A woman with flowing white hair with a blue inner hue blurred into motion like an unseen force of wind. She snapped an open palm forward, and a blast of air exploded in all directions, its focal point smashing into Alacard’s chest. The whipping wind knocked him backward, continuing to unleash as she stepped in his direction, her expressionless eyes held on him. The torrent knocked Mizuki, Isabella, and Vincent backward, even rearranged some desks. Then, as quickly as the wind came, it suddenly stopped with a quick whooshing sound, a soft breeze blowing about as a residual.

Alacard had toppled to the ground, his legs over the top of his body in an awkward backward tumble. As the wind stopped its onslaught, he let out a grunt, his legs falling forward as he lay on his back.

They all watched the beautiful woman as she stood over Alacard’s body, her eyes not moving from him. She had a youthful face of a senior student even though her body and the way she stood was quite mature. Her expression gave nothing away, yet her eyes were as mysterious as her sudden appearance and unleashing of her whipping wind abilities.

She brushed her waist-long hair to the side, and Vincent inhaled a scent of lilac and rain. “While I admire the vigor of young beings fighting one another, I kindly ask that you refrain from engaging in such things.” The tiniest of smiles crossed her face. “At least for now.”

The woman wore a high-waisted gray pleated skirt with dark pantyhose, a white dress shirt tied with a cyan ribbon, and brown dress shoes that gave her the appearance of a girl in a school uniform. Was this lady a teacher? She must have been, because only a teacher could have dismantled Alacard with such ease.

Alacard groaned as he sat up and rubbed his neck, looking confused and disoriented which made sense as that wind had, ironically, knocked the wind out of him. That thought made Vincent chuckle.

The woman was suddenly at Alacard’s side, kneeling next to him, hand on his shoulder. “You should rest for a moment. I did not hold back when I struck you as you were in quite the state.”

How did she move to him so fast, and without Vincent noticing? Was it that mysterious wind power of hers? Did it make her light and quick on her feet as well?

“I’m fine,” Alacard said with a growl, pulling himself from her grasp as he stood and winced at the spot where she had struck him. Apparently, he had no respect for anyone, not even teachers. As he gained his footing, he wobbled and stumbled forward, the woman moving around him like a feather on the wind, assisting him to a sitting motion in a chair. He looked dazed and confused as he just sat there. Luckily, for him, it was his desk, so he just sat there like a baffled idiot that had no idea why he was not able to stand.

The woman stared at him with perceptive eyes as if trying to read his energy, her face straight. “My strike was only meant to temporarily incapacitate you. In a few moments, you will find your bearings.” She held her eyes on him, and for some reason, he looked up at her as if caught in a trance. Was it because of her abilities, or something else, Vincent wondered? “Rest for now.”

He just gave her a silly nod, or was that his head bobbing from his stunned state? It was nice to see him get a taste of his own medicine. Perhaps he’d think twice before being such a punk to others from now on.

Vincent’s curiosity was peaked. “Who are you?”

She turned to him in a sort of gliding movement, her voice direct and clear. “My name is Chikaze. I am a teacher.” She tilted her head at Vincent. “What troubles you, Vincent?” She really did have perceptive eyes. Eyes that felt like they were looking into you. It gave Vincent goosebumps.

H-how did she know that? “What?” Vincent said, stepping back and shifting nervously. “How did you know my name? And what makes you think I’m troubled?”

Was that a flicker of a smile? “Your heartbeat is elevated, for one, which would make sense following what happened.” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes staying on him, thinking. “But yours has a different motion to it, as if you have taken in something far more disturbing than a fight amongst peers.”

Her eyes were doing something to him, and her distinct beauty and engaging nature made Vincent’s face get hot as she watched him in an unblinking manner. He couldn’t help but turn away, and she tilted her head as if she was a robot, analyzing the movement. And it wasn’t just her oval face and cheekbones, either. She had some sort of captivating and alluring energy about her. Her body, too, while skinny, had the curvature of some kind of supermodel – toned and fit all the way down to her smooth legs. She exuded a raw attractiveness, a rare and true beauty.

Vincent gulped. While he had turned away from her, the corner of his eye was still watching, still pulled to her, still yearning. What was this effect she had?

She stepped, more like glided, forward, her eyes staying on Vincent yet addressing the rest of them, a small smile forming. “I was only stating a fact from a simple observation.” When she finally turned from Vincent and moved to the front of the class, he felt himself able to breathe again. “If it has not been said already, welcome to Crescent Academy.”

As she continued to speak, her words fading into an incoherent lullaby that made Vincent lean forward and smile stupidly at as he, and the others, took their seats. He felt hypnotically pulled to her.

He was taken out of his reverie when a hand touched his shoulder, and he jumped.

“Sorry,” Isabella said, blushing. “Didn’t mean to scare you like that. But what’s with you? Why are you looking at her like that?”

