The morning came gently over Elarion University, spreading soft golden rays across the tall purple-and-gold buildings. The cool breeze swept through the campus, carrying with it the distant sounds of students moving through the hallways and preparing for another day.
For Aria Fleur, it was her first proper morning as a student of EU.
She slowly opened her eyes, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above her before remembering where she was.
Elarion University.
A small smile found its way onto her face.
Today was going to be different.
She had no idea just how different it would become.
Aria turned to the other side of the bed and saw the little rays of sunlight peeping through the curtains.
This immediately reminded her that she had a lot of things to do today. It was also her first class of the semester.
She made her way into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror to brush her teeth.
A few minutes later, she was done. She stepped into the shower, applying shampoo to wash her hair. The fragrance of the shampoo and the smooth foam it produced made the air smell fresh.
Aria wore her departmental uniform, a neat burgundy skirt paired with a matching fitted jacket. Fine golden lines ran along the edges of the sleeves and collar, giving the outfit a simple but elegant appearance. A small emblem of the M. Law & Governance department was embroidered on the left side of her jacket, while her black knee-high socks and polished black shoes completed the look.
Carrying her simple shoulder bag, she left her hostel room and stepped into the hallway.
"Good day."
Aria and the other students exchanged greetings as she made her way out of the building.
With her phone in her hand, she monitored the time while also following the directions to her faculty.
After getting there, she saw huge, beautiful banners bearing the words " M. Law & Governance".
The hallway was swarming with people of different backgrounds. Friends walked together with smiles on their faces, while groups of students stood around talking.
It was indeed that time of the semester.
Aria felt no anxiety or fear. Her only mission at that moment was to find her classroom.
Her eyes darted everywhere.
"Gosh, I've been taking too much time trying to find this place. Room 4..." she mumbled to herself.
The students in the hallway had begun to disappear as lectures started, but she still couldn't find the so-called Room 4.
"It's upstairs..." a voice behind her said.
"Really? Thanks," Aria replied, feeling a little relieved.
"Wait a second."
The voice sounded familiar.
She turned around.
"Kael...!"
"Yes, Aria Fleur. It's me. Nice to meet you again," Kael replied with a smile.
He was dressed in his own departmental uniform.
"Honestly, our departmental wear really looks good on you," he added.
"Well, thanks a lot. And thanks again for helping. It's nice meeting you again," Aria replied.
She somehow felt uneasy and wanted to leave his presence.
She smiled politely and turned to leave, leaving the good-looking senior standing behind her.
"Aria, the way to the stairs is that way!" Kael shouted.
A tiny wave of embarrassment washed over her.
"Oh, yeah... yeah. I almost forgot. It's this way."
She laughed, gripping her bag tightly.
"Hmm... you know what? I'll just take you there. Spending another minute here will spoil your first class," Kael said, walking toward her.
"Look, Kael, that's not needed. I have to find my way around somehow, so I can't be expecting you to stay close to me every time or disturb you," Aria tried to explain.
But Kael was already approaching her.
"It doesn't matter," he said.
He gently took her hand, and they both turned right along the hallway. The neatly cleaned silver marble floor shone beneath their feet.
The taps of Aria's little heels echoed against the floor as they climbed the stairs, with Kael still holding her hand.
Aria glanced at Kael's face before quickly looking away so he wouldn't notice.
She caught a glimpse of his sharp jawline.
Kael, too, stole a glance at the girl beside him.
The few minutes it took to reach Room 4 felt strangely significant to him.
"And here's the place," Kael said as they stood at the threshold of the classroom.
He was still holding her hand.
"Wow. Thank you, Kael," Aria said with a smile as she gently freed herself from his grip.
"No problem. Anytime. You can call me if you need help," Kael replied, smiling as he stepped backward from the doorway to let her pass.
Aria walked inside and quickly looked around for an empty seat.
She found one in the middle of the medium-sized classroom. The chairs were arranged neatly, and the room looked like a comfortable environment for learning.
After sitting down, she observed the other students.
Some were fresh students like her, sitting alone, while others were already talking with their friends.
"Hello..." a smooth and calm voice whispered close to Aria.
"Hii..." Aria replied, turning to see a young student sitting beside her.
"Mind if I sit with you?" the girl asked.
"Sure, no problem," Aria replied with an accepting smile.
"I'm Aria Fleur."
She looked at the young girl beside her.
She had black, curly hair, a slim figure, and a small mole on her neck.
"I'm Selene Veyra," the girl said with a smile.
"You are a beautiful girl," Selene added.
"Thanks for the compliment. So are you, Selene," Aria replied with a smile.
"Thanks," Selene said.
However, something about her expression suggested that she wasn't very interested in continuing the conversation.
Before Aria could say anything else, the classroom door opened.
"Good day, wonderful new students."
A middle-aged man walked into the classroom.
He had a tall, composed figure and neatly combed dark hair, with a few strands of grey beginning to show around his temples. His expression was serious but not unfriendly, and his sharp eyes quickly swept across the room as he took in the students.
He wore a deep-purple suit, the official colour of the university staff, with a small golden seal pinned neatly to the left side of his chest.
The seal bore the letter "M," representing the M. Law & Governance faculty.
He placed the books in his hands on the desk and turned toward the class.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Professor Adrian Voss, and I will be taking you through the foundations of M. Law & Governance."