Chapter 6: First Day

The first day of classes had finally arrived, and Sienna woke up early, her nerves already fraying. Her thick, unruly wavery hair refused to be tamed, no matter how much she tried. Dark circles underscored her tired eyes, she hadn’t slept well, but despite her disheveled appearance, excitement bubbled in her chest. At last, her journey as a normal teenager was about to begin.

Sienna headed to the kitchen, where, as always, Noa was busy with her duties.

"Good morning, Noa!" Sienna said, her voice full of enthusiasm.

"Good morning, Miss Sienna," Noa replied with her usual politeness. "Since it's your first day of classes, I took the liberty of preparing a special breakfast for you." She gestured to a spread of food meticulously arranged on the sleek, metallic countertop.

Sienna looked at the lavish display and smiled. "Oh, thank you so much, Noa. But you know I don’t like you doing all this for me, I can manage on my own." Despite her protest, she grabbed a piece of toast, already halfway through chewing it. "But I appreciate it," she mumbled through a mouthful of bread. She snatched up a to-go coffee bottle and rushed toward the door. "I’m walking to the academy today, so I have to leave now. Bye, Noa!"

Noa watched as Sienna dashed out, shaking her head with a fond smile.

The city of Cala Veil was already alive, its people bustling with their usual urgency. The sidewalks were illuminated by the soft glow of holographic signs floating in midair, displaying everything from news updates to advertisements for the latest hover tech. Automaton delivery bots zipped past her legs, humming quietly as they navigated their routes with precision. High-speed mag-lev trams streaked along overhead rails, and distant airships hovered in the sky, their movements graceful yet purposeful.

Sienna walked briskly, sipping her coffee as she observed the world around her. Today was special, she wanted to measure the distance and time it would take to walk to the academy. Though she planned to use the shuttle system for most days, knowing her options in case of an emergency seemed prudent.

After over thirty minutes of weaving through the crowded streets, Sienna finally arrived at Cala Veil Academy.

The academy was full of activity, starkly different from the tranquil visit she’d had with her aunt Sisi. Now, its large doors were open, the sleek architecture of the building glowing faintly under the morning sun. Students streamed in and out, their chatter a blend of languages and accents. Hoverboards zipped through the courtyard, and drones carrying school supplies hovered above some students’ heads like obedient pets.

Sienna paused at the gates, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and motion. She adjusted the strap of her bag nervously, taking in the unfamiliar environment.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand land gently on the top of her head, patting it as though she were a child.

"Hey there, princess. I was hoping I’d see you here today," said a deep voice.

Sienna turned sharply to find the towering boy from the café standing behind her, his gray eyes twinkling with amusement. He was so tall that Sienna, despite being of above-average height, barely reached his chest.

"You!" she exclaimed, swatting his hand away and glaring at him.

He grinned, unfazed. "Don’t make that face, princess, it’ll give you wrinkles," he teased, effortlessly tossing his bag over his broad shoulder.

"Don’t call me princess, you giant oaf!" Sienna snapped, her irritation bubbling over.

The boy laughed heartily, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Alright, alright. So, what should I call her majesty instead? Oh, by the way, the name’s Rowan. Or Row, if you prefer." He gave her a playful wink.

Sienna hesitated. Rowan seemed friendly enough, but she remembered how he had mocked her the other day at the café. She crossed her arms and shot back, "I’m not telling you my name, mountain with legs."

Rowan feigned a gasp. "Oh, pardon me, your highness. How should I address you, then?"

"Don’t address me at all. And stop being annoying," Sienna retorted, storming off toward the academy entrance.

Rowan’s laugh echoed behind her, loud and carefree. "You’ve got spirit, princess. I like it!"

As she walked away, Sienna clenched her fists, her face flushed with frustration. That boy had a unique talent for getting under her skin.

"Unbelievable," she muttered to herself, the sound of Rowan’s laughter still lingering in the background.

Sienna headed to the first floor, where the classrooms for first-year students were located. Her assignment was Class 1-C. Stepping inside, she noticed that fewer than half the desks were still unoccupied. Some students were already engrossed in their textbooks, while others chatted animatedly in small clusters.

She chose an empty desk near the back of the room by the window. It wasn’t her ideal spot, it could give the impression she wasn’t interested in class, but sitting in the front row would have been far worse. The desk in front of hers was occupied by a girl reading a thick book, and the seat to her right was still empty. Sitting by the window seemed like a reasonable compromise; at least she’d avoid drawing too much attention.

As Sienna gazed out the window, watching the activity in the academy courtyard, a loud noise startled her. Someone had plopped down into the seat beside her with such force that their bag clattered noisily onto the desk.

"Hey again, princess! Hahaha!" Rowan greeted her, a wide grin on his face.

Sienna stared at him, her jaw tightening. Was this oversized fool really sitting next to her? Did this mean she’d have to deal with him all year long?

"I told you not to call me ‘princess,’ clown!" she snapped, her tone dripping with annoyance, her aunt Sisi’s repertoire of insults coming to mind.

Rowan burst into laughter. "Alright, alright, but it seems we’re going to be neighbors for the year. Even if you don’t want to tell me your name, I’ll figure it out eventually, so why not save us both the trouble?"

