...
Sienna kicked her shoes off the moment she stepped into the room and flopped onto her bed.
Lyra shut the door behind them and dropped her bag by the wall.
Sienna kicked off her shoes and groaned. "If I walk one more hallway today, I'm suing the school for emotional distress." Lyra let out a small laugh at her words.
"Don't laugh. I'm serious. Those corridors are unnecessarily long."
"They're quite normal."
"That isn't normal," she sat up suddenly. "By the way, the chaos earlier made it worthwhile."
"Hard to miss it."
"I thought someone was on fire or something," Sienna said. "People were screaming like it was the end of the world."
Sienna placed both hands on her chest and stared straight at the ceiling.
"Imagine causing a riot by just existing. Oh, and I'm skipping breakfast tomorrow."
"You say that every day."
"And one day I'll mean it." Sienna yawned loudly. "Wake me if something exciting happens. Or if the building collapses."
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
The next morning, the place was buzzing as students hurried toward the main auditorium. A note had been posted outside every classroom that there was a mandatory assembly.
Lyra and Sienna slipped into the packed auditorium, finding seats near the back. The tension around them was heavy as everyone wondered what was happening.
The double doors at the front opened and every eye turned toward the stage.
"That's Sebastian Valen, he's the director." Sienna whispered.
"Quiet," Sebastian said. "All of you will pay attention. This is not optional."
Sebastian gestured to the side of the stage and two stern-looking guards stepped forward, holding a trembling girl who looked barely older than Lyra. Her uniform was rumpled, her hair messy, and her eyes wide with fear.
"This girl has shown complete disregard for the rules and boundaries of this institution. She trespassed into areas strictly forbidden to students of your rank."
The girl's knees shook, and she pressed her hands together as though holding herself back from crying.
"She attempted to enter the high-class dormitory, a place reserved for students not of your caliber. There are consequences for such audacity."
The once silent room now erupted with gasps and whispers from each rows.
"The penalty for such reckless behavior is not leniency. It is expulsion, effective immediately."
Some students covered their mouths, others exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"What's the deal about being expelled, she can easily transfer right?"
"This isn't just about expulsion, Lyra. If Ravencrest rejects her, no other academy is going to take her. Ever."
"Gather your belongings and leave this campus immediately. Let this serve as a warning to the rest of you." That was harsh.
The guards moved forward, and the girl was dragged off the stage, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"Ravencrest is not a playground. Rules exist for a reason, and those who forget them will meet consequences far harsher than embarrassment." With that, he stepped back and walked out.
"Well, that girl's breakfast better have been worth it. Trespassing into the high-class dorm? Rookie mistake." Sienna shrugged.
Of course, the gossip didn't end there, girls still whispered in the hallways about what a tragedy it has been.
"Did you see her face?" one girl hissed, leaning against the lockers. "She looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor"
"High-class dorms are off-limits for a reason. You even get caught near the gates, Sebastian notices. It's like they've got eyes everywhere." another added.
"Imagine being that clueless. I mean, who even tries to get into those dorms when they know how strict the rules are." Sienna shook her head dramatically. "One wrong step, and the director's got a permanent 'Do Not Enter' sign on your life. I'd be hiding in my room for a month if it were me."
"She was lucky she wasn't… you know," one girl whispered, glancing around nervously. "If she had been caught by Kieran, her getting expelled would be pardon on her side."
"Or worse," muttered a boy, voice low. "You don't want to even imagine what happens if one of them catches you personally."
Sienna snorted. "I heard a girl was also seen going into the high-class dorms last semester, no one's seen her after that. It might just be a rumor, then again it might be true."
Sienna stopped and grabbed Lyra's arm, turning her to face her.
"Okay, promise me one thing. No wandering near the fancy dorms. Not ever, no curiosity trips."
"Yeah, sure."
"Ugh, can we just skip the rest of the day? I need therapy after witnessing a girl get publicly ejected from school."
"Why did you think she wanted to go in?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is...you don't mess with the high-class dorms, period. Even the rumors give me chills. But hey, I would get a peek if given the chance."
"You'd risk expulsion just to peek?"
"Pfft, yes," she laughed. "Life's short, Lyra. And the drama? I live for drama. Besides, I need gossip to survive, literally. Trust me, this place is full of them. You just wait."
"You were the one who said not to get curious."
"And I still stand by my word. But it'll be fun, if we do get caught, well...at least we'll die laughing."