Chapter 5 The Welcome of the Chosen

ARIA POV

The Scarlett Gymnasium was unlike any school hall I'd ever seen-its architecture felt like it had been plucked straight from an old-world cathedral and dropped into a modern campus. The stone walls were aged but well-maintained, with intricate carvings along the arches that looked suspiciously like ancient runes. Chandeliers hung high above, their crystal facets catching the dim light like stars trapped in glass.

And now, it was packed.

Students-and what I could only assume were non-human creatures-filled the rows of seats, forming loose clusters based on species or origin. It was strange how naturally they separated, as if instinct dictated who belonged where. No one spoke loudly, but the air buzzed with tension, like the gymnasium itself was holding its breath.

I found my assigned seat easily-marked by a small glowing plaque reading #11-and sat down without looking around too much. But not seeing didn't stop me from feeling.

There was a group of guys seated near the center who looked like they'd walked out of a werewolf pack's military training camp. Their uniforms barely contained their broad shoulders and muscular builds. Long strands of wild hair framed sharp faces, and even through the fabric, I could see the faint outlines of claws at their fingertips.

Wolves. Definitely wolves.

Their presence alone made my skin crawl. I made a mental note to avoid them at all costs.

Further back, there were others-creatures whose presence sent chills crawling up my spine. They weren't loud or threatening, but the air around them felt heavier, darker. A few had horns curling from beneath their hoods, others had eyes that shimmered like obsidian under moonlight.

Demons?

Maybe. Or something worse.

And then... there he was.

Sitting near the back row on the far right, almost like a king surveying his kingdom.

The guy with golden eyes and long lavender hair.

He hadn't moved since I arrived, hadn't spoken to anyone. Yet, everyone seemed to give him space-as if afraid to be noticed by him.

Even now, I could feel his gaze locked onto me.

Like a predator watching prey.

I clenched my fists beneath my skirt.

Don't look at him.

Don't react.

But curiosity is a cruel master.

Against better judgment, I lifted my head slightly.

Our eyes met.

And the gymnasium held its breath.

His golden irises burned with something unreadable-intensity, hunger, maybe both. His expression remained stoic, but the energy radiating off him shifted. It coiled around him like smoke, purple and laced with something darker.

Bloodlust.

It wasn't visible, not exactly, but I felt it. Like a pressure against my skin.

Then, suddenly, the guy beside him flinched-then fell off his chair like he'd been struck by an invisible force.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

I swallowed hard.

What the hell just happened?

I forced myself to look away, heart hammering in my chest.

This place was insane.

Everyone here was either dangerous or terrified of being so.

Some students whispered about why we were brought here.

"Isn't this a sacrificial altar?"

"Where are the enemy tribes?"

"This can't be real. Is this some kind of prison?"

One girl muttered something unintelligible under her breath, her hands twitching nervously.

I wanted to scream.

None of this made sense.

I missed Lynx. I missed the castle. Hell, I even missed my father talking about political marriages.

At least those problems were familiar.

Now?

I was surrounded by creatures who looked like they belonged in nightmares, stuck in a university run by gods I'd never heard of, all because I opened a cursed letter tied to a crow.

Stupid, stupid idea.

I kept my head low, trying to blend in. But blending in was hard when people kept glancing at me like I'd done something wrong.

Probably because of that death-glare roll I gave earlier.

I groaned internally.

Curiosity really does kill the cat.

Just then, footsteps echoed across the stage. A man stepped forward, adjusting the microphone with a smooth, practiced motion.

He looked young-no older than twenty-five, maybe thirty-but his pale skin and long white hair gave him an eerie agelessness. His lips were stained crimson, and though his face held a softness, his eyes were sharp and calculating.

His name tag read:

||Headmaster: Kael Virelle||

I shivered.

Vampire.

That was the only explanation for his features, his aura, and especially the way he smiled like he knew all your secrets.

