Before I knew it, the time was here—the day before school.
Lying in bed, I finally had a moment to think about everything I had been doing these past few weeks just to reach a starting line of normalcy that everyone else already stood on. No matter how much I studied or trained, I knew I would still be at a disadvantage. Common sense here wasn't common to me, and catching up didn't erase that gap—it only made me aware of it.
I stared at the ceiling, oddly comforted by the quiet. Seris had already left for the Royal Academy, and Nyx had given me the day off to rest. No lessons. No training. Just space to breathe.
A knock at my door cut through my thoughts.
I frowned. I wasn't expecting anyone—and as far as I knew, I was prepared. Books packed, bag ready, notebooks filled with summaries and translations from my studies with Seris. Still, I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door.
Cherry stood there, smiling brightly.
Her vivid orange eyes met mine, and I noticed immediately that her hair had changed since the last time I'd seen her. The silky black bob now faded into red-orange tips, like embers at the ends. Cool.
"Good morning, Ms. Sylvara!" she chirped. "I'm here to take you to the school shop to get your uniform today. And just in case you didn't know—I'm a third-year at the Adventurer's Academy."
Her smile gleamed, pearly white teeth framed by slightly more pronounced fangs than before. Was she growing? Or just working too hard? I didn't know much about vampires, but she seemed… lively.
Wait.
Third year?
I blinked. I'd assumed she was much older than me—definitely more than two years.
"Morning, Cherry," I said slowly. "I didn't know the academy had uniforms. Isn't that more of a Royal Academy thing?"
Cherry giggled. "Yes, silly girl. The Royal Academy has their purple blazers, white button-up shirts, golden ties, and black dress pants for boys. For girls, it's the same, just with a skirt instead of pants, and tights are optional. Golden embellishments for all. Fancy, right? But we have uniforms too. Come on—Guild Master Varien already told the staff you're covered."
As we walked across guild property toward the academy, she explained that the uniform cost only two silver coins. Varien had paid this time, though Cherry made sure to add—with a grin—that future replacements would depend on my grades and behavior.
Ten minutes later, we reached the uniform shop, conveniently placed right beside the academy grounds.
The Guild Academy uniform was striking in its own way: a red blazer over a black button-up shirt, paired with an orange tie and white dress pants. The female version swapped the pants for a skirt. Silver embellishments marked the academy's insignia—less ostentatious than the royal gold, but no less intentional.
I was fitted by a birdlike beast-kin girl named Tabby. She had lime-green hair threaded with orange feathers that swept down one side of her face like a side bang, bright orange eyes, and moved with precise, practiced hands. The shop owner, Raymond, was a middle-aged dark-skinned human with black locs and kind brown eyes. He explained that he and his late wife had adopted Tabby as a baby, and now the two of them ran the shop together.
His wife, Lily, had worked closely with Guild Master Varien to design the academy uniforms.
"She always said school should be a place where you aren't worrying about your status," Raymond said with a soft smile. "Just learning. If everyone looks well-put-together, tailored properly, then at least no one can be picked on for how they look."
Tabby nodded as she worked. "When Mom implemented the uniforms, it helped reduce some of the bullying," she said gently. "But… looks can't fix everything."
Despite the careful pinning and measuring, I wasn't poked even once by the needle—an unexpected relief compared to other shops.
"Your measurements are done," Tabby said brightly. "We'll have your winter and summer uniforms ready in about two hours. Shoes will be done at the same time."
Raymond measured my feet next, watching how my weight shifted when I walked. He traced outlines on parchment to ensure proper support.
"Is there anything extra you'd like?" Tabby asked.
I thought for a moment. "Three red uniform cardigans. Five pairs of black thigh-high socks. And an extra pair of the leather shoes."
She smiled and nodded, unfazed.
Afterward, Cherry gave me a quick tour of the academy grounds—classrooms, hallways, and the shoe lockers near the entrance.
"You were smart to buy extras," she said casually. "The blazer's stuffy. And while uniforms helped some people get over themselves, others just found new things to bully over. Strength. Ability."
She glanced at me sideways. "Stay vigilant, Syl. People are dicks."
I snorted despite myself.
