CHAPTER 3: Ceallach University

"Hira, are you done? We going to be late!" I heard Emma exclaimed from the other side of the door.

Today is our first day of school. And just like an ordinary student, we must go to school early to avoid tardiness. Actually, I have just finished my bath. I'm now wearing my black blazer for a finishing touch. We are now wearing our school uniforms since these were already given last week.

I wear my bag on my right shoulder, and I'm done! I take a short glimpse of myself in the mirror and smile. I am wearing white long sleeves topped by a black blazer, matching our black and red checkered skirt that ends 2 inches above the knees. I am also wearing black high socks and black shoes to complete my attire.

I march towards the door and when I was about to open it when I heard Emma sighs. 'Oh my!' I said my thoughts as I already knew what is about to happen.

"Adhira Solve—" She's about to exclaim my full name when I interrupt her. "Done!" I cheerfully said, disregarding the dark aura surrounding her right now. I may be powerful, they say, but Emma is the only friend I have that I feel inferior to. She's a motherly figure to be though.

"Haha! Good thing you came out just in time." Matt said while leaning against the wall next to my room. As I got near him, he instantly clings his arm around mine. "Or else the monster will chase us." He whispers and the good thing is, Emma didn't hear what he said.

"Hira, we are all aware that today is the first day of classes," Emma said as she picks up her blazer on the floor, as well as her cute backpack. "Yes, I know," I answer as I lean against the wall, just like Matt.

"Then why did you wake up late? I'm waiting in front of your door for about half an hour! You—" She was about to say her whole speech but we didn't listen to the other things she had said because we know it is all about her preaching of being an early bird.

"Hira, I'm scared. Our mommy Emma is already preaching." Matt whispers in a childish tone, yet it was loud enough for Emma to hear. And right now, I can imagine Emma turning red. I won't dare to face her because I might laugh my ass off and make everything worse.

"Mather Parveen!" She exclaims and starts walking towards us. "Hira, to the car!" As of cue, Matt grabs my hand and ran to our car. We ran as fast as we could so that our 'mommy Emma' won't chase us.

I can't help it but laugh. All these years that they are with me, this is our normal scenario. Matt and I being chased by Emma because of our stubbornness.

After a few running, we reached the car and we immediately sit in the passenger seat. "Chard, lock the doors before she reaches us!" Matt said hysterically to our driver. But Chard just laughs at us as he points to the passenger seat beside him. Then, the creature we are running from a while ago is smirking in front of us.

"To whom are you running from?" Emma asked with her arms crossed on her chest. "Idiots. How can you run away from me if we are going to ride the same car?" She rolls her eyes and turns her gaze back in front.

"How did you get in here that fast? And we're not idio—" Matt didn't finish his sentence when Chard interrupts his speech.

"Stop fighting, kids. We're going to school." And he starts the engine.

*************

The campus is not too far from the mansion, so after just a few minutes' drive, I can already see the high campus gate.

The high golden gates welcome us as we reached our destination. . It has an arch above it with the inscription 'Ceallach University'. Even the walls are high with some parts with vines. And even though we haven't roamed around the campus, I can say that is obviously prodigious. Though, our fortress is quite bigger than this.

As we stop in front of the high gates, it spontaneously opened and the first thing I noticed was the fountain in the middle.

"Wow." That is the only word I've managed to say as we saw our school. "Hira. We're here." I heard Matt say but I ignored. It's just that, I love the fountain!

"Hira," Emma calls me while poking my shoulder. I turn my gaze upon her and I saw that Matt who was next to me earlier, got out of the car. While Emma is still sitting at the shotgun seat. I just smiled at it and we got out of the car.

Adhira Solveig, welcome to Ceallach University.

~

I heard the bell rang and the students hurried to the gymnasium, I presume. The twins and I have been roaming around here inside the campus for about an hour so we'll get familiarized with the area. They are telling me the building names and their purposes, to avoid me from getting lost.

We have been following the flow of students, and we just found ourselves inside their spacious gymnasium. The students start falling in line according to their sections. And this is a problem I have now. Which section do we belong to? But seems like Emma knows what I'm thinking as she speaks.