“No reason,” he said, turning away from her and the teacher, trying not to flush himself. “I’m fine, totally fine. But…” He looked down at his open hands, thinking back on that moment that Alacard had lost his cool and charged at Isabella. There was this feeling, this yearning, to want to jump forward, meet him with claws and fury, to tear him to pieces, and run wild in the night, howling up at the moon.

“Why did Alacard lose it like that?”

“Because he’s a werewolf,” Max said with a chuckle. “Wild and crazy.” Then he let out a mock howl into the sky and smiled. No one thought it was funny. Mizuki slugged him in the arm. “Ow,” he said, rubbing the spot as he frowned.

“Probably because of his Beast Mind,” Isabella said with a knowing voice.

“His what?” Vincent asked, looking confused.

“You really are a clueless newbie, aren’t you,” Alacard groaned with a growl, apparently gaining his bearings.

Chikaze had been standing there, and unlike most teachers, let them continue, cutting in at just the right moment. At least that is what Vincent thought when she spoke again.

“The mind of a werewolf is a fickle thing,” Chikaze said, somehow standing next to him without him noticing, her voice like a soft breeze lulling him into submission. The kind of breeze you sit back and close your eyes and enjoy feeling and listening to. “A constant struggle between the human mind and the animalistic werewolf thoughts and instincts, known as the Beast Mind.” He couldn’t help but get lost in her eyes, unable to look away from the vast pools of purple. She gave a tiny smile. “And I’m certain that you will become accustomed to your Beast Mind in no time, newbie or not.”

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Alacard scowled at this praise, but when she turned to him, he flinched. “And you,” she said, gliding over to him, her eyes curious and captivating, Alacard seemingly captured by her in much the same way, unable to move, a red flush covering his cheeks as she got closer than most would dare. “You have quite the battle spirit, young Alacard. I’m impressed with your strength and power. It will do you good to embrace it, and your Beast Mind.”

“How,” Max said, blinking with a curious look. “Do you know our names?”

“Probably some sort of magic trick magicians conjure up,” Alacard said with a smirk.

“It would be typical of you to blame magic,” Alexander said, breaking his silence. “And she’s not a magician.”

“I know she ain’t.” Alacard said with a chuckle. “I just knew blaming magic would get a rise out of you. Besides, it’s easy to blame magicians for a lot of things.”

Alexander stared at Alacard for a long moment, neither of them backing down.

“It’s not a trick, Alacard,” Chikaze said, now back at the front of the room without anyone noticing.

At this point even Mizuki seemed intrigued at how the teacher was getting around, or moving as if walking on wind. While the rest of them were seemingly intrigued by this woman, Isabella was not going to fall for her tricks, nor her charm.

She rolled her eyes. “She’s obviously memorized our school files and photos. And,” she said, continuing to speak as if this was plain as day, “it’s a teacher’s job to know the name of her students or she wouldn’t be a very good teacher. Plus, you shouldn’t be impressed with her movements as she’s simply doing it when you are arguing with each other or distracted.”

Chikaze gave a slight nod, her eyes leveling on Isabella as if acknowledging her comment.

“She’s also a shrew observer,” Alexander chimed in, adding to what Isabella had said with a charming smile. He glanced over at Alacard. “Alacard might be on to something as she seems to be great at taking advantage of distractions, even if one of them is her beauty. When our guard is lowered, our attention focused, she makes her move, making it seem like she is mystical in her movements. It’s actually pretty clever, admirable even.” He gave Chikaze a slight nod.

Isabella crossed her arms, letting out a silent huff at the thought of even Alexander admiring this woman that was just a pretender. She wasn’t captivating at all, and Isabella knew exactly what this woman was. She didn’t care for her at all. At the same time, she wondered why.

“I appreciate the comment, Alexander,” she said, looking pleased. “You know, you are quite like your father.”

Alexander frowned.

“That’s Alex for you,” Alacard joked. “Endearing entitlement that follows him around like a loyal dog.”

“An interesting comment, Alacard,” Chikaze said, eyes falling on him. “What makes you say that?” He leaned back as if she was probing him, penetrating deep into his soul, and he blushed a little, looking embarrassed.

“B-because, he…” was all he could bumble out as she moved toward him, step by step. “He’s full of himself and has an arrogant nature. I’m not wrong, am I?” He sounded unsure, as if he doubted his own words, which was rare for cocky, annoying Alacard.

Every time this woman engaged one of them, she was able to make them waver, even Alacard. Well, all of them except Isabella.

“While I am sure Alexander appreciates your observant calculations,” she said, her enigmatic eyes on him. “The added insult says more about you and less about him. One might even say it’s a projection.” She thought on that last comment, tapping a finger against her chin.

“A pro-what?” Alacard said, appearing shaken by her comment, even if he didn’t understand.

“A projection,” Isabella said with a frustrated huff. “She’s basically saying you are projecting your own unwanted thoughts and feelings onto Alexander.”

“I ain’t projecting any feelings onto that loser,” Alacard said with a frown.

Isbella simply rolled her eyes.

