Chapter 3 Arriving at moonlight shine academy

ALICE

Arriving in front of a wide oak maroon door, Mr. Rollen opened it, and we entered. The room exuded an air of solemnity, with dark oak furniture and shelves lined with dusty tomes. The walls were adorned with framed diplomas and certificates, testaments to the principal's accomplishments and authority.

A large mahogany desk dominated the space, its polished surface reflecting the dim light filtering through heavy drapes drawn over the windows. Behind the desk sat the principal, a figure shrouded in shadows, his features obscured by the faint glow of candlelight flickering on his face.

The atmosphere was tinged with an unsettling tension, as if the very walls held secrets waiting to be uncovered. The scent of old parchment mingled with the faint musk of something primal, hinting at the supernatural forces that lurked just beneath the surface.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Berlin!" Mr. Rollen greeted a man in a red robe.

"Good afternoon," the man response as his gaze shifting to me.

"Good afternoon, sir," I greeted, bowing my head.

"Sit down, Miss Collin," he directed, indicating the vacant chair in front of him. I wondered why he already knew my last name as I took a seat, contemplating the unfolding situation.

"Take this; you just need to fill up." he handed me a paper, and I began to complete it. After a few minutes, I handed it back, and he read it. "Well, tomorrow you start school. Mr. Rollen can guide you here." He spoke earnestly, looking at Mr. Rollen.

"Okay, Mr. Berlin, thank you," I said as I stood up.

After leaving the room, Mr. Rollen told that we were heading to my dorm upstairs. He grabbed my luggage to assist me, but about ten steps into our walk, someone bumped into me, causing me to almost fall. Fortunately, I quickly grabbed the stainless steel railing beside me.

"Alice, are you okay?" Mr. Rollen approached with concern. I just nodded as my response while my eyes were on the black curly-haired girl wearing glasses.

"I'm so sorry, Miss. I was in a hurry!" she apologised before quickly running away. I sighed, the unexpected encounter leaving me slightly shaken.

"Let's go!" Mr. Rollen began to ascend the stairs, and I followed suit until we reached Room 216. Mr. Rollen pulled the key from his pocket and opened the door. "Get inside, leave your stuff, and come out again. We'll go to the clinic first to check your condition. You felt stressed and uneasy earlier, so we need to make sure that you are fine now. Our pack doctor here will give you medicine for calmness," he instructed, handing my belongings to me. I simply nodded in response and entered the room.

Glancing around, I noticed two beds, one in the right side corner covered with a black bed sheet, the pillowcase matching the dark hue.

And practically everything she owned was black, "what a weird kinda stuff." I wondered in my head, but I brushed that aside and continued walking toward the vacant bed, leaving my belongings on top of it and then I hurriedly exited. Mr. Rollen secured the door, and we walked to the clinic.

We were in the clinic when a girl in a white robe approached us. "Hello, Mr. Rollen, who's this pretty girl?" she said, smiling as she looked at me.

"Um, this is Alice Collin. She's a new student here. Can you check her condition now?" Mr. Rollen responded.

"Of course, come with me, dear," she said, motioning towards her table.

"Sit down," she added, adjusting her stethoscope. I sat obediently as she began to check me, pressing her stethoscope against my chest.

When she finished checking me, she simply stated that I was fine; I just needed to relax so that my mind and heart could calm down. "Thank you, doc," I smiled at her as I got up.

"You're welcome, pretty girl," she said, grasping my hand and smiling sweetly.

"Are you feeling better now, Alice?" Mr. Rollen seemed concerned as he tapped my shoulder.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Well, we're taking our lunch now," he said, turning to face Doctor Maurine. "We're leaving now, doc. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. Rollen," she sweetly replied.

Mr. Rollen led me into the canteen, and as we entered, all eyes turned toward me. "She's so pretty," I heard a girl shriek. "Yeah, she's new, maybe," replied another.

With that, embarrassment washed over me, and I couldn't bring myself to meet their eyes properly. I stepped behind Mr. Rollen, seeking refuge from their stares.

