Alina couldn't shake the image of the shadow she'd seen outside her dorm window. It was late, and the logical part of her brain told her it could have been anything—a student staying out after curfew, maybe one of the larger creatures like an orc or werewolf taking a shortcut to their dorms. But something about its swift, unnatural movement made her uneasy.
She stared out at the dark forest beyond the school grounds, the trees standing tall and silent like sentinels. As her gaze wandered, she noticed faint glimmers of light dancing in the distance, too fleeting to be fireflies. A sudden knock on her door jolted her from her thoughts.
"Alina, you're still awake?" Selene's voice came from the other side.
Alina opened the door to find Selene standing there, her golden wings folded neatly behind her. She was wearing a light robe over her uniform, her expression curious.
"I thought I saw your light on," Selene said. "Everything okay?"
Alina hesitated before responding. "Yeah, I guess. I just… saw something outside. Probably nothing."
Selene tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Something? Like what?"
"A shadow," Alina said, feeling foolish as the words left her mouth. "It was moving fast, like it was running toward the forest."
Selene's expression turned serious. "It's probably best to avoid looking out at the woods too much at night. Strange things happen out there sometimes."
"What kind of strange things?" Alina asked, her curiosity piqued.
Selene hesitated, then shrugged. "It's nothing to worry about. Just… stay inside after dark, okay?"
Before Alina could press further, Selene smiled and turned to leave. "Good night, Alina. Don't stay up too late."
"Good night," Alina replied, closing the door behind her.
The next morning, Alina tried to push the strange encounter out of her mind as she prepared for the day. Her first class was Advanced Potions, taught by a sprightly fairy named Professor Maribelle. The classroom was filled with shelves of exotic ingredients—crushed moonstones, phoenix feathers, bottles of swirling liquid that glowed faintly in the dim light.
Professor Maribelle fluttered around the room, her wings shimmering like glass as she explained the importance of precision in potion-making.
"For today's lesson," she announced, "you'll be pairing up to create a basic healing elixir. Remember, even a slight miscalculation can lead to unintended effects!"
Alina was paired with Thrain, the cheerful dwarf whose laughter seemed to make the room feel warmer.
"Don't worry, lass," Thrain said, clapping her on the shoulder. "I've got a knack for this sort of thing. Just follow my lead."
As they worked, Alina found herself relaxing. Thrain's enthusiasm was infectious, and his steady hands made it easy to follow the instructions.
"So, how's a human like you holding up in a place like this?" Thrain asked as he crushed a bundle of herbs with a mortar and pestle.
"It's… different," Alina admitted. "But I'm getting used to it. Everyone's been pretty welcoming, for the most part."
Thrain chuckled. "Aye, well, don't let Damon get to you. He acts all broody, but he's harmless. Mostly."
Alina smiled, her earlier tension melting away. By the end of the class, their potion was a success, the clear liquid glowing faintly in its vial.
"Well done!" Professor Maribelle said, inspecting their work. "You two make a good team."
During lunch, Alina found herself sitting with a mix of familiar faces and new ones. Ariel, the quiet angel, was flipping through a thick book while occasionally glancing up to offer a shy smile. Fenrir joined them as well, his presence loud and energetic as usual.
"So, Alina," Fenrir said, leaning back in his chair. "Any strange dreams last night?"
Alina frowned. "What do you mean?"
"New students always seem to have weird dreams during their first week," he said, his grin mischievous. "Something about the school's energy messing with their heads."
"Don't listen to him," Selene interjected. "He's just trying to mess with you."
"Maybe," Fenrir said with a wink. "But it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out, just in case."
Alina rolled her eyes but couldn't help feeling a little unsettled. Between Fenrir's teasing and Selene's cryptic warning the night before, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the school than met the eye.
That evening, Alina found herself in the library, a sprawling room filled with towering shelves and the faint scent of old books. She had come to finish an assignment for her History of Union class but quickly became distracted by the sheer variety of titles.
She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, marveling at the unfamiliar languages and intricate designs. One book, in particular, caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume with no title on its cover.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she pulled it from the shelf. As she opened it, a faint hum filled the air, and the words on the page seemed to shimmer and shift.
"Careful with that one," a voice said behind her.
Alina jumped, nearly dropping the book. She turned to see a tall, elegant elf with silver hair and piercing green eyes.
"That's not the kind of book you want to read without knowing what you're getting into," he said, his tone polite but firm.
"I was just curious," Alina said, quickly closing the book.
The elf smiled faintly. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing in a place like this. I'm Lorian, by the way."
"Alina," she replied, feeling a little flustered under his intense gaze.
"Be careful, Alina," Lorian said. "Not everything in this school is as it seems."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Alina alone with the mysterious book. She hesitated for a moment before sliding it back onto the shelf.
As Alina made her way back to her dorm that night, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The hallways were quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the enchanted lights that lined the walls.
Just as she reached her door, a faint whisper echoed through the air.
"Alina…"
She froze, her heart pounding. Turning slowly, she scanned the hallway, but it was empty.
The whisper came again, softer this time but unmistakable.
"Alina… help us…"
She backed into her room and shut the door, her hands trembling. Whatever was happening at this school, it was becoming clear that she was at the center of it.
Alina sat still on her bed, staring at the door, the faint whisper still echoing in her mind.