The main building was even more breathtaking up close. The massive double doors, carved from dark oak and inlaid with silver runes, creaked slightly as I pushed one open and stepped inside. The foyer was vast, with vaulted ceilings and a grand staircase that split into two directions halfway up. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, painting the polished marble floors with splashes of color. It felt more like a cathedral than a school.
I approached the reception desk, where a middle-aged woman with a tight bun and glasses perched on the edge of her nose was typing away at a computer. Her fingers stilled as I approached, and her eyes flicked up to meet mine. For a moment, her expression was neutral, but as recognition dawned, her lips thinned into a tight line.
“I’m here to enr
