As Aiden stood awkwardly near the entrance of the orientation hall, he started to feel the weight of dozens of eyes turning his way. At first, he thought it was just curiosity—maybe he stood out because he was new. But then he noticed the whispers, the snickers, and the pointed fingers.
"Is that… a human?" one student muttered not-so-quietly.
"He reeks of nothing," another added, wrinkling their nose in exaggerated disgust.
"He doesn't have an aura," someone else said. "Definitely not a shifter. Not even a witch or a Fae. What the hell is he doing here?"
Aiden's heart sank as the comments multiplied. Some students didn't speak, but their sneers and eye rolls said enough. Others didn't even try to hide their disdain, speaking in deliberately loud voices to make sure he heard every word.
"How did he even get in?"
"He must be a mistake."
It was like watching a storm roll in slowly but surely—quiet at first, then overwhelming.
Aiden's head was spinning. For a moment, he honestly wondered if he was still dreaming. Maybe he'd fallen asleep in the car and none of this was real. Because in what world did humans become the strange ones? He blinked at the students who had stepped out of glowing portals, or the ones whose eyes shimmered like molten gold or icy blue, and others who still had traces of fur fading from their bodies.
And they were calling him strange?
He took a shaky breath and tried to steady himself, but the circle of students around him was growing smaller, tighter. Their stares weren't just curious anymore—they were starting to feel threatening. His chest tightened.
Aiden took a step back, instinctively clutching his backpack strap like it would protect him. No one was saying anything comforting. No one looked even remotely friendly. Panic bubbled up in his throat.
What if they hurt me? What if they really don't want me here?
Just when Aiden felt like bolting for the door, a strong, clear voice cut through the noise.
"Line up! Vice Principal Atwood is entering!"
The crowd immediately snapped to attention. Students scurried into neat rows based on groups that Aiden didn't yet understand. The tension in the room dissolved as fast as it had built, and Aiden was left standing alone in the middle of the hall.
Still dazed and unsure where he was supposed to go, Aiden glanced around helplessly. He noticed a cluster of ethereal-looking students with pointed ears, glowing skin, and flowing robes—he recognized them from the books he used to read. Faes. They were mesmerizing. And honestly, out of everyone, they looked the least hostile, or at least, the most composed.
Not knowing what else to do, Aiden shuffled toward them and blended into their line. Some of them noticed, casting side-eyes his way, but no one said anything. He gave a nervous, relieved smile and tried to appear calm.
Moments later, a tall man in a dark green suit stepped up to the stage. His presence commanded silence.
"Welcome back to Skyline Academy," the man announced. His voice was deep and smooth, but it carried authority that echoed off the grand stone walls. "To our returning students, you know the expectations. No excuses this semester. And no violations."
His sharp eyes swept the hall before continuing.
"To our new students, I'm sure you have many questions. In your assigned dorm rooms, you'll find a handbook detailing the academy's rules and your class schedules if you have one yet. Until then, stay in line, and stay alert. For your sake—and ours."
Without waiting for applause, the Vice Principal turned and left, followed closely by several teachers. The moment they were gone, the order in the hall unraveled like sand in the wind.
Students broke into groups, chatting, laughing, and heading off toward the various staircases and doorways. Aiden stood frozen in place, still not sure where to go.
Do they just expect me to figure it out myself?
His badge hung around his neck. He didn't want to ask just anyone—especially not the shifters who looked like they'd rather bite him than talk to him.
After a moment's hesitation, he took a chance and approached one of the Fae girls. She stood a little off to the side, her sleek blue hair cascading past her shoulders and her pale skin glowing faintly under the chandeliers. Her pointed ears twitched slightly as he neared.
"Um, excuse me," Aiden said nervously. "Could you please help me? I don't know how to find my room."
The girl barely turned to look at him. Her crystalline blue eyes swept over him, and her expression twisted in mild irritation. She tried to walk past him without a word.
"Please," Aiden said again, softer this time, with a pleading look. "I just… I don't know what else to do."
She let out a sigh, clearly not thrilled. "You humans always need things," she muttered under her breath, but then spoke louder, "Think of your assigned room while holding your badge. The magic in the badge will guide you."
Aiden blinked. "That's it, is this badge a locator or something .?"
She didn't answer. She was already walking away, shaking her head. Aiden looked down at the badge dangling around his neck and closed his eyes.
I want to go to my room.
The badge glowed faintly, then brighter, casting a soft amber light. A gentle pulse tugged him forward, like an invisible string guiding him. He followed.
