When I entered the room, it was quiet and warm. A soft light came through the window and touched the bed and the floor. The curtains moved slowly as the air passed by. Everything inside the room felt calm, like it was waiting for me to rest.

I placed my things beside the bed and sat down for a moment. My thoughts drifted to Ms. Gina. I wondered what she was doing now. To me, she had been a real mother ever since my own mother left us when I was only four months old. Ms. Gina once told me that my mother was deeply buried in debt. As I grew up, it was Ms. Gina who paid everything for us, though I never understood why those debts even existed.

As I thought about those things, I didn't realize that tears were already falling from my eyes.

Knock. Knock.

I quickly wiped my face and fixed myself before opening the door.

"Hi!!! I'm Aoife! And you must be-" She paused, clearly trying to remember my name. Maybe she had heard it before and simply forgot.

"Sarina. I'm Sarina."

"Ouhh yeah! Nice to meet you, Sarina! Come join us for lunch at the cafeteria!"

She didn't wait for my response and immediately pulled my hand, dragging me outside. I glanced back at my room and saw my things still unpacked. I was starting to feel hungry, so I didn't bother refusing.

There was no one else in the dorm but the two of us. Where was everyone? And where was the person Abby mentioned, the one staying across from my room? Atticus, was it? Was he really a dragon? The kind that breathes fire? Did powers like that really exist here?

I noticed Aoife letting out a small laugh, so I asked her if she was okay.

"Sarina... Atticus is already in the cafeteria, waiting for us. And... nope, he's not a real dragon like what you're imagining, breathing fire and all. He's just... uhh, let's say strict, cold, and scary."

"H-huh?" I stuttered. How did she know? Could she read my mind too?

"Yes, Calista-" She suddenly stopped, then smiled awkwardly. "I mean, Sarina. I think we need to give you some lessons about Aetherion and the ability of each student here for you to be aware." She stopped in front of the cafeteria doors. "For now, shut your mind. The dragon might hear your voice in your head. Let's go."

I followed her immediately and forced myself not to think of anything. I didn't want them reading my thoughts again.

When we entered, we went straight to a table that looked different from the others. The chairs were more elegant, and the space was wider. While other tables could only seat four people, this one was clearly meant for more.

"Hey, hey! Yve, that's my seat! Get the hell out of my seat!" Aoife snapped.

Yve glared at her and raised an eyebrow, as if saying, Who are you to tell me what to do?

I felt awkward because I didn't know any of them. Aoife and Abby were the only ones familiar to me, and Abby already looked unapproachable.

"Whatever you say, arf arf," Yve replied mockingly before standing up and changing seats.

I sat where Aoife told me to sit, too shy to say anything.

"You dimwit, it's not arf arf!" Aoife shouted.

Yve ignored her and turned to me instead. "You're Sarina, right? Dang, I knew it! I told you, Abby, the new student is an Alpha."

"Whatever," Abby replied coldly, reading a book while eating.

Yve stopped talking and sat beside me. "Hmm... where's the second boss?" Aoife asked while whispering, but before she could say anything else, a plate of food was suddenly placed on the table in front of us.

"I can hear you."

The voice was low and calm, yet it sent a chill down my spine.

I slowly lifted my head.

He was tall, much taller than everyone else at the table. His presence alone felt heavy, like the air itself had shifted the moment he arrived. He look at me.

"You are the one I call earlier in the Admission Hall right?" he asked flatly.

Aoife grinned. "Yep, that's Sarina. Sarina, that's Dio. And Dio, she is also an Alpha."

His gaze fell on me. I felt my chest tighten, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

"...Alpha... oh yeah I remember now," he muttered. I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Where is Atticus?"

"He's gonna be here in any minute. Just finishing some things in the Admission Hall. Maybe five minutes," Abby said and continue to read her book.

"Your ability is kinda cool, Abby. I hope I can have that too."

Abby did not pay attention to what Yve said. She just continued reading her book. I could not tell what kind of book it was, or why she was reading in the middle of eating.

"I'm reviewing for the upcoming quiz after lunch, Sarina. I heard your mind. It's too loud," she said.

I was shocked by what she said. It looked like all Alphas could read thoughts. I wondered how they stopped others from reading their own minds.

"Uhm... can I ask if-"

"You fucking bitch!"

We turned our heads toward where the voice came from. I saw the same girl who had also called me a bitch earlier. I saw her eyes turn blue, and her body suddenly changed. It looked like she was surrounded by wind mixed with water, spinning around her body.

"I'm not the one who did that, Eulisse! It's your fault! You're a bitch!" she shouted. Her body had crawling veins that looked like tree roots, and it was scary to look at.

I looked at the people at our table, but they had no reaction. It was like they were just watching a simple show while eating.

"That's from the B Class. As always, they're on a fight," Abby said. I frowned at what Abby said. "B Class?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Beta Class. Next after Alpha. The Betas are always fighting each other just for a deity gift and ranking," Yve said.

"Deity gift?" I asked again.

"Yeah. Monthly, we have a fight or sparring in the Arena with digital creatures for ranking then if you win, you gonna have a gift from a deity. Just like Yve. He belonged to Beta before, but because of the ranking system, he became Alpha. And it is also based on your ability," Dio said.

I understood Dio's explanation a little, but our attention returned to the two Betas who were fighting. I noticed they were about to attack each other, and I could feel the power of both of them in my body. Until...a loud voice echoed in the whole cafeteria.

