I was still reeling from what I had found inside the envelope, my mind spiraling with unanswered questions. My fingers anxiously fidgeted with the pendant around my neck. Even after I'd showered and changed into a fresh set of uniform, the unease lingered. Strangely, the bathroom had everything I could possibly need—down to the exact brands and products I normally used.
But the real shock came when I stepped back into the room. My suitcase, which I'd left zipped, was now wide open—and every single item was neatly organized and put away. Of course, my first instinct was to search the room for whoever had rifled through my belongings, but after a quick check, nothing seemed to be missing. Everything was accounted for.
Still, I couldn't shake the unsettling thought. Do they even have room service at a school like this? It's an educational institution, not a hotel. And this definitely wasn't a vacation, a fact hammered home by the reminder that I still had a class to attend—even though it was already past 8 p.m. and I was dead on my feet with exhaustion.
But the jittery feeling wouldn't go away. After a moment of hesitation, I glanced back at the envelope, then slipped it into my schoolbag, deciding I should keep it with me—just in case. On my way out, I also unplugged my phone from the bedside socket where it had been charging. It was supposed to be my check-in time with my brother— maybe even a quick call to my dad to vent about everything. But the poor thing had been through hell today. But the poor thing had been through hell today. It was cracked, the screen busted, and honestly, I'd be lucky if it still turned on at all.
I vaguely remembered Percy mentioning a repair shop somewhere. Was it in the Southern part of the campus? In that plaza area? Honestly, the idea of a full-blown plaza on school grounds was kind of shocking—but then again, not really. The school was ridiculously remote. I mean, the van that brought me here drove forever away from the city. The last thing I clearly remember seeing was a rundown gas station before we hit that endless stretch. And hours later, the driver just dumped me at the foot of the hill and left me to drag my suitcase all the way up, through the forest, right to that towering silver gate.
As I was getting ready to head downstairs, I passed by a mirror tucked right beside the closet. I paused, backtracking a little, and took a proper look at myself. I remembered catching a glimpse of my reflection earlier—back when I was practically thrown onto a plane wearing this uniform—and honestly, I hadn't had the chance to really see myself since. That first uniform had been rumpled and battered after everything I'd gone through just to get here.
But now, in the fresh set, it was different. The black blouse fit snugly under the gray blazer, the red lining adding a sharp, polished edge. The pleated gray skirt fell just right, and the red bow at my collar pulled the whole look together. I turned slightly, studying it from different angles. I already knew it looked amazing on Matilda—she wore it like it was made for her—but I hadn't expected it to actually look… good on me too.
My stomach dropped. Oh crap—Matilda. I should definitely be heading downstairs now.
I immediately hurried to the door and swung it open—only to freeze on the threshold, my hand still gripping the knob. Behind me, the lights began to switch off one by one with a soft, ominous click, plunging the room into deepening shadow. A cold shiver crept up my spine as I remembered just how menacing and wrong the hallway looked outside this room.
Right now, all I could do was stare at my own silhouette, stretched unnaturally long across the wall opposite me, warped by the fading light from behind. I stood there, paralyzed, until the silence was broken by a sharp cough. I nearly jumped out of my skin, my head whipping around toward the sound—only to come face-to-face with another student.
My first impression? Her hair.
She tilted her head, her shaggy hair bouncing slightly as she smiled.
"Are you new? Are you going downstairs? Do you mind if we go together?" she asked, her voice bright and quick. I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how enthusiastic she seemed—and how her hair practically bounced along with her words.
My eyes flicked down, instinctively checking her uniform. Yep, same as mine. For a second I'd half expected her to be from the Solar class, considering how bright and cheery she was—like President Percy. Definitely not like the two who brought me here earlier.
"Uh… sure?" I agreed, my voice a little unsure. The girl nodded enthusiastically, and her long hair swayed along with the movement.
I stepped out of the room—then nearly shrieked.
Her hair. It was really long. Like, dragging-on-the-floor long. For a split second, my brain short-circuited and thought it was a snake—or maybe some giant creepy bug—until the light from my still-open door hit it and confirmed, yep, just hair. A lot of it.
"I'm Nyra Shade, by the way," she said casually, snapping me out of my daze.
"Oh—uh, I'm Reina. Careina Dione." I blinked, shaking her hand, still half-distracted by trying not to step on her hair.
Nyra's smile somehow got even brighter. "We really need to get downstairs now, though," she said, bouncing a little on her toes like she was trying to make herself taller. Honestly, it was kind of funny—especially since she was still a head shorter than me.
"Matilda's waiting for us. Come on!" she chirped, brushing past me without hesitation. I instinctively lifted one foot off the ground, realizing just in time that I'd almost stepped on her hair. Yikes. That would've been super awkward.
As I followed her down the hall, keeping a cautious distance, I couldn't help but wonder—should I just apply Matilda's 'three steps behind' rule to her too? Might save us both some trouble.
Somehow, my mind drifted—away from the fatigue weighing down my body, the ache in my sore muscles, and the sharp sting in the soles of my feet. Even the gnawing unease about the envelope I'd found earlier started to blur at the edges. The envelope with those unsettling photos—images of students I was sure belonged to Lyceum, both Solar and Lunar classes judging by their uniforms. And that letter inside... stamped with the same intricate crest of a silver pink rose, the same as the pendant I wore around my neck.
All of that should've been front and center in my mind. But instead? I found myself staring at her.
Nyra.
This girl was literally bouncing her way down the stairs, leaping from step to step with practiced ease—somehow never once stepping on her impossibly long hair. Meanwhile, I was gripping the banister with both hands like my life depended on it, focusing all my energy on not slipping and breaking my neck.
As if that wasn't enough, my eyes kept darting to the sides of the stairwell, where dark shapes loomed in the shadows—perched along the railing and the ledges, their beady eyes tracking our every move.
But then my mind drifted back to that one crow. The stupid, smelly crow that had already ruined my evening—If I ever see that thing again, I swear, I'll get my revenge. It's not even personal. It's just principle at this point.