In the eerie glow of the full moon within a dimly lit alley, a young girl dashed desperately, fear etched across her face. Behind her, a terrifying creature with eyes ablaze and long, protruding fangs chased relentlessly.
In her frenzied escape, the young girl stumbled and fell, landing hard on the ground. Trembling, she implored, "P-Please, don't hurt me," she pleaded with a quiver in her voice.
"Hahaha, you have nowhere to escape now," taunted the creature.
As the creature menacingly closed in, ready to strike, the child shutting her eyes tightly in fearful anticipation. But then, a heart-wrenching scream shattered the silence, resonating with the intensity of terror.
"Aaahhhhhh!!!"
The creature crumpled to the ground, disintegrating into ashes, carried away by the chilling wind.
The young girl, wide-eyed and bewildered, stared at the mysterious figure standing before her. Blood dripped from his hands as he reassured her, "Don't worry, you're safe now."
Overwhelmed by a mix of relief and confusion, the young girl lost consciousness.
.
.
....
Jade was awakened by the sound of the alarm clock. She slowly opened her eyes. She dreamt it again. Night after night, she dreams of that event, unsure if it's just a dream or a real memory. The face of the young man in her dream is blurry. She just shrugged it off.
She headed to the bathroom and washed up. Downstairs, the smell of breakfast welcomed her. In the kitchen, she found her parents having breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom, Dad," she greeted.
"Morning, sweetheart! It's good that you're awake, your dad's got some exciting news for you," her mom announced.
"Good news?" Jade's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She sat beside them.
"You see, your dad won in a raffle," her mother explained.
"Really, Dad? Does that mean we're rich now?" Jade inquired.
Her dad chuckled. "Not exactly. It's a bit different.
Her brows furrowed as she asked, "Huh? What did you win?"
"You see, when you win this raffle, they grant any wish you have," her father explained.
"What did you wish for, Dad?" she asked.
With a proud grin, her dad revealed, "I wished for you to study at Serolf Academy."
Jade's eyes widened. Serolf Academy is a prestigious institution, reserved for the intellectually gifted and wealthy. Moreover, it is located on top of a mountain.
"Dad, that's cool and all, but I can't study there. You should have wished for a million pesos instead, " Jade suggested.
She felt like she would not belong there.
"Nah, it's a scholarship too, sweetheart. Just go along with it, or your dad will be heartbroken," her mother said.
Jade sighed, realizing resistance was futile. "Alright, fine."
.
.
In the quiet of the afternoon, Jade was engrossed in sweeping outside their house when her cousin, Sheryl, arrived.
"Hi, Jade, I heard you're going to study at Serolf Academy?" Sheryl asked.
"Yeah, that's right," Jade replied, wearing a somber expression.
"Why the long face, though?" Sheryl probed.
"Because everyone there is rich. I'm afraid I'll just end up feeling out of place," Jade confessed.
"Oh, come on, Jade. You've got this. I'm here to support you all the way," Sheryl gently patted her shoulder, offering a comforting touch in an attempt to cheer her up.
A faint smile tugged at Jade's lips. "Thanks," she said, grateful for Sheryl's encouragement amid her uncertainties.
.
.
....
The following day.
Jade boarded the bus headed for the mountain where Serolf Academy was situated. She found it odd to be the only passenger on the bus, but she just shrugged it off. Gazing out the window, an hour passed, and still, there was no sign of the school. They passed through a small town and then into the mountains until they traversed a dark tunnel. It consumed half-hour before they emerged.
Finally, the bus stopped, and Jade disembarked. She was about to ask the driver for directions, but the bus started moving again. With a sigh, she began to walk, passing through dense forest. As she walked, she hugged herself, hearing rustling sounds. She quickened her pace but halted when the vegetation rustled. Her heart raced as a large wolf emerged, its eyes glinting malevolently, and saliva dangling from its jaws.
She took a step back, "D-Don't come closer..."
But the wolf ran towards her; she closed her eyes, expecting the wolf to charge. However, a male student suddenly appeared, rushing towards the wolf. He snapped the wolf's neck and tossed it aside. Jade stood there, astounded.
"Are you all right?" the male student asked her.
Jade was momentarily captivated by his striking features; he was so handsome and had a fair complexion. 'T-Thank you,' she stammered.
"This forest isn't safe for wandering," he cautioned.
"I-I had no idea there were wolves here. I'm trying to find my way to Serolf Academy," Jade explained.
The male student furrowed his brow. "You're a student there?"
Jade nodded.
"I study there too. Come with me," he offered, extending his hand. "I'm Phoenix," he introduced himself.
"I'm Jade," she replied, shaking his hand.
She couldn't help but notice the chilling coldness of his hand.
