Chapter 3 - Myra

A few hours had passed and we arrived at a town in the north. The houses were set in a circular formation with a large castle at the northern-most point. The walls were circular as well, with thickets of trees surrounding their borders. Thirty minutes after passing through the gates we came to the very center of the town, which held a rift a lot like the one I'd just come through, only this was decorated with a gate strung with gold and gilded with diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones.

Surrounded by guards, of course.

"Welcome to slanders, the city of the rich and wealthy. Home to King Hendrick." He gestured after helping me down from the horse, "This is the rift to half-caste. A sanctuary for hybrids and those without a home."

"Hybrids?"

"Yes, hybrids. Those born of two different origins aren't usually welcomed by the full-bloods. So the parents move to half-caste where they raise their family."

"Can people really move to different realms that easily?" I questioned.

He sighed, "You ask too many questions. You will learn all you need to know in school. Bombard your teacher with all your questions instead."

I folded my arms, sending him a glare which he responded with a charming grin as I walked up to the guards at the rift, him following close behind.

I zoned out of the conversation the three men were having before watching one of the guards walk through the rift, stopping on the other side and turning to peer through the mystical window. He motioned me over, waiting somewhat impatiently on the other side.

My second time going through a rift, all in the span of one day. I was a bit more confident walking through this time, however.

I felt the tingles of electricity glide over my skin as a chill ran up my spine. Entering into another realm, the first thing I saw was an exact replica of lykanthop, only where lykanthop's aesthetic was blue, the structures which made up half-caste were purple and gold. Even the atmosphere felt different in this realm, almost lighter, more carefree.

The busy streets were filled with flower stores, cafes, herbal stores and butcheries. I couldn't help but stare at a family of people with pointy ears, wondering what origin they were.

"That family is half-fae, and half lamia." The man informed me, noticing my obvious gaping at the family he regarded with a scrunched nose.

I nodded as he directed me to a large mansion, which reminded me of the castle-like buildings of boarding schools from the movies, with a huge wall lining its borders.

"Didn't you have some things to deliver to your friend?" I just remembered, turning to find Hunter no longer speaking with the other guard in Lykanthop.

"I left it with a guard to deliver so I could safely escort you to the school." He replied.

"You dropped what you were doing to assist a total stranger?" I laughed to which he gave a smirk.

"Damsel in distress, remember?" I rolled my eyes as I shoved his shoulder. Guys and their smirking, I wonder if they realize just how stupid they look sometimes. But I couldn't help but smile.

The mansion I saw was only part of it, seeming like the main building. There were five others a little bit bigger than it, all surrounding it. The number of acres that this school occupied looked to be the same as the entirety of my hometown.

This is unbelievable.

The main building was made almost entirely of cobblestone, except for the roofs which they lined with orange clay-like bricks.  It held a monogram with a book in the center of a spiral with clawed pages. The building to my right was blue, lykanthop possibly. There were students loitering around it, some seeming to be studying while others ran around carelessly.

The building to my left was yellow, the people there showing each other their abilities as if competing to see who was better. I stared in astonishment as a girl whispered some words and flicked her hand upwards, the pile of books following her movement and scattering around her. The main building hindered my view of the other three left, but I reminded myself to explore them after I'm admitted. We made it into the admin office where an old man sat behind the counter, stacks of paper and pens surrounding him. He looked up as we entered, scowling at Hunter as he smiles at him.

"Coaster! My man, what's up?" He exclaimed resting his arms on the counter as he gave the elderly man a million-watt smile.

"It's Caster, you incompetent fool. And it was nice and quiet before you ruined it with your noise pollution. What do you want?" He grumbled, rubbing his temples with his eyes squeezed shut.

"My friend here is lost. We need to wait for word to reach of her absence so she could go home." He explained as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

I pushed him off before giving Mr. Caster a small wave when his eyes flickered at me.

"Mhmm... I see. And what, pray tell, is her origin?" He looked me up and down in disgust.

"I don't think she has one," He eyed me before turning back to the receptionist, "She doesn't smell of any origin I know of. Has this ever happened before?"

His nose turned up, "Her stench is unfamiliar to me as well. I suppose will have to figure out where to place here in the housing ceremony," Ignoring Hunter's question, seeming more confused than Hunter was.

"Thanks, Craster, we'll see you in a but with this form filled out." He took a page from a nearby pile and one of the pens from the desk.

Mr. Caster scoffed in response and went back to his work, successfully ignoring us.

Hunter put the items in my hand and pushed me gently onto the chair across the room.

"I have to go, so just fill this out and give it to Mr. Grumpy over there. He'll most likely give you a key to one of the half-caste rooms where you'll stay until they figure out what you are. Alright?" He bent down slightly to my eye level while saying this, nodding his head when he finished.

I nodded in response and watched as he walked away with a goodbye. When he turned a corner, I finally looked at the contents of the paper and huffed in frustration.

All the questions were about my family and realm, none of which were relevant as I know nothing of my real parents and these people don't know what earth is. Deciding not to stress myself out over something this trivial, I wrote down the answers to the questions I could and left the ones I couldn't answer, blank.

