[The Dormitory— Soda and Valkyrie's room]
The morning sun crept gently through the tall windows of the dorm room, painting streaks of gold across the floor. Valkyrie was already awake, she was sitting on the edge of her bed with her blanket wrapped lazily around her shoulders. Soda, was still fixing her hair in the mirror, glancing at her with a sly smile.
"Well, look who decided to wake up early today," Soda teased, raising a brow.
"Wait a minute...Who are you?," Soda teased, "and what have you done with my friend?"
Valkyrie smirked slightly. "Very funny. I'm just… trying to get ahead today, don't act surprised. I can wake up without your nagging… sometimes."
"Uh-huh." Soda nudged her playfully. "Or maybe you're just curious about what's going to happen when they finally test your powers?"
Valkyrie didn't answer, but her silence spoke volumes. She exhaled a big breath then stretched out.
The air between them felt light — a new day with a fresh start, and neither of them knew just how much it would change.
As the girls pushed through the tall doors of their dormitory, they nearly bumped into a familiar face standing at the archway, brushing a strand of dark hair from her forehead. Jasmine— calm, confident, and sharp-eyed was waiting, almost as if she'd been expecting them.
"Morning, ladies," Jasmine greeted with a warm, knowing smile. "Ready for history in the making?"
"History?" Soda raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Jasmine said with her usual poise. "The day Valkyrie stops pretending she's ordinary."
Valkyrie flushed, she was partly embarrassed, and partly excited at the same time. "Let's just get to assembly before we're late."
The academy's Great Hall was already buzzing with life when they arrived. The vaulted ceiling glimmered with enchanted lights, a thousand glowing orbs floating overhead like stars caught in daylight. Angels in their silver-lined uniforms gathered to one side of the hall, devils in their dark crimson to the other. The line dividing them was invisible but undeniable, tension was humming like a string pulled too tight.
At the far end of the hall stood the dais, polished marble gleaming beneath the twin banners of the academy: one embroidered with a blazing wing, the other with a burning horn. Two figures stood there, radiating authority.
Camila, Principal of Angels, was tall and elegant, her white robes trimmed in sapphire. Her voice carried grace, but also steel. Beside her stood Darren, Principal of Devils, broader in build, his deep red attire edged in black, his sharp features betraying nothing but discipline.
When the murmurs of the students quieted, Camila stepped forward.
"Welcome, angels and devils of Monster Academy," she began, her voice was steady and commanding. "This year marks a remarkable chapter in our history. The multiverse has seen a rise in supernatural births, and with that, our numbers have grown beyond expectation."
Darren followed smoothly, his tone was deep, resonant, and unyielding. "Order and chaos must remain in balance. To ensure discipline within these walls, we have revised the living arrangements of the academy."
The hall rippled with curiosity. Students began to exchange glances at each other and whispering.
Camila continued, her voice cutting through the noise with practiced authority. "Every dormitory room will now accommodate four occupants. This is not merely a matter of space— it is a test of unity. Cooperation, tolerance, and understanding will determine your growth here."
Darren inclined his head, taking his turn. "And let this be clear— disobedience, rebellion, or violation of our laws will not be tolerated. You may be angels, or devils, but above all, you are students of Monster Academy. Respect your roommates, or you will answer to us."
The words hung heavy. Some angels straightened nervously, others muttered under their breath. On the devil's side, smirks and whispers rippled through the rows.
Camila pressed forward, lifting her chin. "After assembly, you will be escorted to your new quarters. Some of you may remain with familiar faces, others will be joined by strangers. This is by design. Growth is born from challenge."
Darren stepped up beside her. For a moment, the two locked eyes— colleagues, equals, but also the embodiment of the ancient divide. Darren gave a slight nod before addressing the crowd.
"You will adapt. You will endure. And in time, you may even learn." His lips curled faintly, as though testing the word learn. "Questions, complaints, and outbursts will not change the decision. Accept it."
The students buzzed louder now. A devil in the back groaned loudly about sharing space, sparking laughter from his peers. An angel nervously asked whether angels and devils would ever be paired in one room.
Camila raised her hand for silence, with her voice soft yet impossible to ignore. "No angel shall room with a devil. That law remains. But your fellow angels or devils will challenge you enough."
Soda leaned toward Valkyrie, whispering, "Four people in a room? Oh, this is going to be chaos. I hope one of ours doesn't snore."
Valkyrie chuckled nervously but her eyes stayed fixed on the principals. Her pulse quickened— something about this shift felt bigger than just beds and dorms.
Camila drew the assembly to a close. "Your path begins now. Do not stumble where others are watching. Instead, rise. Show us who you are meant to be."
Darren gave the final word, his gaze sweeping across both factions. "Dismissed."
The hall erupted into chatter, footsteps echoing as angels and devils spilled out of the Great Hall.
Soda grinned, nudging Valkyrie. "New roommates, Val. I hope you're ready."
Valkyrie tried to smile back, though unease gnawed at her.
When the principals finally dismissed the assembly, Valkyrie, Soda, and Jasmine walked out together, their conversation buzzing with excitement about the announcement.
"I can't believe we'll be four in a room now," Soda said, swinging her arms dramatically. "What if my new roommate snores like a troll?"
"Or worse," Jasmine added with a mischievous grin. "What if she steals your comb? That'd be tragic."
"Hey!" Soda gasped, clutching her hair. "That's the one sacred thing in my life!"
Valkyrie chuckled, shaking her head at their banter. But their laughter dissolved the moment they turned into one of the side hallways leading to class.
There, Rain stood cornered. Her books were pressed against her chest like a shield, her face was pale and uncertain. In front of her towered Stephanie, Bulb's elder sister, surrounded by two friends who looked just as mean as she did.
Stephanie tapped Rain's arm with a mocking sweetness. "Poor little thing. Still too shy to even talk? What's the point of being here if you can't even look someone in the eye?"
Her friends snickered, one of them whispering loudly enough for Rain to hear "She's pathetic."
Rain flinched but didn't respond. Her silence only seemed to amuse them further. Stephanie plucked one of her books and let it drop onto the floor with a careless laugh.
That was when Jasmine stepped forward, her voice cutting clean through the laughter.
"Pick on someone who actually deserves it, Stephanie. Oh wait — that would be me."
Stephanie's head snapped toward her, her eyes narrowing. "And here I thought creativity made you smarter, Jasmine. Guess not."
Valkyrie didn't even hesitate. "Strange. From here, you just look loud and insecure."
Soda crossed her arms, her tone was sharp but playful. "Seriously, Stephanie. Don't you get tired of embarrassing yourself in public? Because we're getting tired for you."
Stephanie's cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and surprise. For a moment, it looked like she might snap back, but the three girl's united front, steady and unflinching which made her falter. She rolled her eyes with a scoff and motioned to her friends.
"Not worth it. Come on."
As they stalked off, the hallway grew quiet again. Jasmine immediately bent down, picked up Rain's book, and handed it back to her.
"You don't have to let people walk all over you, Rain," Jasmine said gently. Then her voice became firm, her words were deliberate: "You're the angel of water. Don't you realize? Even silence carries destruction. A river may look calm, but it can drown cities."
Rain blinked at her with her lips parting in surprise. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "But… they're too much for me."
Valkyrie stepped closer, with a calm and steady tone "Not anymore. You've got us."
"And together," Soda added with a grin, "we're way scarier than Stephanie and her little fan club."
For the first time that morning, Rain let out a tiny laugh. It wasn't strong, but it was real. She hugged her books tighter, this time not out of fear but out of reassurance. With the three beside her, she followed them down the hallway — toward class, toward something safer, maybe even toward friendship.