The moment Sephyra crossed the threshold, her eyes widened at the sight of the buildings.
This… this was the academy? The rumors didn't come close.
The Academy was ethereal. It wasn't a single building, but a massive stone fortress dominating the highest ridge. When you first approached the main gates, three principal halls immediately seized your attention, standing far taller and darker than everything around them.
To the left, there was a powerful, squared structure built with thick, unyielding gray rock. It was lower than the others but broad and heavily built, with sturdy walls and massive, blocky towers that looked like fists planted firmly on the earth. A deep, clear carving above its main entrance read: LYCAON DOMINION.
On the dead center, dominating the entire complex, was the tallest building, a terrifying spire of near-black stone that seemed to stab the gray sky. It featured sharp, needle-like towers and deep, narrow windows. The structure screamed of old power and aristocracy. Its name was engraved in severe lettering: NOCTIS DOMINION.
Finally, on the right was a taller and more elaborate building than the Lycaon building, built with a lighter, almost silver-gray stone. It was covered in sweeping curves and beautiful, intricate stone patterns, featuring high, slender windows. Though refined, it felt just as intimidating as the others. Boldly displayed across it was the name: ARCANIS DOMINION.
These three halls, representing the ruling species, were connected by long, dark hallways and massive archways, with the rest of the sprawling academy, including the human sections, built around them, overshadowed by the colossal power they represented.
Sephyra's stomach twisted, gripping her satchel holding only two dresses, tighter.
Mariselle strutted in front of the human group, holding her chin up like she owned every brick of this academy. She looked like she fit here; gorgeous, confident, arrogant while Sephyra looked like a stain on the floor.
The escort shouted for them to move. Sephyra lowered her head and followed. They were led through several grand structures until the architecture began to shrink, warp, and dull.
Soon, they reached the human dormitory. It was a squat, ugly building tucked behind a cluster of storage halls, its windows warped, its wood cracked, and its roof sagging as though it was tired of existing. Boldly displayed on it was: HUMAN GIRLS.
Compared to the towers and arenas, this place was basically a forgotten cage.
The girls groaned.
Of course. The Humans got the worst.
Inside, the hallway smelled like damp stone and dust. Their room was at the very end. It had a cramped space with rusty bedframes and thin blankets that looked like they'd been chewed on by rats.
The moment the door creaked open, Mariselle shoved Sephyra aside with her shoulder. "Get out of my way," she snapped.
Sephyra staggered, catching herself on the wall.
Mariselle strutted straight to the only bed with an intact mattress and sat on it.
As for Sephyra, she moved to a free bed and picked her blanket, only for Mariselle to move fast and snatch it from her. "Mine is torn, I'm adding yours."
Sephyra blinked. "But I need a blanket, Mariselle. This place is cold."
Mariselle stared at her with an open mouth, shocked to hear her speak back. "Wow, you seem to forget your place so fast. Don't think you are free from serving me because you are in this Academy!"
Then she grabbed her roughly and looked around the room, raising her voice. "Everyone listen up, this girl here is cursed. Her late mom is a witch, be careful not to associate with her or she might use your blood to revive her dead self."
Some girls nodded nervously while others looked away.
Sephyra swallowed her words and lowered her head. Arguing would do nothing, so she just reminded herself to breathe.
Mariselle threw her arm off, tossing a final glare over her shoulder before sweeping back to her bed dramatically.
Immediately she was far from Sephyra, a girl close to her spoke. "Hey? That girl seems very troublesome."
Sephyra turned to the girl. "I'm Tamsin. Tamsin Rook."
Sephyra looked sideways, unsure that the girl was talking to her, even after the lie Mariselle told everyone.
"Stop looking around, I'm talking to you," the girl added with a light smile.
She was small and round‑faced, with brown curls bouncing over her cheeks and a pair of warm hazel eyes. She looked like the kind of person who apologized when someone else stepped on her foot.
"Sorry for not speaking up for you," she whispered. "I tried to say something, but that girl—" She pressed her lips together anxiously. "…scares me."
Sephyra offered a faint smile. "I'm glad you didn't, else you would be listed in her bad book because of me."
The girl hesitated, then stepped closer. "If she doesn't stop bullying, I may eventually get in the book. I saw how she's been treating you since the trial stage."
The sincerity almost cracked Sephyra open. She exhaled slowly and nodded. "Please don't get involved," she whispered. "I'm used to…"
At that moment, a loud bell rang across the campus, vibrating the walls.
Tamsin's eyes moved to the door. "Time to leave. That's the summons to the Welcoming Feast."
Sephyra wiped her hands down, hurriedly changing into the worn out brown uniform gown given to them, before following the wave of girls out the door.
Her heart was pounding when she walked into the Grand Dining Hall, a cathedral fused with a castle and lit by a thousand floating lights. Long tables stretched endlessly under chandeliers made of enchanted crystal.
