I clutched the key tighter in my hand as I wandered through the glowing hallways, each turn feeling both unfamiliar and oddly intuitive. The College seemed alive, subtly nudging me in the right direction with the faint flicker of lights or the distant echo of footsteps that led nowhere. The East Wing wasn't far, I could sense that much, but the sheer size of the building made me feel like a speck in an endless labyrinth.
I turned another corner, admiring the faint shimmer of the walls, and didn't notice someone coming from the opposite direction until it was too late. We collided hard enough that I stumbled back a step, the key slipping from my hand and clattering onto the marble floor.
'Oh! Sorry,' I said quickly, bending down to grab the key.
'No worries,' came the response, the voice low and smooth, but almost dismissive.
I straightened up and glanced at him. He was tall—easily over six feet—with dark hair that fell in slightly messy waves around his face. His uniform was sharp, pristine, and accented with deep purple detailing, the color catching the light just enough to make it seem alive. He had an air of quiet confidence, his gaze steady and assessing as he looked me over.
For a moment, I thought he might say something else, but instead, he gave a slight nod and stepped around me as if I wasn't worth a second thought.
'Uh, sorry again,' I mumbled, more to myself than to him.
He didn't reply, already walking away. His long strides carried him quickly down the hall, his figure soon blending into the ambient glow of the College.
I shook my head and adjusted the grip on my key. Weird. But I had more important things to focus on than some random guy.
The halls became narrower as I moved closer to what I assumed was the East Wing. The lights seemed warmer here, more inviting, and the occasional door I passed bore strange engravings similar to the ones on my key. My pulse quickened when I finally saw a staircase spiraling upward, a faint hum emanating from it. The third floor—my dormitory—was just a few steps away.
I glanced back over my shoulder once, but the hall was empty now. Shrugging off the brief encounter, I ascended the staircase, each step feeling lighter than the last.
The staircase opened up into a cozy landing bathed in a soft golden light, the hum from below fading into a gentle silence. Doors lined the corridor, each one marked with intricate symbols that glowed faintly, pulsing as if alive. I held the key tighter, its cool surface pressing against my palm, and walked slowly, scanning the doors until I spotted one that matched the swirling engravings on my key.
This was it.
The door responded to my presence, its symbols flaring brighter for a brief moment before unlocking with a quiet click. I pushed it open hesitantly, stepping into a surprisingly warm and inviting space. The room was spacious, with high ceilings adorned with faintly glowing constellations that shifted slowly, like the night sky come to life. Two large beds sat on opposite sides of the room, separated by a wooden divider carved with patterns similar to the ones on the key. One side of the room was already decorated—a soft, flowing tapestry of dark greens and blues hung above the bed, and books were neatly stacked on the nearby desk.
The other bed, clearly mine, was bare but inviting. A neatly folded set of linens sat at the foot of it, along with a note that read, 'Welcome, Ruby.'
'Finally,' a familiar voice said from the other side of the divider, pulling my attention away from the bed.
I froze for a second before peeking around the corner. Sitting cross-legged on her chair, a book in her lap and a cup of tea balanced precariously on the armrest of her chair, was Nyssa—the same girl who had greeted me when I first stepped into the College building. She looked exactly as I remembered: sharp, with deep auburn hair tied back into a loose braid and those piercing hazel eyes that seemed to see too much.
'Oh,' I said, blinking. 'You're—'
'Nyssa,' she interrupted, a sly smile tugging at her lips. 'And you're Ruby. Seems we're roommates.'
'Roommates?' I repeated, still trying to process it. Of all the people in this massive College, it had to be her?
She tilted her head, clearly amused by my reaction. 'Surprised? You shouldn't be. The College has a way of placing people where they need to be.' She closed her book with a soft thump and gestured toward the unmade bed. 'That's yours. Welcome to the East Wing, Ruby. Or should I say, welcome to your new home.'
I let out a small laugh, unsure of what else to do. 'Thanks... I guess.'
