Rowan coughed violently, kneeling on the ground.
"Khff... khh...!"
He choked on his own breath, still feeling the weight of that strange energy that had almost killed him minutes ago. His throat burned, and his eyes stung.
Sera approached and stood silently for a few seconds, observing him.
"Hey... you okay? Can you breathe now?"
Rowan slowly got up, wearing a bitter expression.
"Do I look okay to you?"
He brushed the dust off his pants, still gasping for air.
"Can you explain what the hell that was?"
Sera stared at him and let out a light sigh.
"You really don't know anything, huh?"
'I don't know anything?! What should I know? And what kind of school is this?'
"Let's keep moving. We're almost there."
They resumed walking along the quiet trail. The fog was slowly starting to fade.
"..."
"...."
"So? Are you gonna tell me what that thing was?"
"We're at Meridiana Academy."
"Yeah, I figured that much..."
"Nobody explained anything to you before dumping you here?"
"You think if they had, I'd still have come?"
Sera glanced at him from the side.
It was strange. What kind of monster didn't want to be at Meridiana Academy? That didn't make sense to her. Every monster dreamed of studying there.
"You're... weird."
"Me? You're the one with super strength, and I'm the weird one?"
She stopped for a moment and turned her head toward him.
"Don't talk about me."
Her tone was dry. Firm. Rowan felt a chill run down his spine.
'What is up with this girl?'
He looked at her again.
She kept her eyes fixed ahead as they walked.
Despite the dim light and the mist all around, he could still clearly remember what he had seen: sharp teeth, glowing eyes in the dark. But now, as they walked, she looked... normal. Her teeth were like anyone else's.
Sera sighed again, lightly.
"Told you to stop staring."
Rowan turned his gaze back to the trail.
'Yeah... she's definitely difficult.'
Still, he took a deep breath and decided to ask:
"Sera... are you—"
"Ah... finally, we're here."
She cut him off and came to a halt.
Rowan looked around.
Nothing.
Just trees. More trees.
"What do you mean we're here? I don't see anything."
Sera kept walking, silent.
Rowan followed, but then saw something strange.
As she moved forward, parts of Sera's body began to vanish — first her feet, then her legs, torso, arms... and finally, her head. It was like she was walking into another dimension.
'What the...'
He stopped, confused and slightly scared.
"Sera???"
Nothing...
But then.
Suddenly, an arm reached back through the air, followed by Sera's face.
"You idiot. Get in here."
She grabbed his collar.
He stumbled forward, crossing an invisible barrier.
"Argh! Hey—"
Reaching the other side, Rowan's eyes widened.
A massive iron gate, adorned with silver details, stood tall before him.
Sera was already walking ahead like it was just another regular Monday.
"This is... the school?"
Rowan walked slowly, looking around.
Through the gate, he could see a vast structure made of dark stone, with tall towers and stained glass windows that reflected the dim light of the sky. The garden was well kept, the statues seemed to follow every step with their gaze, and strange birds with unusual feathers flew quietly above.
'It's creepy... but also beautiful.'
Sera stopped again and glanced over her shoulder.
She sighed.
"That was really annoying."
"But anyway... welcome to Meridiana Academy."
Rowan just stood there, unsure of what to think. It felt like he had stepped into another world.
At that moment, all his doubts finally became certainty.
'This really isn't a school for normal people...'
He remained still, staring at the place.
WHAM!
"Ow!"
He stumbled forward, almost tripping.
"Move it. I brought you this far, now just keep going and find your room."
He turned around, shocked.
"Did you just kick me? Why?!"
"Don't be a crybaby. That was just a little push to get you moving."
'What kind of motivation is that?'
"My job's done here... I'm leaving."
He watched her walk away and couldn't help but call out:
"Wait! I don't even know where I'm supposed to go!"
"Not my problem. I was just told to bring you to the school."
"You're seriously the worst!"
She waved casually without even looking back.
"..."
Now he was alone.
He looked at himself.
His once neat uniform was now dirty and torn.
His bags?
They had been left behind long ago, somewhere during his escape from the Lamuriante.
He ran a hand over his neck, still feeling that strange sensation... like something was clinging to his soul.
He looked back.
Going back wasn't an option.
Not after nearly dying just to make it this far.
That shadowy creature, the Lamuriante, had almost ended him. If it hadn't been for Sera, he wouldn't have even made it halfway. Going back alone through that place simply made no sense.
Besides... he had nowhere to return to.
'Damn driver...!'
"Haaah..."
He sighed.
"Let's keep moving, then."
He started walking slowly, taking in the environment.
The stone path was clean, but ancient. Each step felt like walking over history.
The air was heavy, strange. And the glances around him... just as unsettling.
As he walked further, more students appeared. All of them wore the same academy uniform, although some didn't quite look human.
First was a girl with long, pointed ears. Then her friend beside her, with slightly bluish skin and eyes completely black.
Rowan stopped for a second.
'They're... really not human?'
His hands were starting to sweat. He swallowed hard and kept walking.
He passed by a group of students sitting on a bench. One of them had small horns, another had a tail wrapped around the backrest.
'Why isn't anyone attacking me? Or judging me? Do they think I'm one of them?'
Rowan looked around more carefully. No one stared at him directly. They all seemed busy with their own conversations. Some were even laughing at things he didn't understand.
'This is so weird... but if no one notices me, that's probably for the best.'
That's when he heard a voice behind him:
"Rowan?"
He turned around, startled.
A girl was approaching.
She looked completely normal.
Brown hair tied in a simple bun, light brown eyes, a calm smile.
She looked at him for a moment and let out a quiet sigh.
"Knew it was you. She told me you'd look like someone who came out of a hurricane."
'...She?'
The girl chuckled softly.
"I'm Lyra. I'm supposed to show you around the school today."
Rowan blinked.
Nothing about her stood out. She was the kind of person you'd see anywhere. Which, at that moment, made everything feel stranger... and somehow comforting.
And right now, that was exactly what he needed.