Adrian lowered himself onto the park bench. The wooden slats protested with a low groan, muffled thanks to distant chatter floated through the park.

  His fingers traced absent patterns on the bench's rough surface, the splinters catching slightly against his skin. I've been on a hell of a lot for a first day,

  He clenched his jaw, his teeth pressing together so tightly it ached. Professor Damien’s words replayed in his head. The knot in his chest grew tighter, not from shame but from the sheer, unrelenting unfairness of it. It’s not like I did anything that bad. That bastard professor is lucky that I can't actually do anything to him.

  His gaze wandered to the other students scattered across the park, their carefree postures in stark contrast to the turmoil roiling within him. He caught the flicker of sidelong glances in his direction, whispers barely audible but no less cutting. A trio by the fountain exchanged hushed words, lips curling into faint smirks.

  Yeah, go ahead. Stare all you want. Not like you know the whole story. The thought simmered, bitter and raw, as his hands balled into fists on his lap.

  A sharp gust tugged at his hair, pulling him from the spiral of frustration. His eyes darted back toward the gravel path, where a figure stood out among the milling students. Brown hair peeked from beneath a plain headband, and the boy’s easy posture radiated a familiar calm.

  Kael raised a hand in greeting. Adrian’s lips curved into a genuine smile as he lifted his arm in return, his wave punctuated with a small laugh he hadn’t expected.

  The blindfolded boy's footsteps crunched softly over the gravel as he approached the bench, his head tilted slightly to the side. A faint grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “So, how did your trip to the principal’s office go?”

  “You already heard about that?” Adrian asked.

  “Heard? It’s the only thing anyone’s talking about. Half the school’s convinced you’re locked in a dungeon somewhere.”

  Adrian huffed out a dry laugh, shaking his head. Of course, they are.“Well, sorry to ruin their fun,” he said, leaning back on the bench, arms stretched across the top. “Surprisingly, nothing much happened.”

  “Nothing much? You’re telling me that Myrael Faesbane just let you waltz out of there without so much as a scratch?"

  “I didn’t say that exactly. She was... accommodating, let’s call it that. It wasn’t the horror show that I thought it would have been."

  Kael leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Though his blindfold covered his eyes, Adrian could feel the intensity of his focus “Accommodating, huh? And you’re sticking with that story?”

  Adrian exhaled sharply, his smirk dissolving into a faint grimace. “What do you want me to say, Kael? That she turned me into a toad and made me hop back here? Hate to disappoint you.”

  Kael let out a soft laugh, his grin widening. “Come on, spill. What really happened?”

  Adrian shot him a sideways glance, his jaw tightening briefly before he smoothed his expression with a shrug. “Believe what you want. That’s all I’ve got for you.”

  Kael snorted. “Fine, keep your secrets, oh wise and enigmatic one,” he said with mock reverence, folding his arms and leaning back against the bench.

  Adrian’s chest tightened at Kael's words, but he masked it with a faint shrug. Secrets? If only you knew.

  Kael stood abruptly, his movements fluid despite the casualness of his tone. Stretching his arms overhead with a satisfied groan. “Anyway, enough with the cryptic act. What do you say we hit the dorms and finally claim our rooms?”

  "Dorms now? That’s kind of weird. We’ve already had classes. Shouldn’t we have done this first?”

  “Nah, I checked earlier. They were still cleaning up the dorms this morning. No one was allowed to move in until, oh”—he tilted his head as if calculating—“maybe a couple of hours ago? So we’re right on time.”

  ***

  The boys' dormitory's weathered facade, ivy creeping up its walls like veins stretching toward the narrow, arched windows. The heavy oak doors stood slightly ajar, their metal handles polished to a dull shine from years of use.

  Adrian paused, taking it all in. So this is home now... for better or worse.

  Kael brushed past him, the soft thud of his boots echoing against the stone steps. “Don’t tell me you’re already intimidated."

  “Not a chance,” he shot back, nudging the door open wider. As it swung inward, the faint creak of the hinges added a low groan to the quiet.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Adrian and Kael stepped into the dormitory’s entry hall, their footsteps tapping against the mosaic-tiled floor. The warm light from floating lanterns bathed the space in a soft glow, illuminating the rows of cubbies stuffed with shoes, bags, and random odds and ends.

  “This place has character,” Kael remarked, running a hand along the brass railing of the staircase. “Bet the rooms are a bit less... refined.”

  Adrian smirked, pushing his hands into his pockets. “Character’s one way to put it. I’ll bet you good money there’s at least one mystery stain on the walls.”

  Kael chuckled, the sound low and easy. “Come on, let’s get our keys first before you start losing your allowance.” He jerked his chin toward a polished wooden desk at the far end of the hall, where a stout woman in an official uniform sat sorting through papers. Her sharp features softened slightly when she caught sight of them approaching.

  “Welcome,” she said briskly. “Names?”