Nyssa took a sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving mine. 'So, how's your first impression of this place? Overwhelmed yet?'
I sat down on my bed, running a hand over the soft linens. 'Completely. Sul kind of unloaded a lot on me.'
Nyssa chuckled softly, her tone understanding but tinged with mischief. 'Yeah, Sul tends to do that. Don't worry, though—it gets easier. Or maybe you just get used to the chaos.'
I couldn't tell if she was being reassuring or teasing me. 'And the guild assignments?' I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her expression flickered, just for a moment, before she leaned back in her chair. 'Ah, the infamous guild assignments. You'll see tomorrow. Everyone gets all worked up about them, but honestly? It's just another layer of this place's weird hierarchy. Don't stress too much about it.'
'Easy for you to say,' I muttered, setting the key on the bedside table.
Nyssa smirked, her hazel eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place. 'You're sharp, Ruby. You'll figure it out. But for now...' She gestured toward my bed. 'Unpack. Settle in. We've got a long day tomorrow, and trust me—you'll want to be well-rested.'
Her words lingered in the air as she returned to her book, leaving me to my thoughts. I glanced around the room again, feeling a strange mixture of comfort and anticipation. The College was already throwing more at me than I'd expected, but for now, I had a place to rest, and maybe even a tentative ally in Nyssa.
As I unpacked my things, the room fell into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the soft rustle of Nyssa turning a page in her book. The quiet was nice, giving me a chance to process the whirlwind of events since I'd stepped into the College.
'So,' Nyssa said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her tone was casual, but something in it made me look up from where I was folding the linens. She was watching me again, her hazel eyes sharp with curiosity. 'What kind of species are you, anyway?'
I froze for a second, caught off guard. 'What?'
'You know,' she said, setting her book aside and leaning forward slightly. 'What are you? Human, fey, elemental, shapeshifter? Or maybe something more unique?'
I blinked at her, my mind scrambling. 'I... don't know,' I admitted, feeling a strange sense of vulnerability as the words left my mouth.
Nyssa's brows shot up. 'You don't know?'
'No,' I said, shaking my head. 'I've never really... thought about it. I mean, I grew up with humans, so I just assumed...' I trailed off, not entirely sure how to finish the sentence.
Nyssa's expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and intrigue flickering across her face. She didn't say anything right away, her gaze lingering on me as if she were trying to piece something together. Then, after a moment, she leaned back, her smirk returning but softer this time.
'Huh,' she said, almost to herself. 'That's... interesting.'
'Interesting?' I repeated, frowning.
'Yeah,' she said, waving a hand dismissively. 'It's just not every day someone gets into the College without knowing what they are. Usually, people have a pretty good idea by the time they're chosen.'
I felt a pang of self-consciousness. 'Well, I guess I'm the exception.'
'Maybe,' she said, her tone light but thoughtful. She didn't push the topic further, which I appreciated, though her curiosity was still evident in the way she glanced at me occasionally as I continued unpacking.
After a while, she stood and stretched, her movements fluid and unhurried. 'Well, whatever you are, you're here now. That's all that matters, right?'
'I guess so,' I said, though the uncertainty in my voice was hard to hide.
Nyssa shrugged, flashing me an easy grin. 'Don't overthink it, Ruby. This place has a way of revealing things in its own time. Just focus on surviving tomorrow. The first full day's always a test, even if they don't call it that.'
I nodded, her words settling into my mind as I finished unpacking. Whatever I was—or wasn't—it didn't seem to bother her too much, and for now, that was enough.
Nyssa plopped back onto her bed, grabbing her book again. 'If you've got more questions, feel free to ask,' she said over her shoulder. 'Otherwise, get some rest. Trust me, you'll need it.'
With that, the room returned to its comfortable quiet, though my thoughts were far from settled. What kind of species was I? And why did it seem like not knowing was such a big deal? As I slid under the soft covers of my bed, the ruby hanging around my neck pulsed faintly, its warmth soothing yet strangely alive.
