Finding Yourself

Aralyn's POV

One minute, I had been sitting in Amodina's office, my mind still struggling to process everything she had just told me, and the next, she had welcomed me to the academy like this was some sort of homecoming.

Which, apparently, it was.

I had barely had time to breathe before she informed me that once I arrived back at the ground floor, I would be met by a host who would explain the academy's rules and take me to my assigned room.

I had nodded numbly, still trying to understand how I had gone from the slums of Vasthral to this—to a world where mirrors could transport me, and people expected me to be some sort of great mage.

For a brief second, I had dreaded the thought of using that cursed elevator again. The idea of feeling weightless and plummeting through space like I was caught between dimensions had my stomach twisting in knots.

But before I could even open my mouth to ask how I was supposed to get back down, Amodina had simply snapped her fingers, and just like that, I was gone.

I staggered, my vision blurring as I suddenly found myself somewhere else entirely.

The air smelled different, and the chill of Amodina's office had been replaced by something warmer, more lived-in.

I turned sharply, my breath catching as I took in my surroundings.

I was standing in a long hallway that looked nothing like where the driver and I had passed before reaching Amodina's office.

I turned again, feeling a lump rise in my throat, but before I could even begin to panic, a sudden presence caught my attention—a woman stood a few feet away.

I gasped, my entire body jolting as a small scream slipped from my lips. I hadn't heard her approach. I hadn't even felt her there. It was like she had appeared out of thin air, but that wasn't what unsettled me.

No—what had me staring was the fact that she had extremely long ears.

Longer than any human's should be.

They stretched upward and slightly back, pointed at the tips like something out of an old fairy tale. Her features were delicate, her deep violet eyes piercing as they studied me with mild amusement. Her hair was dark and braided over one shoulder.

I knew I shouldn't stare, but how could I not?

The woman let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head. "I see the High Priestess failed to prepare you for our world properly."

Her voice was smooth, with an accent I couldn't quite place.

I swallowed, forcing myself to snap out of it. "I—" I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "I wasn't exactly given a full introduction, no."

She hummed, as if that answer didn't surprise her at all. "Then allow me to be the first to formally welcome you," she said.

With an elegant bow, she placed a hand over her chest.

"My name is Velmira Saen'draeth," she said, her voice laced with authority. "I am your assigned host. It is my duty to show you around the Academy and ensure that you understand our ways before you begin your lessons."

I blinked.

Velmira Saen'draeth. Even her name sounded like something out of a myth.

I straightened slightly, still feeling off-balance, but I tried to compose myself. "Right," I said, nodding. "I guess… thanks?"

Velmira arched a perfectly shaped brow. "There's no need to thank me. It is my role. Shall we begin?"

I hesitated. "Begin… what?"

She gestured gracefully down the hallway. "Your introduction to Shadowvale, of course."

I glanced down the corridor again, feeling something heavy settle in my chest. I swallowed, adjusting my stance, and nodded. "Alright."

I wasn't sure what I expected from a magic school, but this place didn't look anything like what I'd imagined. There were no floating candles like I expected, and there were certainly no books flying around.

Velmira walked confidently, and I could see her long ears twitching slightly as if they could hear every small sound. She didn't say anything at first, which gave me too much time to think—and worry.

"This area," she said finally, pointing down another hallway, "is where first- through third-year students stay."

I blinked. "Wait, there are years here? Like levels?"

She gave a small nod. "Yes, but students move forward based on how much they've learned, not how long they've been here. Some finish in three years, some take ten, and a few… never finish at all."

I didn't like the sound of that last part.

Velmira kept walking, and I hurried to stay close behind her.

"The classrooms and training areas are in a completely different part of the building," she added.

"Why?" I asked, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt.

She gave a small smile. "Because many students here are very powerful, and when they practice, they tend to… break things."

That made me stop for a second. "Break things?"

"Walls, rooms, sometimes entire buildings," she said like it was no big deal. "So it's safer to keep training separate."

My stomach twisted. This school was full of powerful students who could destroy things just by practicing?

I swallowed. "So… what exactly am I supposed to do here?"

Velmira turned her head slightly to look at me.

I kept going. "I don't have any powers. I've never done anything magical in my life, and I don't think I belong here with kids who do."

She gave me an understanding smile. "First of all, the Priestess doesn't make mistakes. If you're here, there's a reason."

I frowned. "That's a big thing to believe in."

"She saw something in you," Velmira said. "That means something, and you're not the only one who arrived without knowing their power. Some students come here feeling lost, but the academy helps them discover who they really are."

I looked down at my clothes again, still covered in blood, and still smelling like fear and sweat and everything I had left behind in Vasthral.

"I'll try," I said quietly.

Velmira nodded. "That's enough for now. Just be patient and keep an open mind."

We walked a little farther down the hall until she stopped in front of a door.

"This will be your room," she said. "You'll be sharing with one other student."

"Just one?" I asked, surprised.

"It's easier that way. Fewer problems, and magic is easier to manage when you don't have too many people in one space."

I stared at the door for a second. Sharing a room meant I was really staying here, not visiting, but living here.

"Weren't you supposed to show me more of the school?" I asked, trying to delay going in.

Velmira chuckled. "And I will, but first, you need to get out of those bloody clothes, take a shower, and rest. Trust me, you've already seen as much of Shadowvale as you can take for today, and there's plenty of time to see the rest of the school later."

She pulled a small silver key and handed it to me. It felt warm in my hand, like it had a heartbeat.

"Good luck with your roommate," she said.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but before I could, Velmira simply vanished, and I jumped back and let out a sharp gasp, pressing a hand to my chest.

"She could at least give me a warning before doing that," I muttered, trying to calm my racing heart. "I'm never going to get used to it."

I looked down at the key in my hand, then at the door. I had no idea what—or who—was waiting for me on the other side, ut there was only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the key in the lock… and stepped inside.