As expected from a reputed university...

Eve and Emily were having lunch together in the university canteen, seated at a small round table in a far corner. Eve had ordered a sandwich, salad, and orange juice, while Emily opted for a chicken burger, fries, and a cola.

"I'm always talking about myself. What about you? Tell me something about your family," Emily asked. Eve smiled sadly before replying, "I don't have a family. I was raised in an orphanage."

Before Emily could respond, a voice chimed in from behind. "Don't worry, you've got us now. You'll never feel lonely again." It was Alex, Emily's brother, standing there with a tray.

He pulled up a chair and sat beside Eve, offering her a small smile. "You don't mind if I join you, do you?" he asked. Eve shook her head and returned his smile politely.

"Where's Fiona? Why didn't she join us?" Emily asked, glancing at her brother. Eve looked at him too. "She said she had classes about the sculpture project," Alex replied with a shrug, then started eating.

Emily frowned. "How can you be so carefree about your girlfriend? Did you two have a fight?" Alex paused and shot his sister a look. "She's just a friend. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

This time it was Emily who shrugged and stated, "She is always behind your tail and everyone thinks there's something between you two. Even our pac.... I mean relatives." she corrected herself hastily, earning a glare from Alex.

Alex decided to change the topic, noticing that Eve was starting to feel uncomfortable. "By the way, there's a welcoming ceremony tomorrow for the freshmen," he informed them.

Emily clapped her hands, her excitement evident. "That's awesome! As a topper and a senior, aren't you going to give a speech?" Eve was surprised to hear that he was a topper. Alex smiled softly when he saw her surprised look. "Yeah, I guess so," he replied before continuing his meal.

On the other side of the university, far away from the canteen, the boy who Eve had bumped into was standing with bloody knuckles. In front of him was an unconscious boy who was beaten into a pulp. No doubt that it was done by him.

"That's enough Victor. Let's send him to the infirmary now." A boy approached him who was behind Victor the entire time, watching him beat a sophomore-year student and making a bloody mess. He had platinum blonde hair and gray eyes. It was Maximilian Carmichael.

"Yeah, Max is right Victor. It's time to let this stinking mutt to sent to the infirmary." Stated another one who came from the other direction and handed him a can.

The boy who handed him a can had fiery red hair and amber eyes. He was Raphael Sterling.

Victor stepped away from the unconscious boy and wiped his knuckles which had the traces of blood of whom he had beaten before receiving the can from Raphael.

Maximilian and Raphael both were Victor's friends. They have been friends since childhood. Victor took a sip from the can, savoring the taste before downing it in one gulp. His lips turned red from the liquid, and he licked them clean.

"Send this piece of garbage away for treatment". Saying this, he left the corridor for his friends to take care of the mess.

Victor Osbourne was a pure-blooded vampire with a bad temper. His aura screams danger to others who are around him. He was walking with long strides when his thought wandered to the moment when the girl bumped into him, and he stopped in his tracks.

It was the first time a freshman-year student bumped into him, and he didn't do or say anything. For some unknown reason, he couldn't bring himself to do or at least say anything to her.

Was it her eyes that were so unique and fascinating to look at? Or was it the way she apologized to him when her heart was pounding rapidly inside of her? He wondered. "Interesting....", he murmured with a smirk before continuing on his way.

After lunch, Alex left for the classes leaving the two girls who were now making their way towards the dormitory. "Most of the buildings of the university were old. It would be at least 300 years old." Eve commented, observing the architecture.

"Some old manors are converted into girl's and boy's dormitories, while some of them are used for different departments of classes. Centuries ago Rosen Valley was a flourishing town where lived so many people." Emily explained to Eve.

"What happened then? Why is it not a town anymore and converted into a university?" Eve asked curiously. "It is said that a plague came and took away many people's lives. Those who survived moved from here, and afterward, this was made into a university." Emily replied.

Eve didn't ask any more questions as they reached their dormitory. It was a white colored beautiful manor and Eve's room was on the second floor's right end of the corridor while Emily's was on the third floor.

She was in awe when she entered her dorm. It was a cozy room. There were two windows, a bed, a study desk with a lamp, and another door that led to the washroom. Yes, each room had separate washrooms and was well-furnished with cupboards and drawers.

As expected from the reputed university she thought smiling. Indeed, her luggage and other belongings had made their way and were kept in a corner before she entered the dorm.

She opened a window and was greeted with a breathtaking view of trees. When she opened the other one, a mesmerizing view of a lake greeted her. This is where she will be living until her graduation, she thought with a smile.

She unpacked everything from her luggage. Her clothes went into the cupboards, while some books and a laptop she brought were kept on the study desk. It took almost two hours for her to place her belongings accordingly.

And after a relaxing shower, she decided to call Sister Katherine but changed her mind. She typed a message instead informing her about her arrival at the university.

She noticed the envelope given by the administration office this noon and decided to open it. Inside was a course list for first-year students and a page of university rules, including:

1. Students must listen to their Faculties and complete the task given on time.

2. Students must attend the classes regularly.

3. Students must attend the classes on time.

4. .....

5. ...

.....

.....

10. Female students are not allowed to visit the boy's dormitory after 6 pm, and male students are not allowed to visit the girl's dormitory after 6 pm.

11. Curfew time will start from 10 pm and everyone is advised to retire for their respective dorms before it. Not even wandering inside the dormitory is allowed after the due time.

12. Students are advised to turn off their lights, close the windows properly, and draw the curtains after 11 pm.

13. Students are not allowed to step on the forbidden forest of the west.

"Anyone breaking the rules will earn themselves detention as punishment." which was written at the bottom of the page.

"As reputed as the university is, they're strict about the rules." She murmured. It was already 7 pm, but she was not hungry and feeling exhausted. So she decided to skip her meal.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. As she opened the door, she found Emily standing there, "I was here to ask if you're going to the canteen." She said, but Eve shook her head.

"I'm not hungry but feeling sleepy because of exhaustion. You can come in." Saying that, she pulled the door open for her to enter and she stepped in.

"Wow, you've unpacked everything I see. I don't know how much time I'll need to put everything accordingly." Emily pouted.

"If you want, I can help you with that after the welcoming ceremony tomorrow." Eve proposed, and Emily's eyes shone brightly with excitement. "Really? That would be great. Then I'm going to treat you to dinner tomorrow" Emily grinned like crazy and Eve laughed at that.

"Okay, I'll be going then. See you in the morning." She said and left Eve to herself in the dorm. Eve didn't waste any time, she closed the window, pulled the curtains off then turned off the light before going to bed.

All the while, someone was observing Eve from the window from a far tree. As she closed the window, he also jumped down gracefully from the tree like a cat. As he was wearing all black, he was blended well within the darkness.

"So your name is Genevieve," he murmured. Then glancing one more time at the closed window he walked away. It was none other than the senior she had bumped into.