Chapter 4 Moonlit Secrets

The repercussions of the previous night linger as I wake up, grappling with the surreal encounter with that mysterious man. The crusted vomit on my abandoned shirt serves as an unwelcome testimony to the bizarre events. Frustration and embarrassment surge, aggravated by the red battery sign on my phone. With a groan, I fumble to plug it in, squinting as the harsh light reveals the ungodly hour of 6:45 am.

Realization hits hard as I panic about the impending class in a couple of hours. The events of the night unfold like a detective's unraveling case. The walk, the enigmatic man, and the regrettable vomit incident play in my mind. Dacia's sudden appearance, dragging me home, sparks questions. Did he know the man?

Lost in thought, I head to the kitchen, only to be jolted back by the realization of the looming class. Tala, seemingly immune to hangovers, greets me with a bright smile. After a teasing remark about their "fun," she drops a hint of something unusual. Intrigued, I press her, but she redirects, claiming it was a football player's prowess.

Shrugging it off, I return to my apartment to prepare for the day.

~

Under the cascading hot water in the shower, I hope to wash away the embarrassment from the previous night. Thoughts of that attractive man and my unfortunate encounter make me shiver. In an attempt to forget, I finish the shower abruptly.

~

The ringing kettle interrupts my thoughts as I sit down with a cup of green tea, attempting to soothe my throbbing throat. The clock's harsh reminder reveals it's 8:47 am, making me curse my early elective choice.

In a rush, I head to campus, the proximity allowing me to forgo the bus. Navigating the sea of people, I finally locate my class, Room 103A. Opting for a front seat, my solitude is disrupted when someone unexpectedly sits beside me.

"Hi, I'm Maya," she introduces herself, her gaze scanning my face and lingering on my pendant.

"Ulry," I respond casually, only to be caught off guard by her unexpected question, "Are you one of them?"

Perplexed, I inquire, "One of what?"

"Never mind," Maya dismisses, moving to the back of the classroom. An inexplicable sadness washes over me. Could it be related to the previous night's "human" remark?

~

The lecture hall falls silent as Professor Raul walks in. The room bows to his presence, but I dismiss it as a hangover-induced blur. However, when he turns around, the shock hits me – it's the man from last night. Panic sets in; why did I choose the front seat?

Apologizing becomes my mission. Standing up, I approach him, but before I can speak, he comments on my attire, leaving me flustered and ashamed. The lecture becomes a blur as I'm entranced by his presence, and the syllabus reveals an unexpected assignment.

A 1500-word essay on Lycanthrope Local History, due in a week. I run through the syllabus, noticing the absence of any mention of mythical creatures.

After class, I gather the courage to approach him again. "Professor?" I start, and he responds, "You can call me Rendall."

Apologizing for last night, I raise a question about the assignment's relevance to ancient history. His reaction is severe, a cryptic warning lingering in the air. Alone and stunned, I'm left to grapple with the intensity of the encounter, my mind racing as the next class files in.