Unlike everyone I'd seen today, her attire screamed luxury on a whole different level entirely.
A wine-red off-shoulder gown hugged her creamy-white skin, the lustrous folds of satin threaded with diamond-studded patterns that glimmered beneath the light.
Beneath the fitted bodice, chiffon parted slits drift down her thighs swaying softly behind her, the satin drape stopping mid-thigh at her front.
Fingerless, transclucent green gloves wrapped around her fore-arms down to her slender wrist contrasting sharply to the dark-brown polished high boots on her legs.
Pausing briefly, her lips curve into a small smile studying me silently.
"You're the newbie everyone's been talking about." She mutters more to herself than to me.
Slipping into the couch, she faces me directly like it was the most natural thoing to do.
I watch speechless for a moment at how easily she invaded my space.
"Hmph!" I snort mildly irritated.
"And what makes you think so?" I retort sharply.
"My 'simple and dramatic' choice of clothing/?" I continue infuriated by her smile that widen further in amusement.
"Among many other things." She replies calmly, accentuating every word with slurring emphasis
"Like what?" Propping my elbows on the table, I lean forward her words arousing my interest. Her smile blossoms beautifully across her lips —-triumphant she has my attention.
I stare, mouth hung open at how pretty she looked up close. I clear my throat, heat rushing up my face when I catch myself staring.
She smiles shaking her head slightly–clearly used to such intense attention.
"Most important," She starts, her eyes locked on mine.
"Your name." She finishes, blowing softly at her glittering nails.
"My name." My brows knits in confusion
There's nothing particularly peculiar about Lilliana.
"Lilliana?" Eyes wide with disbelief, I ask. A mocking egde to my voice. Turning her gaze to me, she sighs cocking her head slightly at me.
"What's there to your name?" She blatantly mocks, her eyes narrowing down on me as if evaluating my cerebral capacibilities.
Which she probably was.
"Your surname…." She adds, stretching lazily against the couch.
"Halecrest" I finish receiving an exhausted grin from her.
"Hmm Halecrest." Her voice dips lower as if tasting the sound on her lips,
"Been long since we've seen one." She adds watching me patiently tracking every shift in my expression.
"You really don't know." Murmuring softly, her eyes glimmer in realisation confirming something I had no idea about.
"Pardon?" I say not getting her last words.
"Fae…" A sonorous, bored voice drawls across the hall. I turn noticing she wasn't alone. Two girls in similarly stylish dresses leaned lazily against the walls watching us.
She rises with further ado.
"We will meet again, newbie Halecrest." Her words linger floating between us like a silent promise as I watch her saunter toward her friends by the door.
Do I have relatives here? I wonder watching the trio disappear through the glass doors.
I have met any of my Dad's relative. Mum said they weren't on good terms with us after Dad's death.
The possibility was exciting as it was frighteningly.
More reasons to reach out to Mum. I pack up drinking a glass of warm water to moist my throat.
"Cyra." I call out.
"Where do I pay for these?" I continue, the slight flicker in overhead sound channel tells me she's listening.
"Anywhere." She replies curtly.
"Oh." I sit back pulling at my phone opening one of the apps I saw yesterday. The words Library filled the screen the app synchronising with the recent development.
My library access levels.
My Library Intelligence.
My pending Library card delivery under a timer.
To my surprise, even the books I browsed to read earlier under browsing history, the four I choose categorised into currently reading tab.
There was even a Recommendation List based on browsing history
I pause for a moment marvelling at her intricately their information network worked.
Selecting the Buy Books Icon the interface loading into list of books with price tags.The four books I picked sitting at the top.
14 LP
25 LP
"Cyra." I call out confused not finding an inline glossary or term popup what so ever.
"Library Points bought with Velmora Copper, Silver or Gold." She replies curtly.
I tapped on the four books going to a pay here page. At the end there was a No 'points get more' link. It took me to the Resources app dsplaying exchange rates at various levels.
To my surprise a Silver coin equalled ten million Library Points. I concluded the purchase adding a few interesting titles to my cart.
They were too cheap to ignore. With deliveries coming in tomorrow free e-copies were part of the package.
Luckily, I reached my dorm early. I shower too exhausted to bother about eating. I move my new books on the shelf, grinning at the little change to the space. I return to my room grabbing a pitcher of water for the night.
I set it on the bed side cupboard, picking up the diary before slipping under the covers.The sharp rustle of pages fill the room, my lips easing into a small smile. Pulling the pen from the side, my hand tightens around the it moving rapidily across the page.
01/09/2021
Hello Dearie,
I'm here again. Did you miss me? Well, I did. People around here aren't really fond of me. Today is my second day here in Velmora not The Lights High–you must be confused, its a long story.
My day started well, better than well.' I smile remembering breakfast.
'But what followed did go so well. My first tutorial session with Zara was nothing like I imagined. Most importantly, I learned that no one here is trustworthy and I really need to talk to my Mum.
Though, I have no idea how I'll go about it.
Yet.
I'll figure it out.
I have to.
Sadly, I got hardly any answers and definitely more questions to the list.
Camflouged Extract? Talented.' I scoff remembering Zara's words.
