Chapter 7: Orientation
1337 Words
A sharp ring pierces the air, the sound jerked me from sleep it sounded more like a scream.
I didn’t realize when I fell asleep, Davorin cradled me all night. I turn to see him staring at me, making me blush.
My body was deliciously sore, aching in the best places, I groaned, dragging the blanket over my head. “What the hell was that?”
“Wake-up call. Good morning beautiful, thanks for last night.” He said planting a kiss on my forehead.
“Hmmm…… I should be thanking you.” I groan leaning into him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore in the right places,”
“I can make you less sore but it’s your first day, I don’t want you to be late.”
I peeked at him, hair sticking in every direction. “I don’t mind being late,” I say kissing his jaw line “ and besides you’re too happy for someone who is returning back here.”
“Doesn’t matter.” he said simply, smirking. “I don't hate the place.”
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “Well, dhampirs apparently do.”
“You should get ready, I will be back to escort you for the orientation, and don’t answer the door.” He says with a pause and seriousness.
I roll my eyes at him “I hear you.”
Placing a light kiss, he leaves me all alone in the room.
By the time I had put on the stiff black uniform hanging in my wardrobe, a tunic, belt, and boots that pinched like they were two sizes too small, Davorin was already leaning at the door, arms crossed.
“You ready?”
“No, I’m not.” I said honestly.
He grinned. “Good. Means you’re paying attention.” He chuckled leading me out of the room.
The corridors of Ravenhill looked worse in daylight. Grey stone stretched endlessly, carved archways swallowing us whole, banners of deep crimson and black dangling like reminders of old wars.
Every footstep echoed too loud, the torches were already put out, as the morning sun had began penetrating the walls, and it felt like the whole place was listening.
“Does it always feel like walking into a crypt?” I whispered.
“Yes,” Davorin answered without hesitation.
Comforting.
The orientation was held in what they called the Great Hall, though it looked more like a throne room. High ceilings vaulted into shadows, a line of chandeliers glowing faintly with blue fire. Students filled long wooden benches, voices buzzing, eyes pointing toward us the moment we stepped inside.
And just like last night, silence. Whispers hissed in their place.
“Half-blood…”
“Shouldn’t be here…”
“Look at her eyes, unnatural…” this I know is a lie because my eyes were not unnatural or maybe.
I kept my chin high, even though my insides wanted to crawl under the table.
Davorin leaned close. “Ignore them.”
Easy for him to say. Nobody was calling him a freak.
A sharp rap cut through the room.
Then I saw him, the man from the office, “Good morning my supernaturals, I am your grandmaester Archmage Aether.”
Archmage Aether stood at the front, black robes trailing, gray eyes sweeping over the crowd. When they landed on me, I swear he paused, just long enough to remind everyone I was different.
“Welcome back to Ravenhill, both old and new” he said, his voice slicing through the hall like a blade. “Some of you will thrive here. Some of you will break. That is just the way of things.”
Not exactly the warm speech I’d been hoping for, not that I expected anything more too.
“Your loyalty, your discipline, your blood will be tested. In time, Ravenhill will reveal what you truly are.” His gaze flicked to me again, deliberate this time. “And whether you deserve to remain.”
I felt every eye burn into me. My nails dug deep into my palms.
After the speech, groups split off, each shepherded by professors. Davorin got tugged toward the senior class, leaving me with the other first-years who were not entirely new. My stomach sank.
“Stick with me,” a familiar voice chirped. Lyra bounced up beside me, curls wild as ever. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the vultures.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. “Though you look more like one of them.”
She laughed. “Maybe. But at least I’m the friendly kind.”
Behind her, Sera sneered, eyes flicking over me like I was a stain on her shoes. “She won’t last a week.”
I spun on her. “Don’t you ever get tired of being so predictable?”
Her smile was razor-sharp. “Do you?”
Before I could throw something preferably her, our guide spoke up.
Professor Kaelen looked carved out of stone himself. Scars trailed down his neck, one arm ending in a jagged metal prosthetic. His voice was gravel. “Everyone. This way. Quickly.”
The hallways blurred together as he led us through. Classrooms opened on either side, rows of desks, shelves stacked with books, glass jars filled with things I didn’t want to identify. One room had weapon racks along the walls. Another smelled like blood and herbs.
“First lesson,” Kaelen barked. “Survival. You will learn to fight, to defend, to endure. If you’re weak, you will not last here. And I do not train the weak.”
Sera’s lips curved into a smug smile. Of course she was eating this up.
We moved again, this time to a smaller chamber lit by stained glass windows. A woman waited, robes a softer gray than the every of the eyes I’ve seen, her eyes were kind but sharp.
“Welcome, initiates,” she said, voice calm. “I am Professor Elara. I teach Lore. The history of our kind. The truths others prefer to forget.”
Her eyes lingered on me, but not with disdain. More like… curiosity. Like she wanted to peel me open and read me like a book.
I shifted uncomfortably.
Introductions went around. Lyra cracked jokes, Sera made hers sound like a threat, a few others mumbled theirs so quietly I barely caught names. Then it was my turn.
I stood, the weight of the room suddenly dropped. “Neemah.” My voice sounded too loud. “Just… Neemah.”
A few seconds of silence. Someone snickered.
Sera whispered loudly, “You forgot to mention Half-blood.”
“Dhampir.” I muttered under my breath.
Heat crawled up my neck, but before I could snap, Professor Elara raised a hand. “Names carry power. And so do the stories behind them. In time, you may all find that your names mean more than you thought.” Her eyes found mine again. “Especially yours Neemah.”
The room went still.
My heart slammed in my chest. What did she mean by that?
We moved through more halls, more classrooms. Combat rings, potion labs, even a library so vast the shelves disappeared into shadows. Every room smelled of dust, mystery, and secrets.
Everywhere I went, the stares followed. Some curious. Some cruel. A few… hungry.
By the time we circled back to the Great Hall, my head spun.
Archmage Aether was waiting.
“Orientation is complete,” he said. “Tomorrow, classes begin. And with them, your training. Some of you will rise. Some of you will fail. Ravenhill keeps only the worthy.”
His dark eyes locked on me one last time.
I swallowed hard.
Yeah. Message received.
Back at my room in the dormitory, lying on the hard bed again, I tried to catch some sleep but couldn’t. My head kept replaying every stare, every whisper, every warning.
I wasn’t just a student here.
I was the test.
And Ravenhill wanted to see how fast I’d break.
- Writer
