The hallways stretched longer than she thought,the walls glowing with a soft,cold light that seemed to follow her as she walked.Every step echoed in the silence, though no other student was near Arielle's hand brushed along the smooth stone railing,the whisper from the previous day brushing again at the edge of her hearing "You are exactly where you're meant to be"…
At the end of the corridor,a large door loomed,carved from dark wood and polished so it reflected nothing,it seemed almost alive in the dim glow.A small plaque read simply "Headmaster's Office".
Arielle hesitated,the envelope in her pocket seemed to thrum softly,as if reminding her she had accepted something far bigger than a school invitation.
Bracing herself,she pushed the door open,the office was enormous far larger than any room she had seen in her life.The ceilings soared above her head,dotted with faint,flashing lights that hung like suspended stars.Shelves lined every wall, filled with books whose spines shimmered faintly, titles she could not read,a large chair sat at the center,behind an impossibly long desk,and in it was the Headmaster.
"Headmaster Vale"
He was calm,impossibly still,yet every inch of him seemed aware of her,his dark eyes met hers immediately, and Arielle felt an odd pull,as if he could see into places she had never dared to think about.
"Welcome Arielle" he said,voice smooth and deliberate "We have been expecting you."he added.
The words sent a shiver down her spine—not from fear,exactly,but from something deeper,something unspoken.She noticed how the room seemed to lean inward, shadows curling toward him,almost protective.
"I… thank you,she said,unsure of what to say.He gestured to a small table beside him, where a folded sheet of paper and a pen was"Before you begin your lessons,you should understand a few rules.:Classes are held at night,you must observe dorm regulations,certain areas of the school are off-limits,curfew is enforced for your safety and for others.He paused,letting the words sink in Arielle felt a strange pressure in the room,a weight that seemed to emphasize every syllable.
"And one more thing," he said, voice dropping just enough to make her lean in. "Some students… behave differently here. You may notice things about yourself as well....That is… natural."
Arielle swallowed "I...I'll try to follow the rules" she said,though her voice sounded too small even to her own ears.
Headmaster Vale gave a faint nod and rose, moving silently to the doorway.He looked back once,expression unreadable"Kael will guide you tonight,do pay attention."
Before Arielle could ask a question,he was gone,leaving the office feeling emptier than before.
Kael appeared in the doorway moments later,silent as a shadow he nodded briefly, then gestured for her to follow. "This way," he said.....As they walked back through the hall, Arielle's mind replayed every detail of the office. The strange pull of the Headmaster's gaze,the flickering shadows,the books that seemed alive. And somewhere, just at the edge of her hearing, the whisper returned, soft and familiar"You are exactly where you're meant to be"…
Arielle's heart thudded—not from fear, but from the quiet, unshakable feeling that her life had changed forever.