With a loud bang, Leanor tumbled from the chair and landed on the hard bottom.
Despite the pain coursing through her body, she gritted her teeth and refused to show any signs of weakness. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground, avoiding the hypercritical gapes of those around her.
The piercing eyes felt like sharp needle, able of inflicting deep injuries on her formerly fragile state.
" Leanor, are you alright?" Raina precipitously rushed to Leanor's side, concern etched on her face.
Raina, with her medium blonde hair, round face, and blue eyes, had an endearing charm despite her slight slim figure.
She was dressed in a black T- shirt and jean trouser.
Alice, Leanor's roommate and Raina's girlfriend, also came running to help Leanor.
Worriedly, she asked," Are you hurt?"
Still keeping her head lowered, Leanor's long, straight hair concealed her expression.
Her hands tightly gripped the fabric of her clothes, as if wanting to vent her frustration on the fabric.
A mature and intellectual woman with brown long hair approached Leanor, speaking earnestly.
" Leanor, it has been over months since you joined this academy. All newcomers are suitable to smell their wolf power, indeed without their wolf. Yet, you have made no progress whatsoever. I am hysterical i will not be able to help If this continues."
Rebecca furrowed her brow and let out a deep shriek.
" Coming week will be your final opportunity. However, indeed I will not be able to help you, If you still can not smell your wolf power by then."
After saying this, Rebecca gently gentled Leanor's shoulder before turning down, her expression filled with helplessness.
The rest of the students in the classroom began to leave as well. As they passed by Leanor, some cast unattractive ganders, others looked at her with pity, and utmost wore expressions of aversion, as if she were a contagious complaint they wanted to avoid.
Once everyone had departed, Leanor could no longer contain her feelings and burst into gashes." I've failed once again!" she cried out in frustration, wanting to release all her pent- up frustration.
She embraced her arms tightly, overcome with pain and anguish, as gashes streamed down her face.
" I know everyone hates me," she swallowed the feeling as though her heart was being pierced by a sharp cutter.
"Not everyone hates you," Raina assured her, gently stroking her back in an attempt to console and hoist her.
"That is right, you have us," Alice chimed in, half- jokingly, as she continued to pat Leanor on the back.
" No, you should not be burdened by my presence," Leanor blubbed casting a rueful regard at Alice and Raina before turning and fleeing before they could respond.
Raina was taken. " Wait, Leanor!" Raina called out, her voice filled with concern, as she precipitously chased after her, with Alice near before.
In the hallway outside the classroom, Leanor gripped her tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her heart pained intensively.
Suddenly, a brace of hands reached out and seized her.
" Leanor!" Raina blatted, soughing heavily. "You'll always be my friend, no matter what you go through! Fuck the wolf power!"
With those words, Raina pulled Leanor into a comforting grasp.
Raina's words were like a beacon of warmth on a cold night, instantly thawing Leanor's icy heart.
It was also that she realized that certain people were difficult to shake off, no matter how hard she wanted to, just like Rufus. She could not indeed run from him now that he was her family.
She held Raina tightly, allowing her tears to blur her vision.
Eventually recovering her emotions, Leanor wiped down her tears and set to join Raina and the others for lunch in the dining hall.
" So, tell us, how did you spend your weeknight while Alice was away?" Raina asked, placing her hand on Leanor's shoulder.
" Um." Leanor coughed and swallowed, gathering her thoughts. " I spent it with my mum and her new boyfriend."
" Alright! Do not dwell on it too much. We will be waiting for you over there," Raina said, offering a warm smile to Leanor.
Alice also smiled at Leanor.
Eventually, as they turned their attention towards Leanor, both individuals nodded simultaneously. Placing their hands inside a brown door situated in the right corner, they pressed it onto the green dot and uttered the phrase "dining hall 1, password: Sour Cameo" in unison. In an instant, the two of them, along with the door, shrank and vanished without a trace.
Sighing deeply, Leanor raised her hand to place on the door, but just then, sound of steps reverberated.
Leanor fleetly turned, showing a figure coming.
It was Violet, adorned in a form- fitting, varicolored banded dress that accentuated her figures.
A smile was on her beautiful face.
"Leanor! I never anticipated seeing you as the first person on my first day as a new student here,"
Violet blatted, her words laced with gentleness. still, her address transuded an air of superiority, akin to that of an unassailable Luna.
" I clearly did not anticipate to see you at my academy either," Leanor said.
The bare presence of Violet at Gifted Academy could only signify one thing- Trouble.
" Your academy?" Violet scoffed, her tone trickling with misprision.
Leanor dared not respond any further, as the radiance in Violet's eyes was far too bedazzling.
Without waiting anymore, Leanor plunged her hand into the door, allowing it to transport her down from the dinning hall.
She set up herself in the dining hall, a commodious indirect room divided by a vibrant mosaic pathway.
There are six large tables of varying colors deposited on each side, each with the capacity to accommodate hundreds of persons.
multitudinous people were seen walking back and forth in the hall.
The atmosphere was filled with endless conversations and horselaugh.
" Leanor, why did you take so long to arrive? I was extremely anxious and nearly went to hunt for you."
Raina peered at the entrance of the dining hall for a considerable quantum of time until she eventually spotted a familiar figure.
Without delaying, she rushed towards her and pulled her towards the door, leading them inside the dining hall.
Reluctantly, Leanor managed a slight smile and replied," I am fine."
" I've your favorite steak meat!"
Raina's face lit up with a smile. Little did she know that Leanor had just encountered someone horrible at the Gifted Academy!
Leanor looked at the smiling face of her only friend and felt a sense of comfort marshland over her.
As they sat at their dining table, a group of girls hard began bruiting excitedly, as if they had just spotted some notorious celebrities.
Their voices were loud enough for Leanor to hear every word.
" Hey! Look, is not that Violet Parker, the new girl? She's already friends with Evan Sterling!"
"Wasn't Evan interested in Leanor before?"
" Leanor Ford!"
" Yes, yes! She was his crush. Is he not interested in her now?"
" I bet he lost interest because she's so weak! Leanor is the only beginner who hasn't manifested or sense her wolf power yet."
" Enough! Stop spreading gibberish."
Raina stood up and angrily !
" Raina, let it go." Leanor and Alice snappily interposed, pulling Raina down before she gets into a fight.
The bruiting girls murmured curses under their breath and left. Returning to her seat, Leanor kept her aspect
fixed on the figure not far down.
It was him, indeed! Evan Sterling, who had been by her side ever since she arrived at the Gifted Academy.
Leanor quietly observed the two people, biting her lip, before eventually picking up a piece of steak with her chopstick and taking a bite.