Kelsey pulled me down to sit with her at the long table. Across from us, two girls around our age looked up as we settled in. One was slim, dark-skinned, and flawless, with striking red kinky hair, deeply engrossed in a book. The other had the fairest skin I'd ever seen, her wavy brunette hair framing a curious, slightly amused expression as she looked our way, nudging the girl beside her to pay attention.
"Hey, girls," Kelsey greeted cheerfully.
"Hey," they both responded excitedly, eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. They exchanged glances, clearly wondering who I was.
Her eyes twinkled behind her thick-rimmed glasses. "This is my roommate, Margaret from Montero," she introduced. She turned to me with a grin. "And this pretty girl with the book is Tasha, and the one who looks like a fairy is Charlie."
I extended my hand, which they eagerly shook.
"Nice to meet you," I said, trying to sound confident.
They smiled brightly. "Nice to meet you, too, Marge. Can we call you that?" Tasha asked with a playful smile.
I nodded. "Yeah, sure."
"Well, Marge, since Kelsey's already befriended you, welcome to the club," Charlie said warmly.
Tasha closed her book, her eyes bright. "It's been ages since Kelsey had a roommate. The last one only stayed for a week before transferring."
"You can see her up there," Charlie added, pointing toward Eva, who was sitting farther ahead, chatting with a group.
I glanced at them as I took a bite of my fruit bowl and sipped some juice. "Have you been friends long?" I asked.
"Yeah, since elementary school," Kelsey replied casually, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
Tasha looked up from her book. "You're from Montero, right?"
I hesitated, glancing at Kelsey. She shook her head slightly, giving me a subtle prompt. I took a breath. "Yeah," I admitted hesitantly.
"So, you know Hunter and Hudson?" Charlie's eyes lit up with curiosity.
I shook my head. "I know they're royalties, but I'm not really acquainted with them."
"Speaking of the devil," Charlie said, her brow furrowing.
Suddenly, a presence materialized beside me. The chair creaked under the weight of someone sitting down. I turned my head—and my heart skipped a beat.
It was Hudson. His imposing figure was unmistakable. His expression was relaxed, almost teasing, as he leaned slightly toward us.
"Hey, buddies," he greeted, voice smooth but with an edge.
Charlie rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here, Hudson?"
"Is that how you greet a friend, Charles?" Hudson teased, grinning mischievously.
Tasha raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly welcome here, huh?"
"Did your friends kick you out of your little clique?" Charlie asked with a smirk.
"Wow, that hurts," Hudson said dramatically, clutching his chest. "Calixta dumped me, remember?"
I'd always thought Hudson was tense, distant—an asshole, even. But hearing him joke around like this was... surprising. It was almost like he was trying to lighten the mood—though the flicker of pain in his eyes betrayed him.
"Girls, be nice to him. He's a broken-winged bird right now," Kelsey said with a chuckle, nudging me gently.
Hudson turned to me, flashing a grin. "And you, I'm Hudson. The handsome one."
Panic surged inside me. I instinctively turned to Kelsey and quickly covered my face with my hair, waving awkwardly.
"She's shy, Hudson," Kelsey whispered, trying to calm him. "Don't frighten her."
He smirked. "No worries. I'm harmless."
Just then, a group of boys called out to Hudson from across the hall.
"You better go, Huds. The apes are calling you," Tasha teased with a mischievous grin.
"And before the jealous girls start throwing potatoes," Charlie added with a wink.
Hudson chuckled softly. "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you all in class tomorrow," he said, standing up smoothly. With one last smirk, he turned and made his way toward the other side of the hall, leaving a trail of whispers and glances in his wake.
Once he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Kelsey glanced at me with a knowing smile.
"I'm surprised you're also close to Hudson," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady as I brushed my hair from my face.
Tasha tilted her head, a playful smirk on her lips. "And you're being weird," she pointed out. "He can seem intimidating at first, but he's actually pretty cool."
Kelsey chuckled. "Yeah, we've known each other since elementary. So, we're pretty much like cousins now," she explained casually.
"And," Charlie added with a grin, "we're on the same team in Magic Wars."
My curiosity piqued. "Magic Wars?"
The girls exchanged looks, as if debating whether to tell me more. Charlie shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah. When royalties fight with their magic, and we handle the logistics—organizing, supplies, strategy."
I stared, eyes wide. "What magic?!"
They all paused, sharing a glance that felt a little guilty.
"You haven't taken the oath yet?" Kelsey asked in surprise.
Before I could answer, the loudspeaker crackled to life, and a woman's voice echoed through the hall.
"Margaret Del Valle. Please proceed to the headmaster's office."
The voice faded, and immediately, the hall buzzed back to life with whispers and hurried footsteps. I looked at Kelsey, who nodded reassuringly.
"You better go," she said softly, nudging me gently.
I pushed back my chair, heart pounding, and made my way toward the heavy doors of the headmaster's office. As I approached, a figure stepped out from behind the corridor's shadow.
My breath caught. It was Hunter. His shoulder-length hair was perfectly tousled, and his jawline sharp and commanding. The universe—why now—could it not leave me alone?
I froze in place, heart hammering loudly in my chest.
He paused, eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment. Then, with a calculating glance, he continued walking past without a word.
Relief flooded over me. I finally exhaled, steadying myself. I was about to push open the door when suddenly, a voice stopped me.
"Are you new here?" Hunter's voice, casual and slightly amused, floated behind me.
My stomach twisted. Panic surged. If I said yes, he'd probably figure out it was me.
I hesitated, then quickly responded, "No." My voice sounded a little hurt, as if I'd been caught off guard.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought you looked familiar," he said, then turned away without another word.
My heart thumped loudly as I watched him walk down the hall. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
What was I even doing? How did I keep bumping into them—these two—everywhere I went?
-----
Mr. Thornton placed a thick, official-looking document in front of me, its bold heading reading Oath of Confidentiality.
"Since your parents worked with the royal family and with King Julian sending you here," he said casually, "I assumed you already know about their powers." His tone was nonchalant, almost like he was discussing the weather.
No, I don't. I just heard it now, I thought silently, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. To hide my uncertainty, I nodded faintly.
He reached into a small box and dropped a quill with a thin, razor-sharp blade on its tip onto the table. The metal gleamed ominously.
"Just for formality's sake," he said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Make a shallow cut inside your arm and sign here."
My breath hitched. What the hell is happening? My mind spun, trying to make sense of this surreal moment. I clenched my fists, trying to steady trembling hands as I picked up the quill. I pulled up my left sleeve. I hesitated, then pressed the blade against my skin, drawing a shallow line. A sting shot through my arm, sharp and sudden, and blood slowly welled up.
I watched in stunned silence as the blood dripped onto the paper, then silently traced my signature. My heart pounded so loudly I thought he could hear it.
Suddenly, the paper ignited with a burst of blue flame, curling and turning to ash in an instant. The quill followed, disintegrating into a flicker of sparks. I blinked, wide-eyed, as the remnants of the parchment vanished and the smoky scent of burnt paper filled the air.
Mr. Thornton's brow furrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "That shouldn't happen to the quill," he muttered, almost to himself. "It's the only paper that should burn."
He shrugged, dismissing the moment. "Well, it might've been too old. Anyway, you may go now. Enjoy your days at the Academy, Miss Margaret."
I quickly pulled my sleeve over the fresh wound, my mind racing. What just happened? Why did the blood and the paper burn like that? I felt a cold shiver crawl down my spine. This place—this world—was far more tangled and dangerous than I had ever imagined.