REIYA'S POV
It's been almost two weeks, and still, Papa hasn't come home. I'm left to take care of myself, alone. I took a part-time job just so I'd have something to eat. I dropped out of school because I couldn't afford the monthly tuition anymore.
Right now, I'm at a restaurant cleaning up after a customer who just left. I still can't stop thinking about who took Papa. I don't even know any other relatives.
How is Papa doing, I wonder?
"Reiya, you work here?" I turned when someone called me. It was Athena—she used to be my classmate until I dropped out.
"Why did you suddenly drop out?" she asked with a smile. Athena's nice, and I always thought we'd get along. "Family problem," I answered shortly, and she just nodded.
"By the way, I just dropped out too—just today." I looked at her in disbelief. Did she copy me? That's just weird.
"Actually, I just handed in my papers earlier and came here to eat." I just nodded. Why did she drop out? She seems well-off—her style screams "rich girl."
"I'm actually going to the States." That didn't surprise me; Athena's clearly from a wealthy family.
"Anyway, I'll go ahead. Goodbye," she said. There was something about the way she said goodbye that felt heavy, but I ignored it and finished cleaning the table.
Right after Athena left the restaurant, a man walked in.
"One large fries and a Coke. Dine-in," he said as he sat at the table I was cleaning.
"Reiya! Go to the kitchen for now—they're short-handed since two people are absent." I nodded, handed over the cleaning supplies, and glanced back at the man, only to find him looking right at me. I quickly looked away. Weird.
After my shift, I left. They gave us leftover food—not dirty, just what didn't sell.
When I got home, all I felt was exhaustion and loneliness. There was no one waiting for me at home anymore, no one drinking at the table. I missed him.
I could almost see Papa sitting in his usual spot. I frowned and went to get ready for dinner.
Just as I sat down to eat, someone knocked on the door. Who could it be this late at night?
I opened it and saw the man who'd given me a letter two weeks ago.
"Sir?" was all I managed to say. He came in, and I closed the door behind him.
"Mycroft—that's my surname," he said, and I nodded. I followed him with my eyes as he sat down.
"Why are you here?" I asked. He looked at me. "I never really left; I've been watching over you since I gave you that letter."
My brows furrowed. Watching me? But how—I never saw him around. Why is he here?
"You need to leave this place. Your life is in danger." My brows furrowed even deeper. Who is he to make decisions about my life?
"I'm waiting for my father," I said stubbornly, but he grabbed my arm tightly.
"Don't make me repeat myself." His grip hurt so much that I screamed. He muttered some words, and suddenly, we were somewhere else.
I saw my bags—all packed up already. Looking at him with confusion, he just smiled slightly.
"Welcome to Starfall Academy." He smiled at me again. In front of me was a gigantic blue gate.
I couldn't believe it—was this a castle? Is this really a school?
Sir Mycroft spoke again, and suddenly my bags floated away on their own. Where were they going?
"Just follow your bags. Say your name and show the letter I gave you." Before I could ask anything, he vanished. Damn it! Every time I want to ask something, he disappears!
I did as he said and followed my floating bags. There weren't many people around, but those who were didn't seem fazed by the floating luggage.
The bags stopped moving but remained floating in front of a sign.
The Feather
A woman was waiting there, looking at me expectantly. "Reiya," I said, showing her the letter Mycroft had given me. She checked it and handed me a badge.
"Movēre." My bags started floating again at her command. Was that the same word Sir Mycroft used earlier?
"Follow your bags—they'll take you to your dormitory." Nodding, I followed them nervously, not knowing what might happen next.
As we walked along, I noticed other students with floating luggage too.
My bags suddenly dropped to the floor—I guess this was my dormitory. Looking up, I read the sign.
Supreme
I frowned at the label above the door. As I was about to enter, two men standing guard blocked my way.
"Insigne honoris?" One of them asked something I didn't understand.
"Here's mine." A guy beside me flashed his badge and walked in. Copying him, I showed mine and was allowed inside too.
He seemed familiar somehow, but I couldn't place him so I just kept walking.
"Hi." A bespectacled guy greeted me with a smile. I couldn't help but size him up—brown eyes.
"Hi," I replied without smiling back. He lingered in front of me with something clearly on his mind.
"Are you new here?" he asked, and I nodded. He looked at my badge and grinned. "We have the same Insigne." He pointed to his badge—he was right.
"Come on—we're headed to the same place anyway," he invited. Good thing too; otherwise, I'd have no idea where to go next.
As we walked together, I couldn't stop glancing at him. Tall, tan, handsome. My gaze drifted down to his arm—he nodded at me.
Why am I nodding back?
"I'm Velian Eryx Lyraciel—but just call me Vryx." He held out his hand for a handshake.
"Reiya. Reiya Noxshade." We shook hands. For some reason, my heart started racing—nerves maybe?
I let go of his hand as we walked side by side down the hallways. "You're really tall," I blurted out instinctively; he turned sharply toward me as if surprised by what he'd heard.
