Chapter 8
813 Words
I looked around, but he was nowhere in sight.
All I could do was keep moving on my own. As I walked, my thoughts kept circling back to the Academy’s emblem.
Aria, you said this world is ruled by four Great Houses. Then why were there only three dragons on the emblem?
“You’re observant,” she said softly. “In my time, all four dragons were there — Guardians of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.”
Do you know what the sixty-eighth Year of the Iron Monkey means? How long have you been gone from this world?
“Almost a hundred years, Ari…” Aria answered sadly.
“What?”
My outburst was so loud several students turned their heads, staring at me like I’d grown a second head.
“But you said the High Dragon back then was the Guardian of Air. So why is the House of Earth in power now? How is that even possible?”
“What did you just say?” came a sharp female voice behind me.
I turned around and saw a stunning girl surrounded by an equally gorgeous entourage.
“What?” I repeated, watching her carefully.
“I don’t usually repeat myself, but I’ll make an exception for you,” she said coolly. “What exactly is your problem with the Great House of Earth? Who do you think you are to question its strength and authority?”
“Excuse me?” I asked, realizing she was itching for a fight.
“Ari, don’t draw attention to yourself!” Aria begged inside my head.
“Are you deaf?” the girl continued with a mocking grin. “Or do you need a translator? I asked: Who. Are. You.”
I was already opening my mouth to answer her — completely ignoring Aria’s desperate pleas.
Seriously, what was with this world and its unbelievably arrogant people? I was about to tell her that who I was was none of her business when a now-familiar voice cut in.
“Eleonora, darling! You look stunning. I see you’ve already met my dim-witted, pathetic cousin Ariel.”
Noah.
Somehow he irritated me even more than the girl did.
If I could, I’d throw both of them off the highest cliff in this realm.
“Don’t take anything she says seriously,” Noah continued. “She was dropped on her head as a child. Poor thing’s a little slow. Father barely convinced the rector to accept her into the Academy. At least here she might learn to socialize a bit.”
He kept talking about Ariel as if I wasn’t standing right there in front of him.
“Slow, is she? Pathetic too?” Eleonora’s lips curled in disdain. “Fine. I’ll let it slide this time. But if I ever hear her speak badly of my House again, I will make her regret it.”
“Agreed, darling. And I’ll gladly help you,” Noah said, smoothly taking her by the arm and leading her away.
What in the world was going on here?
Enough. I was done standing quietly while they walked all over me. This was beyond insulting — it was intolerable.
My anger simmered, boiling just beneath the surface.
As we neared the campus buildings, a voice echoed overhead through a loudspeaker:
“Attention all first-year students. Please gather in the Auditorium for Sorting. The Welcome Ceremony begins promptly at ten. Do not be late.”
“Where’s the auditorium?” I asked Aria out loud without thinking.
“Hi! You can come with me — I’m a first-year too,” said a round-faced girl in glasses who had overheard me. “What’s your name? Which Great House are you from?”
“Hi,” I said, relieved by her friendliness. “That’s really kind of you, thank you. My name is Ariel, House of Water. And you?”
“I’m Lydia, Lida for short. House of Earth.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you. I hope we end up living near each other. In this viper’s nest, we should stick together. I saw Eleonora corner you. She’s the Supreme Dragon’s daughter —s he gets away with everything. Better not cross her.”
“The Supreme Dragon’s daughter? That explains her arrogance. Hopefully life knocks some of that pride out of her before she hurts someone,” I muttered.
“Don’t say things like that, Ariel. This is a magic academy — even trees have ears here.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll remember it. And call me Ari, it feels more natural,” I added.
We entered the auditorium. At least twenty or thirty students were already gathered, all dragging their suitcases behind them. A massive clock in the center of the hall showed five minutes to ten. Two girls rushed in behind us just as the Welcome Ceremony began.
- Writer
