As they approached the academy, Si-Woo felt his heart quicken. The grand building, a marvel of serein architecture, loomed ahead of them, its towers piercing the sky like gleaming swords. The students below looked like ants from this height, their movements a blur of color and energy.
Minho brought the wyvern to a smooth landing in front of the academy's grand entrance. The creature's wings folded back gracefully, and Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon slid off its back, their legs wobbly from the exhilarating ride.
"Remember," Minho called out as they approached the massive doors, "meet me here after classes. We have much to discuss and even more to prepare for."
With a nod, Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon stepped through the grand entrance of the Ondurian academy, their hearts racing. The halls were bustling with students of various ages, their uniforms fluttering in waves of black. The siblings felt a swell of pride as they walked side by side, their silver emblems glinting in the soft light of the chandelier-like lanterns.
"My class is in the left wing," Ha-Yoon said, her eyes searching for the right corridor. "I'll see you after school, okay?"
"Good luck," Si-Woo said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I'll be in the right wing."
They parted ways, each swallowed by the sea of students moving in different directions. Si-Woo's heart was a mix of excitement and anxiety as he navigated the unfamiliar corridors, the whispers of the serein guiding him to his classroom.
As he turned a corner, he saw a group of older students blocking his path. They were all dressed in black, their silver emblems gleaming in the light, and their eyes were cold and calculating. One of them, a tall boy with familiar burgundy hair wearing, a sneer, stepped forward.
"Hey, greenie," the boy drawled, his voice dripping with condescension. "I heard you think you're special because you rode a wyvern."
The hallways grew quieter as students gathered, their curiosity piqued by the confrontation. Si-Woo's face grew hot, his fists clenching at his sides. He recognized the boy from the time Si-woo was playing with the animals outside of the academy, Sol.
SI-WOO
(softly)
What do you want?
The tension in the air was thick as the group of older students circled around him, their eyes glinting with malice.
SOL
(laughs)
Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to make sure you know your place here. You other other world scum.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
His friends, a motley crew of sneers and bravado, erupted into laughter. One of them, a tall, burly boy with short blond hair and a cruel glint in his eye, stepped closer to Si-Woo.
BURLY BOY
(snickers)
Doesn't he look like a girl with that pink hair?
The group's laughter grew louder, bouncing off the polished stone walls of the corridor. Si-Woo's cheeks burned with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
Flashbacks of Yohen flooded his mind, the cruel taunts of Jung-ho and his gang echoing in his ears. "Pink-haired bitch, pink-haired bitch," they would chant, pushing him down in the dirt, his mother's gentle hands nowhere to be found to wipe away his tears. He had learned to deflect and block blows because of it.
But here, in this new world, he had hoped for a new start. He hadn't anticipated that his past would follow him so quickly. His eyes stung with the burn of unshed tears, and his heart hammered in his chest. He could feel the weight of their stares, the laughter boring into his soul like a thousand tiny knives.
"I guess some things will never change," Si-Woo murmured to himself, the words a whisper of resentment. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the fight that seemed inevitable. He had faced bullies before, and he knew how to handle them. But this was different; this was his new home, and he didn't know the rules.
Before Si-Woo could react, the sound of rushing wind filled the corridor. A blur of silver and black shot through the crowd, and suddenly, the air was filled with the scent of jasmine. Through the waves of laughter, Mai appeared, her eyes blazing with a fiery determination that made the bullies take a step back. She was smaller than most of them, but her presence was like a storm cloud, electric and unyielding.
"What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the raucous like a knife. The group of older students looked at her, their smirks fading as they recognized the authority in her tone.
"Nothing," Sol said, trying to recover his cool demeanor. "Just introducing ourselves to the new kid."
Mai's gaze was sharp as a tack, skewering each of them in turn. "Then I suggest you do it elsewhere," she said, her voice like a whip crack. "Si-Woo has classes to attend, and I'm sure the teachers wouldn't appreciate this disturbance."
"Tsk" Sol's eyes narrowed, but he knew better than to challenge Mai. He nodded curtly and gestured for his friends to follow. As they left, he called over his shoulder, "This isn't over, pink hair."
Mai's gaze softened as she turned to Si-Woo. "You must've got lost again," she said, her voice gentle. She offered a small smile, trying to ease the tension.
Si-Woo nodded, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mai grabbed his hand, her grip firm and reassuring. "Don't mention it," she said, pulling him along with surprising strength. "We've all had to deal with them. Let's go to class."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of introductions, new faces, and a deluge of information. The lessons were fascinating, a mix of Fae and serein knowledge that was both enlightening and overwhelming.
As the lunch bell chimed, Si-Woo followed the flow of students to the grand cafeteria. The room was a whirlwind of color and chatter, with floating trays laden with food that smelled heavenly. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the meal in the morning. He approached the counter, where a kind-faced fae took his order. The food floated to his tray from behind the counter, a selection of exotic dishes that made his mouth water.