"Rosalind." He returned the gesture before turning his attention back to Catalina. His expression softened into a welcoming smile. "And you must be Catalina."
"I am."
He extended his hand.
She accepted it.
His grip was firm without being overpowering, the handshake of someone who had spent a lifetime welcoming frightened students through these doors.
"I'm Elias Hawthorne. Welcome to Primori Academy."
"Thank you."
"I imagine the last several weeks have been... overwhelming."
Catalina laughed quietly.
"I think that's the nicest way anyone's described them."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"I've found understatement tends to calm people more than honesty," he said.
Rosalind folded her arms.
"That's because your honesty usually scares them."
"It has that unfortunate habit."
The ea