“While he may indeed be entitled,” Chikaze said after letting them banter for a bit. “Let’s leave that up to the revelation of his behavior, not simply based off a subjective comment dipped in anger.” She stood still as a statue, enchanting eyes exuding a perceptive power as she hovered over Alacard.

Alacard gulped and nodded nervously as she held his eyes.

Then, after she let the silence linger for a moment longer than anyone felt comfortable with, she turned on her heel and drifted toward the exit, stopping as she opened the door to leave, an enigmatic smile across her face. “Kindly follow me,” she said in an enticing tone. “It’s time for our first lesson.” And with that, she swept out the door.

They all sat in silence as the door slowly closed behind their teacher. “Okay,” Max said with a quick and stupid nodding motion. “This just got exciting.” And he on his feet and out the door.

“Hey,” Mizuki said, hoping from her desk and following quickly behind. “Wait for me, jerk.”

Vincent and Alacard got up at the same time, Alacard pushing past him with a hard shove of his shoulder saying, “outta my way, chump,” which got a glowered from Vincent. Alacard lingered in the door, glancing over his shoulder at Vincent with a nasty grin, and sniffed, scrunching up his face as he said, “You really need a shower, bro, you stink.” And then he was gone.

Vincent leaned back as this comment, then slowly turned and sniffed himself, wondering if he really did stink.

Alexander patted Vincent on the back. “He’s just trying to get a rise out of you. Don’t play his game.” And then he was gone.

Vincent just stared forward, as if lost in a trance, the only thing that broke him from it – made him jump – was when Isabella touched his shoulder.

“Whoa, you gotta stop scaring me like that.”

“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hand away, rubbing them together in nervous moments in front of her. “I was just going to say let’s get going.”

“It’s fine,” he said, stretching his arms above him, feeling invigorated. “You’re just really sneaky is all. I can barely hear you when you move sometimes.”

“I am light on my feet,” she said with a giggle. “Silent and deadly.” Her spirits seemed to lift, her nervousness gone, which gave Vincent a sigh of relief.

As they moved into the hallway, Isabella glanced at Vincent. “You know, Vincent…” she hesitated, rubbing her arm. “If you need anything, like a friend, or someone just to listen to or help you out, I’m your girl.” She beamed at him.

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, wondering what it would be like to have a friend, especially someone as kind as Isabella seemed. “I want to know everything!”

“Everything?” she asked, blinking with a confused and embarrassed look.

“I’m just kidding,” he said, giving her a pat on the shoulder which made her blush. “There is so much to know, though, and I don’t know where to begin.”

“Well, I’m happy to help anyway I can,” she said, nodding to herself in a contented manner as they caught up with the group moving up some stairs.

Isabella was fascinating in her own way, not just because she was a… what did she call it? A Dawn Vampire. Not just because of her radiant skin, pointy-tipped ears, or the black void that were her eyes, or the radiant glow of her red ringed irises. No, it was more than that. She was kind, caring, and warm, even if she was a bit of a klutz about it. It was cute, really, and he did appreciate her willingness to help him out, because he was going to need it. And there was a quiet confidence in her wanting to break free, a place to grow, which he needed to do as well. Together, they could achieve this.

“If you need anything,” said Vincent. “I’m here for you as well.” He gave a silly thumbs up to her which made her giggle.

He then had an idea and grabbed her by the shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. He looked at her intently, and she suddenly went red and touched her face.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?”

He ignored her embarrassment and extended his hand, a big smile on his face. While he introduced himself to the classroom, his chance to introduce himself to her was cut short, so he would do it again, even if it was kinda lame.

“Hi, I’m Vincent. It’s nice to meet your acquaintance. I hope we can be friends.” He kept his eyes on her, nudging her forward in his lame gesture.

She shook his hand and smiled back. “Hi, Vincent, I’m Isabella. It’s nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends too.”

And with that, Vincent realized that while this day was crazy, perhaps the craziest one yet, it was also turning out to not be so bad, and perhaps… even good.

Vincent noticed they had lost the group, guessing they had turned down a hallway, but not sure about it.

Isabella laughed and tilted her head in a cute manner. “Don’t worry, I know where they went. Just follow me.” And she moved past him, hands behind her back, skip in her step, and moved off down the hallway, Vincent following behind her with a warm smile.

As they moved down the hallway, Vincent thought about shaking her hand and how it was warm, which was surprising, because weren’t vampires, like, undead beings? Then again, Isabella had said Dawn Vampires were born, right? So, she was like a living being, not a fully undead one like… what was it again they were called – Prevalent Vampires?

She had also said she was part elven? Was that why her skin was pale and radiant and her ears tipped at the top? And what about the red-ringed irises and all-black eyes? There was a lot he was going to have to learn.

He nodded to himself, following her down the hallway, around a corner, up another set of stairs, and out a door that opened out onto the roof of the school which made him have a dreadful thought of foreboding. Why were they on the roof?

. . .