The Dark World Chronicles

02. New Teacher

The laughter of children playing outside the house woke Xiandra. The warm rays of the sun, peeking through her open window, greeted her as she opened her eyes.

She got up and walked towards the window.

A smile formed on her lips as she took in the serene town of Citta Miasto. It was a delightful sight in the morning—cheerful children running around in the middle of the street, some sweeping fallen leaves in front of their yards, while others watered their plants, laughing with their friends on the side.

As quiet as the town was at night, it was just as lively in the morning. Life here was simple yet happy.

The town was admirable—clean, bright, and full of life. Xiandra nearly lost herself in admiration, but she quickly remembered her duties. She hurried to prepare for her first day at school.

It was only 7:02 in the morning, but she could already feel the fresh breeze. A faint scent of roses lingered in the air, adding to her sense of joy.

She closed her eyes, savoring the tranquility of the place. As she walked toward the university, she noticed that the houses were few and far between; for the most part, tall trees surrounded the road.

The more she observed her surroundings, the stronger her resolve grew to teach the students of Citta Miasto. She was determined—she would never feel restless in a place like this, not in an environment so full of beauty and peace.

"You must be Miss Moyer."

A smiling woman on a bicycle approached Xiandra, stopping in front of her before dismounting.

Xiandra studied the woman for a moment.

She seemed to be about the same age—fair-skinned, tall, and wearing a teacher’s uniform.

"Wait, how do you know my name?" Xiandra asked, slightly puzzled.

The woman only smiled before fully stepping down from her bicycle.

"I'm Cerene, a secondary school teacher," she introduced herself. "You're the one temporarily replacing Mrs. Lopez, right?"

Xiandra nodded. "That's me." She returned the smile.

They walked together, with Cerene holding her bicycle by her side.

"You're a new face in town, so I figured you must be the teacher everyone has been talking about," Cerene said. "Here in Citta Miasto, we always know when someone new arrives. If it's not a teacher, it could be a doctor. Sometimes, it's a new student or even a new priest for the church. Strangers don’t just wander into our town—it's too far and too well-hidden."

Cerene chuckled before continuing, "Still, we live here peacefully."

She glanced at Xiandra, her dimples deepening as she smiled.

"Where are you staying?" she asked.

"I'm renting a room from Aling Zoira," Xiandra replied, immediately recalling the elderly woman who introduced herself to her that morning.

Cerene raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That’s good. But be careful around her."

Xiandra frowned. "Why?"

"She can be quite snobbish sometimes. Almost all of her neighbors are her mortal enemies," Cerene said with a laugh.

Xiandra let out a relieved sigh. "I can agree with that. Ever since I met her, I haven't seen her smile even once. That's just how she is," Cerene said.

Laughter filled the air as they continued walking. They were moving away from the residential area—tall trees now dominated the landscape.

Xiandra’s gaze was drawn to a particular tree by the roadside.

Among all the trees they had passed, this one stood out the most. Its trunk was straight and strikingly white, with round, vibrant green leaves. Behind it, metal fences lined the area, with a sign posted:

"NO ENTRY. DANGEROUS."

"It's a beautiful tree, isn't it?" Cerene suddenly remarked. "The elders say its kind exists deep within the forest."

Xiandra turned to her. Like her, Cerene was also staring at the tree.

"But no one has ever confirmed it," Cerene added. "Everyone here is too afraid to venture into the legendary forest."

Then she turned to Xiandra again and smiled.

"It's best if we just follow the rules."

"Better safe than sorry," Xiandra agreed.

Xiandra looked up at the two-story building that stood proudly before them. It was large—perhaps even more expansive than the university she came from.

"Welcome to Citta Miasto High School!" Cerene greeted cheerfully.

Xiandra gave a small smile. "Thank you."

"Is today your first day of teaching?"

Xiandra shook her head. "Not yet. For now, I have to report to Mr. Gvariano’s office. I need to submit and sign some documents." She showed the blue envelope in her hands.

"Oh, I see. Then I'll walk with you!" Cerene said enthusiastically. "My classroom is close to his office."

"That’s great," Xiandra replied. "I don’t know exactly where Mr. Gvariano’s office is yet."

Cerene laughed. "Good thing I found you on the way! Come on."

She kept smiling as they walked into the school together.

Xiandra's smile widened. Cerene was genuinely kind—cheerful and easy to talk to. She hoped they would get along in the coming days.

Soon, they arrived at the school director’s office.

"Well, I’ll leave you here," Cerene said.

"Alright, and thanks for accompanying me."

"It was nothing."

Before leaving, Cerene waved at her with a bright smile before heading to her classroom.

Xiandra had barely knocked on Mr. Gvariano’s office door when it immediately opened.

She was greeted by a man who appeared to be in his fifties. His stance was dignified, and he carried an air of charisma that must have been even more striking in his youth. His brow furrowed slightly, but the expression quickly faded when he noticed his visitor.

"If I’m not mistaken, you must be Xiandra Moyer?"

Xiandra smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir, I am."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please, come in, Miss Moyer." He widened the door for her.

"Thank you, sir."

Upon entering, Xiandra couldn’t help but look around the office.

Everything inside was expensive—furniture made of sturdy wood, spotless floors, and a ceiling adorned with elegant decorations.

Though the room showed signs of age, its grandeur remained undeniable.

Once they were seated, Xiandra carefully handed over the documents she had brought. "Here are the papers requested by the school." She placed the blue envelope on the desk.

Mr. Gvariano took it and examined the contents—her birth certificate, diplomas proving her completion of an education degree, and other important documents.

After a moment, he stood up, retrieved a document from a cabinet, and placed it in front of her.

"This is your contract for the six-month teaching position, Miss Moyer." He set it on the table alongside another sheet of paper. "And this is the list of school regulations—what you can and cannot do. There will also be meetings in the coming days to help you fully understand the policies we uphold here."

Xiandra nodded and carefully read through the contract.

According to the terms, she would be teaching temporarily for six months, as Mrs. Lopez, the teacher she was replacing, needed to rest. In just three months, she would give birth, so it was likely she would not return for a while after that.

After reading, Xiandra promptly signed the document and returned it to the director.

"You may begin teaching tomorrow morning," Mr. Gvariano said. He handed her another paper. "This is your schedule—it includes your class hours, days, and the subjects Mrs. Lopez was handling. If you need books, the library is at the end of this floor. You may go there anytime."

"Alright, sir. Thank you very much."

Xiandra politely excused herself before stepping out of the office.