"ENOUGH!"

We all turned our heads toward the one who spoke. It was terrifying, like the voice didn't belong to a normal human. His voice was so loud. If I were the one he shouted at, I probably would have cried already. He was like a dragon breathing fire, but without the fire.

"Sarina! Stop it!" Abby whispered into my ear.

I was confused about what she meant by "stop it" because I wasn't doing anything. I was just looking at the man and the two Betas who were fighting.

"YOU TWO, GO TO MS. WALES. NOW!"

The man said, and the two girls immediately ran out of the cafeteria. So they were cowards after all, so brave starting a fight inside the cafeteria.

I was still staring at the man when I noticed his gaze turn toward me. My heart immediately panicked, and I didn't know what to do. I looked at Aoife and Dio to see if they would do something or if they even noticed that the man was staring at me.

"Uh oh... the dragon is here," Aoife said as her eyes moved back and forth between Dio and Abby.

"Uhmm... w-why is he staring at m-me?" I asked them, stuttering, but before they could answer, the man had already walked toward us. He stopped in front of the table, right in front of me, so I quickly avoided his gaze and lowered my head. This is so embarrassing! Who is this guy? He's scary.

"Move."

I didn't know if he was telling me to move or the person beside me who was frozen, staring at the man standing in front of us.

I was about to stand up, but Yve stood first and moved to sit beside Aoife and Dio. The man I didn't know sat beside me. Who is this guy? Is he an Alpha too? Why does Aoife seem so unbothered by the man who just sat at our table?

"CAN YOU PLEASE SHUT YOUR MIND?"

I flinched because of the man's shout beside me. That was too much, he was right next to me.

"Sorry, I didn't know how to control this," I said because I didn't know what else to say to him. If I talked back, I might just get erased from the world of Aetherion.

"How did you become an Alpha if you don't know how to control it?!" he asked irritably, and I couldn't speak. Even I don't know how I became an Alpha, how I got these abilities and powers.

"Chill, bro. That's Sarina, and she's just new. You know it takes time to control our abilities," Dio defended me.

The man didn't reply and simply closed his eyes. He looked extremely tired even though it was only midday. Who even is this gu-

"Loving the view?"

I immediately looked away and distracted myself by looking around. Gosh, Calista! How embarrassing. What did you do? Why did you look at him? And how did he even know that I was looking at him?

"Atticus, Ms. Rea said that the history class is about to start in twenty minutes. Let's go, I don't want to be late to her boring quizzes," Abby said as she quickly packed her things.

Wait! I haven't even eaten lunch yet. I'm already hungry, and class is starting right away. This guy is really something.

And wait.... Atticus? Is this the one they were talking about? The living dragon in the Alpha dorm?

"I heard all of that, Ms. Vespera," Atticus said coldly. Gosh! I forgot that he can hear what my mind is saying. I guess I shouldn't think inside my head anymore.

They packed their things and immediately stood up, walking toward the afternoon class. They said our class now is History Class.

"Wait," I said in panic. They stopped, except for Atticus.

"Is there a problem, Sarina?" Yve asked.

"Uhh... I haven't changed into my uniform yet. I think I'll just follow you later. I'll go change first."

"Yeah, I think you should change because Ms. Rea doesn't want students who are not wearing uniforms in her class, even if you're just a new student,"

Dio said, nodding. Aoife was already holding a book, probably Abby's book from earlier. It looks like she's rushing already reviewing for the quiz.

"Uhm... you guys have a quiz, right? What about me? I didn't review anything because I'm just new. How would I kno-"

"Don't worry. Ms. Rea is not strict about that. She will understand," Abby said as she walked toward the hallway.

"Go change now, Sarina. You still have fifteen minutes."

I nodded and immediately ran toward the dorm. Even though it was far, I forced myself to run faster because I didn't want to be late for my first class. When I arrived at the dorm, I immediately went to my room. I opened the uniform that Ms. Wales gave me earlier at the registrar. I put it on, and when I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror.

I stared at my uniform neatly I am wearing in front of me. It was made of deep, dark fabric, smooth to the touch, with fine gold lining tracing the edges of the sleeves and collar. The emblem of the academy was stitched on the chest, glowing faintly under the light, as if it carried its own quiet power. When I held it in my hands, it felt heavier than ordinary clothes, like it carried responsibility along with it. I fixed myself, put a little.... lipstick, makeup, powder, and I arranged my hair just like I always do.

When I checked the time, I realized I still had five minutes left. It should have been enough, yet a strange uneasiness crept into my chest. I reached for the door, ready to leave the room and rush to class, my hand already on the handle. Before I could take a single step, a cold black hand with long, jagged nails suddenly clamped around my arm. Its grip was unnaturally strong, freezing my body in place as fear rushed through my veins.

Slowly, I turned my head. Standing behind me was a woman, or at least something that once looked like one. A thick, dark aura surrounded her, swirling like living shadows, suffocating the air around us. Her skin was dark and cracked like a witch, her eyes hollow and dark red, as if all light had been drained from them.

Her mouth stretched into an unnatural smile, too wide, too wrong, and when she leaned closer, the cold grew heavier, pressing against my chest until it was hard to breathe. Every instinct in my body screamed danger, and I knew, without a doubt, that this was not a being from Aetherion.