clicked softly against the cobblestones. Every step made her heartbeat more pronounced; every glance revealed more of the strange, mesmerizing world around her.
"Excuse me," a voice said softly, pulling her attention to a boy standing near the fountain—skin warm brown, eyes deep amber, hair black as night. "First day?" His smile was easy, but careful, like he'd seen new students trip over the same invisible obstacles countless times before.
Evelyn nodded, words failing her for the first time that morning.
"Don't worry," he said, gesturing toward the massive doors of Noctis Academy. "You'll find your way. It's… complicated at first, but you get used to it."
The sun climbed higher, glinting off the glass spires. Evelyn took a deep breath, and with a final glance at the courtyard, she stepped forward, unaware of the pair of eyes following her from the shadows—the faint glimmer of silver, the subtle curl of heat, and a presence that would shape the days to come.
Adjusting her satchel, Evelyn pushed open the massive doors of Noctis Academy, and the scent of polished stone, old parchment, and something faintly floral wrapped around her like a soft blanket. The main hall was cavernous—high vaulted ceilings etched with shimmering runes, light spilling in from arched windows that stretched two stories above. Students passed through in steady streams, some whispering, some laughing, some moving with a grace that seemed almost unnatural.
Evelyn's heart pounded as she followed the amber-eyed boy, who had introduced himself only moments ago with a simple smile, a reassuring guide through the intimidating maze of corridors.
"This way," he said, his voice calm, carrying over the murmurs of other students. "Dormitories for first-years are through the East Wing."
The East Wing was quieter, the corridors narrower, lined with carved wooden panels that hummed faintly with magic, or so Evelyn thought. As she walked, she noticed subtle details: a faint golden shimmer clinging to the edges of the archways, the way the walls seemed to absorb sound just enough to make footsteps echo lightly without overwhelming, and glimpses of students practicing quietly in the halls—gestures with their hands, a flicker of colored light that vanished before she could fully focus on it.
Her guide paused at a set of double doors, engraved with swirling symbols and tiny gems set in delicate patterns. "Room 12. That's your dorm," he said, gesturing toward the carved numbers above. "You'll have a roommate, and you'll meet her soon."
Evelyn nodded, swallowing the lump of nerves in her throat. The boy's eyes flickered toward her again—amber glinting—and he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod before turning away, disappearing down the corridor as silently as he had appeared.
She pushed the doors open. The room was cozy compared to the hall: two beds neatly made, a pair of desks, and a large window that overlooked the Academy courtyard. Sunlight streamed in, highlighting motes of dust that floated lazily in the air.
"Hi," a soft voice greeted her. Evelyn turned to see a girl sitting cross-legged on one of the beds, leaf-green hair cascading over her shoulders, emerald eyes wide with curiosity. She was arranging books on her desk, and her gaze lifted when Evelyn entered. "You must be new."
"Yes," Evelyn said softly, stepping further inside. "I'm… Evelyn."
"I'm Feylin," the girl replied, her voice warm and welcoming. "Nature Elf. I've been here a year already. If you need help finding anything, just ask." She smiled, and something in that smile made Evelyn feel like she had known her for much longer than a few seconds.
Evelyn set down her satchel, letting her gaze wander across the room. Even the furniture seemed… different somehow. The wooden shelves pulsed faintly with life, tiny vines curling along the edges in a subtle rhythm. She blinked, and the vines stilled.
"First class starts soon," Feylin said, rising from her bed. "It's in the East Wing too, but a few floors up. Follow me if you want to get a feel for the place before things get too crowded."
As they walked, Evelyn's eyes darted around. The corridors were alive with activity: a pair of fire fairies darted between students, wings flickering orange and red, leaving brief trails of light; a boy with hair like silver moonlight leaned against a wall, reading a floating tome, his eyes occasionally flicking up to watch passing students; and, far in the distance, a shadow of someone moving with unnerving speed caught her attention before vanishing around a corner.
"You'll see a lot of different species here," Feylin said softly, as if reading her thoughts. "Dragons, vampires, witches, sorcerers… and humans like you, though very few. Everyone has their own space, their own way of doing things."
Evelyn nodded, absorbing everything. The Academy was bigger than she had imagined, and every corner seemed to hold secrets she couldn't even guess at yet.
When they reached the classroom, a bell tolled softly, signaling the start of the first lesson. The room was wide, with tall windows that caught the morning sun. Desks were arranged in a semicircle around a raised platform where a teacher waited. She was striking—long black hair, pale skin, eyes that flickered gold when she glanced at her students—but Evelyn's attention was momentarily stolen by the students already seated. A boy with bronze-like skin and eyes like molten amber laughed quietly with a small group, his presence commanding attention even without saying a word. Across the room, a girl with silver hair and soft blue eyes flipped through a thick book, completely absorbed.
Evelyn felt a thrill of excitement, coupled with nerves. This was her first real step into Aurelis—the beginning of something entirely new, entirely dangerous, and entirely mesmerizing.
As she slid into her seat, Feylin leaned close. "Don't worry. You'll find your place. Just… watch and learn first. Names, powers, alliances… it all comes in time."
Evelyn nodded, her green eyes wide, scanning the room. Somewhere among these students were friends, rivals, and perhaps enemies—but she had no idea who or where. She only knew that her life had changed forever in the moment she stepped into Noctis Academy.
Outside the window, sunlight glinted off the glass spires, shadows danced along the courtyard, and somewhere far above, a wind whispered through the towers as if the Academy itself was welcoming her—or perhaps, testing her.