5. Addi

FIVE

The communal area doesn't really register in my mind, apart from noting the exit points. Otherwise, I hurry up the stairs among the small crowd in search of the space I will call my home for the foreseeable future.

The wooden floor creaks under my boots as I reach the second level. Guys carry on ahead up the remaining staircase, while the girls around me all squeal when they see their names displayed on the doors we come across. It's the oddest reaction, considering the circumstances, but it seems we're not all approaching this with the same regard.

I note that the door at this end of the hall has a sign for the communal bathroom, so it's no surprise that I find my room at the other end, and I'm even less surprised to find Flora's door to my right.

As Professor Fairbourne mentioned, there's a small golden plaque on the dark wooden door engraved with ‘Addi Reed' and my date of birth underneath. Why does my date of birth need to be on there?

"Hey, it's your birthday next week," Flora states, pointing at my door. "We should make plans," she adds, and I hum in response, neither confirming nor denying my commitment to make plans. "If you need me for anything, you know where I am," she offers, pointing at her door as her cheeks tinge pink, and I nod, grabbing my doorknob and stepping into my new room.

I make a mental note that the doors don't seem to lock. There's not even a latch from the inside, and I won't be able to sleep a single second if I can't rectify that. First, though, I need to take in my room instead of dwelling on that or the fact that this is the first birthday I will spend alone without my sister or father.

The door falls closed behind me as I brace myself against it, head falling back with a sigh as my mind whirls with memories from every birthday I remember up until this point.

The joy, the laughter, the happiness despite difficult times. All of it.

Just the three of us.

Me, Nora, and our dad.

My mother is a different story altogether. There's little I remember about her at all. What I do recall is a blur. A flash of blonde curls, the pinch of her brows, the feeling of disappointment constantly weighing on me, even at such a young age. But her absence doesn't haunt me like it once did, which feels like an accomplishment in itself.

I know my past, I know the pain she left in her wake, and I'm glad I have no recollection of any of that. Sometimes, I wonder if I really don't remember or if it's my subconscious guarding me. Either way, I need to shake it off and focus on the here and now.

Blinking my eyes open, irritated that I don't recall closing them, I peer around the space now branded as mine. A surprisingly large window fills the wall opposite me, with thin beige curtains draped over them. They're going to do nothing to block the sun, but I'm sure I can figure something out.

The carpet matches the shade of the curtains, along with the sheets covering the single bed pushed against the left wall. It's clean, at least, but it looks ridiculously dated with the oak bed frame, desk, and chest of drawers that complete the room.

A small closet is to my right, enclosed with the same oak wood as the door, and I sigh.

It's not much, but it will do. It's home, for now.

Moving toward the window, I brace my hands against the frame and peer down at the quad below. It's easy to see the different origin buildings that frame the communal walkways, except for the humans' building, which is directly beside us. Not that it matters. As long as I can protect these four walls while I'm inside them, that's all that matters.

From here, Heir Academy seems huge. Whoever the architect was made sure to go for dramatic effect, and a lot of effort was put into its construction, that's for sure. It looms perfectly in the distance, daunting and wondrous all at once.

I stare to the left of it, squinting in hopes of catching a glimpse of the building that holds my one true goal, but it's just out of sight from here yet again. I make a mental note to find a spot where I can see it from campus. Because nothing will help me visualize and manifest the future I deserve more than seeing it with my own two eyes.

Turning my attention back to the room, I let my shoulders fall, relaxing the tension inside me before I shrug off my cloak and remove my concealed backpack. There was an option to have your belongings collected from home and delivered to your room, but that was completely off the table. Just like the use of my full name was.

Which means I've had the pleasure of fitting my entire life into the backpack now resting on my bed. I may have used a little of my magic to make it more compact, but there was certainly a lot I left behind. The reality is, none of it mattered all that much anyway.

Except the one thing I wanted to bring more than anything but couldn't.

Photos.

As I empty the contents of my backpack, it becomes more real. No matter how many of my things I have here, it's not truly mine without a photo of my family, but it wasn't safe. It never is. But that's all coming to an end, I swear it.

For now, I'll have to piece together the vision of my family through memory alone.

Discarding my backpack, I look down at everything I brought. My cell phone, as useless as it really is, the usual essentials like underwear, a few outfits and shoes, along with the measly cosmetics I have.

Everything else of importance is attached to me. More specifically, the ribbed waistcoat fastened over my long-sleeved black tee which sheathes a few daggers in various shapes and sizes, as well as a few other weapons I've found useful along the way.

Any concerns about a security search before we entered are now no longer a concern. They were more bothered about my hood being up than the weapons concealed beneath my cloak. I won't be able to carry them around campus at all times, but at least I have them with me.

Grabbing my clothes, I shuffle over to the closet to find the attire previously mentioned by the professors. There's a gray cloak hanging beside a single long-sleeved gray t-shirt, a pair of leggings in the same color, with matching sneakers nestled on the floor beneath them. A folder sits beside it, and I lift it into my arms before sauntering back over to the bed, flicking through the pages as I take a seat.

A letter is perfectly centered in the first pocket.

Welcome to Heir Academy.

Your attendance is greatly honored, and you should be proud of yourself for taking the necessary steps to aid our kingdom.

Many have traveled from near and far; no matter the distance, your presence is noted.

Two years seems like a long time, but after the struggles we have faced, The Council believes it's an appropriate amount of time to help us find the best-suited heir for our people. Our kingdom.

It is no secret that we intend to push you to new limits while also increasing your knowledge and wisdom along the way. The kingdom still faces many threats, which we believe have only increased with the origins closing ranks among themselves. We're aware we have chosen to house you in such a way, but those arrangements may evolve with time as the mission of this academy is, above all, learning to reintegrate the origins.

For now, get comfortable and familiarize yourselves with your new surroundings, but most of all, prepare for greatness.

The Council.

My finger trailsthe words as I go over them again, trying to read between the lines and decipher any hidden agendas, but they're far too vague for me to piece anything together. Pursing my lips, I relent and continue through the folder.

There's a note on attire being of our choice, as long as we wear our designated cloak when moving around campus, and gym wear for any sporting classes. I can't help but scoff at the fact that they made a damn point in the letter, stating they wanted to help merge the origins together, yet they've added another factor into the mix that only helps distinguish who is who.

Fae are to wear gray.

Vampires - red.

Wolves - green.

Mages - purple.

Shifters - blue.

Humans - cream.

Shaking my head, I continue on, coming across my class schedule next, and my eyes widen in surprise when I note every class is mixed with other origins. At least they're attempting it somehow, but they're still creating unnecessary status symbols based on our cloaks.

The timetable is a bit of a blur, the information not really important to me right now, and I find myself losing interest quickly. Looking around the room, I know I need to change something up so I can get my head back on straight. I'm useless if I'm zoning in and out.

I can't just sit around here waiting for everything to fall into my lap. If I want to survive this place and come away with the crown, then I can't stop moving. Maybe right now, that means focusing on something else outside of these four walls first. Then I can return and tear my schedule apart in preparation for tomorrow.

Nodding to myself, I leave the folder open on my bed and stand, rolling my neck as I consider my clothes. Technically, the attire set by The Council begins tomorrow, along with classes, so for today, I can wear what I please.

I consider my boned waistcoat, heavy against my body from the weapons. To wear it or to leave it?

My gut twists as I reach for the top button, pausing me in my tracks.

I follow my gut. Always. Now is not the time to make exceptions.

So I grab my black cloak, drape it over my shoulders, and head out to see what awaits me inside the walls of Heir Academy.