Chapter 1

I climbed out of the only window in my dorm room, unable to sit still for another moment in the confined space. The weight of my mission pressed against my chest, and I needed the open sky to breathe again. Today weighs far heavier on me than I thought. 

As I pulled myself onto the roof, I was greeted by a breathtaking sight—the sunset painted the sky in a cascade of colors—fiery oranges melting into soft pinks, with streaks of gold fading into the deep indigo of approaching night. It was breathtaking, a fleeting masterpiece that felt worlds away from all of my worries. the colors spilled across the snowy landscape, bathing the academy in a warm, ethereal glow. 

For a moment, the weight of everything lifted, replaced by the simple beauty before me. A small smile spread as I took a deep breath. 

I flicked my wrist, melting the snow where I planned to sit and drying the surface to make it more comfortable. Settling down, I let the cold breeze play with my hair, its chill sharp. 

From my vantage point, the Astralyth academy stretched out before me like a dream: towering spires and domes covered in snow. 

Below, the courtyard buzzed with life. some of the students were still arriving, with packed bags and their eyes filled with hope and excitement to start of their new life. 

Vampires moved with an unnatural grace, their movements so fluid they seemed to glide across the snow almost impossible to see. Some flashed by so quickly they were mere blurs, faster than the winter wind itself. Werewolves, unbothered by the freezing cold, strolled confidently in light cotton shirts, their breath forming faint clouds in the frosty air. 

And then there were the sorcerers like myself Some twirled their fingers, weaving small spells that glittered like fireflies against the dimming light. 

It was then that I felt someone. Their gaze leaving a trail of prickling sensation on the exposed parts of my back. It was intense, penetrating, and far from merely assessing; it was devouring. I could almost feel the heat of it searing through the layers of my composure, igniting a flush beneath my skin. 

I turned, scanning the roof, compelled to find the source of that searing gaze. There leaning casually against a spire on the opposite side of the academy stood a figure. 

At first glance, he might have been mistaken for just another student like me who was on the roof wanting to enjoy the sunset, if not for the fact that he was standing like a statue, as if he was carved out of the same stone as the spire he was on. if not for him glaring holes into me I would have dismissed his presence. 

He was unmistakably a vampire.