From behind, the Fae girl paused and turned slightly, watching him with narrowed eyes. "That's... strange," she whispered to herself. "A human using a Skyline badge? That shouldn't be possible. Only beings with magic can access its guidance."
Her brows furrowed. "Is he really human?"
Shaking her head, she let the thought fade and disappeared into the crowd.
_____
Aiden's footsteps echoed softly as he crossed into another building on campus, the sleek badge still clipped to his shirt from earlier. The silence around him felt heavy, like the school was holding its breath. Every wall seemed to gleam, and every corner whispered the weight of secrets.
Eventually, the badge pulsed again with that soft blue glow, directing him through a wide corridor. Without hesitation, Aiden followed, glancing around as he passed a series of closed doors on either side. The hallway stretched long, with polished floors and warm lighting casting golden hues along the walls. As he turned another corner, the badge gave one final glow—then dimmed completely.
He came to a stop in front of a door.
Aiden raised a brow. "Does this mean this is my room?" he muttered to himself. He let out a sigh, already feeling overwhelmed. "Why is everything so complicated here?"
After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and pushed the door open.
His breath caught.
The door didn't open into a typical dorm room—it opened into what looked like a fully furnished apartment. A sprawling sitting room lay before him, adorned with deep blue couches, a glass coffee table, soft lighting, and a massive floor-to-ceiling window that revealed a misty forest view outside. Aiden's eyes swept across the elegant furnishings, plush rugs, and the clean, minimalist design.
"This can't be right," he murmured, backing up a step. "Did I just walk into a teacher's apartment or something?"
He was halfway turned to retreat and double-check the badge when a door inside the apartment swung open.
Out stepped a boy—a little taller than Aiden, with tousled dark blond hair and sharp gray eyes that seemed to flick over Aiden like he was assessing everything about him in an instant. The boy looked fresh out of a shower, his sleeves pushed up, and he didn't look surprised in the slightest.
"Oh," the boy said casually. "So you're my roommate."
Aiden blinked. "Wait, is this really a student room?"
The boy gave him a look that managed to combine exasperation and boredom in one smooth motion. "Didn't your badge bring you here?"
"Well… yeah," Aiden replied, glancing at the now-dormant badge.
"Then why are you asking dumb questions?" the boy shot back with a dry tone, his expression unreadable.
Aiden nearly choked on a laugh but kept it in. He wanted to ask who the hell designed a school like this—allocating luxury suites to students like it was a five-star hotel—but he decided to keep those thoughts to himself. If this place had already proven anything, it was that nothing was normal.
The boy gave a faint sigh and leaned against the doorframe. "Julian Hayes," he said, finally offering a proper introduction. "Your roommate, apparently."
Julian didn't seem particularly thrilled to see Aiden, but he also didn't appear disgusted or hostile—and considering how people had looked at Aiden so far since he arrived, that was practically a warm welcome.
"Aiden Rivera," he replied with a small smile, thankful for at least one person who didn't seem to be judging him on sight.
Julian nodded, then jerked his thumb toward the hallway behind him. "Come on. I'll show you your room. I already picked mine, so there's only one left."
Before Aiden could respond, Julian grabbed his suitcase he'd set down near the door and started walking. Aiden quickly slung his backpack over his shoulders and followed.
The hallway branching off the main sitting room had two doors. Julian opened the one on the left and gestured inside. "This one's yours. I came out of the other one earlier."
Aiden stepped inside and immediately stopped again, blinking in disbelief.
It was huge.
The room had its own king-sized bed with soft gray linens, a large closet with sliding doors, a study desk with a lamp already glowing, and its own private bathroom visible through a half-open door. There was even a plush armchair by another window overlooking the forest outside. Warm-toned walls and elegant wooden floors made it feel more like a hotel suite than a student dorm.
Aiden turned around slowly, taking it all in. "This is… bigger than my room back home," he whispered.
Julian gave a low hum of agreement. "Yeah, Skyline doesn't exactly do things the way normal schools do."
Aiden glanced back at him. "Clearly."
Julian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Still wondering if you're in the right place?"
Aiden gave a sheepish smile. "A little. I've never seen a school this… extravagant."
Julian smirked faintly. "You'll get used to it."
"I doubt that," Aiden muttered, but there was no bitterness in his voice—just awe.
There was a short pause, and then Aiden looked at Julian again, sincerity in his expression. "Thanks, by the way. For showing me around."
Julian shrugged like it was nothing, though the edge of his mouth twitched upward. "Don't mention it.