{Elira}
~**^**~
The mont the Vice Chancellor and the professors stepped down from the stage, the hall seed to exhale — a wave of rustling clothes, scraping chairs, and students speaking in hushed, excited tones.
I stood quickly, clutching my notebook, pen, and phone in both hands as I made for the back door just as Cambria had instructed.
My heart thudded, loud enough that I could almost hear it echo in my ears. What if Regina was waiting outside? What if...
"Elira!"
I froze mid-step, but when I turned, it wasn’t Regina’s cold gaze that t mine.
It was Cambria, smiling and waving over.
I rushed to her, breath shaking. Cambria’s smile faltered. "Why do you look so frightened? Are you okay?"
I nodded quickly, forcing my breathing to steady. "Yes, I’m fine. Really."
And for the first ti, I ant it a little. Cambria’s presence cald , like seeing light after wandering in a tunnel.
She tilted her head, studying my face for another mont, but let it go. Then, as we walked, she asked, "Did you see the six mbers of the Student Council?"
"I did." I swallowed, recalling Regina’s smug smile on the stage.
Cambria launched into introductions:
"The girl with the curly silver hair? That’s Princess Kaelis — the King’s only daughter."
I nodded, though I hadn’t missed the quiet pride in Kaelis’s stance.
"The one with the sleek black hair and sharp chin? That’s Regina Shaw, the PR Officer."
Hearing her na from soone else’s mouth felt strange — like seeing a secret written in ink.
But I kept my silence. Cambria didn’t know Regina was my cousin. And I had no desire ever to ntion it.
She continued, "Then there’s Thorne Wexler, the Vice President. His family rules the North. And Soraya Vale, the Discipline Officer. Ruthless — don’t get on her bad side."
I took in every na, trying to match them with the faces I’d seen. My chest tightened.
"Nyra Blackvale, the Strategy Chair. She doesn’t speak much, but quiet doesn’t an kind," Cambria added, almost gently, as if trying not to scare too much.
"And finally, Caleb Fenmore — Events Head. Handso, flirty, seems warm... but don’t fall for it."
Her voice dipped into sothing harder then: "Best not to trust any of them. They might look different, but underneath... they’re all the sa."
The words hung between us. And though I didn’t know the others, I did know Regina — and Cambria was right.
We made our way back to the main academic building. The stone floors, high windows, and dark polished doors gave the place a quiet power.
Cambria pointed out rooms as we walked. "Your horoom professor’s office is on the next floor."
As we climbed the stairs, she glanced back at . "By the way, there’s free Wi-Fi on campus, but... better not connect. Public networks aren’t always safe."
I nodded—another thing to rember.
At last, we stopped before a door with a neat plaque: Professor Calven.
Cambria smiled softly. "This is you. Go ahead — I will see you later, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you... for everything." My voice cracked slightly. But she just smiled, gave a tiny wave, and turned away.
I took a breath, knocked gently.
"Co in," called a voice, calm and even.
I stepped inside. The office felt comfortable, with soft lighting, bookshelves that slled faintly of old parchnt, and the cool breeze from the AC.
Behind the desk sat a man — older than Zenon and his brothers, but not by much. Mid-thirties, maybe.
His hair was the colour of honey oak, and there was a softness to his gaze.
I took a few steps closer. "Good morning. I’m Elira Shaw. A first-year supplentary student. I... I was told you’re my horoom professor."
Professor Calven’s lips curled into a welcoming smile. "Correct. Please, sit, Miss Shaw."
I sat on the edge of the chair, back straight, palms slightly damp on the notebook on my lap.
"So," he asked, "what do you think of ESA so far?"
"It’s... a wonderful learning environnt," I managed. And I ant it, despite my nerves.
"Interesting," he murmured, amusent in his gaze. Then, leaning forward, he said, "Let’s discuss the courses you will study."
He handed a printed sheet of paper with lines of text neatly aligned. My eyes widened as I read, heart skipping at the sheer number of courses.
-
Core Courses:
Combat Tactics & Pack Defense – Werewolf combat, hand-to-hand, strategy, agility. Power Channelling – Control, suppress, awaken supernatural gifts. Werewolf History & Governance – Clans, wars, ancient treaties. Mathematics – For tactical reasoning & economics. Science of Scent & Tracking – Chemistry, biology, toxicology. Agriculture & Pack Sustainability – Herbs, livestock, potion farming.
Electives (choose one):
Music & Howl Harmony – Howls to soothe, call, rally. Economics of the Wild – Pack finances, trade, negotiation. Astronomy & Moon Studies – Lunar cycles and power surges.
Special:
Lunar Potential Developnt – Advanced, invitation only.
-
My gaze lingered on the last one — Lunar Potential Developnt. My heart thudded; what made it special? Why wasn’t it part of everyone’s schedule?
Professor Calven’s voice pulled back. "You may choose one elective that interests you most."
I hesitated only a second before circling Economics of the Wild. Negotiation, trade... practical knowledge. And sothing about learning to stand my ground and negotiate my worth felt empowering.
He smiled faintly, typed into his system, and printed another sheet. "Here is your weekly class schedule."
I accepted it, eyes darting over the tis and subjects.
-
Weekly Class Schedule (Sester 1):
Monday
8:00–11:00 AM – Combat Tactics & Pack Defense
12:00–3:00 PM – Power Channelling
Tuesday
8:00–11:00 AM – Werewolf History & Governance
12:00–3:00 PM – Mathematics
Wednesday
8:00–11:00 AM – Science of Scent & Tracking
12:00–3:00 PM – Economics of the Wild (Elective)
Thursday
8:00–11:00 AM – Agriculture & Pack Sustainability
12:00–3:00 PM – Power Channelling
Friday
8:00–11:00 AM – Combat Tactics & Pack Defense
12:00–3:00 PM – Werewolf History & Governance
Saturday
9:00 AM–12:00 PM – Volunteer Outpost Training / Club & Dorm Activities
Sunday – Rest day (students may leave campus but must return by curfew)
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