The bus arrived silently, as if was beckoned by an unseen force.Arielle stepped inside,the black envelope still clutched in her hand,the streets of her town were empty; even the distant hum of traffic seemed to vanish.She wondered if this was real or some strange dream yet the seat beneath her was firm,warm,and very tangible. Outside,the moon hung unusually low, casting long,silvery shadows that stretched like fingers across the cobblestones.
The ride was short,though it felt stretched, as if time itself had slowed.When the bus doors opened,Arielle blinked.She was no longer on familiar streets a stony pathway curved upward to a school that seemed impossibly tall, its towers piercing the night sky. Lights glimmered from windows,but the sky above was blank—no stars, no moon, only darkness.
Arielle swallowed hard,standing on the steps of a mysterious gothic academy at night,holding a black envelope with a glowing silver seal,looking up the academy towers are dark and foggy,with glowing windows surrounded by swirling mist.The night sky was surprisingly larger with a faintly glowing moon,faint magical symbols floating in the air,subtle shadowy figures of supernatural beings on the rooftop.The air smelled faintly metallic,like the calm before a storm.From the shadowed halls,faint figures appeared students moving silently, their steps making no sound on the stone floor.Their eyes lingered on her for just a moment too long not unfriendly, but… different,she didn't bother bcus she was used to it.
"Welcome to Noctis Academy"Miss Arielle,a voice said behind her soft,steady,and authoritative.She turned to see a teacher in a long dark coat he bowed slightly,smiling then gestured toward the main hall. "Follow me,please,your dorm awaits."
The hall was enormous,chandeliers made of crystal-like glass hung from ceilings high above,but no candles burned within them. The light seemed to come from the walls themselves,soft and cold Arielle's reflection should have been visible in the polished floors,but it wasn't.She blinked,startled,no reflection,not in the floor,not in the windows.
A chill tickled her spine,and a whisper brushed the edge of her hearing" Welcome. Arielle"…
She forced herself to keep moving,a senior student stepped into her path,tall and poised his dark eyes met hers with a curious intensity.He gave nothing away—a fleeting glance and then disappeared down the corridor something about him felt… aware.
Finally,she reached the dormitory,it was a long,narrow room,sparsely furnished. No mirrors,no decorations,only beds lined neatly against the walls.She touched the cold frame of her bed. Everything was unfamiliar, yet it felt like she was meant to be here.
Before she could settle,the "first night class"was called a gentle chime echoed throughout the building,yet no bell was visible.Arielle followed the flow of students, stepping into a classroom where the lesson was already in session.
The teacher's gaze swept over the room. "Tonight,we study shadows," he said. Candles flickered to life on their own, illuminating shapes that seemed to move just slightly differently than the students themselves Arielle watched in awe—and a little unease.
A small movement caught her eye—a shadow on the wall that didn't match anything in the room.It curled and twined, almost like it was watching her and then, as suddenly as it appeared it vanished.
Arielle's heartbeat quickened,the whisper returned,closer now,a faint brushing against her ear...You are exactly where you are meant to be…
The class ended,students filed out silently. Arielle lingered,feeling the weight of every glance,every small movement around her.
Nothing was ordinary here and she wasn't either.