As soon as Aiden stepped forward, the towering iron gates of Skyline Academy creaked open on their own. There were no guards in sight, no visible controls or intercoms—just the eerie sound of heavy metal shifting by unseen force. A chill crept down his spine. The gate had responded to him. Automatically. It was unsettling, but Aiden, trying to be logical, brushed it off.
"Maybe it's just motion sensors… really fancy ones," he mumbled to himself.
Still gripping the handle of his suitcase tightly, he took a hesitant step past the threshold. The moment he did, a vast campus unfolded before him, leaving him breathless. The main building loomed in the distance—an elegant structure of glass and stone with sharp edges and winding staircases, surrounded by several smaller towers and strange structures that didn't quite resemble normal school facilities.
Aiden exhaled, letting out a long, low whistle. "This place is huge…"
He didn't get far.
Before he could even take in much of the scenery, a figure materialized directly in front of him—so suddenly that Aiden nearly collided with him. He stopped just in time, stumbling back slightly. His heart thumped wildly in his chest.
The man standing before him was tall and sharp-featured, with dark hair that framed his pale, expressionless face. His eyes were cold and calculating, their color a silver so light they almost looked white. Dressed in an impeccably neat uniform with a long dark coat draped over his shoulders, he radiated authority and mystery. He hadn't made a sound—no footsteps, no rustle of clothes. He was simply... there.
"Where did you even come from?" Aiden asked under his breath, eyes darting around to see if he missed something. But there was no one else nearby. Just the man. Staring at him.
The man finally spoke. "So, you're Aiden. One of those clueless ones who sent in their blood without knowing what they were signing up for."
Aiden blinked. "What?"
But the man didn't elaborate. Instead, he lifted his hand, and out of thin air, a silver badge shimmered into existence between his fingers. Aiden watched, slack-jawed, as the metallic emblem floated there for a split second before the man handed it over.
"This is your school badge. It will guide you to the Orientation Hall where you'll meet the returning and new students," the man said flatly. "Just think about where you want to go, and it'll show you the way."
And then—just like that—the man vanished. One second he was standing before Aiden. The next, he was gone. No sound. No smoke. Just… gone.
Aiden stood frozen, gripping the badge tightly, his brain racing to catch up.
"Did I just—what… what just happened?!" he muttered, spinning around in place. "He… he disappeared. He just—did I hallucinate all of that?!"
He looked at the badge in his hand. It was cool to the touch, etched with symbols he didn't recognize, and glinted unnaturally in the dull light. "Okay… maybe I hit my head? Or maybe I fell asleep in the car?" he suggested to himself hopefully. But a quick pinch on the arm and a slight sting proved otherwise.
"This place is insane," Aiden groaned. "I should've listened to Mom. She said this was a bad idea."
Still, he remembered the man's instructions and reluctantly focused his thoughts. Orientation Hall.
Almost instantly, the badge warmed in his palm and emitted a faint glow. Confused but curious, Aiden started walking. After a few steps, the light faded.
"Huh?" He stepped to the right. Nothing. Then he turned left, and the badge glowed again.
Realization dawned.
"It only lights up when I'm going the right way," he whispered. "Okay… this is weird. Very weird."
He continued down the glowing path, led by nothing but the badge's quiet flicker, winding through courtyards filled with exotic plants, shimmering fountains, and oddly shaped statues that almost looked like they were breathing. Aiden didn't dare look too closely.
The deeper he ventured into the campus, the stranger everything felt. The architecture shifted from elegant modern glass to something ancient and mysterious. He passed a group of well dressed students walking silently with glowing orbs hovering over their shoulders, and once, he thought he heard something growl from the bushes.
" oh, I'm going to die here," he muttered, clutching the badge tighter. "No one even knows where this place is. If I vanish, my parents won't even have a clue where to look. Skyline Academy... what was I thinking?!"
Just as he was spiraling into panic, the badge pulsed brightly and a tall structure came into view—a domed building with intricate spires and floating lanterns circling it like satellites.
Orientation Hall.
Swallowing hard, Aiden approached the massive doors, which opened with a quiet whoosh. What he saw inside stopped him cold.
Rows and rows of students filled the expansive hall, but they were unlike any group Aiden had ever seen in his life. Some looked normal—human, even. But others…
There were students with glowing eyes of gold and violet. A tall boy with horns and lavender skin lounged against a pillar. Two girls with translucent wings zipped above the crowd, giggling and leaving glittering trails in the air. A few students had pointed ears, flawless otherworldly beauty, and unnatural stillness. A group of wolves—talking wolves—argued over who hunted the most in the forest and Aiden could even see blood on their furs.
Then Aiden saw it—a glowing portal—and a pair of students stepped out, completely unfazed as the swirling light behind them vanished.
He froze.
"No. Nope. No way," Aiden stammered. "This has to be a dream. This is not happening. I am asleep. Still in the car. Definitely still in the car…"
His brain refused to accept what his eyes were showing him. He slapped his cheek. Hard.
"Ow!" he winced.
It didn't help. The magic, the mutants, the wolves—they were still there.
Aiden just stood there, completely overwhelmed, repeating to himself, "I'm dreaming… this isn't real… this can't be real…"