They walked together towards the Academy. Jade was in awe when they reached the grand entrance. Inside, she was captivated by the old-style design and the luxurious, antique furnishings on display.
Phoenix paused. "I have to go; I have class. Just follow this hallway, and you'll find the office," he instructed.
"Thank you," Jade said.
Phoenix left, and Jade followed his instructions, amazed by the unique design and vintage items on display in the hallway.
.
.
Inside the classroom.
"Oh, Phoenix, where have you been? Our first subject ended a while ago," Rebeus inquired.
"I had some business to attend to," Phoenix replied, taking a seat beside Rebeus.
"By the way, isn't Xylon returning tomorrow?" Blake suddenly asked, twirling his drumstick.
"Indeed," Xenon confirmed, his eyes fixed on the pages of his book.
"At last, he's decided to come home. Crayven's death hit him hard," Yvess remarked, taking a seat on the desk and resting his elbow on Blake's shoulder.
"He blames himself for Crayven's death," Xenon added.
"But we all know he's not at fault. It was an order from the council," Heberlin said.
"We can't blame him," Phoenix added.
"We should throw a welcome party for him tomorrow. Invite lots of beautiful girls," Rebeus suggested.
"For what? So you can charm them?" Xenon sarcastically remarked.
Rebeus scratched his head. Rebeus Grimaldi wasn't just an ordinary vampire; like his friends, he was a noble—a vampire infused with the essence of a soul eater and belonging to the monarchy. Rebeus had the ability to take the soul of anyone he victimized, and the souls empowered him.
"Xylon doesn't like parties, and he definitely won't attend," Yvess predicted.
Yvess Furukawa, on the other hand, is a Shielder, a vampire with the ability to create barriers that no one can break.
"He'll be happy just seeing us," Heberlin commented.
Heberlin Serolf, is a Disabler, a vampire with the ability to remove the powers, memories, and sanity of anyone. Many avoid his vampire kind out of fear that he might use his powers against them.
"He's right," Xenon agreed.
Xenon Serolf, a vampire with the power to control time, could travel to the past, freeze time, and teleport. Xenon and Heberlin were cousins and close relatives of the owner of the academy.
Seven Blake, a vampire Charmer known for playing the flute, could enchant with his music. However, the enticing melodies were dangerous, subjecting people to his control. He could manipulate anything—objects, people, or animals—through his music. Phoenix Broider, a vampire Necromancer, could communicate with and control the dead.
BLAGG!!!
They turned as they heard a loud bang from the door. Zake walked in, looking dazed.
"H-Hungry... I'm hungry," Zake mumbled as he approached them.
His fangs were exposed, and his eyes turned red.
Blake sighed, "Looks like he's having another attack," he said.
Xenon retrieved a vampire tablet from his bag and administered it to Zake. Those tablets, crafted from human blood, served as substitute for vampires. They would take them whenever the thirst for blood arose, providing an alternative to attacking humans.
Before long, Zake returned to normal.
Zake Park was the youngest among them, unlike other vampires. He struggled more to control himself, quickly becoming thirsty for blood. He had the ability to control or move anything around him.
All of them, the nobles, possessed extraordinary abilities not seen in ordinary vampires. Serolf Academy was established for vampires, providing not only a platform to explore their abilities and powers but also to delve into the study of humans and other creatures.
They halted their activities and conversation as their teacher entered, signaling the start of the class.
.
.
Jade knocked on the door of the office indicated by Phoenix. The door swung open on its own, leaving her perplexed as there was no one visibly opening it. Upon entering, she was met with a man seated in front of the table.
His hair was somewhat long, and he wore gloves on his right hand. She couldn't deny his attractiveness, reminiscent of Phoenix, and he was exceptionally fair-skinned.
"Good day, I'm Jade Crisostomo, the scholar you're expecting---" she began, but the man spoke before she could finish.
"I anticipated your arrival. I am Kan Vasilescu, the overseer of the Academy. Please, have a seat," Kan said.
Jade took a seat, her eyes wandering around the antique furnishings in the office.
"Here's your schedule," Kan handed her a paper. "It also contains your boarding house room number and the school's rules and regulations."
Jade nodded and perused the information. Kan retrieved a bracelet from the drawer and handed it to her. "This is for you, a symbol that you are a student here. Never take it off, no matter what happens. And I kindly request that you don't go out at night; it's strictly prohibited."
"I'll remember that," Jade replied.
She bid farewell and left the office, taking a deep breath. She gazed at the bracelet she was wearing. Her adventure within Serolf Academy was about to commence. She began walking, searching for her boarding room.
In his office, Kan watched her from the window, pondering how long this new student would stay in the academy.