The twins.

Excitement bubbles in Arian's voice as he chattered endlessly about their first day at the university. Mirielle, as usual, remained quiet, her golden eyes taking in every detail of their surroundings.

The university was grand, it was not like she had never seen it before but the architecture of the university always seemed to amaze her with its intricate and grand design.

Unlike herself, her twin's enthusiasm was unmatched. With his curly hair and blue eyes, he looked every bit like their father, though his cheeks retained a certain softness inherited from their mother.

Mirielle, on the other hand, had taken after their father's sharper features, with golden eyes that seemed to glow under the moonlight. They shared the same wheatish complexion, yet their differences stood out to anyone who observed them closely. Even their heights contrasted, with Arian towering over his sister by almost twenty centimetres.

As they made their way through the crowd of supernatural freshmen gathering in the grand seminar hall, all eyes seemed to turn towards Mirielle. She was used to it, her striking golden eyes always drew attention but Arian, ever the protective brother, sent sharp glares at anyone who dared look too long.

"Honestly, it's like they've never seen a pair of twins before," Arian muttered, rolling his eyes before grinning at Mirielle. "Though, I suppose you do have that mysterious air about you, Miri. Makes people curious."

Mirielle simply hummed in response, her focus elsewhere. The university was massive, its pathways and halls stretching in every direction. It would take some time to memorise the layout, but for now, they just needed to settle in.

The first day was meant for introductions and assignments to their respective classes, giving them time to adjust before the real work began.

The seminar hall was illuminated under the soft glow of the moon, and as the other freshmen gathered, Arian continued to chat, commenting on everything from the architecture to the different species in attendance.

Mirielle listened, nodding occasionally, but her thoughts lingered on the silver-haired figure she had seen earlier.

Tomorrow marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. And though she did not know why, Mirielle had a feeling that her life was about to be changed forever.

Arian and Mirielle followed the crowd of freshmen as they were led towards the dormitory buildings. The university's residential quarters were divided into grand, towering halls that overlooked the vast enchanted grounds of TSDM. Each dorm housed three students per room, encouraging diversity and interaction among different races.

Arian, ever the talker, chattered away as he glanced at the list in his hands. "Looks like we're in different halls, Miri. I got assigned to the North Wing, and you're in the East Wing. Oh well, you will survive, won't you?"

Mirielle nodded, though she had never been fond of sharing her space with strangers. The idea of having two roommates unsettled her, but she supposed it was unavoidable.

When they reached the East Wing, the halls were bustling with students settling in. Arian ruffled her curly hair affectionately before heading off to his dorm, leaving Mirielle to navigate the corridor alone.

She found her assigned room, number 204, and hesitated briefly before pushing the door open.

Inside, two girls were already chatting, their voices light and easy. One was unmistakably an elf, with pointed ears, golden blonde hair, and light brown eyes. She carried herself with the grace typical of her kind.

The other girl, with deep brown skin, dark eyes, and long wavy brown hair, had a more human-like appearance, though Mirielle could sense an unusual aura about her.

The human-like girl noticed Mirielle first and stepped forward with an excited smile. "Hey! I'm Rishi. I'm a mermaid. How about you?"

Mirielle exhaled, unsure of how to explain the kind of creature she was. Her lineage was complicated, and she had never felt the need to put it into words before. Instead of answering directly, she simply offered a polite smile.

The elf girl, who had been watching with quiet curiosity, stepped forward next. "I'm Sabreena. I'm in my final year, and I'm an elf."

Mirielle gave a small nod. "I'm Mirielle."

The room fell into a brief silence as both girls stared at her, clearly expecting her to elaborate, but she didn't. She had never been one to offer more than what was necessary.

After a beat, Rishi grinned. "Oh, you seem to be quite reserved. That's okay! Come in, let me help you with your luggage."

Mirielle stepped inside fully, allowing Rishi to grab one of her bags as she set the other down by the bed that had yet to be claimed. The dormitory was spacious, with three neatly arranged beds, wooden desks, and a large window that overlooked the shimmering fields surrounding the university.

"So, Mirielle," Rishi continued as she helped place the bag by the bed, "where are you from?"

Mirielle hesitated before replying softly, "The Lunar Kingdom."

Sabreena's ears twitched slightly. "Oh? That's interesting. I hear not many from the lunar kingdom venture out to study here. Are you a werewolf, then?"

Mirielle shook her head. "No."

Rishi tilted her head, curiosity sparkling in her dark eyes. "Then what are you?"

Mirielle paused, feeling the weight of the question. She had always struggled to define herself. Instead of answering, she changed the subject. "What about you two? How long have you been here?"

Sabreena exchanged a glance with Rishi before the mermaid girl laughed. "Nice deflection. Alright, I'll let you off the hook, for now. I'm a second-year student, and Sabreena here is in her final year. We've been roommates since I started."

Sabreena nodded, crossing her arms. "And you? A first-year, I assume?"

Mirielle nodded again, which earned a knowing look from Rishi. "You really don't talk much, huh? That's okay. We'll get along just fine."

A small smile touched Mirielle's lips. She wasn't sure how she felt about having these two as roommates yet, but they didn't seem bad.

Maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't be as difficult as she had feared.