"What's wrong, Alice?" he muttered, turning his gaze to me. "I felt awkward under their scrutiny, Mr. Rollen," I admitted, feeling bashful.

"Oh, come on, Alice. You know why people are staring; it's because you're different from them. You're beautiful. Your wavy blonde hair and dark grey eyes are bound to catch their attention," he said, giving me a wink.

His compliment caused me to flush with embarrassment.

We immediately went to a vacant table and set our meals down. "Enjoy your meal," he said, offering me a spoon and fork. I simply nodded in response, directing my attention to the food. The beef stick looked delicious, so I picked up a piece and took a bite. "The taste is pretty good," I thought to myself as I chewed the meat.

After lunch, he took me on a tour of the Academy; everything here appeared old, including the design of the building. The halls echoed with the footsteps of students, and the air carried a sense of history that seeped through the cracks in the walls. Despite its age, there was a strange charm to the place, as if each creaking floorboard held a secret waiting to be discovered.

As we walked, my eyes caught sight of a peculiar statue of a wolf, its eyes seeming to follow us as we passed. It was a curious addition to the decor, yet somehow fitting for a place shrouded in mystery and tradition.

Though everything here felt unfamiliar and strange, I knew I had to accept it as my new home. I was no longer a pure human; my family had abandoned me, leaving me with nothing but the echoes of their absence. But I had learned to live without them, to forge my path in this world that now seemed so foreign and daunting.

With a heavy sigh, I resigned myself to this new reality, knowing that I had no choice but to embrace it and find my place among the shadows and secrets of the Academy.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Rollen asked me after noticing my sigh.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Mr. Rollen," I lied.

"Well, after your class tomorrow, we need to go to the Alpha's house," he remarked seriously.

"Alpha? What is that? I'm curious," I asked.

"Alpha is the leader of our pack and the most powerful among us. You must respect him as your leader."

"Ah, is he a scary person or a scary creature like a monster?" I inquired with curiosity.

Mr. Rollen started laughing. "Is there something funny in my words, Mr. Rollen?" I asked clumsily.

"I'm sorry, You really don't know anything yet Alice." He grinned and touched my hair, as if I were a small girl at this moment.

****

At night, I returned to my dorm, and when I entered, I immediately turned on the light. I noticed that the owner of the one bed was still not there, so I immediately sat down on my bed and opened my luggage to take my dress and put it inside the closet. I left the rest of my stuff in my bag, and tomorrow I will organize them. I had no time tonight because I was very exhausted and just needed to relax immediately, but before that, I hurriedly walked into the bathroom to wash my body and brush my teeth.

My bed sheets, pillowcase, and blanket were all comfy, and I am confident I fell asleep shortly. After 30 minutes, I thought I'd be able to fall asleep easily, but I couldn't since my thoughts were continually distracted with my family, who I miss so much. I got up, folded my legs, placed my arms on top of my knees, rested my head on them, and started crying. "Mom, why are you letting go of me, I thought you loved me?" I sobbed.

When I heard the door open and footsteps, I stopped sobbing and carefully lifted my head, focusing my attention there. The black-curly girl drew my attention and went up to sit with me. "It's good to cry, dear, and you'll feel better and calmer afterwards," she added, gently massaging my back. I simply faced her and burst into tears; my chest was heavy and tight at the time. "Go on," she said in a pity tone, hugging me.

When I felt calm, I let go of her embrace and immediately wiped away my tears with my palm. "Are you feeling better now?" she said pleasantly. "Yeah." I nodded.

"By the way, I'm Nicole, and you?" She extended her hand to me. "I'm Alice Collin." I took her hand and shook it. "Good to meet you, Alice," she remarked, grinning at me. "It's also nice to meet you." I smiled at her.

"Thank you, by the way." I said.

"No, it's fine; I understand you; I felt the same way when I first came here.""Every night, I cried alone."

" Why? "Is your family also abandoning you?" I asked sadly.

"No, don't ask about them. By the way, we really need to sleep now," she said with a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. She stood up and walked towards her bed, her movements somewhat hurried. "Good night, Alice!" she exclaimed, though her voice sounded strained as she lay down, suddenly feeling a pang of pain at my words.