"It's in my genes," he said with a smirk. Wait—did I say that out loud? Damn it! So embarrassing—why did it have to slip out like that?
He laughed softly before stopping abruptly.
"We're here," he announced as we reached a set of doors—rooms for students.
"Left is for boys; well, girls are always right." He smiled—a different kind of smile this time—but maybe it was just my imagination.
"You'll find your room number on your Insigne badge. If you need anything else or have questions—just come by the boys' room." With that, he left first. He seemed nice—I found myself smiling after him.
I turned away and began searching for my room based on my badge info... Wait! How am I supposed to tell which room is mine? Why didn't I ask him how to tell? Damn!
"Ahem… Find!" I muttered under my breath—nothing happened.
"Abracadabra!" Still nothing.
Damn it—how does this work? I scratched my head in frustration.
"Oh hi! Need some help?" A girl appeared—and she was stunningly beautiful; she almost glowed like an angel had fallen right in front of me!
"I don't know how to find my room," I admitted shyly.
"Oh! Just tap your Insigne or badge and say 'Ostende.'" She smiled and walked away; following her advice, I did as she said—and a door swung open nearby.
I stepped inside—and was amazed by how beautiful the room was! Was this really mine? There was a bed with a mini cabinet beside it, a lampshade on top of that, and a huge wardrobe too.
I set down my bags on the table—and found a note there:
"Say it when you need it." Below that: "Managed – to clean."
Who left this? The handwriting looked personal—I slipped it into my pocket for later.
I tried saying what was written: "Managed."
I closed my eyes—half-expecting something or someone to jump out at me—but when I opened them again, my bags were open; my things floated out neatly into their places in the wardrobe!
Wow—I wouldn't have to clean by hand anymore!
T H E N E X T D A Y
I woke up to a loud bell ringing somewhere—it took me a moment to remember: right, dormitory life now!
Someone knocked—I hurried to open it and nearly jumped back when I saw Vryx standing there.
How did he know which room was mine?
"Professor Mycroft asked me to bring your uniform," he said, glancing at what I was wearing before quickly looking away.
I glanced down—I was still wearing a see-through dress! Crap—my bra was visible!
I grabbed the uniform from him and slammed the door shut behind me. Couldn't they have sent a girl for this? Ugh!
I looked at the uniform: blue skirt and long-sleeved top.
Suddenly my ears stung—a tiny speaker in my room crackled: "Announcement to everyone: proceed to hall at exactly 9 o'clock. Latecomers will not be forgiven."
I rushed to change into the uniform, pinned on my badge, then stepped outside—Vryx was waiting by the wall outside my door.
Why didn't he go ahead?
"In case you don't know where the hall is," he explained—and fair enough, that made sense.
We started walking together—and wow, he looked even more handsome up close today.
Before long we were in the main hall—packed with people everywhere.
"Stay next to me," Vryx said—and so I did; looking around nervously at how big the place was. Students whispered all around us—it was noisy and overwhelming.
"Why are we here again?" I asked him quietly; he looked at me and shrugged slightly.
"I don't know either—but looks like they're welcoming new students." He smiled gently at me.
"I just want to ask—why do you keep coming over to talk to me?" My question didn't surprise him though.
"Is it not allowed? Out of all the students here—you seem like someone worth befriending." He nodded simply. Did he have no other friends?
"Well… if you want… you can be friends with me too," he replied honestly.
"Oh! Yes—let's be friends." He smiled wider—it seemed like neither of us had any other friends yet anyway; maybe it wasn't so bad having one another after all.
Suddenly everyone fell silent—a figure walked onto the stage at the front of the room.
"The Archstar—or Headmaster," Vryx whispered before I could even ask.
"Good evening—I welcome all our new students!" The applause erupted from some corners of the room.
"Be ready—they'll call your name soon," Vryx whispered again—and panic rose in my chest; what? Are they calling roll or something?
"I will now call out names of new students—please come forward when your name is called." The Headmaster's voice echoed through the hall; anxiety rose even higher as people started glancing my way—or maybe it was just paranoia?
Vryx squeezed my hand reassuringly: "Hey—it's okay! They just give you your coat every year." Sure enough—when others were called forward—they received coats with letters stitched onto them: S… what did S mean?
"Ms. Phoebe Hamilton"—a girl took her coat with "SP" embroidered on it.
"What does SP mean?" I whispered before realizing how close we were—Vryx looked startled but answered anyway: "Special."
More names were called—most coats had an R (Regular), according to Vryx.
"Ms. Reiya Noxshade." Vryx looked at me—I stepped forward as everyone's eyes seemed fixed on me.
The Archstar handed me a coat marked with an S—I returned to stand next to Vryx as whispers erupted around us again.
"Why are they staring at me?" I whispered desperately to Vryx.
"Don't mind them—come on!" He tugged gently; where were we going?
"We have class," he said matter-of-factly—as if reading my mind again. Class? Already?
He smiled kindly: "Let's go?" I nodded—and followed him out into our new life.