Chapter 4 : The Order of Elysium

*Lily*

My mind was a jumble of thoughts as I strolled out of the library that evening. Clutched in my hands were the notes I had compiled during my research for Professor Caesar's joint project with Adrian next Monday—a day I was already dreading.

I pushed open the heavy oak door, stepping out from the echo of my own footsteps into the embrace of the cold night. A silver glow enveloped the campus' manicured lawns and ivy-clad buildings, the moon standing sentinel in the night sky.

The path to Bronze Wing was like a ghost town at this hour, shadows having a dance party under the rustling leaves. As I dragged myself toward my dorm, suddenly feeling exhausted and hungry, a hushed conversation tugged at my ears.

It was like stumbling upon a forbidden secret, the hushed tones of their conversation dripping with clandestine urgency. I halted in my steps, afraid they would hear me if I carried on.

For some reason, I knew I shouldn’t be listening to their conversation–I should just mind my business and keep going, but the sinister undercurrent in their words demanded my full alertness and I couldn’t make my legs move forward.

"Did you see her in the auditorium tonight?" one voice drifted, low and measured.

"Of course," another replied, the tone laced with something dark. "She's the first one on our list. She’s bold showing her face here, I’ll give her that."

My imagination spun wild scenarios, each more clandestine than the last. Whatever it was, it sent shivers cascading down my spine—an instinctual reaction that told me more was at play than mere student gossip.

Who and what were they talking about? Why did they sound so secretive and intimidating?

"Keep it down," a third voice hissed, barely above a breath. "We shouldn't even be talking about this here."

"Fine," the second voice acquiesced. "The campus is empty now though. Don't be such a buzzkill."

Torn between the desire to unearth their secrets and the fear of being caught in the act, I hesitated, considering what to do. Should I run away, stay here until they left, or carry on like nothing happened, pretending I didn't listen to anything?

"Why are there so many new Bronzies this year by the way?" the guy continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "What the hell is the board thinking?"

The words 'new Bronzies' hit me like ice water. I was one of them. The bitterness in their tone clung to the phrase, turning it into something vile, something targeted. My instincts kicked in immediately, my mind racing as I leaned closer and held my breath, straining to catch more, to understand why we were being discussed like pawns on a chessboard.

"Right? We have to keep tabs on them," the first commented. "We are going to have a lot of work this year."

"Enough," the third voice cut through the night, commanding and imposing. "Let's talk about this at the gathering. This is not the place."

Footsteps shuffled away and I released the breath I was holding. My heart pounded a fierce rhythm against my ribs, each beat echoing the danger of what I'd stumbled upon.

What the hell was that about? Who were they? Why were they talking about us as if we were some sort of plague? Why did they want to keep an eye on us?

I retreated a few steps before continuing on my path, fear spurring me forward. The need to share this, to seek out safety and understanding, drove me to find Rachel. She would know; she had to.

My walk became a jog, then a near sprint, every shadow seeming like a potential spy, every rustle of leaves a whisper ready to betray my presence. The moon above seemed complicit, its light guiding me, but also threatening to expose my hurried escape.

As the Bronze Wing residence loomed into view, I breathed a shaky sigh. Relief washed over me in an unsteady wave as I crossed the threshold, the door closing behind me with a soft click.

"Rachel!" I called out, urgency lacing the word. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

My best friend, with her connections and social savvy, was my best chance at understanding the cryptic references to whatever I had just heard. More than anything, I craved some sort of reassurance that I was just overreacting and this was nothing more than stupid students talking nonsense.

But even before finding her, I knew that wasn’t possible. Something within me told me this was bigger than that.

"Hey, Lily, what’s up? You look like you've seen a ghost," Rachel said as she emerged from the common room, stepping into the hallway, concern etched across her features.

"Something's going on," I whispered, leaning in close, not wanting to call unnecessary attention from the other students. "Outside, I overheard... It might be nothing, but it sounded serious. They mentioned the new Bronze Wing students and keeping tabs on us? It sounded like some sort of...secret society?" My voice trembled, betraying my composure. I wasn't even sure what I was trying to ask, but I hoped Rachel would understand me anyway.

Rachel's eyebrows knit together, a frown marring her usually carefree expression. "What exactly did you hear?" she asked in a serious tone.

"Enough to scare me," I admitted, walking past her and dropping on a chair in the common room. "And enough to know that I might be in trouble. We might," I corrected.

My confession hung in the air, heavy and palpable. Rachel’s gaze flickered to the other girls lounging in the common room, each absorbed in their own world until this moment. The vibe in the room shifted, and suddenly, I could almost taste the tension in the air.

"Let's go to our room, shall we?" Rachel's voice took on a commanding edge, and without protest, I followed her as we drifted out of the room and headed upstairs.

Once we were alone, Rachel perched on her bed, her eyes searching mine. "Lily, there's something you need to know about Elysium University," she began, her words measured, "and it's not the kind of thing they put in the brochures."