"Oh—and definitely get a new school bag," she added, pressing a black leather one into my hands. It was rectangular, almost like a briefcase, trimmed with red accents and fitted with magic storage.
Raymond laughed. "Good choice."
"You're lucky it fits the style I barely have," I said with a grin.
Tabby laughed, Cherry beamed, and after collecting my things, we headed back to the guild.
Tomorrow, school would begin.
And I had the sinking feeling that uniforms, no matter how well-tailored, wouldn't hide what people were really looking for.
After putting my uniform and new bag carefully aside, I realized the day wasn't quite over. Cherry raised an eyebrow.
"Guild Master Varien wants to see you before nightfall," she said. "Nothing scary—just… formalities."
I nodded, stomach fluttering a little. Formalities at the guild usually meant something important, but Varien had a way of making even serious talks feel… less serious.
His office was quiet when we arrived, warm light spilling from a few floating orbs. Varien lounged in a chair behind his desk, one booted foot resting casually on the edge. He looked up and gave me a small grin.
"Syl," he said, voice easy, like he was greeting a niece who had just walked in. "You've been keeping busy, I hear. Nyx and Seris have been putting you through your paces?"
"Yes, sir," I replied, adjusting the strap of my new bag.
"Good. Good," he murmured, leaning back. His eyes twinkled as they swept over me, warm but assessing. "Tomorrow's the first day of school, huh? I won't sugarcoat it. You'll notice a lot—different students, different kingdoms, and yeah, some of them don't treat others… evenly."
I felt a pang in my chest. "Even… me?"
He chuckled softly. "Even you, Syl. People are set in their ways. Some of it's politics, some of it's superstition, and some just… plain stubbornness. Virelmora's no exception, especially with the whole Blood Moon mess. You'll run into those who think they know better, who've been taught to… dismiss people. Be aware, but don't let it shake you."
I nodded slowly. His words weren't harsh, but they carried weight.
"You'll also notice that Circe isn't quite on the same level as the other kingdoms," he added, leaning forward and tapping his fingers on the desk. "Not because it's bad people there—goodness, some of the kindest folks I know are from there—but politics and economics haven't been kind. You'll see the difference. It's subtle, but it's there."
I swallowed, the unease returning in a quiet sort of way. "So… people will judge me?"
"Maybe," Varien said with a shrug, smiling faintly. "Or maybe they'll just underestimate you. Either way? That's their problem, not yours. Keep your head, pay attention, and… have fun where you can. You'll do fine."
I felt the warmth in his words, like a hand resting lightly on my shoulder. "Guild Master… will I have help if things… get tricky?"
"Always," he said, leaning back again, one boot tapping lazily. "Nyx, Seris, Cherry… you've got people watching out for you. And me, of course. You're smart, Syl. Observant. Just keep using what you've got, and don't be afraid to show who you are. People notice that more than you think."
Varien watched me for a moment, like he could tell my thoughts were spiraling. He sighed softly and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"Hey," he said gently. "Before you go borrowing trouble—let me be real clear about something."
I looked up at him.
"No one at the academy knows where you came from," he said. "Not the instructors, not the staff, not the administrators. And they won't. As far as they're concerned, you're just another student recommended through the guild."
My shoulders loosened before I even realized they'd been tense.
"And the students?" I asked quietly.
"They won't know either," Varien replied without hesitation. "Not unless you tell them—which you won't. What they will notice is that you're… different. You ask questions they stopped asking years ago. You hesitate where they assume. You're catching up on things they've known since they were kids."
He shrugged lightly. "That's not a crime. Just means you had a different start."
I nodded slowly, fingers curling into the strap of my bag.
"So if anyone looks at you funny," he continued, voice easy again, "it won't be because of a dungeon, or monsters, or anything like that. It'll be because you don't fit neatly into the little boxes they've built for themselves. And honestly? That says more about them than it does about you."
A faint breath escaped me. "So I just… learn. Watch. Adapt."
"There you go," Varien said with a grin. "You've been doing that your whole life already. School's just a new arena."
I left the office with my mind spinning, the day's events settling like pebbles in a pond. The school doors would open tomorrow, and I'd step into a world that didn't fully see me—or maybe didn't fully care to.
But I had allies. And somehow, that made all the difference.