When Percival finally left—at the firm insistence of Chairman Ymir—the older man gestured for me to take a seat on the lush sofa in his office. He even brought over a bowl of biscuits and a cup of still-steaming coffee.
I could really cry right now. But that would be embarrassing. So I just quietly reached for a biscuit like my stomach is protesting all night.
"How was your travel, Miss Dione?" he asked, settling into a single chair at the side of the table, leaving me to the long sofa.
I was mid-bite when I looked up. "Oh, it was…" Adventurous? A journey? "…Fine." Right. Let's go with that one. As if my life was ever fine.
He blinked and then let out a small chuckle. "I guess those still counts as fine for you."
Hmmm?
"Well, anyway, apologies that the faculty couldn't receive you at the gate. We had… some matters to attend to. So I thought the President of the Solar Class and the Lunar Class would suffice."
I blinked. I know Percy is the President of the Solar Class, but... "President of the Lunar Class?" Why do they even have two presidents?
He nodded, sipping from his cup. "Have you not met him?"
I frowned and shook my head. "No… I don't think so."
Chairman Ymir frowned. "That's odd. No students are allowed to walk around unaccompanied. I explicitly told him to fetch you along with Percival." He spoke casually, like he was commenting on the weather.
"Was there someone else with Percival when he found you?"
Oh. Right.
"There were. Four guys, actually."
The chairman chuckled softly. "Ah… then you might've met not just Signos, but also his… buddies."
He nodded to himself, then leaned forward, sliding an envelope across the table toward me. Where had that come from? "Anyway, here are some things you'll need at this school."
I took it and opened it up. Inside were a thick student handbook, an ID card with my information and picture already on it, a sleek black card with nothing on it except the number 417 in gold, a timetable that says I'm in the Lunar Class—so I am in the Night Class. Makes sense, given the uniform.
The contents felt official—almost too official. Everything was already prepared, down to the photo I definitely hadn't posed for.
I flipped through the other documents, most of which were printed on thick paper with strange seals and terminology that didn't sound entirely... academic. My gut twisted a little. Either this school was extremely efficient, or my dad signed me up for something way worse than my previous already prestigious schools.
"You can't exactly read all of that at once," he said, sipping again. "But when you have some free time, please go through the handbook. That said, some of the newer rules aren't listed there. We've had to implement a few additional ones recently, so make sure to stay informed." he said, handing me what looked like a leaflet.
I blinked and flipped it open.
It was… bizarre. The fonts were oddly stylized, the visuals cryptic—half sketches, half symbols—and some of the rules read more like survival tips for the wilderness than guidelines for a school.
< LYCEUM STUDENT BE WARE! >
Here are a few rules you should definitely follow:
Buddy System– Always keep a buddy with you. Solar or Lunar Class, East or West Dorm—it doesn't matter. Just don't be alone.
Stay Safe at Your Dorms! – Lock your windows and doors, especially when you're alone.
Unofficial Prank Wars Are Prohibited – Due to recent incidents, pranks are only allowed during the official prank war periods.
Points System Between Classes – To foster friendly competition, Solar and Lunar Classes will accumulate points throughout the semester.
Avoid the Roof – Regardless of what you hear up there, do not go to the rooftop after dusk. Crow-related injuries are not covered by student insurance.
Silver Gate Curfew – The Silver Gate locks at midnight. Do not try to leave or enter the campus after that. If locked out, immediately contact a student monitor or a member of the student council—from any Class. Under no circumstances should you attempt to scale the fence.
Cafeteria Hours – Day Class meals are served between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Night Class meals are served between 6:30 PM and 5:00 AM. Do not eat outside your class hours unless accompanied by staff.
Don't Feed the Dogs – If you see them, keep walking. They aren't pets.
Emergency Chimes – If you hear three sharp chimes followed by silence, return to your dorm immediately. Do not run. Do not talk. Just walk.
---
For any questions or guidance, please reach out to:
President Percival Humito of the Solar Class
President Signos Nox of the Lunar Class
Any student council member or dorm monitor
Or visit the Dawn Council Office, located in the Faculty Building, beside the Open Field Sports Court.
---
I slowly lower the leaflet, my eyebrow twitching slightly.
"By the way," Chairman Ymir says casually, "there's a separate set of rules depending on which dormitory you're placed in." He slides out a paper from a folder on his desk—it looks like my profile. "Your Dorm monitor will be here soon, they will take care of you." He takes a sip of his coffee, prompting me to do the same with mine.
"Do you have any questions?"
Ah, of course I do, I wanted to ask too much.
After being dragged from one absurdity to another for over 24 hours, after dealing with rogue crows, exploding faucets, and now rulebooks that read like survival guides—only one question echoes in my head.
"Why am I here?"
I lean forward slightly. I can always ask anyone about the school, but this question is something I can only ask the chairperson.
"Chairman Ymir, sir... this place," I begin, hesitating for just a breath.
"what exactly is it? I mean, really? It feels… different. Like everything's not just about classes and grades."
He pauses mid-sip, eyes peeking over the rim of his cup. He stares blankly, then laughs outright.
"Wait—don't tell me you came here without knowing what you were getting into?"
I frown at him, not amused. "…Yes."
That wipes the smile off his face. He lets out a long sigh and leans back putting his coffee cup down the table.
"Whoever told your father about this school must be someone who really cares about you, kid."
That makes me blink. "What?"
But he just shrugs and stands. "You'll learn soon enough, Careina Dione."
Before I can ask what that means, he crosses the room and opens the office door. I hadn't even noticed anyone knocking.
Standing just outside is a girl. Her uniform is the same as mine—black and gray—but it fits her like it was made for her. She seems to blend effortlessly into the surrounding shadows, her long, sleek black braided hair flowing behind her. Her skin is dusted with glowing freckles, contrasting against her skin color, resembling scattered golden constellations, shimmering in the dim light.
"...Matilda," the chairman says with a note of relief. Oh, that's her? "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Though, isn't class already in session?"
"I was searching for the waywards—and the ones skipping class," she replies smoothly, her eyes briefly flicking to me with raised eyebrows. "Is she the new… student?"
Chairman Ymir nods. "Yeah. You've still got space in the West Wing, right?"
Matilda gives a single nod, her eyes flickering with that unreadable sharpness. I rise to my feet, about to greet her—when I see him again.
Behind the chairman, just half-hidden in the shadows of the doorway, stood the masked guy from earlier.
His eyes, though partially obscured, still felt unsettling. They weren't cold or menacing—just… off. At first, I thought the fire had caused that strange golden hue in his eyes, but now I could see it clearly—golden with hints of auburn, almost as if they glowed from within.
"And of course you'll show up now, Signos," the chairman muttered, his tone laced with annoyance. "Why aren't you with Percival, guiding Miss Dione here as I instructed?"
The masked boy—Signos—stepped fully into the room, not sparing me a glance. "She had a buddy. She doesn't need four more guys."
The chairman let out a long, drawn-out sigh, one of those exasperated ones only adults seem capable of.
"As president of the Lunar Class, mr. Nox, it is your responsibility to help students in need," he says pointedly, gesturing to me. "So help her get settled at the dorm. With miss Suere."
Signos' mask doesn't hide the way his expression twists. You could practically see the grimace. What is his problem?
Even Matilda's eyebrow twitches.
But Chairman Ymir just chuckle to himself, clearly entertained by their reactions.
And just like that, we're out of his office. Signos Nox is now dragging my suitcase—somehow doing it with dramatic reluctance—while Matilda Suere walks several paces ahead of us, arms crossed and silent.
Seriously. Can we stop with the walking?