'Is this really real...'
The thought kept spinning in his head while his eyes darted around, never settling.
Ahead, the architecture of Meridiana Academy stretched out like a distorted dream.
Dark buildings with angled rooftops, tall towers, and stained glass windows that shimmered with weird lights depending on how you looked at them.
They walked through stone paths that twisted like a maze, connecting different areas. Small iron bridges, elevated walkways, and curved staircases linked the buildings. Students moved back and forth across them, with appearances that looked like they came straight out of fantasy books.
Some had twisted horns. Others had bluish, scaly skin, or eyes completely black that reflected the gray sky. One girl was floating above the ground while reading a book upside down.
'I'm seriously going to lose it here... I need to get out of this school!'
He felt sweat sliding down the side of his face. No matter how hard he tried to walk naturally, his hand clung to the edge of his shirt like that would keep him grounded.
"Are you okay, Rowan?"
Lyra's voice came soft, almost concerned.
"Ahh... yeah..."
As he answered, he realized he was walking so close to her that he almost brushed her arm.
He stepped away quickly.
"Ghnn—! Sorry..."
A muffled, nervous sound escaped him as he scratched his head, trying to play it off.
'Damn it... what am I doing?'
"Don't worry about it, Rowan..."
Lyra gave him a kind smile. Her expression was light, different from almost everyone else he had seen so far.
"You seem really tense. I guess your arrival at the academy was... kind of rough."
'Kind of rough?? You kidding me? I almost died.'
"Ahm... anyway, this is the boys' dorm and..."
She started digging through her pockets.
"Here. This is your key."
Rowan took it. It was made of dark iron, with a carved number he didn't recognize.
"My key?"
"Yeah. For your room."
She turned slightly and pointed at the massive structure ahead of them. A tall, dark building with narrow windows and small side towers.
"It might look creepy, but it's safer than it seems. Anyway... about your luggage, Sera mentioned it earlier. I talked to an instructor, so they should bring it to you by the end of the day."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"So she's capable of doing nice things like that?"
Lyra chuckled softly, almost like she was trying to hide it.
"Despite the way she acts... Sera's a kind person. She just doesn't show it the way most people expect."
Rowan paused for a second.
'A kick to the butt counts as kindness too, apparently?'
Lyra stretched her arms above her head and let out a quiet yawn.
"So, Rowan... any other questions about the academy?"
"Do students have any freedom to leave this place?"
She looked up, thoughtful.
"Yeah... but only during summer break or if there's some major event."
'Damn... how the hell am I supposed to escape, then?'
Lyra glanced at a watch on her wrist, her face tightening slightly.
"Ah, it's already 3:45 PM... I've gotta go, Rowan."
He took a deep breath before asking:
"Ahm... Lyra. Why did you and Sera help me with all this stuff?"
She paused, brought a finger to her lower lip, thinking.
"Hmm... I'm not exactly sure. It was an order from the headmaster. He said we'd get some performance points for it."
She made a vague gesture with her hands, like it wasn't a big deal.
"But... I didn't really do it for the points. I like helping people. Honestly."
"The headmaster...?"
Rowan looked thoughtful.
A headmaster of a monster academy... why would he accept someone like him?
Did he even know Rowan was human?
"Don't overthink it. It's probably just because you arrived late. Classes started a week ago."
"A week??"
"Yeah. If you have any questions about the lessons... just ask me, okay?"
She gave him a quick smile and began to walk away.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Her steps faded until everything went silent.
Rowan stood still, holding the key like it was a sentence.
'A whole week behind... great. I just got here and I'm already starting off losing. Not sure if that's a good or bad sign...'
He let out a deep breath.
Looked down at the key, then up at the building in front of him. A tall, dark structure with narrow windows, looking more like a small abandoned castle than a dorm. The cloudy sky only made it feel more melancholic.
The kind of weather people would call perfect for tea and reading a good book.
But for Rowan... it only added to the pit in his stomach.
"What choice do I have? Stand here waiting for the rain?"
He huffed quietly and made his way toward the boys' dorm.
"..."
"....."
Inside, it was exactly what he expected.
Weird people everywhere.
But unlike he imagined, no one stared. No one tried anything. Since he arrived with Lyra, he had already noticed most people didn't really care about his presence.
There were so many different types of students, with wings, claws, glowing eyes, or scaled arms, that looking "normal" around here didn't seem to matter.
'Lyra looked pretty normal, though...'
'What kind of ability or transformation does she have?'
"...."
"....."
After walking a bit more through the building, past old doors with faded names scratched on them, he finally reached what looked like the area where his room should be.
'Looks like this is the floor.'
It was quieter there. Conversations had become distant murmurs, and even the natural light barely reached that part of the hall.
Rowan walked distractedly, eyes trying to read the faded numbers on the old doors. One looked like it had bite marks. Another had deep claw scratches.
Then he turned left on impulse... and bumped into something solid.
Poc!
"Agh, sorry—!"
He looked up and found himself face-to-face with a shorter kid, skinny, with the posture of someone who thought he owned the place. He wore slim glasses, his expression was tight, and everything about him screamed "don't mess with me." His horns were stubby and cracked like dry twigs, his grayish skin looked flaky, and his narrow eyes had vertical pupils that locked onto Rowan like a snake sizing up its prey.
'Damn... I just walked into trouble.'
"Hey! Do you have any idea who you just bumped into?!"
The kid's voice came out sharp, full of barely contained rage.
Rowan didn't even get a chance to speak. The moment the guy looked straight into his eyes, it was like someone cut the power.
He froze. Blinked once. Then again.
"Ah... eh... never mind. My bad."
He quickly looked away, turned around, and walked off in a rush, nearly tripping over himself.
Rowan stood still, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"What... was that?"
'I really thought I was screwed...'
'Dammit, focus.'
He took a breath and spotted his room just ahead. Slid the key into the lock.
'I need to get out of this place as soon as I can.'
The key turned with a dry click.
'Please... please, nothing weird...'
He turned the doorknob slowly.
The door creaked softly as it opened.
Silence.
The room was... normal.
Simple. One bed, two wardrobes, a small desk. No skulls, no ritual circles on the floor. Not even a sound.
Rowan stepped inside slowly and closed the door behind him.
He threw himself onto the bed.
The mattress was surprisingly comfortable.
"Guess I'll leave the escape plan for another time..."
His body felt like it was made of lead. After everything he had gone through, this was, without a doubt, the most chaotic school entrance anyone could possibly have.
And for a moment... he felt like he could close his eyes without having to run from a scythe-wielding creature or worry if the students showing up in front of him were about to attack.