BLAIR
I was crouched on the floor, carefully unpacking my clothes from the two battered suitcases I'd dragged along with me.
I stood by the closet. Each corner had a wooden wardrobe that had two compartments.
The blue compartment was for the person staying in the down bunk and the pink compartment was for the person staying in the up bunk.
I removed all my shoes and arranged them properly.
"Five pink nighties… two boy shorts, three bras…Why the heck did I bring three bras?!" I almost yelled to myself.
Gosh! I'm going to be stranded. I wondered if there was any way I could speak to my mom and ask for more brassieres.
I also checked my panties and I found out that I packed only g-strings and no period panties!!
Shit!!
I picked up my phone, trying to buzz my mother only for the network to be cut short.
There was a reminder from the authorities, through the speakers, that students were not allowed to contact the outside world anymore.
Their cell phones were only for students and browsing. School wifi was available and all texts would not be monitored.
Great! What better way to mess up my day!
The room was still mine for now-l and that thought brought me a strange sense of calm.
The faint earthy scent that lingered in the air subtly reminded me of the times I would take walks with my father and he would enter into the forest to take his wolf for a run while I just watched.
The Earth and Flower Hostel's living walls were my pride. The closest thing I had that reminded me of home.
If my werewolf were not locked up in some story book, I would've sworn she would release herself here.
"No doubt I've made the right choice," I mused to myself as I put my toiletries by the window sill.
I zipped up the last compartment of my second suitcase and stood, stretching my stiff limbs.
Just as I was about to drag my bags closer to the bed, the door swung open abruptly with a sharp creak that echoed through the quiet room.
Two girls strutted in, their presence immediately filling the space with a kind of arrogant energy that made my skin crawl.
They were twins, unmistakably so-tall, slender, with identical sharp cheekbones and perfectly styled hair that gleamed under the soft light.
Their uniforms were scandalously revealing, tailored to flaunt every curve, and their expressions were twisted with boredom and entitlement.
"Ugh, this air conditioning is ridiculous," the first twin complained, wrinkling her nose as she pulled her jacket tighter around her slender frame. "I'm freezing."
"I wonder if the matron would have this reduced. I wouldn't want my asthma to surface," she continued complaining.
The other rolled her eyes dramatically, tossing her long hair over one shoulder. "And this room? It's a joke. I swear, I was promised something bigger. This is barely enough space for my bags."
I bit my tongue, unwilling to engage. It was obvious they were rich kids, the kind who thought the world owed them everything.
Neither of them spared me a glance, not even a casual "hi" or a nod. The sting of invisibility was familiar and I couldn't care less.
They dropped their designer bags onto the bunk bed closest to mine with a loud thud, the noise echoing through the small room.
The first twin flopped dramatically onto the lower bunk, kicking her legs up. "Seriously, who designed this dump? I'm going to freeze to death before the week's out."
I sat on my bed, trying to focus on unpacking my things, when my phone buzzed sharply in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Blake.
[Student party tonight at nine in the Great Hall. Be there. I'm expecting you and I'm missing your pretty face. Xoxo, kisses.]
I rolled my eyes and slipped the phone back into my pocket. Parties weren't my scene, especially not his.
I knew he would want to do a karaoke thing where he would pull me to the stage and sing for me, then we'd do the fake "make up scene," where he'd kiss me and tell the crowd he loved me.
Then he'd go right back to cheating!!
Before I could get back to sorting my belongings, the door opened again, this time more timidly.
A skinny girl with thick glasses and a nervous smile stepped inside, clutching a small bag to her chest.
The holographic screen, my system that followed me everywhere, read the girls' analytics.
Name: Maude
Race: Human
Ability: Top sci-fi scientist
Level: Level three
Behaviour: quiet, reserved, meek and extra intelligent.
"Cleared!! Safe for friendship!!" The system typed in large letters
She looked like she didn't belong here. Her uniform was plain, and she fidgeted nervously as she tried to settle onto the bunk on top of me.