"Hira, we need to fall in line along with the Class IV-A," Emma said, so I followed her. Since today is the first day, we have been in any order to queue. So I just lined up at the very end.

This is better. Our position is not much attention-catching compared to the ones in front of the queue. I'm also not that short, so it's fine to stay here at the back. Emma was standing next to me while Matt is nowhere to be found. He said earlier that he would just go to the admin office, but until now there is still not here. 'Couldn't he have gone astray?' I ask myself. But I just shrug off my thought, as I remember, these twins are one of the bests. They wouldn't go astray that easy.

We've been standing here for a few minutes so I just looked around first to entertain myself in the meantime. Also, I may see familiar faces, or meet anyone that is friendly. I want to start a new life, and this is my first step. Make friends.

I first noticed that everyone is in their complete uniform. Well, the ideal students for a prestigious school. There are already a lot of students here but the court is still roomy. I wonder if we already occupy even just half of it.

I just let out a sigh. Aside from Emma and Matt, who are the other people I can be friends with — "Aww," I said as the one in front of me stepped on my foot.

I noticed that the ones in front of the queue were moving backward, making him step on my foot. I throw a death glare at him but my system seemed to calm down when I saw his face.

He's tall enough to tower over me. He has dark brown hair, faultlessly matched to his hazel eyes. His nose is piercing. And, his lips are pinkish red. He looks like a Greek God!

But annoyance abrupted in my system when I remembered he was the one who stepped on my foot. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to step on your foot." He said and it was annoying because he just spoke each word so calmly. As if he was just sorry, you will have amnesia in his arrears.

I felt that Emma was looking so I turned to her for a moment to say calm down. Momentary. "They're entering the queue at the front so those at the back have to move backward." He explained to me. Or us?

I was about to speak when Matt came to mediate between us. He has three keys on his both hands, two with a pink keychain and one with a blue keychain. "I got our locker keys. This one, with the blue keychain, is the key to my locker. While these keys with pink keychains are yours."

I just nod and get mine. I didn't listen to what Matt was saying and turned my gaze back to the man who 'accidentally' stepped on my foot. He looks so calm, even his voice as he speaks. And I find it weird.

Who are you?

************

After we were 'welcomed' earlier to the court, we were sent here to our future homeroom. It is here that our future class adviser will explain to us the rules and regulations of the school and so on. That I do not listen to.

Instead, I just look at everything around me. People, pieces of equipment, and anything else I will notice. And one of the things I noticed was that there were only 14 of us in the room. 7 girls and 7 boys. Everyone seems to be ordinary people. No powers, no strong aura. And that's a relief.

Our seats are arranged in 4 rows composed of 4 desks each. And in the whole class, there are two more vacancies. One in the first row and the other is the seat next to me.

Emma wants to be by my side, but she can't. Their last name is in the letter P so they are in the third row, while I am in the fourth row. But I stopped my meditation when there was a knock on the door. And I recognize his face!

"Sorry, ma'am if I'm late. I got lost." He said calmly and sincerely to our adviser. And I noticed that our adviser who looked rude turned out to be kind. Instead of preaching or what, she just calmly stood in front and let him in just like that. What's with this guy?

He smiles victoriously and go inside. And unfortunately, he was still sitting next to me! 'Curse that alphabetical order!' I said in my thoughts. I know I'm annoyed now because I saw his face again, and I don't care if my eyes are blue or even red! Gosh! I want to wring his neck!

"Hello! Nice to see you again." He said while smiling and he was sitting next to me! NEXT TO ME! I just stare at him and did not respond. "Well, I think, our first meeting was not going well." He chuckles. "So, please let me formally introduce myself."

"Hi! I'm Shiloh Finley. 16 years old. And I'll be your seatmate for this entire school year." He said while extending his hand to me as if we will do a handshake. "I'm Adhira Sol—" Wait. Does he still need to know my full name?

"Well, nice to meet you!" He said and continue the handshake. It was only then that I realized that I had to extend my hand in mid-air because of what I was thinking. And when he held my hand my whole System seemed to calm down. All my fears and anxieties about staying here seem to have disappeared. What's with this guy? Does he have power? If yes, then why I can't see or feel any power from him?

Shiloh Finley, who are you?