CHAPTER TWO: Classes Begin
A little sunlight shone into the room. Alaric lay on his side, awake and trying to concentrate on his meditation, but he kept staring at the girl across from him. What was her name again?
Seraphine, meanwhile, was not in the room at all. In her dream, she sat opposite her father, who was staring at her with dangerous eyes.
Why was I summoned back here, Lucifer? She hadn't called him "father" for as long as she could remember.
"I might have banished you," he said, voice sharp, "but that doesn't mean I don't have control over you. Why would you go and live among pathetic beings? You will leave that school and do what you're supposed to as the heir to Hell's thr—"
"Cut the crap, Lucifer. You banished me, meaning you have no control over me. I'll do whatever I deem fit. So I'd like to be returned to my normal dream, no—"
"SHUT IT!" he roared.
She flinched and her shadows quickly fled.
"I said you will come back, so you will!"
"F**k you," she spat, shattering the dream barrier he'd cast and forcing herself back to her own dreamscape—darkness. She sat in the middle of it until she noticed a faint light flickering somewhere in the void.
Back in the room, Alaric noticed her muttering in her sleep. He rose from his bed and walked to her side. Her shadows recoiled from his light.
He frowned, watching her brows crease. He didn't know what came over him, but his hand reached forward, ready to smooth the lines from her forehead. Just before his fingers touched her, something hurled him across the room.
"Ughhh," he groaned, sitting up. His eyes widened as he saw a human-like shadow slither back into her left shoulder.
Before he could react further, the walls vibrated with a magically amplified voice:
"ATTENTION STUDENTS! IT'S TIME FOR GENERAL STUDIES. REPORT TO THE MAIN HALL. CHECK YOUR PAPERS FOR THE LOCATION. DO NOT BE LATE!"
Seraphine yawned and sat up, spotting Alaric in the corner of the room. He quickly stood, packed his bag, and left without a word. She got up, snapped her fingers—instantly bathed, dressed in new clothes, and her hair dried and styled. With her bag ready, she left too.
The corridors buzzed with students heading to the hall. When she arrived, it was already full. She hissed, making her way up to the front row. Third seat. On her right was Alaric. On her left, a girl.
"Hi, wassup? I'm Leona!" the girl chirped.
Seraphine shifted on her seat, resting her head on the table and ignoring her.
"A little birdie told me you're rooming with one of the hottest guys in our year. How does it feel? How does he smell? Does he snore? No way—that can't be possible—"
Seraphine heard every word but kept ignoring the chatterbox, about to shut her up when the professor's voice saved her.
"Okay," the man at the front began, "I'm your General Studies teacher. You may call me Professor Desmond. My class will focus on learning about the supernaturals sitting with you this morning. The class will be interactive, so pay attention. At the end, partners will be assigned for projects. Let's begin."
The students sat up. Some grabbed pens and notebooks, others summoned theirs with magic. Leona and Alaric straightened in their seats, both sneaking glances at Seraphine—who still had her head down.
"So, the supernatural we'll start with: werewolves. Creatures of the night. Shifters with enhanced abilities—super strength, heightened senses, speed, and healing.
"Next: vampires. Two types. Daywalkers and nightwalkers. Daywalkers, as the name implies, can walk in daylight—but they're limited to the royal family. Every other vampire is a nightwalker. Any questions so far?"
Silence. Quills scratched furiously.
"Witches, then. Humans who control magic, either inherited or learned. Four types. Elementals—fire, water, air, earth. Blood witches—deal with sacrifices and forbidden magic. White witches—healing and protection. Dark witches—curses and shadow magic."
He paused, conjured a bottle of water, and took a sip before continuing.
"Next: Djinns, also known as genies. Shapeshifters. They can possess people if wished and manipulate reality. Often tied to contracts or bargains. Three main types: the Trickster—manipulates wording of wishes. The Romantic—falls for a human or their master. The Tragic—bound to an artifact, such as a lamp."
Professor Desmond's gaze swept the room. "Anyone not listening will regret it."
A few chuckles, quickly silenced when he zapped a dozing student with witch fire. The class stiffened. Nobody wanted to be next.
"Demons—possess, corrupt, and wield dark magic. Some work under contracts when you make deals with the Devil. Necromancers—mortals who control death, spirits, and the undead. They raise zombies, communicate with ghosts, summon souls."
He turned—and his spell shot straight toward Seraphine. She deflected it without thinking.
The room froze. Leona gasped. Alaric's eyes narrowed. The other students gawked. Deflecting a teacher's magic was… very, very wrong.
Seraphine groaned and sat up, finally meeting the professor's glare.
"Your name?"
"Seraphine."
"You were sleeping in class. That's against the rules."
"I wasn't sleeping. I was resting my head. Besides, I was listening."
"Oh? Then tell me: all the supernaturals I've listed so far belong to which House?"
"Umbra. Except white witches—they belong to Vitae."
His eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Not bad. Keep your head up next time. Like she said, those supernaturals are part of House Umbra. As for your projects, you'll be studying their weaknesses. Partners are assigned—check the board on your way out. Have a good day."
He left the class. Students began filing out, checking the enchanted board for their partners.
Seraphine was about to leave, ready to ignore the assignment, when—
"Yesss! Hi, remember me?" Leona beamed. "No need—you don't have to. I'm your partner!"
"I don't need one. I'll handle it myself."
"Erm, no. The project grade is for teamwork."
"Then you handle it. I'm a fast learner. I'll pick up whatever you do."
"That won't work either. The walls are enchanted. Sooo… your place or mine?"
Seraphine stopped walking and stared at her. "Fine. How long do we have for the project?"
Leona beamed brighter. "Till next week Monday! That's the next class."
"Alright. Come right before bedtime," Seraphine muttered, then strode off quickly toward her dorm.
Next on the agenda: Elemental Theory and Battle Application—aka gym.