The semester Begins.

Morning sunlight poured across the sprawling grounds of Madine University, bathing the ancient stone buildings in shades of gold.

The quiet campus that had welcomed only a handful of students the day before had transformed overnight.

Freshmen filled every pathway.

Parents wheeled suitcases across the courtyards.

Laughter echoed beneath towering oak trees while volunteers guided confused newcomers toward registration halls.

It was the first official day of orientation.

The beginning of another academic year.

Inside the Grand Assembly Hall, nearly every seat had been occupied.

Hundreds of first-year students filled the vast auditorium, their conversations blending into a constant hum of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Some compared departments.

Others exchanged phone numbers.

A few sat silently, trying to hide how overwhelmed they felt.

Near the center of the Applied Mathematics section sat Aria Ashbourne.

She held the orientation booklet neatly on her lap, quietly studying the university map printed on the final page.

Beside her, Lina nudged her shoulder.

“You’ve looked at that map at least ten times already.”

Aria smiled sheepishly.

“I don’t want to get lost on my first day.”

Lina laughed.

“Everyone gets lost.”

“Not if I can help it.”

“You’ve always been like this.”

Aria shrugged.

“I like being prepared.”

Lina folded her arms dramatically.

“Top entrance score in the department, and she’s worried about finding classrooms.”

“I’d be more worried about keeping up with you.”

Aria chuckled softly.

“I don’t even know what university classes will be like.”

“They’ll probably be terrifying.”

Before Lina could answer, the lights dimmed slightly.

The conversations inside the hall gradually faded.

One by one, students turned toward the stage.

The Vice Chancellor walked to the podium amid warm applause.

“Good morning.”

His voice carried effortlessly throughout the hall.

“And welcome to Madine University.”

Another round of applause followed.

“For over sixty years, this institution has remained committed to one purpose.”

“To produce leaders.”

“Not merely graduates.”

“But men and women capable of shaping the future.”

The enormous screen behind him displayed photographs of former students now serving as scientists, judges, entrepreneurs, engineers and government officials.

Aria watched quietly.

She had dreamed of this moment for years.

Every late-night study session.

Every examination.

Every sacrifice.

It had all led here.

“The university you have joined today,” the Vice Chancellor continued, “operates under the Nightbane Foundation.”

The foundation’s emblem appeared across the screen.

“It is through the vision of our Chairman that thousands of scholarships have been awarded over the years.”

“Our laboratories expanded.”

“Our research recognized across the country.”

“Our students given opportunities many institutions could only dream of.”

The hall applauded again.

Lina leaned toward Aria.

“He must be rich.”

Aria smiled.

“I suppose so.”

The Vice Chancellor nodded toward the audience.

“Every year…”

“Our Chairman reminds us that knowledge creates leaders long before power ever can.”

The words lingered throughout the auditorium.

Then a smile crossed his face.

“This year…”

“We have another announcement.”

Instantly, the hall fell silent.

“Our Chairman has decided…”

“…to return to the classroom.”

For a heartbeat…

No one reacted.

Then the entire auditorium exploded.

Students gasped.

Senior lecturers seated near the front exchanged stunned looks.

Several faculty members immediately began whispering among themselves.

Even some final-year student volunteers looked genuinely shocked.

Aria blinked.

She leaned toward Lina.

“Who’s the Chairman?”

Lina stared at her.

“You don’t know?”

Aria shook her head.

“I’ve only ever read about the university.”

Before Lina could answer, the girl seated behind them leaned forward.

“You’ve seriously never heard of Professor Kaelen Nightbane?”

Aria smiled apologetically.

“I’m afraid not.”

The girl laughed in disbelief.

“You’re in Applied Mathematics and you’ve never heard of him?”

Aria looked even more confused.

“Should I have?”

“He practically built the department.”

Another student joined the conversation.

“My older brother still studies from his textbooks.”

“I heard he became a professor in different fields before he was thirty.”

“My cousin said companies compete to hire students who survive his classes.”

“They say he’s brilliant…”

“…and absolutely merciless.”

A young man across the aisle chuckled.

“My brother failed his course twice.”

“He still thanks him for it.”

The students laughed.

Aria listened with growing curiosity.

Who exactly was this man?

The Vice Chancellor raised a hand for silence.

Gradually, the excitement settled.

“As many of you know…”

“Professor Nightbane has not lectured in several years.”

“His return is an honour for this university.”

He unfolded a sheet of paper.

“I am pleased to announce…”

“…that Professor Kaelen Nightbane has personally chosen to lecture…”

A dramatic pause settled across the hall.

“…our First-Year Applied Mathematics students.”

For a second…

Silence.

Then the Applied Mathematics section erupted.

Cheers echoed through the auditorium.

Several students jumped to their feet.

One boy pumped his fist into the air.

“We won!”

Another student laughed loudly.

“I knew choosing Mathematics was the right decision!”

“I can’t believe it!”

“This year’s going to be legendary.”

Lina grabbed Aria’s arm excitedly.

“Did you hear that?”

“Our department!”

Aria laughed as the excitement became contagious.

“I heard.”

Lina grinned.

“Apparently, the entire university worships him.”

Aria shook her head, smiling.

“I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.”

The remainder of the orientation passed in a blur of introductions, campus regulations and academic expectations.

By the time the ceremony ended, students streamed out into the bright afternoon sunlight.

The campus buzzed with renewed excitement.

Every conversation seemed to circle back to one topic.

Professor Kaelen Nightbane.

Lina stretched as they walked along one of the stone pathways.

“You know…”

“I think university just gave you an early birthday present.”

Aria looked at her curiously.

“My birthday?”

“In six days.”

“You’ll be twenty-one.”

She smiled softly.

“I almost forgot.”

“You?”

“I’ve been too busy preparing for school.”

Lina laughed.

“Impossible.”

“You’ve been counting down since last year.”

Aria looked toward the fountain at the center of the courtyard.

A gentle breeze lifted strands of her dark hair.

“My mother would’ve loved today.”

Her smile became quieter.

“She always said I’d make it here.”

Lina gently squeezed her hand.

“She’d be proud of you.”

Aria nodded.

“I hope so.”

Across the campus, inside the Chairman’s private office overlooking the university grounds, Kaelen stood before the wide glass windows.

Below him, thousands of students crossed the courtyards like rivers of moving colour.

Steffens entered carrying a slim cream-coloured file.

“Everything has been arranged.”

Kaelen nodded.

“The timetable?”

“Updated.”

“The department has already been informed.”

Steffens placed the admission file upon the polished desk.

Only one name rested inside.

Aria Ashbourne.

Kaelen looked down at it without speaking.

Steffens folded his hands behind his back.

“Do you truly believe she won’t recognise you?”

Kaelen reached beneath his collar, lightly touching the crimson pendant resting against his chest.

“The pendant conceals my scent.”

“It suppresses my wolf.”

“To her…”

“I’ll simply be another lecturer.”

Steffens remained thoughtful.

“There is one more thing.”

Kaelen lifted his eyes.

“What is it?”

Steffens tapped the admission file.

“I noticed her date of birth.”

Kaelen opened the document once more.

His gaze settled on a single line.

Date of Birth: October 20.

Steffens spoke quietly.

“She turns twenty-one…”

“…in six days.”

Silence filled the office.

Kaelen’s eyes lingered on the date.

The dying witch’s final words echoed through memories buried for decades.

The day will come…

…when wolf and witch shall stand beneath the same moon.

For the first time in years…

A shadow of urgency crossed the Alpha’s face.

If the prophecy awakened with her twenty-first birthday…

Time was running out.

Only six days remained.