The answers would come eventually—I hoped. But for now, all I could do was close my eyes and let sleep take me, the weight of the day finally fading as the constellations above shifted gently, their soft glow painting the room in a quiet, otherworldly light.
The next day
The sound of soft chimes echoed through the room, waking me from a surprisingly restful sleep. I blinked at the beams of golden light filtering through the sheer curtains, momentarily disoriented. Then it hit me—I was still here. At the College.
I sat up slowly, the ruby around my neck warm against my skin. Across the room, Nyssa was already awake, stretching lazily with a satisfied groan.
'Morning,' she said, her voice groggy but cheerful.
'Morning,' I replied, rubbing my eyes.
Nyssa threw on her uniform, the deep teal fabric looking pristine despite having been folded overnight. 'Better get moving if we want to eat before the hall gets too crowded,' she said, her tone light but purposeful.
I nodded, quickly pulling on my own uniform and securing the ruby. It glimmered faintly as it rested against the dark fabric. Nyssa gave me a once-over and smirked.
'You clean up pretty well,' she said with a teasing edge.
'Thanks, I guess?' I said, chuckling softly.
We left the dorm and followed the winding corridors of the East Wing. As promised, the College seemed to guide us, the path subtly shifting to lead us toward the main dining hall. The air was alive with the hum of voices, and the faint scent of warm pastries and spiced tea wafted through the halls.
When we stepped into the dining hall, I couldn't help but gape. The space was enormous, with vaulted ceilings that seemed to stretch endlessly. Sunlight poured through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns across long tables laden with food. Students bustled about, their uniforms a patchwork of guild colors: deep purples, vivid reds, shimmering silvers, and earthy greens.
Nyssa nudged me with her elbow. 'Better grab food before it's gone,' she said, already heading toward a table piled high with fresh bread, fruits, and steaming mugs of something that smelled like cinnamon.
I followed her lead, loading a plate with an assortment of food. There were things I recognized—like scrambled eggs and toast—and others I didn't, like a shimmering blue fruit that seemed to glisten in the sunlight. I hesitated for a moment before grabbing one, curious.
Nyssa plopped down at a nearby table, gesturing for me to join her. As I sat, she tore into a pastry, her hazel eyes scanning the room.
'So,' she said between bites, 'how are you feeling about today?'
'Nervous,' I admitted, poking at the shimmering fruit with my fork. 'The whole guild assignment thing has me on edge.'
Nyssa shrugged. 'It's not that bad. Sure, the guilds have their reputations, but at the end of the day, it's just another group of people to figure out how to deal with.' She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. 'Besides, you'll have me to keep you sane. Assuming we don't get split up.'
'Thanks,' I said, managing a small smile. Her confidence was oddly reassuring.
As I took a bite of the blue fruit—sweet, with a tangy aftertaste—I noticed a ripple of attention shift through the room. A group of students entered, their purple-accented uniforms standing out against the sea of other colors. At the center of the group was the tall guy I'd bumped into the day before.
He didn't look my way, and I quickly turned my focus back to my plate, hoping Nyssa wouldn't notice.
'What's up with you?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
'Nothing,' I said quickly, shaking my head.
She gave me a curious look but didn't press the issue. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. 'Well, eat up. The main hall's going to be packed when they reveal the guild list, and trust me, you'll want to get there early.'
I nodded, taking another bite and trying to quiet the swirl of nerves in my stomach. The day had barely started, and it already felt like it was carrying the weight of something important.
As we finished our breakfast, Nyssa stood, brushing crumbs off her uniform. 'Let's go,' she said, her tone light but steady. 'No use stressing over it until we know.'
I followed her out of the dining hall, the ruby around my neck pulsing faintly as we walked.
We pushed through the crowd, our footsteps echoing across the stone floor of the main hall as students jostled to get a closer look at the large bulletin board where the guild assignments were posted. The air was thick with anticipation, a nervous buzz swirling around us as the names were slowly being revealed one by one.
