**Title: "The Arrival at Velmora"**
The imposing gates of Velmora Institute stood as a barrier between the outside world and the inner courtyard of Velmora.
Carl walked forward with a calm step, followed by Khan. He inhaled deeply, taking in the air around him, and smiled.
Velmora Institute was a world of its own. The aura and scent of all sorts of creatures mingled in the air, but one thing dominated this territory: the scent of wolves.
Carl didn't mind it, continuing to walk as though he were in his own territory, while curious gazes from students turned toward him.
Suddenly, he felt something. An insistent stare, emotions torn between fear and fascination.
He turned his head and spotted a man in his fifties, dressed in a three-piece suit, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly styled, holding a cane. The man was frozen.
*I've been in this job for ten years. I'm just a simple human among all these predators, but I command respect. In this courtyard, I'm always the one greeting newcomers. But who is this man? A monster? I feel the same pressure as with the Alphas or other powerful beings at Velmora, but with him, it's different. He terrifies me, but this raw power fascinates me…*
He tried to regain his composure.
— "Hello, I'm Alastair Gritstone, the butler who will welcome you," he said, bowing.
Whispers spread through the crowd. The students were astonished by Alastair's behavior.
— "Who is he?"
— "Did you not see the video? He passed the entrance test with disturbing ease."
Carl heard these murmurs thanks to his enhanced hearing. *A video!?* But he quickly returned to the present.
Carl fixed his gaze on the man with a smirk, satisfied with the effect he had caused.
— "I will… guide you," said Alastair.
Carl nodded.
Alastair pulled out his phone.
— "Ivy, meet us at the entrance, a new arrival."
A few minutes later, a silhouette approached them: a dryad with voluptuous curves and rounded hips, radiating a revitalizing energy.
Carl smiled upon seeing her.
*Stiff, I believe you will be quickly replaced,* thought Carl.
Ivy laid eyes on Carl and was immediately breathless.
She had seen inhumanly beautiful creatures, but him…
Carl Storm was not just beautiful, he exuded an unsettling presence, a charisma, an attraction that transcended his physical appearance. He stirred her deepest desires.
She blinked, trying to regain her composure.
— "So, it's you, Carl Storm," said Ivy.
— "I'm here too," replied Khan, annoyed.
Ivy smiled.
— "I'll take your luggage to the dormitory," said Alastair, bowing and walking off.
Ivy: *Wow, I've never seen him act like that.*
Ignoring her words, Carl asked:
— "How do you know my name?"
Ivy giggled.
— "You have much to learn here, follow me."
*Platform?* thought Carl, a bit confused. He had already withdrawn into his mind the moment he asked the question.
They entered a vast circular room, carved with ancient runes, where a large table sat at its center. Here, the Ancients, one of the pillars of Velmora Institute, gathered on rare occasions. Today, their assembly's topic was unprecedented.
A new species.
A heavy silence hung in the air, the only sound was the crackling of the torches.
An older man, marked by age, tapped his fingers on the solid wood.
His gaze swept across the assembly before settling on a face far too young to sit at this table: Kael Bloodfang, one of the Four Stars.
— "Carl Storm," said the Ancient in a gravelly, deep voice. A murmur of approval passed through the room.
— "He could destroy the balance of our academy and the entire hierarchy," said Othello Blackthorn, often called the Arbiter.
Ancient Magnus Ironclaw stared at him for a moment before continuing.
— "In his file, it's written that he is a vampire, a new species, and on top of that, a patriarch." Magnus paused for a moment, allowing his colleagues to reflect on these words and what they implied.
— "If we manage to control him, we could use him. Imagine his strength combined with our wolves," said Valeria Stormfang, known as the Warrior.
A towering woman, with an aura of both dragon and wolf constantly emanating from her.
— "As a patriarch, he'll seek to extend his lineage."
— "This perspective is interesting, but what if we can't control him?" retorted Selene Moonveil, known as the Eye of Truth.
— "We'll control him, even if we have to break him. It's not the first time a race has become enslaved for reproduction," said Othello, a glint of malice in his eyes.
Ancient Magnus continued to gaze at the assembly.
— "And you, Nightshade, what do you say?" asked Magnus, known as the Unyielding.
Everyone turned their attention to a young man with dark skin, imposing, and a shaved head.
— "Kael, you confronted him, what do you think?" asked Ezra Nightshade, known as the Ghost.
— "He's like us, the aura of a king. His eyes don't deceive me, he's ambitious. One thing's for sure, as long as he's here, the Institute will be in motion," said Kael.
— "Don't you think you're exaggerating, Kael?" said Othello.
Ezra cut him off.
— "All things considered, we can't expel him. What I propose is to keep a close watch on him."
Magnus thought for a moment, then silence returned.
— "We will remain in the background, observe him, and try to contain him. Tomorrow, he will have the opening day, and we will test him."
The meeting ended with those words.
— "You now have your phones and uniforms," said Ivy.
— "As I said earlier, here, all your actions are recorded as points: good behavior, good performance in tasks, and even popularity."
— "Popularity?" asked Khan.
Carl listened in silence.
— "Yes, popularity is important here at Velmora, and it impacts your rank. The higher your rank, the more you can associate with the Alphas and the Institute's top tier," said Ivy.
— "This school is an opportunity for some to rise in society. Everyone tries to get close to the stars or the top tiers, and it's by aiming for those high ranks that one achieves it."
— "You still haven't told me how you know my name," said Carl.
— "Don't be in a rush," smiled Ivy.
— "So, the more points you accumulate, the higher your rank. And now, I'll answer your question. As soon as you're accepted, all your information is in the database. From there, your phones are made, ones that only you can use."
Carl nodded. Khan began to get used to his phone.
— "Normally, being a newcomer, you'd be at the bottom of the ranks, but look at your ranking."
Carl and Khan looked at their phones, stunned.
Carl regained his composure, *It must be because of the entrance exam.*
— "Wow, I'm 50th! Hey, Carl, look, you're 20th," shouted Khan.
Ignoring Khan, Carl asked:
— "How did the video leak?"
— "Here, things never stay secret, especially with Anonymous."
— "Anonymous!?" said Carl.
— "He's a blogger, we don't know his identity, but he uncovers all the secrets. It's known by everyone. He's untouchable because he can destroy the Institute," said Ivy.
— "So, the Alphas let him do this?" asked Khan, astonished.
— "They can restrict him, but with Anonymous, we don't know exactly what he knows, so it's better to be cautious."
— "Interesting," murmured Carl. *I need to find this person*, he thought.
— "What are the organizations in the Institute?" asked Carl.
— "We have the Stars and their pack, a force not to be provoked. Then, there's the Council of Ancients, the backbone of the Institute. After that, there's the Order of Scarlet Hunters, who track down uncontrollable creatures. Be careful of them, especially their leader," said Ivy.
Carl, with a calm expression, encouraged her to continue.
— "There are the Weavers of Spells, a group of witches who regulate magical activities and teach advanced sorcery," said Ivy.
— "Basically, a big club of witches," replied Khan.
— "You could say that," laughed Ivy. "Then, there's the Circle of Heirs, another big club, all creatures with strong lineages are part of it. There are other major players, you'll meet them as you go," said Ivy.
Carl thought for a moment, while Ivy left them to process the information.
— "I have a question. For me, it's logical that I'm at this rank, but why is he 50th?" said Carl, pretending to pout.
— "You mean I don't deserve this rank?" growled Khan.
Ivy giggled and replied:
— "Actually, it's because of you, Khan. After your dramatic entrance, those who watched the video started speculating about your relationship, which brought him to this spot."