Chapter Three

After the warm welcome given to the new students, they were brought to the hall. Cassandra couldn’t help but be amazed at the sight in front of her. Academia was a sight to behold. From its fully furnished rooms with various styles and designs down to its marvelous technology equipped with the Archmages’ power. It is simply astounding. While walking, Cassandra saw different races trudging around. Faeries, dwarves, elves, witches and warlocks, and

of course vampires.

"The paper that every one of you holds consists of your dorm room number, locker combination, schedule of your classes, and lastly a map of Academia," McCane announced. Cassandra and Kimberly whom she saw earlier, looked into each other eyes. They were confused because there was no said paper.

“Whoa!” Cassandra heard some of the students gasped. 

“What is happ—oh, shit!” she suddenly cursed when a paper appeared on her hand. “Archmage,” she whispered and smiled. Being in the pack most of her life, Casandra wasn’t able to witness what was happening right now. 

"Follow Meynard. He'll show all of you where the dormitory is located," McCane said after taking in the initial reaction of students about magic. The man named Meynard appeared beside Logan McCane. Meynard is a member of sentinels whose job is to keep watch the students’ safety. Logan McCane nodded his head to Meynard. 

“Come and follow me,” Meynard said. Cassandra and the rest of the students followed Meynard. While they were walking to the dorm, Meynard explained the rules. The dorm room will be shared by three people of a different race. 

After explaining, the students went to find a room of their own. Kimberly bid her goodbye to Cassandra and walked away. Cassandra waved her hands and heaved a sigh. She flips her card and saw her dorm number. 

“110,” she softly said. She began walking and inspecting the room one by one until she found what she was searching for. Cassandra breathed deeply before knocking in front of her dorm room. It was opened by a girl, shorter than her with wavy hair. 

“You are the new student, right?” she asked. Cassandra nodded her head and was shocked when she was hugged by the girl.

“Oh my god! Abby, she’s here!” she squealed and dragged Cassandra inside. Another girl was sitting on the bed, holding a book in her hand. She stood up and extended her hand for a handshake.

“I’m Abegail, and this crazy girl is Lisanna,” she said, introducing herself and the girl who hugged Cassandra. 

“I’m Cassandra, do you mind if I ask?” she said. Cassandra wanted to confirm something. After all, she will be with these three for four years. 

“Are you perhaps…a vampire?” she blurted out. She wasn’t prejudiced of her race, but werewolves and vampires had histories of countless wars and deaths. Soon after, the leaders came into agreement, but there are still some vampires and wolves that are hostile to each other. Abegail laughed and answered ‘yes’.

“Lisanna is a witch and I'm a vampire, but don't worry, I won't bite you, wolf,” Abegail said while showing her fangs. Cassandra playfully bared her teeth at her. It was what Meynard said about sharing a room with a different race. 

“Damn, this year will be interesting,” Cassandra muttered to herself. 

“Abby! What the hell was that!?” Lisanna angrily said. “Don’t be mean towards Cassy! Now, come and help her with her things,” she added with her hands on her waist. Abegail rolled her eyes at her and the three started helping Cassandra. 

“Damn, I’m hungry! Did you brought the whole house with you, Cassy?” Abegail asked. Lisanna sat on the chair, exhausted while Cassandra laughed and put the last remaining clothes on her cabinet. 

“Let’s go eat in the cafeteria,” Lisanna suggested. “Treat us, Cassy, okay?” she added and giggled. Cassandra rolled her eyes at them. She picked her wallet up and followed the two that went ahead of her. Cassandra locked the door behind her and joined Lisanna and Abegail. The three went to the Academia’s cafeteria. 

It wasn’t just a simple cafeteria. It was like a five-star restaurant. The meals include different delicacies cooked by famous chefs. 

“Let’s sit there,” Lisanna said and pointed to a table in the corner of the room. Cassandra wondered why Lisanna chose the farthest table, but it was okay to her. She wasn’t planning on gaining unwanted attention to herself. 

Lisanna ordered her food, it was chicken tortilla soup and fried calamari same with Cassandra. While Abegail ordered roasted beef with mashed potato and a pack of O negative blood. The buzzing sound around the cafeteria stopped when a group of students entered. 

