2. The Royal Academy

The officials led us outside the station, and we all stood in a line, facing the vast forest in front of us. For a moment, I wondered if it was a prank. I mean, I had faced worse things in life, so I knew people could do anything for their sick entertainment. Picking up a bunch of students in the name of the Royal Academy and using them for entertainment by throwing them into some deadly games... stop. I shook my head, brushing off the horrible thoughts.

The students were murmuring among themselves as no one had a clue what would happen next. Suddenly, the head woman whistled, and two buses materialized in front of us on the road. Everyone gasped.

"Wow, it's witch magic." Lana stated as she stood in front of me.

It was really impressive. The woman told us to climb onto the bus. One by one, the students began to climb onto the bus. I stood last in line with Lana in front of me. She kept saying something, but I didn’t pay much attention. I stayed silent and observed everything, a habit I had acquired since childhood. My mother taught me to stay alert all the time and observe every activity around me, no matter how small or insignificant it appeared. It was the way to survive longer. I already missed her. I had no idea what she was doing right now or where she was. I hoped she was fine. I sighed and focused on the students.

There were a total of 50 students. Only ten of them were scholarship students, including me. I realized it after getting out of the train that all the scholarship students were in one couch which was separated from the other. They were following the ranking system. Our couch was no doubt luxurious. But I wonder if the elite couches were the same or they were more luxurious even if that was possible. If they were following the ranking system even in the train what it would be in the school?

I climbed the bus and found a window seat and sat down. The bus drove deeper into the forest. There was nothing in sight except lines and lines of trees. For just a moment, I decided to enjoy the view.

Around half an hour later, a huge gate with tall boundaries came into view. The buses stopped, and everyone climbed off them. I felt so small standing in front of the huge, tall gate. It was beautiful, like a castle gate, with two huge wolf statues on either side. And on the top of the gate was the nameplate with 'The Royal Academy' written on it.

So this was the Royal Academy everyone talked about. It sure had a royal charm, even from the outside.

The gate opened with a loud sound, revealing a long concrete path. As we entered, the door closed behind us, separating us from the rest of the world. I looked back at the closed door. It felt like all connection with the outer world was cut off and we were now trapped in this place called the Royal Academy. It was a strange feeling as my heart pounded in my chest. It felt as if I had stepped into a different world, and I needed to survive here on my own. I took a deep breath and began to walk with the others.

The road was unending and was covered by trees. There were ten carts standing on the roadside. We were told to get into the carts. Taking ten students each, the carts drove down the empty road.

The carts dropped us off at another gate. Our cart was the second last, followed by the one carrying the officials. This gate was smaller than the previous one. The door opened, and we could see the campus buildings now. The place was huge and beautiful. It screamed royalty.

"Wow, it's like a dream." Lana whispered in my ear as she stood beside me.

It wasn't a dream for me, but the place was indeed something else. We fell into step with the others inside the campus grounds. This time, the officials were at the front. I was in the last row, and Lana was walking beside me.

She had never left my side since we climbed off the train. It wasn’t like I was complaining. It wasn't bad to have someone beside me. She was in awe, looking around the place. Well, she wasn’t the only one as everyone was in awe. It was just like some royal dreamland, just as Luna had described.

We could see the huge, palace-like academy in front of us. There were gardens and big trees. Some students were playing in the playground. The front of the building was decorated with statues, flowers, and perfectly trimmed bushes.

"Aahh."

Suddenly, something hit the back of my head, and I stopped in my tracks. Lana and a few students stopped as well. I massaged the area that was hit. I turned around and saw a ball. Then my gaze went to the playground, and I realized what had happened. I just hoped that it wasn’t intentional. But by the smirk on the boys' face, I could tell it wasn’t an accident. I clenched my jaw.

"Hey! Pass the ball, newbie!" A boy with blonde hair said with a smirk.

The other boys laughed as if he had just cracked a joke. I glared at the boy. I was sure it was him who had hit me. He was tall, well-built, and had a powerful aura. An alpha wolf. No wonder he was arrogant.

"What are you glaring at, four eyes? Pass the damn ball." Another boy shouted, and I turned my gaze to him.

He was a boy with red hair. He wasn’t an alpha, but he was also strong. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lana hurriedly pick up the ball and throw it back their way. Then she grabbed my hand and dragged me away from there, following the other students. But my mood soured after that.

We were led to a massive hall and told to wait. Students began to talk among themselves. Everyone looked at the surroundings with curiosity. But I noticed that the group I was standing with was left alone, as no other students came to talk to us. Six boys and four girls, including me, were the scholarship students. We ten were on our own. We were easily separated from the elite students by our appearance and luggage. Their dresses, luggage, everything screamed money, whereas ours was all pretty ordinary. A few students occasionally looked at us. They didn't hide their unimpressed, judgmental looks, as if we were a plague and didn't deserve to be here. Well, this was what they all thought about students like us, the 'privileged' ones. But the 'privileged' ones came after a very hard competition. After all, we had to earn our spot by our merit, whereas they were here solely because of money. They were from the richest families all over the world. I already felt dejected. But others were ignorant as they were busy exploring the grandeur of the academy.

"Silence."

The head woman's voice rang through the hall, and everyone went silent, looking at her. Right then, the massive door on the other side opened, and three people entered. By their appearance and aura, I guessed they were authorities of the school. They quickly walked to the raised platform and stood there.

"Welcome to the Royal Academy. I hope your journey was comfortable." The man with black hair in the middle said. "I am Marcus Thorne, the principal of this academy."

He pointed to the woman on his left, then the man on his right. "She's Jennifer Parker, the vice president, and Will David, the head of the teachers."

He paused and looked at all of us. "We have gathered here to..."

Before he could finish his words, the door opened again and two more people entered side by side. The hall's atmosphere shifted, and gasps were heard. As I looked at them, time seemed to stop. Before my eyes were the two most handsome boys I had ever seen in my life. And they held a tremendous aura of power and dominance.

"OMG, the Lycan princes."

Someone whispered as every attention was on those two men.