Mr. Caster took the page out of my hands somewhat aggressively before exchanging it with a combination of a map and key. I thanked him as I took the items out of his wrinkly fingers before heading back out of the main building for some fresh air. I inhaled deeply as I looked at the yellow and blue houses once more, walking along a flowery path leading to the other houses. The first one I saw was a red house, the people there with skin as white as milk with sharp features. They almost looked like models if it wasn't for the dead look in their eyes.

I sped past this house, feeling slightly intimidated by a specific group of people that eyed me curiously with nasty glares. Next to this house was the purple house, half-caste. These people varied in appearance and ability as it may seem. Some performed magic while others lifted heavy-looking objects effortlessly. I turned to my right and found the last remaining house, a green house. These students had pointy ears and could manipulate the elements around them.

Heading over to the half-caste house, I made my way to the room I was assigned. I avoided the eyes of the others as the few expression I saw stared back at me weirdly.

Almost as if I was a supernatural being.

I unlocked the door and waltzed through the threshold, finding a room with two beds on either side of it. A desk rested against the wall the door was on and a chest at the foot of the bed. On the bed to the left lay a girl reading a book. Her head snapped in my direction when I entered the room, a large grin taking over her features.

"You're here! My first roommate!" She smiled brightly, playing her book beside her, "My name's Remmi." She rushed over to me and hugged me tightly. I awkwardly patted her shoulder in response.

"I've already chosen the one on the right, I hope you don't mind," Her eyes widened as realization crossed her features, "I probably should've waited until you were here before I started unpacking. Dammit, I always do this. Not that this isn't the first I've had a roommate because it is. I just always do these kinds of things. I make decisions without asking the other person involved. I don't know how to control it and my mom says it's really annoying. Oh no! I hope you don't find me annoying. That would be—"

"It's alright" I interrupted her inner and outer turmoil," I would've been okay with either bed. I won't be here long anyway."

Her expression dropped, "You're a lost." I nodded.

"That sucks. I would've loved to be friends with you. You seem really nice." She jumped onto her bed and watched as I sat on mine.

"Well, I'm here for a bit so we could be temporary friends. Trust when I say it'll be a while before people start looking for me."

Not only do I think it's because they have no idea that a whole other world is in the most dangerous and restricted area of their town, but it's also because my adoptive parents hate me, and the feelings are mutual.

They only took me in to gain a liking from the locals so that they could elect my 'father' as the mayor, which their kindness ultimately won them over.

I've tried everything to get away from them. Running away, calling child services and the police, as well as purposefully giving myself food poisoning just to spend a few hours away from them at the hospital. They always catch me and yell about how I'm ruining their reputation.

Like I give a shit.

"Well, lunch is about to be served. We can head there and you could tell me a bit about you and where you're from." She said after checking the time on her clock.

I nodded in agreement and followed her out of our room door, being careful to lock it behind us. We made it to the dining hall which held a crowd of people waiting to be fed. Upon entering, everyone's eyes shifted to me as all chattering halted. I stood in shock as everyone stared back at me with a sort of curiousity in their eyes, a look I'm beginning to get use to as it's all I've been getting since I got here.

After they had enough time to drink in the lovely being, which is myself, they slowly began to go back to the way they were previously as Remmi shook me vigorously, bringing me back to reality.

"Hey, you zoned out for a bit there." Her face held that of concern.

"Sorry, it's a habit of mine, I get lost in thought sometimes," I totally wasn't tooting my own horn at being so special to these people that they have to stop and stare.

She only smiled in response.

She took me to the line of people waiting to order before paying for both our meals seeing as I was broke.

I doubt they would accept Benjamin Franklin's I had to offer anyway or know what a credit card was.

We sat at a table in the back of the room, closest to some grand windows. I stared at the assortment of meat and greens on my plate warily as Remmi dug right in. I tasted a bite of it and the burst of flavors woke up my taste buds, causing me to moan in appreciation. I shoveled more food into my mouth as I hungrily consumed the contents of my tray, remembering my last meal which was yesterday evening back in my realm. It was the early hours of the morning now, maybe six am.

"Slow down, the plate isn't going anywhere." She chuckled at my antics. I carelessly ignored her as I finished my food in record time, slowly sipping at the water I was provided.

"So where did you say you were from?" She made small talk.

"You wouldn't know it. A lot of people here don't. They don't even know what 'origin' I am. Whatever that means." I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Your origin is just what your parents are that make you, you. My mom is a seer and my dad's a lykan. I'm a hybrid. What are your parents?"

I shrugged, "I was adopted. I never met them."

She smiled awkwardly before clearing her throat, "Quite the special case you're turning out to be. But no worries, we'll find out in the house placing ceremony."

"The ceremony is just for formalities, really. We all usually know what house we belong to. The ceremony is for introducing the first years to the academy, and it's an excuse for the faculty to show off their dusty, old book," She waved a hand dismissively when she saw the question appear on my face, "You'll see it at the event."