"Ugh," Sienna groaned, practically spitting the word out. "Fine. I’m Sienna Ardyn. And don’t you dare give me a nickname."

"Got it, Sienna," Rowan said with a wink, clearly satisfied.

Before Sienna could retort, the classroom door slid open with a soft mechanical whirr, and their teacher entered.

"Alright, everyone, settle down and take your seats!"

A tall woman strode confidently to the front of the classroom. She was dressed in a crisp, dark-blue uniform adorned with subtle metallic accents that shimmered faintly under the room’s ambient light. Her sleek black hair was tied into a low bun, and augmented lenses glowed softly over her eyes, occasionally flickering as they scanned the room.

"Good morning, Class 1-C. I am Professor Seren Caldriss, and I will be your homeroom teacher this year." Her voice was firm yet not unkind, resonating with authority. "I expect all of you to conduct yourselves with dignity and respect. Remember, you are not just students, you are representatives of Cala Veil Academy, one of the most prestigious institutions in the isles of Operientes Solem."

She walked slowly along the front row, her sharp eyes scrutinizing the students. "This academy is a beacon of excellence. Your behavior, your efforts, and your achievements must reflect that. Slacking off or mediocrity will not be tolerated. You are here because you have the potential to achieve greatness, but potential alone is meaningless without discipline and hard work."

Turning back to the front, she gestured toward a holographic board that illuminated with her movement. The board displayed a shimmering emblem of Cala Veil Academy, along with the words: "Excellence. Innovation. Integrity."

"As students here, you are held to the highest standards—academically, ethically, and socially. Your grades are not just a reflection of your ability but of the pride and honor of this institution. Remember, your journey here will shape your future, and that future begins now."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.

"I look forward to seeing how each of you rises to this challenge. Do not disappoint me nor yourselves."

The classroom was silent, her speech leaving an impression of both encouragement and intimidation.

"Now," Professor Caldriss continued, her tone softening just a fraction, "let’s get started. I’ll call roll, and then we’ll begin with an introduction to this semester’s curriculum."

As the professor began reading names, Sienna sighed quietly, hoping the roll call would go unnoticed. She was anxious that someone might make the connection between her first name and the Veilore estate. After all, Sienna wasn’t a common name, it was typically associated with aristocratic families. But there was no real reason for concern, without the matching last name, she reassured herself. No one would suspect anything.

Finally, Professor Caldriss called out, “Ardyn, Sienna.”

Sienna swallowed hard before replying, “Present,” her voice steady but soft.

Thankfully, there were only a few murmurs, and none of her classmates seemed particularly interested. She exhaled in relief, letting her shoulders relax.

The roll call continued smoothly until the professor called, “Drena, Rowan.”

“Present,” Rowan replied nonchalantly from right next to Sienna.

Suddenly, the room erupted in murmurs and hushed exclamations.

“Ohhh, is it really him?” someone whispered.

“No way, that Drena?” another voice chimed in.

“I can’t believe he’s in our class.”

The buzz grew louder, an undercurrent of awe spreading through the room.

“Silence!” Professor Caldriss barked, her stern tone cutting through the noise.

Sienna glanced around, puzzled by the reaction. What was going on? She hadn’t spent enough time in Cala Veil to recognize local celebrities or notable figures, nor was she particularly aware of the world’s influential personalities. But something about the name Drena tickled the edge of her memory, it sounded familiar.

Beside her, Rowan seemed utterly unfazed by the attention. He leaned back in his chair, balancing it precariously on two legs, and stared at the ceiling with a smug grin plastered across his face.

Sienna’s curiosity got the better of her. Leaning slightly toward him, she whispered, “What’s with all the fuss? Why’s everyone staring at you?”

Rowan smirked but didn’t look at her. “Oh, nothing major. Just the usual.”

Sienna furrowed her brow. “Usual? What does that even mean?”

Finally, he turned to her, his gray eyes sparkling with amusement. “You really don’t know?”

“Obviously not,” she replied, crossing her arms.

He chuckled softly. “Let’s just say my last name carries a little weight around here, well... around everywhere.”

Her frown deepened as she searched her memory. Then it clicked: Magistrate Drena. Sienna had heard the name before, her aunt Sisi had mentioned it. The Magistrate was one of the most powerful figures in Operientes Solem, a key player in the region’s politics and governance.

“You’re related to the Magistrate?” she asked, her voice low but sharp with disbelief.

Rowan grinned wider. “Bingo. She’s my grandma.”

Sienna blinked, stunned. Of course, this loud, irritating guy sitting next to her had to be someone important. His smug attitude suddenly made a lot more sense.

“Let me guess,” she said with a snort, “you think that makes you better than everyone else?”

“Not better,” Rowan replied with mock seriousness. “Just... more interesting.”

Sienna clenched her jaw, biting back a sharp retort. The last thing she needed was to give him more reasons to annoy her.

Professor Caldriss’s voice broke through their quiet exchange. “Mr. Drena, Miss Ardyn, I trust your side conversation is of the utmost importance?”

Sienna felt her face heat as she looked down at her desk, mortified. Meanwhile, Rowan chuckled softly, clearly unfazed.

This was going to be a long year.