Nyssa walked beside me, her eyes scanning the list with practiced ease, as though she already knew exactly where she would be placed. I couldn't say the same for myself. My hands were clammy, my heart racing in my chest, and I found myself unable to focus on anything other than the buzzing in my ears.
'Here,' Nyssa said, pulling me gently toward the board. Her finger pointed to a section near the top, where a group of names had already been listed.
I followed her gaze, my breath catching when I saw the words.
Nyssa Quinn
Guild: Seekers
'Of course,' I muttered under my breath. Nyssa had always seemed like the type to fit in with the Seekers—the ones who were bold, cunning, and ready to uncover truths no one else dared to touch. Magic and combat were her strengths, and I had no doubt she'd be a natural fit.
'Nice,' I said with a smile, trying to hide the pang of envy in my voice.
She grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 'I knew I'd be placed in Seekers.' She paused, glancing at me. 'You okay?'
'Yeah,' I replied, though I wasn't sure I believed it myself. My heart was pounding as I shifted my gaze to the next section, searching for my name.
Finally, I found it.
Ruby Ashbluff
Guild: Pathfinders
I blinked at the words. Pathfinders. The weakest of the guilds, the ones who were neither feared nor revered. The ones who weren't quite sure of themselves, the undecided. The guild that wandered without direction, their members meant to find their own way in the world.
My stomach dropped. This wasn't how I'd imagined it. I wasn't part of something powerful, something important. I was in the guild that was seen as lacking, the one people dismissed as unremarkable.
'I'm in... Pathfinders,' I said, my voice hollow as I stared at the paper in disbelief.
Nyssa turned, her face softening with sympathy. 'Hey, it's not that bad. They say everyone has their place. Maybe this is where you're meant to be.'
But all I could feel was a sense of disappointment. I hadn't realized until that moment how much I had hoped to be placed in something that would give me purpose—something that would make me feel strong. Instead, I had been given a guild that was seen as the lowest of the low, a group for those who hadn't yet figured out who they were.
'Pathfinders,' I whispered again, as if saying it would make it more real. 'I'm... I'm just lost.'
Nyssa's hand landed on my shoulder. 'Hey,' she said softly, 'don't overthink it. You'll find your way. Trust me.'
But the words didn't reach me. I couldn't shake the feeling of being worthless. Why would the College, or whatever force guided these decisions, place me with the Pathfinders? What did I have to offer?
As I stood there, my heart sinking deeper into my chest, the hall grew quieter. A tall figure stepped to the front of the room, his presence immediately commanding attention.
'Students,' he said, his voice smooth and authoritative. 'I am Professor Silver Loui, Master of Ancient Magic. I trust you all have your assignments.'
A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd, but most of us were still too absorbed in the shock of our placements to respond.
'Now,' Professor Loui continued, his voice carrying over the chatter, 'you will all head to your guild rooms to meet your guild leaders and begin your training. The Pathfinders will head to the eastern wing—second floor. Seekers, you will be meeting in the west tower.' He paused, his eyes scanning the crowd, and I couldn't help but feel his gaze briefly linger on me, though I wasn't sure why.
'Go now,' he finished with a slight flick of his hand, 'and remember, this is only the beginning. There is much to learn, and you all have potential, even if you don't see it yet.'
The moment he finished speaking, the students began to file out of the main hall, the buzz of conversation rising again as everyone began to move toward their respective guild rooms.
I stood frozen, feeling smaller than ever. I had no idea where to go, no idea what I was meant to do now. Pathfinders. It felt like a label, one I couldn't shake.
Nyssa nudged me gently, her eyes still kind. 'C'mon. We'll head to your guild room first, alright?'
I nodded, but my steps felt heavy as I followed her through the hall. The weight of my guild assignment pressed on me with every step, and I couldn't shake the fear that I was falling behind before I'd even started.
What if I wasn't good enough? What if I was just wandering, never finding my place? What if being in Pathfinders meant I was destined to fail?
I tried to push the thoughts away, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't see a way out.