"Good day, students of Blackthorn University," he began, voice smooth and calm. "To welcome you, we will gift you some freshman benefits. These have already been placed in your dorms."

He paused, letting the words sink in.

"To commemorate this little event-"

Before he could continue, a loud voice cut through the silence.

"JUST WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS? ISN'T THIS THE GOD'S CHAMBER? JUST WHAT KIND OF CRAP ARE YOU TELLING US?!"

The wolf guy.

His shout startled the entire room. Others followed suit.

"WHAT'S THIS PLACE? DOES IT MEAN I WILL NOT BE SACRIFICED?"

"WHERE'S THE TRIBES SURVIVOR? I WILL KILL THEM ALL!"

"I HATE SCHOOLS FOR PETE'S SAKE!"

Murmurs turned into chaos.

I buried my face in my hands.

Was this a joke?

A nightmare?

Had I actually died in that forest and this was some twisted afterlife?

Kael's smile didn't falter, but his eyes sharpened.

Then, in the blink of an eye, his mouth stretched wider-too wide.

His teeth elongated.

They gleamed like daggers.

A collective gasp filled the room.

I froze.

Oh no.

No no no.

I wanted to cry.

But I was a Langford.

So I sat still.

I held my composure.

Even as my heart pounded like a war drum.

Kael returned to his normal form seconds later, his expression serene once more.

"Okay," he said simply. "Now I think you'll be ready to listen."

His voice was softer now, but somehow more terrifying.

"I know some of you are confused. Angry. Maybe enraged for reasons unknown. But this is all fated. Fated because the Five Greatest Supreme Gods chose you to enter this majestic university. Even though I don't know your purpose for coming here, the gods' decision is mighty and ought to be followed."

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.

I felt like I was going to throw up.

Gods?

Fated?

Chosen?

What did that mean for me?

I glanced at the lavender-haired guy again.

His golden eyes hadn't left me.

I looked away fast.

"Of course," Kael continued, "this university was created for all of you to understand and fulfill your purposes. Even the gods needed to intervene to ensure you learn your fate."

He paused.

"I know all of you have many questions. But you must go forward to understand the meaning of your situation."

Then came the one rule that gave me the tiniest bit of relief:

"No killing is allowed."

He turned his gaze toward the wolf guy.

Who immediately shut up.

Thank God.

I let out a shaky breath.

If there was one thing I wanted more than anything, it was to survive.

"And for the following rules of this university," Kael added cheerfully, "There's an Crimson Codex inside your dorm, combined with your freshman gifts, of course."

His tone was light, like he hadn't just scared half the room into silence.

"Okay, so now, you can take your time and rest. School starts in three days. Make sure to get to know each other."

With that, he hopped off the stage like a kid skipping away.

Moments later, a bunny-eared creature in a secretary uniform approached the mic.

"To all students here, all your necessities are provided by the university-or rather, the Five Greatest Supreme Gods. You may check and explore all the facilities except those requiring QPoints, which you'll learn about after reading the Crimson Codex."

She lowered the mic.

"That's all. You may disperse now."

The moment she finished speaking, the gymnasium erupted into movement.

People stood, chatting among themselves, some still casting wary glances at Kael's retreating figure.

I stayed rooted in place for a second longer.

I had to make sure he was gone.

I peeked.

He wasn't.

Still sitting.

Still smirking.

Both arms draped lazily over the armrests of his chair like some dark prince deciding whether to burn the world or let it live.

Still staring at me.

I swallowed hard.

Then, with as much grace as I could muster, I stood and walked quickly-elegantly, I told myself-toward the nearest exit.

I didn't want to run.

But I definitely was.

I pushed open the left side door of the gymnasium and stepped outside.

Fresh air hit me like a blessing.

I took a deep breath.

Behind me, the chaos of Blackthorn continued.

In front of me?

An unfamiliar world waiting to swallow me whole.

And somewhere behind me, I could still feel his gaze burning into my back.

__________

🌙 End of Chapter 3

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