The Transfer

Monday evening was calm. After dinner, Orion had found himself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling while Neil scrolled through something on his tablet. The day had been oddly normal—besides Rin spanking him awake and Cas pointing out how cheerful he looked. No strange dreams, no cryptic visions, no waking up with wounds.

Maybe things were settling down.

He sighed, shifting to his side. His phone buzzed on the nightstand, and he reached for it lazily. It was a message from an unknown number.

"This week has been weird, huh?"

Orion frowned. His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before he locked his phone and set it aside. Whatever it was, he didn't have the energy to deal with it now.

He drifted off into a surprisingly peaceful sleep.

---

Tuesday morning arrived without much fanfare. The academy grounds were buzzing with students shuffling to class, their conversations blending into a familiar hum. Orion walked with his hands in his pockets, still feeling the lingering warmth of his weekend at home.

As he entered the classroom, he spotted Rin standing near their usual spot, waving him over. Cas and Neil were already there, but today, they had company.

"Alright, everyone," Rin announced with dramatic flair, "meet Skye."

Orion's eyes landed on the newcomer. Skye was tall, blonde, and carried an air of quiet confidence. She wasn't conventionally stunning, but she had an undeniable presence. There was something deliberate about the way she moved—relaxed yet observant, like she was always taking in her surroundings.

"Hey," she greeted simply, offering a nod in Orion's direction.

"Nice to meet you," Orion replied.

Cas, ever the cautious one around new people, gave Skye a quick once-over before nodding. "Second day here, right?"

"Yeah," Skye confirmed. "Still getting used to the place, but so far, so good."

"Zenith Academy has its moments," Neil said, smirking. "Mostly because of us."

Orion rolled his eyes while Rin grinned. "You'll fit right in."

They talked for a few minutes—small talk about classes, first impressions, and dorm life. Skye wasn't overly chatty, but she spoke when necessary, answering questions without giving away too much. She had a way of keeping things balanced—friendly, but not overfamiliar.

Then, after checking the time, she said, "I should go check on something before class starts. See you guys later."

Orion expected her to head toward the administration office or maybe just wander the halls, but instead, she walked straight toward another group.

Seth's group.

She approached them naturally, slipping into their conversation with ease. Seth glanced up at her, said something, and she laughed. It wasn't awkward or forced—it was as if she had known them longer than just a day.

Cas, watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was fast."

Rin folded her arms. "Huh. Guess we'll find out what kind of person she really is."

Orion found himself watching for a second longer than necessary. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the way she adapted so easily, or maybe it was the fact that she had been introduced to them first but didn't hesitate to blend in elsewhere.

Then another thought hit him.

"Seth wasn't in class yesterday, was he?"

Neil, who had been scrolling through his tablet, perked up. "Now that you mention it… no, he wasn't."

"Yeah," Cas said. "He usually doesn't skip without a reason."

Orion frowned slightly. Seth was never the most predictable guy, but missing a full day wasn't normal for him. He wasn't the type to fake a sickness either.

After debating for a moment, Orion decided to just ask.

He walked over to Seth's group, stopping near them. A couple of Seth's friends glanced at him, but no one said anything. Seth, lounging against a desk, looked up with mild curiosity.

"Orion," he greeted, his tone neutral. "What's up?"

"Didn't see you yesterday," Orion said casually. "Everything alright?"

Seth exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, I just wasn't feeling great. Thought it was better to stay in."

Orion studied him for a second. He looked fine—completely normal. No lingering exhaustion, no sign of illness. If anything, he seemed more relaxed than usual.

"All good now?" Orion asked.

"Yeah," Seth replied with a shrug. "Just needed some rest. You know how it is."

There wasn't much else to say. Orion nodded, deciding to leave it at that.

As he turned to walk away, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

An unknown number had messaged.

"This week has been weird, huh?"

Orion stared at the message, fingers hovering over the screen.

Weird was an understatement.