They walked gracefully as if the cafeteria was a runway and they were the models. There were three girls walking in front and three boys following behind them. When they passed the tables, the students either bowed their heads or avoided the groups’ gaze. Cassandra narrowed her eyes at them. 

“Lower your gaze, Cassy,” Lisanna whispered. Cassandra looked at her as if she had grown two heads. “Please,” Lisanna begged and whimpered. Abegail clenched her hand into a fist. 

“Tell me everything,” Cassandra seriously said and lowered her gaze. The power swirling in the air around brought tension as the group continued to walk. They were dominating the students with their intense gazes. After ordering their food, the group left. Lisanna breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Now, tell me who are they,” Cassandra said and crossed her arms and legs. The cheerful vibe on the cafeteria earlier had returned to the way it was. Lisanna gulped and glanced at Abegail beside her. 

“I’m out of here. You can tell her,” Abegail said and stood up, bringing the pack of blood with her. Lisanna and Cassandra watched Abegail retreating. 

“What happened to her? Her mood changed drastically when she saw them,” Cassandra said. She picked her bottled water and drink. 

“She had a past with one of the guys that belong to that group,” Lisanna said. “Anyway, those six had the highest rank here in Academia,” Lisanna started telling Cassandra everything she knew. 

“Those boys following them are Jet Crane, he is a warlock, Liam Wright, a werewolf from the West, and Oliver Hunt, a vampire. Jet currently ranked number 4 while Liam was 5, and Oliver was the second,” Lisanna said. Cassandra listened intently. 

“And those mean girls are Judith Lockhart, a witch, Krystal Knight, a vampire, and Joana Redwood. Joana was also a vampire and she was obsessed with First,” Lisanna mumbled. She ate the remaining piece for her food while looking fat Cassandra's reaction in front of her. 

“That’s it?” Cassandra curiously asked. She needs to know the people to avoid as she wanted to live in peace while studying in her dream school.

“No,” Lisanna said. “There were twelve of them, but Agatha, Storm, Logan, Darius, and Jessa hates their group,” she added. 

“What about Abegail? And why do I have to lower my gaze when they’re around?” Cassandra asked Lisanna once again. Lisanna fixed her clothes and clasped her hands together. 

“Oliver used to be her boyfriend, but that piece of shit suddenly broke up with her and went with that bitch, Krystal,” Lisanna angrily said, slamming her hands on the glass table. “And about your second question, we need to avoid them at all costs. Joana likes to give punishment if they’re not going to follow her. That’s how she plays,” she added. Cassandra placed her hand on her jaw. She needs to be on the rank. Cassandra despises people that think they’re that powerful to trample those who are inferior to them. 

“How can I join the rankings?” Cassandra asked. Lisanna was taken aback. She didn’t think that Cassandra was this brave to even dream of joining the ranks. 

“Every month, Academia conducts a test. Students were given a week to train themselves,” Lisanna said. Like Cassandra, she thought of joining the ranks too when she first entered this school. “All of the participants will enter the arena. The strongest that survived the fight shall be the winner,” she added. She remembered how brutal it was and that was the sole reason why she withdrew from the fight.

“After the winner was declared, another two weeks was given to train and a chance to fight the rankers. The winner needs to defeat the ranked twelfth, and that was Jessa,” Lisanna said. Cassandra smiled knowingly. Her wolf was jumping on joy after hearing Lisanna talked about the rankers. Cassandra grew up fighting her twin and other werewolves in their pack and now, she aims to fight the rankers. 

“Tell me you’re not joining!” Lisanna said and held her Cassandra’s hand, but she just smiled at the poor witch. 

“This is my last question. Who was First?” Cassandra muttered. Instantly, Lisanna paled.

“It was forbidden to mention his name,” Lisanna said. Cassandra couldn’t help but frown at her friend.

“Oh, come on! That's ridiculous. Tell me his name, already,” Cassandra insisted. Lisanna nervously looked around her and leaned closer. She looked at Cassandra with her blue eyes and spoke. 

“Sebastian Alistair Blood. He is the vampire prince, or simply known as First.”