I nodded and swallowed hard, embracing myself for what she was about to share with me. The way my heart sank in my stomach felt like foreshadowing.

"Whatever you heard, it's probably related to The Order of Elysium," Rachel explained softly, almost reluctantly. It felt as though the mere mention of the name was an invocation of something dark and powerful. "They've been here for... God knows how long. They're like a shadow over this place."

"Order of Elysium? Who are they? Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" The questions tumbled out, fueled by a mixture of fear and an unbidden frustration.

"They are indeed a secret society. The Order is formed by members of influential families mostly, legacy students with more power than sense." Rachel's lips twisted into a grimace. "They don’t take kindly to those who don't fit their mold—scholarship students, for one. Anyone they consider...unworthy."

"Unworthy? Unworthy of what?" I echoed, the words leaving a bitter taste in my tongue. "Of studying here?"

Rachel's nod was solemn, her usual vibrancy dimmed by the gravity of the topic. "It's why I've been so insistent on you making connections, Lily. In a place like this, allies can mean everything. And I didn’t want to scare you. That's why I hadn't told you about it."

I leaned back, trying to process the weight of her revelation. My mind raced with implications, questions, the threat to everything I'd worked for feeling all too real.

"Why hasn't anyone stopped them?" I blurted. "Is everyone aware of their existence?"

"Not everyone, but most of the senior students and the board of professors and directors. And why has no one ever stopped them? Money, influence..." she replied with a shrug, a gesture heavy with resignation. "The same reasons anything unjust flourishes."

"What exactly do they do to people like us?" I asked hesitantly, afraid to listen to the answer.

Rachel sighed, closing her eyes for a brief second before continuing. "Nothing was ever officially reported. But there are rumors that they've orchestrated the removal of students who don't fit their ideal—threats, scandals, anything that can lead to them being expelled or removed from the university."

"How?" I whispered, my heart hammering against my chest. I was having a hard time digesting this information. The light-hearted atmosphere of the dormitory had evaporated like mist, leaving behind a chilling stillness.

"Academic sabotage, social ruin... They play a long game," Rachel carried on, her arms crossed tightly as if to ward off the chill of the conversation. "Transfers forced out under mysterious circumstances. Scholarships 'reconsidered' due to unforeseen disqualifications." Her eyes met mine, and I saw in them a mirror of my own fear.

"We’re the only targets? Those who belong to the Bronze Wing?"

"Especially us," Rachel confirmed grimly. "They view the scholarships as...blemishes on the university's legacy. It's sickening."

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling exposed and vulnerable, like a deer caught in the crosshairs of an unseen hunter. A shudder ran through me as I recalled the hushed voices from earlier, the cryptic whispers that now carried a more sinister undertone.

"Look, Lily," Rachel's voice softened, tinged with a weary resignation that seemed too heavy for her age. "Most of these members are from legacy families—old money, powerful connections. The kind of people whose portraits are hung in the halls of Elysium University. This is why the board turns a blind eye to everything the Order does."

The revelation settled over me like a dense fog. Their influence was woven into the very fabric of this institution. How could we ever confront them?

"Then it’s just a matter of time until they get to us," I murmured, my thoughts spiraling into despair. The very foundations of my future seemed to be crumbling beneath me at that moment.

"Not necessarily," Rachel said, though the doubt in her tone did little to bolster my spirits. "Just lay low. Pretend you don't know anything about the existence of the society. It's safer that way," she advised.

The silence that followed was oppressive, thick with unsaid words and unvoiced fears. I suddenly was no longer just a student striving for academic excellence and a successful career; I was prey in an elegant, dangerous game—one where the players remained hidden in the shadows, cloaked in privilege and malice.

And apparently, there was nothing I could do other than just pretend I was invisible. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, the bitter taste of helplessness mingling with the metallic tang of blood.

"Feign ignorance, Lily," Rachel pleaded, squeezing my hand with urgency. "You can't lose your entire future over an already lost battle."

Her words echoed in my mind. The chapter of my life penned by The Order of Elysium might have begun without my consent, but I was not going to let them write the ending. I would follow her advice since I had no idea what I was dealing with, but I wasn't going to let them dictate my life and my career if they ever decided to come after me.

I couldn’t–and wouldn’t–live in fear.

"Okay," I agreed, my voice steady despite the tumultuous storm within. But as I lay in bed later that night, I knew ignorance was a luxury I couldn't afford.

I had to find a way to know more about the Order and protect myself from them. I couldn’t let them come after me and decide they wanted me out of the university. I had fought so hard to get here. I wouldn’t be coerced by some stupid society that thought they were better than me just because they had money.

The risks were monumental, and I had no idea where to start, but I didn't think I'd be able to simply forget they were looming in the shadows, waiting for my first mistake to aim their weapons at me.