FAZER LOGINThe academy announced that every first-year group must complete a field assignment by collecting rare moonflowers from the restricted forest. The flowers only bloomed in the hour before sunrise, which meant we had to leave while the sky was still dark and the air still cold. Students complained under their breath about the early hour, but no one dared question the Headmaster’s orders out loud. Our group gathered near the forest edge just as the first pale light began to touch the treetops. Kael took command without waiting for permission or discussion. No one objected not even the instructors standing nearby. His reputation alone was enough. “Adrian, Rowan scout ahead and mark any dense clusters,” he ordered. “Emma, stay in the safer clearing near the path. Do not wander.” Then his emerald eyes settled on me. “You stay beside Emma. Do not slow the group down.” I folded my arms. “I’m not one of your soldiers, Kael. You don’t get to assign me like luggage.” He stepped closer
The argument started the way most of them did quietly at first, then all at once.We had stayed late in the private study room again, finishing the final sections of the project before the presentation deadline. Emma had already left to return a few books to the library. Adrian had gone to handle some matter with the riding club. Rowan had stepped out briefly to speak with a professor about restricted historical records. That left only Kael and me, the thick silence between us broken only by the occasional turn of a page and the distant sounds of the academy settling into evening.I was reviewing the historical notes one last time, double-checking every citation, when Kael spoke without looking up from his own work. “You corrected the instructor in front of the entire class yesterday. Don’t do it again.” I set the paper down slowly, already feeling the familiar spark of irritation. “I corrected an error. That’s what research is for. Would you have preferred I let the entire class
The academy library became increasingly crowded as the week dragged on and students rushed to finish their group assignments before the deadline. Tables were buried under stacks of books, the air thick with the rustle of pages and low, frantic whispers. Since Emma was still catching up on several lessons after recovering from the poisoning, I volunteered to spend the evening helping her study instead of diving straight into the project work.We found a quieter corner near the tall windows and spread out history texts and combat theory notes between us. Emma mixed up famous Alpha Kings with legendary warriors more than once, and every time she did, we both ended up laughing soft, genuine laughter that felt almost foreign after so many tense days. For a little while, I forgot about Isabella, the constant rumours, and even Kael. The simple act of helping a friend made the academy feel lighter.That peaceful evening ended the moment Kael, Rowan, and Adrian arrived.Kael didn’t greet anyon
The following morning, Professor Blackwood stood at the front of the combat strategy classroom with his usual stern expression. “Each project group will present the first part of their assignment before the class by the end of the week,” he announced. “Every member must contribute equally. Students who fail to participate will lower the entire group’s grade. There will be no exceptions.” The warning settled over the room like a weight. In our corner, the tension arrived almost immediately. Kael took control of the discussion without hesitation, voice low and absolute as he assigned responsibilities. “Rowan historical analysis and corrections. Adrian modern applications and presentation structure. Emma organization of notes and visual materials. Seraphina…” He didn’t even look at me as he continued. “You will organize the final presentation. The research has already been divided.” I stared at him for a long moment. The message was clear. He was excluding me again, reducing me to
A few days after the combat assessment, the academy corridors felt unusually quiet. Most students had disappeared into club recruitment meetings, leaving the halls half-empty and strangely still. The usual rush of voices and footsteps had faded, replaced by a calm that almost felt unnatural. Emma had gone to the healing department to complete some paperwork, so I walked alone with a stack of library books balanced carefully in my arms. The weight of the volumes was comforting after the chaos of the past weeks solid, familiar, and quiet.I decided to take a shortcut through one of the older hallways, hoping to reach the library faster. The corridor was dimly lit, the afternoon sunlight filtering weakly through a few narrow, high windows. Dust motes floated in the thin beams of light. The silence felt heavier here, almost unsettling, as though the older stones remembered things the rest of the academy had forgotten. I paused near a faded tapestry to unfold the academy map Rowan had give
The academy buzzed with restless energy the moment the instructors announced the first practical combat assessment for all first-year students. For once, the focus would not rest on wolf transformations. Speed, reflexes, intelligence, and hand-to-hand combat would decide everything. The announcement settled something tight in my chest. This might be the only competition where the absence of a wolf would not immediately mark me as less. Emma stood beside me in the corridor, twisting her fingers together so tightly her knuckles turned white. “I’m going to embarrass myself,” she whispered. “I know it. Everyone will see how weak I am.” I turned to her and managed a small, honest smile. “I’m nervous too. I just hide it better. We’ll get through it. One match at a time.”Students crowded around the massive training arena as professors explained the rules. The air smelled of dust, sweat, and polished wood. Isabella walked past with her usual cluster of friends, voice deliberately loud







