CHAPTER NINE

The forest grew strangely quiet as I stepped past the last line of ancient trees. The cold air that had followed me all the way from the tower suddenly disappeared, replaced by the familiar warmth of the academy grounds. My boots crunched against loose gravel, every step sounding louder than it should.

Something felt... wrong. Usually, this place buzzed with noise. Someone was always arguing, laughing, or showing off. Today? Nothing. I looked up, and hundreds of eyes were fixed on me.

"...Why is everyone looking at me?" I whispered. “Please make a little noise…” 

Lila glanced sideways, trying very hard not to smile. "I don't know."

"You do."

"I might."

I narrowed my eyes. "If I suddenly have two heads, just tell me now."

Instead of answering, Lila nudged me toward the clearing.

The instructors stood in a straight line beneath the academy's towering stone archway. Their long black coats barely moved despite the wind. Behind them, students gathered in clusters, whispering behind raised hands.

Every conversation stopped the moment I walked closer.

The silence pressed against my ears.

One instructor stepped forward. His silver hair caught the afternoon light, and the wolf crest pinned to his chest gleamed like polished steel.

"Nira Peterson."

My heart sank. "...Yes?"

He stared at me for a long moment before speaking. "In one hundred and thirty years..." He paused. "...no first-year student has rung the First Bell."

The clearing erupted.

"What?"

"She actually did it?"

"That's impossible!"

"She doesn't even have a wolf!"

"I heard only Alphas could reach the tower!"

The instructor raised one hand. Silence returned immediately.

"But today..." His eyes settled on mine. "...history has changed."

I swallowed.

History?

Me?

I only rang a bell.

The instructor continued.

"You completed a trial that generations before you could not." His voice echoed across the courtyard.

"You faced Black Forest."

"You reached the Watchtower."

"And you rang the First Bell."

He looked around slowly. "Without awakening your wolf."

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd. I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

"So..." "...am I still in trouble?"

A few students snorted.

Even one of the instructors looked like he was fighting a smile.

The Head Instructor stepped forward. Unlike the others, he carried himself with effortless authority. The silver streak running through his dark hair made him look older than the rest, but his amber eyes were sharp enough to make anyone lower theirs.

"We now face a problem."

Another instructor folded his arms.

"There is no problem."

"Then explain the Bell."

Their argument spread through the line of instructors.

"But the Bell answered her."

"It has never answered a first-year."

"The records say—"

"I don't care what the records say!"

The students stared with open mouths. Apparently, I wasn't the only confused person today.

Across the courtyard, I noticed Adrian standing beneath an oak tree. Hands tucked into his pockets. One of the Alpha boys beside him folded his arms. "She cheated." Adrian didn't answer. Another boy scoffed.

"There's no way a rankless girl completed that trial."

Finally, Adrian lifted his gaze toward me. "I don't think she cheated."

"Then how did she do it?"

A small smile touched Adrian's lips.

"I don't think... she knows."

His words lingered in my mind longer than I wanted them to.

The Head Instructor raised both hands. The entire courtyard became silent once again. "Grimhalden has recognized the same ranking system for centuries."

His deep voice carried effortlessly.

"Alpha."

"Beta."

"Gamma."

"Delta."

"Omega."

He paused.

"But today..."

"...none of those names fit."

Everyone held their breath.

"So today..."

"...we create one."

Gasps spread across the students.

Lila's eyes widened. "They've never done this..."

The Head Instructor looked directly at me.

"From this day forward..."

"...Nira shall bear the title..."

"...The First Mark."

Silence. Even the birds seemed to stop singing.

"The First Mark acknowledges neither rank nor bloodline."

"It recognizes courage."

"It recognizes judgment."

"And above all..."

"...it recognizes one chosen by the Bell."

A silver emblem was placed in my palm. It wasn't shaped like the wolf symbols everyone else wore. Instead, it resembled a tiny bronze bell surrounded by a crescent moon. The metal felt strangely warm, almost alive. The moment my fingers closed around it… A faint vibration pulsed through my hand. My breath caught. Did...did it just move? Before I could think about it, applause echoed through the courtyard. Not everyone; some students clapped, others stared. The Alpha boys looked ready to explode.

As soon as the ceremony ended, everything changed. Yesterday, students avoided me like I carried a contagious disease. Today...

A Beta hurried over. "That was incredible."

A Gamma smiled. "If you ever need notes, let me know."

Someone else offered me a bottle of water. Another asked if I wanted to eat lunch together.

I blinked. "...Did everyone wake up with new personalities?"

Lila laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bag.

"They're wolves."

"And?"

"They follow strength."

"I barely survived."

"Exactly."

I sighed dramatically.

"I liked it better when nobody noticed me."

"Oh?"

She folded her arms. "You mean yesterday? When people called you rankless every five minutes?"

I thought about it. "...Okay."

"Maybe not yesterday."

As the crowd disappeared, one of the instructors approached me. "The Head Instructor wishes to see you."

I rolled my eyes before following the instructor into the administration building.

The Head Instructor stood alone beside a wide window overlooking Black Forest, and without turning around, he spoke.

"The Bell chose to answer you."

"I rang it." I frowned

"No. You misunderstand." His amber eyes held mine.

"You rang the Bell..."

"...but something answered from the forest."

A chill crawled up my spine. I forced a laugh.

"Do not enter Black Forest alone again."

"Why?"

He looked toward the trees.

For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face. "Because next time... it may recognize you."

Before I could ask what that meant, he dismissed me with a simple nod.

That night, I lay awake staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes...I heard it. “Dong...A slow, ancient sound echoed inside my head.” 

The room was dark; moonlight spilled across the floor. I looked toward the window. Nothing. Just the moon hanging above Grimhalden. Then my eyes drifted to the floor. My shadow stretched across the wooden boards.

At first, it looked normal.

Then...

Two pointed ears slowly rose from its head.

I stopped breathing.