The New Friend: Isolde

Chapter Six

Maelis

I wanted to avoid Prince Ulric, his brothers, and those ladies for the rest of the school day, so I headed to the school library. As I browsed through the sections looking for a quiet place to read, my eyes caught the billboard announcing upcoming exams in a few weeks, with a message encouraging students to study hard and wishing them good luck.

On the other side, there was a notice about the annual Blood Moon Harvest scheduled for the next weekend. Despite the excitement surrounding the event and the activities planned, I wasn’t interested. I still felt like I didn’t fit in at the school, and attending the harvest would only exacerbate that feeling.

My main concern was catching up with my studies. I knew I had fallen behind and needed to work twice as hard as my classmates to catch up.

At the librarian’s desk, I joined the queue of students waiting to be served. While standing there, thoughts of the day raced through my mind — from the initial excitement of being at my dream school to sensing my wolf for the first time and meeting my peers, to being ignored and mistreated by almost everyone I encountered. It had started well, but reality wasn’t meeting my expectations.

“How may I help you?” the librarian asked as I approached.

Clearing my throat, I explained, “I’m a new student, just admitted today. Can I borrow books for our courses to prepare for exams?”

“Can I see your ID?” she requested. After checking her system, she looked back up at me. “I’m sorry, but all the books for your courses have been borrowed. You may have to wait a few more days.”

I sighed and nodded before turning away. Just as I started to leave, her voice stopped me.

“Hey, new student,” she called. I turned back to see her pointing to a student returning books.

“These are some of the materials you’ll need,” she informed me. “And feel free to ask your classmates for help if necessary.”

“Thank you,” I replied with a faint smile, though I knew I didn’t have anyone to ask for help.

“I can help you, if you want,” a voice said unexpectedly.

It felt like a dream. I looked up to see the most gentle and welcoming face since I arrived at the school.

“My name is Isolde, and I can help you if you want,” she offered with a soft smile.

I nodded gratefully, unable to find the right words. She was the first person to speak to me without insult or disdain for my scarred face — the first to offer genuine help, which I desperately needed.

“Yes, I do need your help,” I replied, trying not to show how much her offer meant to me. “I’m Maelis,” I introduced myself as she came closer.

“I’ll just call you Lis,” she decided, helping me gather books before finding a spot in the library to sit.

After several minutes of avoiding eye contact, she asked, “How do you find the school?”

I looked up, uncertain where to start, from bonding with my wolf to feeling out of place. “In one word — hell.”

She chuckled softly. “I can relate.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was once in your shoes. Admitted through a scholarship for average students in the kingdom, I was treated like an outcast, lower than the lowest rank. I considered quitting, but my parents had sacrificed so much. Seeing me in this school was their greatest achievement. It’s only a matter of time before their judgments no longer affect you.”

Her soothing words and shared experience made me feel less alone. “Thank you for your kindness, Isolde,” I said sincerely.

“You’re welcome anytime. I’ll be here for you,” she reassured me, diving into one of the books. “Now, about those exams coming up…”

The next hour was spent studying and getting to know each other, forming a friendship. I was relieved my first day hadn’t been entirely bad.

After lunch and a few more classes, Isolde and I walked down the hallway, chatting about our day. Suddenly, someone bumped into us, making it appear we collided, but I soon realized it was intentional.

Laughter echoed from different directions. “So you two are friends now?” one teased. “Not surprising the two lowest-ranked students in our school are friends,” another added.

A girl from our class approached, sneering, “No matter how hard you study, you’ll end up as our slaves. You can’t escape your fate.”

Isolde grabbed my hand, leading me away until we reached the gate. “Don’t listen to them. We’re here to make our people proud. We won’t end up as their slaves,” she declared, extending her hand. “Promise me you won’t give up on your dreams, no matter how tough it gets.”

I had shared my dream with her in the library — to become a physician and work in the Royal castle as the Royal physician. I smiled widely, joining hands with her. “I promise I won’t give up on my dreams, no matter what.”

“That’s more like it,” she chuckled. “See you tomorrow,” she said before walking away.

Lost in thought, I arrived home, reflecting on the day’s events. Amid the turmoil, I found solace in Isolde, whom I had grown attached to in just a short time. She was the first to offer help and see my dreams as achievable. My father often said I dreamed too big, destined only for menial work like cleaning, as those students had mocked.

Lost in thought, I reached the front door, where I noticed a fleet of expensive cars parked outside. My father didn’t even own the cheapest car. What were they doing here? Did the alpha princes know I was their mate and send guards to bring me to them?

Excitement and fear mingled in my heart as I waited to hear what was happening inside our house.

I also headed home, with the days activities wandering through my mind. Even in the midst of the storm, I still found some calmness, which was in Isolde who I had grown attached to in the few minutes I got to spend with her.

She was the first ever person who offered to help me, she was the first person to see my dreams as a feasible one. My dad would always say I was dreaming too big and I should just learn to clean, because as those students said, I would end up as a maid.

I was too lost in thought to realize that I had gotten home. I was about to open the door when I saw the fleet of expensive looking cars parked at around. My dad didn’t even have the cheapest car, what could these cars be doing in our house?

I pushed the door open gently and my hand froze on the knob when I saw the Royal guards in our house, with my father seated with them, and my stepmother offending them a drink.

My jaw dropped and remained unclose as different thoughts wandered through my mind. What could they be doing there? Does the alpha princes know that I was their mates already and they sent the guards to bring me to them?

My heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement as I waited to hear what they were doing in our house.