Rising: The Priestess of Infinata and The Alphine

Chapter Eight - Scholar's Debut

Adrian's POV

The next morning, Seth and I sat on the couch, still reeling from Alpha Callister's bombshell. Our father's mysterious past, the Heivile threat, and our own destiny as werewolves weighed heavily on our minds. "I'm still trying to process it all. Our father's secrets, the pack's history... it's overwhelming."

Before we could delve deeper, a knock at the door interrupted us.

"Come in," I called out.

The door opened, revealing a man with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair. He wore a fitted black jacket with the pack's emblem emblazoned on the shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Levi," he said with a warm smile. "Alpha Callister sent me to escort you to your quarters."

Seth and I exchanged a glance, then we stood up to follow Levi.

"Okay. Give us a minute," I replied.

Levi nodded and stepped out the door.

Seth and I rushed to find Elena. We thanked her for taking good care of us and with goodbye wishes, Seth and I followed Levi outside.

As we stepped outside, I blinked in the bright sunlight. It had been days since I had last seen the outdoors, and the warmth on my skin felt foreign yet welcoming. The crisp morning air filled my lungs, scented with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers.

"Wow," I breathed, taking in the sprawling landscape. Towering buildings and intricately designed structures stretched towards the sky, a testament to the pack's impressive architecture.

Seth nudged me. "Close your mouth, Adrian."

I chuckled, my eyes still scanning the surroundings. We walked along cobblestone paths lined with lush greenery, passing by a bustling town square.

As we walked through the streets, I marveled at the people passing by – some with obvious physical enhancements, others seemingly human.

Children laughed and chased each other, their joyful shouts filling the air. I watched, mesmerized by the sense of community.

Werewolves, I reminded myself. It was still hard to wrap my head around.

"Adrian, keep up," Seth said with a chuckle.

Levi led us through a maze of paths and buildings, pointing out notable landmarks: the pack's headquarters, the training grounds, and the communal dining hall.

Finally, we stopped at a cozy, two-story cottage nestled among the trees.

"Welcome to your new home," Levi said, unlocking the door and handing me the keys.

My eyes met Seth's, and we shared a relieved smile.

"Thanks, Levi," I said, taking the key.

Inside, Levi explained that food is available three times daily at the dining hall of the arena and if we need anything else, we should just ask, because Alpha Callister had put us in his care.

He led us to our room, revealing uniforms for the academy.

He told us to be ready by morning tomorrow, since he'll be taking us to the academy."

I examined the uniform, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

"What can we expect at the academy?" Seth asked.

"You'll probably find out tomorrow," Levi replied. "The Alpha wants you prepared."

With that, Levi turned and left, leaving us to explore our new quarters.

Adrian turned to Seth, his eyes wide with anticipation.

"Looks like our new life has begun."

Seth nodded, his expression determined. He walked to the window and pushed it open, his gaze fixed outside. The evening breeze carried whispers of the town.

"Seth, what's caught your attention?" My curiosity piqued.

Seth startled, turning quickly. "Nothing. Just... enjoying the view."

"Really?"I raised an eyebrow.

I walked to the window, joining Seth.

Below, a girl stood on the balcony of the house opposite theirs. Her slender figure seemed almost ethereal in the fading light.

I turned to Seth, a sly smile spreading. "You weren't looking at nothing, were you?"

Seth's cheeks flushed, his eyes darting away.

"Maybe I was just... admiring the garden," Seth muttered.

"Garden, huh?" I chuckled.

The girl's gaze shifted, locking onto us. A fleeting smile crossed her lips before she vanished into the shadows.

"Who was that?" I whispered.

Seth shrugged, his expression guarded. He smiled.

However, I was relieved to see him feeling cheerful even after our previous experiences.

As I looked around the room, memories of our previous home flooded my mind.

Late-night gaming sessions, laughter, and inside jokes. I missed our vintage gaming console and the countless hours spent exploring virtual worlds.

"We did alright on our own, didn't we?" I said, nostalgia tinging my voice.

Seth nodded. "Mom and Dad left us well-provided for. We managed."

Our parents' estate had ensured we were financially secure, but foster care wasn't an option. We had fought to maintain our independence.

Now, uncertainty clouded our future. What lay ahead?

I smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe this new life wouldn't be so bad after all. We'll just have to take it a step at a time.

The sun began to set, casting a warm glow over our new home.

We headed to the dining hall in the arena, the aroma of roasted meats and fresh bread guiding us.

As we entered, the buzz of conversation and clinking utensils enveloped us. My stomach growled in anticipation.

"Let's find a seat," Seth suggested.

We wove through the crowd, searching for an empty table.

As soon as we finished our meal, we headed back home. We sat on the porch overlooking the pack's central square.

At the pack's central square, little children gathered around an old lady, their eyes aglow with wonder. Seth and I could sense from afar the children's concentration fixed on the lady. She told tales to the children.

After we had watched them for a while, we entered the house, weary from the evening. We entered our room, the evening's magic lingering and sleep claimed me swiftly.

******

It was another morning within the walls of the Redwood pack, Seth and I prepared for our first day at the prestigious Red Lotus Academy. Just as we were done with preparation we heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it" I said to Seth as I headed towards the door

I opened the door to reveal Levi, dressed in his fitted black jacket.