"Hi," she said softly, her voice fidgeting. "I'm Maude."
I smiled gently at her, sensing the vulnerability under her quiet demeanor.
Suddenly, the door slammed open with a force that made us all jump.
My worst nightmare was here!!
I hoped this wasn't her room.
Sonya swept in, her usual entourage of minions trailing behind her like a dark cloud.
Her eyes scanned the room with cold calculation before settling on Maude.
"This is where I'm staying," Sonya declared, her voice was sharp and commanding.
Why did Sonya insist on staying on top of me?
One of the twins stood up, crossing her arms in defiance. "Hi, give me your room card. Let us see if this is truly your room. You can't just barge in here."
Sonya smirked, a dangerous glint in her eyes. Without warning, she shoved the twin aside roughly. "Move."
The other twin gasped, stepping forward angrily. "Hey! Don't push my sister!"
Sonya ignored her and stalked over to Maude, who was still clutching her thin blanket, eyes wide with fear. "Scoot over," Sonya ordered.
Maude shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, this is my bed."
Sonya's expression twisted into a cruel sneer. Without hesitation, she grabbed Maude and threw her onto the floor.
My blood boiled. I stood up, stepping between Sonya and Maude. "Enough. You need to leave."
Sonya's minions exchanged uneasy glances but reluctantly helped her settle in, then quietly left the room. Sonya, however, was far from finished.
She stormed over to Maude's only uniform, hanging on a chair, and viciously threw water from the bottle she held and soil all over it. Her fabric was soaked and stained, ruined.
Maude shrieked. "I don't have what to wear for the rest of today. The other pairs of my uniform are coming tomorrow. What should I do?"
Maude began to break into tears.
I closed my eyes briefly, summoning the calm I'd learned to find within. "Sia, activate Bud Fixer," I said to Sia in my mind.
[Bud fixer activated]
I stepped forward and gently touched the ruined uniform.
Almost instantly, the dirt and water vanished, leaving the fabric dry and pristine. The room fell silent, everyone staring in shock.
Sonya's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a snarl.
[Congratulations!! You have unlocked 10 mana points and you have been rewarded with metallic hands.]
In a flash, Sonya shifted into her Valkyrie form-massive wings unfurled behind her, her face morphing into a fierce lion's snout, claws extending from her fingers, and her eyes glowing with feral intensity.
She tried to activate her wings and just as the wings wanted to manifest in full force, I decided to interfere.
I didn't hesitate. My system had rewarded me with metallic hands, sleek and strong so I decided to use it to teach this Valkyrie a lesson.
I swung at her, knocking her off balance with a sharp clang. She stumbled and shifted back into her human form.
I continued to land blows and blows upon her face. Her nose trickled with blood.
I did not want to do further damage before I would be expelled.
I grabbed her room card. Apparently, she was a room 210 member but she chose to come here and make trouble.
Her minions scrambled to help, but the twins seized the moment, grabbing Sonya's belongings and hurling them outside the door.
Sonya hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Well done, little wolf. You've proven my suspicions right. I will find out what you are and what is giving you this boldness."
I slammed the door against Sonya.
My breathing was hard but steady after punching her and I rested behind the door. I had never been in such a fight before.
I looked down at Maude, who was still on the floor, her eyes were filled with shock and gratitude.
"Are you okay?" I asked, offering her a hand.
She nodded slowly, a small smile breaking through her fear. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you."
I smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through me. "You're safe here. I won't let anyone hurt my roomies."
The twins, who had been watching silently, exchanged glances.
The one who had been shoved earlier spoke up. "I admit that we were kinda snobbish when we first came. Sorry about that."
I nodded, appreciating the change. "It's okay. Nice to meet you. I'm Blair."
"I'm Jessica," the tanned twin introduced herself.
"I'm Jane," the paler twin chirped in behind her sister.
[Level up!! Level up!!]
[Welcome to level one.]