'I'm very clear on who I am.
Lilliana Halecrest.
An average girl from a mid-class home with average dreams.
Just enough to see through every day with an hopeful smile.
To help Mum.
All of this, whatever it is do not appeal to me.
And, I'm by no means flattered.
I just want my life back.
To go back to Mum. 'I tighten my grip on the pen looking away from the diary shift as tears drop into the sheets. My chest throbbing with a painfully hollow ache that never really left.
Just when I thought, I was over this. Wiping away the tears, I continue writing my grip on the pen firm in determination.
Yes, escaping was on the table. I know that now. However, it doesn't mean I'm out of options.
I will get the answers I need.
Talk to Mum.
Leave this place.'
I close the diary, the latch clicking in place picking up my phone. Dialing a familiar string of numbers on the keypad. My fingers glide across the screen swiftlybarely masking the slight tremor coursing them.
Every ping in the silence matched the frantic rhythm of my heart. A foreboding feeling rising rapidly in my gut. The sharp shrill fills the room and I close my eyes, hopeful for a second…
The number you dialled doesn't exist.
I open my eyes, letting the phone slip into the sheets, my tears following suit.
***************************************
It didn't take long to spot her, standing by a car outside the dormitorium.
"Good morning." I croak, voice hoarse from crying myself to sleep, smiling stiffly at her.
"Good morning, Initiate." She replies, glancing at me.
"Today's session is Phase Two: Touring." She smiles, beckoning inside the car, which she held open.
She enters after me closing the door while shift in my seat to adjust to the cramped space.
"He'll join us today." She points to the elderly man sitting in the driver seat.
No introductions. Just
"Good morning, sir." He nods staring back at me in the rearview.
"Velmora is very huge and the last thing you want is being caught at the wrong place." She shifts facing me. I nod listening caerefully.
The stakes were high and I knew that.
"Velmora runs on a very strict hierarchy and you won't fancy finding yourself in places you don't belong in." She says pointedly.
I frown, my brows creasing in confusion.
What now? I shift sitting straight up. Opening a blank page on the notebook app on my phone
"For the duration of your stay here as a novitiate, only four sectors are open to you excliding the Dormitorium. The library, academics, gym and the weaponry." I stop writing at her last word.
"Weaponry." I laugh expecting her to call it off as a joke. But, she doesn't staring dead serious at me.
"In this session we'll have a tour of these places and discuss navigating your way in Skyline District." At her words, the engines roar to life on under the old man's hands driving away from the dormitorium.
"We'll begin from the main gate of Velmora."
Three hours later, the old man drops off at the entrance of the Dormitorium, driving off.
"That's all for this phase, Initiate." Zara turns to me, a weary smile on her lips.
"Thanks for your effort, Guide." Bowing slightly, I say sincerely mirroring her professionally distant tone.
"Ger ready for tomorrow. It's the last phase; Acquistance." She walks away, leaving me confused at the odd name.
Trudging into the Dormitorium, I enter my complex falling face flat into the couch.
Velmora is really huge.
To think, we only toured four sectors in the Skyline district. Throwing off my shoes, placing my legs on the couch. I groan at the soreness of my feet, my bones tired from all that walking.
"Eave, the AC!" I call out, relaxing from the sudden coolness in the room. Today's session was really an eye-opener, I sigh, remembering the tour.
We started at the main gate, entering the Skyline district, which was armed to the teeth. Soldiers patrolling every inch of the perimeters, turns out the gate I came through was only a side gate used by students to leave Campus unofficially.
Skyline district, the official name for where all initiates and first-years lived in Velmora. Other years lived in other districts, Zara said I have no business with.
Well, just this district was troublesome enough. I would rather rest my case.
Our first stop was the transport stations placed in strategic locations where numerous public buses and cars were stationed. Turns out, the transport system here also used points–Transport points, which were just as cheap as their library counterparts.
They run through the district on mapped-out routes that differ from pedestrian routes.
In short, no more walking for me.
Thankfully, Zara was lenient enough and I signed up for a transport card.
Next was the Library, which I have been to. Anyway, our district had four sub-libraries and one main library, the one I visited the previous day to my surprise. The sub-libraries were spread in all four directions, whose routes I had to be familiar with.
Zara's words.
So stressful.
The academic sector was more interesting. All learning took place there in several designated buildings.
It spanned about 300 km, so we only visited the different classes–their uses I still have no idea and..
Right, that was all I needed to see in academics.
The gym was underwhelming as the training equipment was overwhelming.
I barely listened while Zara spoke.
I sure as hell will never step foot in here for as long as I have before I leave for good.
Let's not talk about the weaponry. Weapons sat on shelves on display.
Daggers.
Guns.
Swords.
Katana.
Bow.
Arrows
She simply said it was for self-defense.
What the hell?
What about karate,
Krav Maga.
Jiu-Jitsu
Boxing
Kickboxing
Taekwondo
Are they not good enough for self-defence? Just like I expected, Zara rolled her eyes with a simple sentence.
"You're exaggerating."
This is supposed to be a school, for heaven's sake!!!
More reasons to leave before I was initiated into whatever crime syndicate they were running.