  “Kael,” he answered, leaning casually against the desk.

  She flipped through a leather-bound ledger, her fingers skimming the names with practiced speed. “Kael... no last name listed here. Room 204.” She reached into a drawer, retrieved a brass key attached to a leather fob, and handed it to him.

  Kael accepted it with a polite nod. “Thanks. I’ll try not to ruin your desk when I get lost on the way.”

  The woman snorted softly, clearly unamused but not unfriendly. Her eyes shifted to Adrian. “And you?”

  “Adrian,” he replied. “Adrian, uh, no last name.”

  Her brow furrowed briefly as she scanned the ledger again, but she quickly located his entry. “Room 207. You’re on the same floor.” She handed him a key identical to Kael’s, her fingers lingering briefly on the fob as if to ensure it didn’t slip.

  “Thanks,” Adrian said, pocketing the key.

  Kael straightened, gripping his own key loosely in one hand. “Well, that was painless. I was expecting more forms to sign, maybe a blood oath or something.”

  The woman raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond, already turning her attention to another stack of papers. Time and place, Kael, time and place.

  Adrian followed Kael back toward the staircase, the weight of the key pressing against his palm like an anchor. As they ascended, the faint hum of activity from above grew louder—muffled voices, doors opening and shutting, and the occasional clatter of something heavy being dropped.

  “So, 204, huh?” Adrian said, glancing at Kael. “Guess we won't be too far from each other."

  “Lucky you,” Kael replied with a grin. “I’ll make sure to keep the noise down when I’m practicing my late-night snoring.”

  Adrian rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the warning."

  Kael laughed, his voice carrying easily down the hall as they reached the second floor. The corridor stretched before them, lined with dark wooden doors, each marked with a brass number plate.

  They walked in companionable silence for a few moments, until Kael stopped in front of a door labeled “204, well, here’s my stop. You sure you’ll survive without me, or should I come tuck you in later?”

  Adrian smiled, fishing his key from his pocket. “I think I can handle it. But hey, if you find any mystery stains, you know who to report to.”

  Kael chuckled, resting his hand on the doorknob. “Don’t worry. I’ll document everything thoroughly. See you around, Adrian.”

  Adrian watched as Kael slipped inside, the door closing with a soft click behind him. The warmth of Kael’s humor lingered, easing the tightness Adrian hadn’t realized was still in his chest.

  Turning toward his own door, he let out a quiet breath. Room 207 wasn’t far, just a few steps down the hall. As he reached it, he slid the key into the lock and twisted.

  The door opened into a modest room, its walls painted a neutral beige with a small, single bed tucked into the corner. A desk sat near the window, mostly bare save for a neat stack of paper and an empty ink bottle. The wardrobe beside it was slightly scuffed, worn from years of use.

  Adrian stepped inside, the door closing softly behind him. Dropping his bag near the bed, he leaned against the wall, taking it all in. Not bad. At least it’s mine.

  The boy kicked off his boots and sank onto the edge of his bed, the mattress creaking faintly under his weight. He let out a long breath, letting the weight of the day ebb away for a moment. Finally, some peace.

  His eyes drifted toward the desk. Maybe I should look around this place more… but I kinda just want to lay here for a while.

  But suddenly, a sharp knock jolted him out of his thoughts. It was faint but insistent, coming from somewhere nearby. His brow furrowed as he glanced around the room. Another knock, followed by a light scrape, echoed through the stillness.

  Seriously? What now? He turned his head toward the small, square window beside the desk, catching a faint flicker of movement just beyond the glass.

  Shrugging it off, he leaned back again, willing himself to ignore it. Probably just the wind. But the knocking didn’t stop. If anything, it grew more rhythmic, a deliberate tap-tap-tap that set his teeth on edge.

  Adrian groaned, pushing himself off the bed. “Alright, alright,” he muttered under his breath. “Who’s got nothing better to do than mess with me now?”

  Crossing the room, he unlatched the window and pushed it open with a faint creak. A gust of cool air brushed past him, carrying the faint scent of pine and distant smoke. He blinked in surprise as a raven perched on the window’s edge tilted its head at him, Its sharp, intelligent eyes locked onto his, and it gave a low caw.

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the small scroll tied neatly to the bird’s leg with a thin ribbon. A letter? Who’d be sending me something this way?

  The raven cawed again, shifting its weight impatiently. Adrian hesitated for a moment, then reached out cautiously, his fingers brushing against the ribbon. The bird didn’t flinch, remaining eerily still as if it had been trained for this.

  Adrian untied the scroll and held it in his palm, the ribbon slipping free easily. The raven gave a satisfied flutter of its wings and hopped back onto the sill, waiting as though it anticipated a reply.

  Adrian stared at the rolled parchment in his hand, his heart beating a little faster. This better not be more trouble. With a sharp inhale, he unrolled the letter.