2

Chapter 2 

RAIN ANDREA RIVERTON 

Orientation days were one of the worst days in Kingsbury according to Aunt Eloise’s diary. The one she made sure I read when the order about me coming back here arrived. You could either be added to a ward that would help you survive or a ward that would be your demise. And the fucked up part? The decision of what ward to be in was not your choice to make. 

Our boxes had been collected by some staff members, stating that they were going to be sent to our various dormitories. 

      

The hall was filled up way before I found my way to it. Hundreds of students occupied the huge space. Some were in the school uniform and others were in a regular fit like I was. Possibly new entries too. 

“I would love to say how nice it is to see new faces here at Kingsbury, but that would be a lie. And a fae like me does not lie.” Headmistress Audrey Rush stated. 

She stood at the podium of the hall which made it possible for everyone, me included, to see her. “Because by the end of the first semester, I can guarantee you that at least half of you won’t be here.” 

Because they would be dead. She doesn’t say that though, she does not need to.

“I believe I have no reason to get into details about this school. Everything you need to know will be in the handout you’ll get at your various dorms. The first thing you do at orientation is to get assigned to your different wards.” She gestured at the Indian girl with freckles next to her, signaling for her to walk up to the podium. “Acolyte Aashna here will proceed.”

Her brown jacket, unlike some others I had seen, had five crowns. With a whisper from her, my hand began to itch, forcing itself to expand. A paper appeared in my palm.

What the…

Murmuring filled the hall. Guess I wasn’t the only one who experienced it. 

“In there, you have your wards and your various classes. Now, aspirants have a lot to learn and know, which is why everyone would be grouped with their wards and also get to know their ward and section leaders.” Headmistress Audrey left the stage for Aashna. 

Looking down at my paper, I scanned through its content. Ward Nine, Section One. 

“Ward Three, Section One!” she called out, hands stretched and pointing to the right side of the hall that was vacant. “Take your formation in threes behind the crow flag.” 

The sound of boots striking the ground filled the hall as a handful of students rushed over, separating themselves from the rest of us. They stood in rows of three, the line long as they tried to fit into place. Did they have a choice in this? Coming here willingly with the knowledge that there was a chance they would never leave these cursed walls alive?

Three total flags. Only one had people behind it. 

How did this hall contain us all? I had no idea, but it did and only the gods knew how empty this place would be by the end of the first semester. When more than half of us would be gone.

Dead.

Whispers from some girls behind me made my ears perk up. “I heard from others that once you are put in a ward, you will remain there till the end of your college year.”  

“Considering the fights between wards and the number of deaths that have been ruled out as a tragedy, all anyone can do is beg the gods they are added to a powerful ward.”  

I could feel their fear from where I stood. 

I had to make it out alive, even if the rest of my ward didn't. For Aunt Eloise.

“Ward Six, Section One!” Aashna called again, gesturing to the second flag. A python.

More than half of the people who once stood next to me moved, making the required formation behind their flag and next to Ward Three, a thin line separating them.  

“Lastly,” she looked over to the rest of us yet to make formation. “Ward nine, Section one!” Scorpion Flag. 

We did the same as the rest. Everyone looked at us, jealousy evident in their eyes.

Curiosity bubbled inside me. To survive, you had to be well-packed with information. Ones to come, ones passed. It didn’t matter. No information was unnecessary, especially within these walls.

Aashna bowed, giving room for headmistress Audrey to climb the podium while she stepped down.

“I want to welcome everyone officially to Kingsbury College. This is an institution where students are selected and trained to protect our school and town from anyone who means harm. Here, students are also taught to master their Emblems.” She looked over at the three rows of different wards lined up. 

“I’ve been looking forward to making my parents proud.” An excited giggle came from the girl next to me. Pink long hair, tanned skin. “I can’t imagine the face of my brothers when I graduate from Aspirant to Acolyte.”

Headmistress Audrey resumed. “Remember, the competition isn’t within your wards but between different wards. Magic is unpredictable and we can’t always regulate the outcome which is why you need to look after yourself. No one else would do it for you.”

The unsaid words lingered in the air. They were not responsible for anything that happened between wards. Ninety percent of the people here came by choice, all loyal, and waiting to be perfect servants to the council. If they couldn’t then they would at least die with honor.

Like Dad did.

“Lastly, to keep everything organized, every ward has a ward leader and a section leader.” She muttered some words under her breath and in an instant, a blaring sound rang through my ears. I put my hands over my ears when the screeching sound of chalk on a board echoed through the hall. It tore through me, my ears threatening to bleed. 

Then, it stopped. 

The names of everyone in my ward were now engraved into the piece of paper I was still holding. My stomach dropped and a tingling sensation spread through my skin the second I saw the name of the ward leader on the paper. Everything I consumed earlier

threatened to come right up.

Kai. Malek.

I was fucked.