THE ASSIGNMENT
825 Words
The cheerful chatter of students filled the corridors as everyone left Professor Hawthorne's lecture hall.
Groups quickly formed, discussing the first assignment while making plans for the week ahead.
Aurora stretched her arms dramatically.
"One lecture and I already need a holiday."
Octavia laughed.
"We've only been here for a few hours."
"I know," Aurora sighed. "University is exhausting."
Arina chuckled softly.
"You'll get used to it."
The three girls walked across the courtyard, where students gathered beneath large oak trees. Some sat on the grass reading while others introduced themselves to classmates from different kingdoms.
A cool breeze carried the sweet fragrance of blooming roses across the campus.
"I still can't believe people from so many places study here," Octavia said, watching students converse in different languages.
"My father always said Eldoria is where the world meets," Arina replied without thinking.
She immediately paused.
Aurora tilted her head.
"Your father sounds very wise."
Arina smiled.
"He... loves history."
Octavia didn't notice the slight hesitation in her voice.
Instead, she looked at the enormous university library standing proudly in the centre of the campus.
"I've never seen so many books."
Aurora grinned.
"I've never seen so many handsome students."
Octavia nudged her shoulder.
"You've been here one day!"
"And?"
Arina burst into laughter.
"I think we're going to have a very interesting four years together."
---
The university café was crowded with students enjoying their lunch.
The delicious aroma of freshly baked bread, creamy soups, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, sweet pastries, and fruit juice filled the air.
The three girls found an empty table beside a large window.
Aurora took one bite of her meat pie and closed her eyes dramatically.
"I could cry."
Octavia smiled.
"Is it really that good?"
Aurora pushed the plate toward her.
"Taste it."
Octavia did.
Her eyes widened.
"You weren't exaggerating."
"I never exaggerate."
Arina raised an eyebrow.
"You told us this morning you could survive a week without eating."
Aurora looked away.
"That was different."
The three friends laughed so loudly that a few nearby students turned to look at them.
---
After lunch, they decided to begin their history assignment.
Their first destination was The Royal Museum of Eldoria.
The museum stood near the city square, built from beautiful white stone with towering columns and colourful stained-glass windows.
Inside, they found ancient maps, old weapons, paintings of former kings and queens, and artefacts dating back hundreds of years.
Professor Hawthorne had instructed them to write about one object that fascinated them.
Aurora wandered toward a collection of old musical instruments.
"I'd probably fail this assignment," she admitted.
"I don't know what half of these things are."
Octavia smiled as she stopped before a large display containing beautifully crafted jewellery.
Among the golden crowns and silver necklaces rested an old pendant engraved with a crescent moon wrapped around a rose.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
She had seen that symbol before.
In her dream.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She stepped closer.
"Is something wrong?" Arina asked.
Octavia pointed toward the pendant.
"I... I've seen this symbol somewhere before."
Arina looked at it.
For the briefest second...
A strange feeling settled over her.
Another vision threatened to appear.
She quickly looked away before it could.
"It's beautiful," she said calmly.
"Maybe it's just an old family crest."
Octavia nodded, though something deep inside her whispered otherwise.
---
As they left the museum, clouds slowly covered the afternoon sun.
A gentle breeze swept through the streets.
People continued laughing and shopping, unaware of the sudden drop in temperature.
Octavia paused.
"Did it just get colder?"
Aurora shook her head.
"It still feels warm."
Arina looked at Octavia quietly.
She hadn't noticed the cold either.
Only Octavia had.
---
That evening, the three girls returned to the university with pages of notes for their assignment.
"I'm starving again," Aurora announced.
Octavia laughed.
"You are always hungry."
"I'm a growing student."
"You stopped growing years ago."
Arina smiled as she watched them tease each other.
For the first time in a long while...
She felt happy.
Perhaps coming to the university had been exactly what she needed.
As they reached the entrance to the girls' dormitory, they promised to meet early the following morning.
"Don't oversleep," Arina teased Aurora.
"I never oversleep."
The three girls stared at her.
Aurora sighed.
"Fine... wake me up."
They laughed before saying goodnight.
---
Late that night...
Octavia lay asleep in her bed.
Outside, the moon shone brightly over Eldoria.
The room suddenly became cold.
The curtains swayed although the windows were closed.
The familiar scent of rain and pine drifted through the darkness.
Somewhere...
A deep voice whispered...
"You're getting closer."
Octavia stirred in her sleep.
Far beyond the city walls...
Hidden within a forest no ordinary traveller had ever found...
The ancient iron gate stood beneath the moonlight.
This time...
One of its weathered doors creaked open by itself.
And something unseen stepped through the mist.
- Writer