The moment Sephyra looked around the room, she froze. The dominion students were already seated, looking so unreal. Unlike the humans, they weren't putting on uniforms.
The men looked sculpted. Almost all of them were blessed with broad shoulders, sharp jaws and glowing eyes. They were dressed in corporate attires, though some turned theirs into seductive attires, folding the hands of their shirts, displaying their chests by leaving it unbuttoned.
As for the dominion ladies, they wore luxurious dresses. Everywhere she looked, she either saw Fangs, Runes, Claws, Glowing eyes, or Auras of raw supernatural power.
The human girls clustered together automatically near the entrance like prey animals trained by instinct.
Sephyra forced herself to walk, though her eyes were kept low. She was heading toward the far back of the hall, where humans were expected to sit, when Mariselle, who was just behind her, shoved her hard.
Sephyra stumbled forward and her arms flailed, as she crashed straight into a dominion girl, causing the red drink in her hand to spill all over her enchanted silver dress.
Gasps rippled through the tables. And the lady shot to her feet, fury burning in her gold‑flecked eyes.
"What the fuck! You filthy human," she thundered. "Can't you watch when you are walking?"
Sephyra's face burned in shame. "I— I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
"Of course you didn't mean it," the girl snapped. "Humans don't mean anything."
A few dominion students laughed.
"Brenna, just let her go. This one looks cursed to the brim. Look how dirty her white hair looks," another girl mocked.
Brenna scoffed, "you are right but I will only let her go on one condition," she added and stepped closer, her chin lifting in cold superiority. "Human, you have to kneel and apologize for what you just did."
The words hit Sephyra like a slap. She looked around at the faces watching, waiting, and enjoying the drama. Thoughts of her harsh life outside the academy came flashing in her mind, of every moment she'd chosen to be walked on just to survive.
She couldn't bring that personality into this academy, so she straightened, just slightly. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "Truly. If my apology is not enough, I can get you another drink, and even wash your dress myself. But kneeling…" Her voice steadied. "No, I can't. Everyone's watching."
A few students who know Brenna's importance gasped. "How dare this stupid girl refuse Brenna? Does she have any idea who she is?"
"This one looks like trouble."
"They just arrived, so she is not aware that she is talking to the strongest female wolf in the academy, else she wouldn't even think to defile her."
Brenna regained from the shock, finding her tongue back. "You have five minutes…" she voiced coldly. "…to do as I say. Or you'll regret stepping in here at all."
Sephyra's chest tightened, she didn't know what to do.
The stares and whispers grew and the only idea that came to mind was to run out of the room, so without pondering on the thought, she turned around, about to escape, only to hit straight into a solid wall of muscle, her forehead smacking into a chest.
"Not up to a day and you are already causing problems," a deep voice rumbled over her causing her body to go still that very moment.
Sephyra stepped back and looked up to see a man with brown, intense, and impossible eyes staring down at her. He was taller up close, sharp‑angled and intimidating.
Her lips opened and closed back immediately, she wasn't certain of what she was about to say.
Irritation tightened in his expression and he roughly grabbed her elbow, turning her back to Brenna. "You ruined my girlfriend's dress, so you have to do what she wants."
Brenna folded her arms, smirking triumphantly.
"Bu— But I apologized," Sephyra stammered, her chest burning with humiliation.
Tharion didn't care, especially since it was a human speaking. He hates humans. "Your apology can't dry the dress. So Kneel and apologize to her right now."
Everyone in the hall was now looking in expectation, waiting for Sephyra to succumb to pressure.
Mariselle's smirk widened, there was a victorious look all over her face but it disappeared the very moment Sephyra lifted her chin and spoke. "No! Kneeling won't dry it either."
A ripple of shock tore through the room and Tharion's eyes darkened.
Before he could respond, the massive doors slammed open. Thalvion strode in.
"What's the fuss about?!" He thundered.
Everyone snapped straight, those who stood to watch the drama, rushing back to their seats as Thalvion's presence swallowed the hall's noise at once.
Without getting any answers, Thalvion's gaze cut through the tables until he saw Tharion gripping Sephyra's arm.
His jaw clenched. "Tharion, not you again. Let that human go," he commanded. "Now."
Tharion turned toward him, a sneer twisting his mouth. "No, Thalvion. This human has offended me, so she has to apologize."
A collective inhale swept the hall. Even after his punishment, he still dared to challenge Thalvion. Classic!
"You should know better than to start playing with academy newcomers on their first nights."
Tharion scoffed, looking completely unbothered. "She's a human," he said dryly. "They're already degraded. No day makes them special."
"Enough. One more word from you, Tharion, and I guarantee you that it won't be only two trial contests you'll be missing."