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NB: Dear readers, please note that I have made the following changes to the book:
• Laura Aishwarya Rowekk -Fiona Obiageli Lynec
• Iliara - Ginachi
• Guardian - Sentry
• Guardian Corp - Sentry Alliance
• Marva - Migdon
• Indian African-American - Nigerian American
• Vrhanian Coven - Zarnian Coven
• Olive and Oliver - Pauline and Paul
It would be best if you reread the first five chapters, but you don't have to. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you.
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"You're back."
Fiona concentrated her attention on her roommate, who was standing at the main doors of the hostel. Students flooded out of the building, some unapologetically bumping into her. Walking ever so slowly, she'd been on her way back from the principal's office when she heard blaring bells ringing. Despite figuring they were announcing something, she hadn't cared to know what. She didn't care about anything at all, except maybe her sanity. Her mind was gradually collapsing, just from imagining the days that were to come.
"Lunch break has begun." Bam Bam continued saying, accepting the one she was talking to did not wish to strike up a conversation. "I'll escort you to the dining hall. Please follow me."
Falling behind the pixie, Fiona was led to a large bungalow a minute's walk away from the female dormitory. Inside, students took their seats around various long tables, which filled the hall. Fiona feasted her eyes on the assortment of persons present. She'd never seen this many races of supernaturals in one place. Some, she'd never seen at all. After waiting in line and receiving their meals on a tray, Bam Bam took Fiona to a corner of the room, where they stood watching the student congregation.
"There are two kinds of students at this facility; the ones who are unable to control their powers, and those who are pure evil. Which are you?" Bam Bam, out of the blue, asked.
None! Fiona wanted to yell, but she found herself saying, instead, "I don't know yet."
Bam Bam regarded her briefly, her expression effectively concealing what she was thinking, then turned back to the crowd. She cocked her head to the side. "That surely complicates things."
A frown formed on Fiona's face. She couldn't understand the essence of their conversation. Her roommate didn't let her wonder for long, however.
"MARC consists of three fraternities;" She began. "the Ally Squad, headed by Kluc of the sky mountains," She pointed at a sasquatch sitting quietly, sipping his soup. The large hairy humanoid creature nodded occasionally, as a troll spoke to him. "the Forest Banes, headed by Cain Garonne," This time she gestured at a particularly rowdy set of tables. At the center of the commotion was a brunette boy laughing harder than a hyena celebrating a hunt well done. "and the Silver Masks, headed by Rinissa, daughter of Yala the conqueror."
Fiona saw her before Bam Bam could finish her statement. She walked in through the main doors, escorted by a horde of followers. Her presence did nothing to fit in with them. Rather than her standing out from her surroundings, those around her stood out, as though she was the standard and they were beneath average.
"Which will you prefer to join?" Bam Bam completed.
"None!" This time, Fiona voiced exactly what was in her mind.
Bam Bam, once again, glanced at her companion, before returning her gaze to the fraternities and their leaders. "I had the same conviction when I arrived, but believe me, you can not survive outside a fraternity. They form the social community of MARC and provide support for members. After what you did, you will need the support."
Swallowing her saliva, Fiona observed the president she had "disrespected" only that day. Moving with an elegance that could have put queens to shame, she took a seat at the head of the table. A goblin rushed to get her lunch, returning with a full tray. She flipped her flawless straight black hair aside, and gracefully dug into her meal.
That was what her life would be —Fiona thought to herself— running errands and serving lunches, if she ever joined a fraternity. It didn't matter how "in danger" she was, she was no servant. There had to be an option to live through MARC without selling her freedom.
"No. I'm not doing that." She vigorously shook her head.
"You can try the Ally Squad." Bam Bam suggested. "Their standards and regulations are more accommodating of diverse lifestyles."
"I'm not doing that!"
The pixie took a good long look at her roommate. She seemed absent-minded, but Fiona had a feeling she was focused behind her faraway gaze. She was right. Bam Bam was thinking, weighing the pros and cons of what she was about to say next.
"There is a way." She finally spoke. "There is one above the fraternities, but he doesn't take in fags. If you can make his acquaintance, you will not need to join a fraternity."
Relief coursed through Fiona. "Great! I'll chat him up. Where is he?" She chirped.
Quickly scanning the hall, Bam Bam discovered the one she was searching for was not present. There was only one other place he could be by this time.
"At the old bell tower. Go out the side door, continue down the path till you meet a crossroad, then go left."
Fiona nodded, registering the directions to memory. "Okay. So how will I know him?"
"You'll know."
As she left, Bam Bam debated within herself if she'd made the right choice. Joan, no doubt, would take the slightest opportunity to mark her down on the new student's account. She should have convinced the newbie to pick a fraternity, but she intended to let what lay ahead do that for her. The human girl was in for quite a shock.
The road left of the crossroad was lonely and unkempt. Untamed bushes and shrubs were allowed to surround the path, making this part of the school look deserted. The bell tower was just as dilapidated. One-half of a beat-up double doors hung on its hinges, the other half nowhere to be found. Bricks had fallen off from several spots in the wall, and most of the roof of the down floor was missing.
Ducking into the building, Fiona surprisedly found it clean. Though the only stool and couch in the room were tattered, the place wasn't dusty or cobwebbed. She dropped her food tray, which she'd carried along, on the stool. Where she stood appeared to be a living room, with its ancient fireplace. Bending down, she poked what appeared to be ash in the hearth. It was strange. Despite its condition, it seemed someone still lived in this bell tower —or at least used it often.
"Leave."
Startled, Fiona spun in the direction the voice had come from. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but a boy sat in the paneless window, his side in her view. He was positioned with his back leaning on the wall and his right arm resting on his raised knee. Annoyed silver eyes bore into hers.
Fiona gasped. The boy was a dark elf, the necromancers of the mystic world.