"Wow, aren't you looking sharp?" Levi complimented, eyeing my uniform.

I smiled, glancing down at my attire: Navy blue blazer adorned with the academy's crest - a lotus flower floating on water, red-colored V-neck sweater, crisp white shirt with silver buttons, its collar perfectly starched, dark gray trousers, creased to perfection and black leather shoes polished to a mirror finish.

"Thanks, Levi," I shook his hands, feeling a sense of pride in my appearance.

"Thought you'd appreciate some breakfast." Levi had brought us breakfast.

The aroma of freshly baked pastries and steaming coffee filled the air. Seth and I exchanged grateful glances.

Seth joined us, similarly dressed, and we savored our breakfast. We thanked Levi for the breakfast after enjoying the brief respite.

Fortified, we left the house with Levi, walking toward the academy.

Upon arriving at the sprawling campus, Levi guided us through the grand entrance into the central arena. Students bustled about, chatting and laughing.

"This way," Levi directed, leading us to our respective classrooms.

Levi walked Seth to his classroom door, and Seth bid farewell to me as I left for my own class

My classroom was nestled in a quiet wing. As I entered, my homeroom teacher, Mr Evans, greeted me warmly.

"Please introduce yourself to the class."

The gazes of my cIassmates were fixed on me, but I was confident and wouldn't let being new in class scare me off. I introduced myself to the class and the teacher beckoned to me to have my seat. It was quite the sight of beautiful girls all over the class. Yet nothing compared to the girl I stole her first kiss, Iris Dawn. For some reason I haven't been able to take her off my mind ever since, I had lied to myself it was just a mere kiss.

As I walked to my seat, the girl sitting before my supposed seat gave a seductive smirk.

A sultry smile played on her lips, but I remained unmoved, my interest unpiqued.

I almost laughed when I realized our first subject was mathematics, morning. Levi should have been plain with his response yesterday, instead of his cryptic responses that made us anxious for no reason.

I had expected clarity on the academy's notorious training regimens, the intensity of combat drills, and the strategic sessions that would prepare us for the unknown dangers beyond the walls.

Why had he been so evasive? His ambiguous responses had left me with more questions than answers, fueling a growing sense of unease. Instead, the day's lessons seemed eerily familiar, mirroring the ordinary curriculum of schools back home. Where was the specialized training? The elite instruction? The revelations about this mysterious world?

The final class drew to a close, and the pretty brunette girl swiveled around in her seat. She turned sideways, elegantly crossing her legs as she faced me.

"Hi, handsome," she said with a bright smile, her expression open and engaging. "My name is Keisha. I like you, Adrian."

I was taken aback by her straightforward approach, but I couldn't help but beam at her. As someone who's used to getting attention from girls, I was surprised by how refreshing Keisha's directness was.

However, I knew I had to tread carefully. I didn't want to complicate things for myself in this new world I was still adjusting to. I'll just have to subtly turn her down, hoping to avoid any awkwardness.

"Hi, I am sorry, but I don't know if like in the way you mean," I replied, and she sweetly smiled at me.

“Why don't you find out?” She bit down gently on her lower lip, her eyes locked on mine as she exuded a sultry confidence.

“Ohhkayy” I could use her to distract myself, a little something casual won't hurt, and I could tell she is willing to be my girlfriend if I ask her, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a little make-out session with her, but I had to go meet Seth since I was going to the training grounds soon.

“I'll catch-up with you later" I waved at Keisha and left for Seth's class.

As Seth stepped out of his class, I waved at him. "Hey, Seth! I plan on going to the training grounds in the arena. Want to join me?" I asked, falling into step beside him.

He hesitated, "Actually, I'm heading to the archive, my homeroom teacher's words got me thinking. I'll probably join you later at the training grounds."

I nodded understanding Seth was an avid reader. "No worries, bro. I'll be at the training grounds. You can join us when you're done uncovering” ..., I raised my fingers to frame a quote, “'ancient secrets,'” I teased.

Seth chuckled at my dramatic gesture.

He asked if Levi would be around to show him the way to the archive, but Levi had told me he'd be unavailable for the day, because he had errands to run for the Alpha.

However, I had him covered. I gave him the local area map I had picked up at the academy's entrance. I had planned to use it to get to the training grounds, but now I'll have to get another one on my out.

“Bye!!” Seth said and hurriedly left for the archive.

“See you later, Seth!" I called out as he ran off.

I walked through the hallway that led to the academy's exit and then suddenly someone pulled me into one of the rooms and slammed the door.

It was Keisha! She strode towards me, her hips swaying with each step. Without a word, she drew closer, her lips parting slightly as she tilted her head. I met her halfway, our lips colliding in a kiss that sent shivers down my spine.

But as our tongues danced, my mind began to wander. I couldn't shake the memory of my kiss with Iris, the feisty girl who had left an indelible mark on my thoughts. Despite everything I had been through these past days, I haven't been able to get her off my mind.

Keisha's kiss deepened, her passion evident, but I couldn't reciprocate. My body seemed disconnected from my mind, which was still lost in the recollection of Iris's fiery lips.

Keisha's hands roamed, her fingers deftly unzipping my trousers. I felt a jolt of surprise as she bent down, her intentions clear. Was Keisha really about to take things this far?