Welcome...?

   As I silently unpacked the few things I owned, Nic slept soundly. It was barely after noon, so I decided to let him sleep while going out to explore.

   I noticed more older students walking around like they owned the place, the younger students cowering away when an older student was in their path. Parents were still lingering around with their kids, chatting happily.

   My ears twitched in annoyance at the amount of voices I could hear. The campus was fairly big, but most of it was occupied by dorm buildings. There were areas to sit and study between the buildings, and I saw many of the upperclassmen occupying those spaces. One group’s conversation specifically got my attention.

   “Did you hear about the king?” a male asked.

   “What happened?” a different male asked.

   “Last week he decided to take a trip to one of the royal family’s estates without telling anyone. My father believes he’s just running away from his royal duties.”

   “Isn’t it weird he’s the king?” a female asked. “I mean, Princess Luella is the rightful heir to the throne. Why is this guy in charge?”

   “She can’t take the throne until she turns sixteen,” one of the males responded. “The court decided that when her parents died.”

   “Even though she’s only thirteen, I think she’d do a better job than the current king.”

   I continued walking when their conversation shifted, and wandered closer to the woods around the back part of the campus. A couple was kissing under the branches, partially hidden from view. A older woman in a navy blue robe was walking towards them with a stern expression. Silver hems made her robe sparkle elegantly in the midday sun, but her attitude while chasing the students was anything but.

   The hands on the clocktower read ten minutes until 1, so I decided to head back to my room to wake up Nic.

   There was a group of students in the lounge when I returned, so I used the staircase next to the kitchen, climbing to the top floor. As I glanced down the hallway, I saw three upperclassmen males standing in front of my door. All of them wore the robes loosely around their shoulders, red bracelets on their wrists.

   “I know you’re in there!” one of them said, pounding his fist on the door. “Come out and play with us, Nicky!”

   “Maybe it really is just a rumor,” the second said.

   “But another first-year said they were behind him in line and overheard this was his room assignment,” the third said.

   “Do you have business in my room?” I asked, walking over.

   They all glanced at each other, grins appearing on their faces.

   “If this is your room, you got a key, right?” the third asked. “Why don’t you be a good commoner and open the door for us.”

   I frowned. “I wouldn’t allow you to set one foot in my room.”

   The three of the males surrounded me, backing me against the door. I felt my fangs dig into my mouth as I clenched my teeth.

   Suddenly, the door swung open and I fell backwards right into Nic’s chest.

   “What’s all the noise about?” he asked, yawning and rubbing the back of his head. His other hand rested on my shoulder.

   “So you did pass the entrance exam!” the third male exclaimed. “You should’ve told us!”

   “Why should I tell you?” Nic asked, his eyes narrowing at them.

   “We’re friends, right?” the first one replied.

   Nic just scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Go away. I’m not getting involved with you anymore.

   A bell rang across campus, and Nic clicked his tongue. He grabbed his robe and sword from in the room before grabbing my wrist and pulling me into the hallway. The door shut behind us, and Nic glanced once more at the three guys.

   “If I see you hanging around here again, I’m gonna tell the dorm mistress!” he called as he ran down the stairs.

   We arrived in the lounge, the group of students that I saw before still chatting. I held my hood with my left hand. He ran towards the back of the main building, more first-year students running in the same direction. There were sets of doors open to a small lobby before the arena. A stage was set up at the other end of the arena, chairs set up in rows facing the stage. All the chairs were already taken, so Nic guided me along the wall to a spot where we could clearly see the stage.

   A middle-aged man walked up the stage, clearing his voice loudly. His jet black hair was well-kept and his black robe was unbuttoned, but sat neatly on his shoulders.

   “Welcome!” he said, his voice booming. “I am the third Headmaster of Gruteth Knight Academy, Damion Hakon. I am pleased to see another class of potential knights! You are all the future of not only this academy, but the entire kingdom! I expect great things from you!”

   As Headmaster Hakon continued talking, I couldn’t help but drown out his voice and glance around the arena at the students. Many of them wore their capes, some others removing them to drape them over the back of their chairs. On either side of the stage, professors sat and listened to Headmaster Hakon talk.

   Almost everyone in the room carried a sword either at their waist or on their back. Some students carried other weapons, but the basic double edged sword was the most common.

   “To conclude the introduction, I will introduce the two professors overseeing your year,” Headmaster Hakon said, motioning to the left of the stage, and two professors stood. “You will always find Professor Iris Adler in the West training room where she will give you a hard time about keeping the basics in mind.” My eyes widened a bit when I noticed the female professor as the one I saw earlier chasing the students hiding in the woods. The male was young, probably in his early twenties. “Professor Dalbert Shurman is loved by many of the fourth and fifth-year students since his class often requires off-campus training.”

   “I look forward to getting to know you all,” Professor Shurman said, bowing his head at the sea of students.

   “Same here,” Professor Alder said, waving his hand.

   “One last reminder,” Headmaster Hakon started, “first-year students are banned from challenging or accepting duels from other students and will be harshly punished. That is all for now. Enjoy our beautiful campus and the capital of the Kingdom of Godovia.”

   All the students sitting in the chairs stood at once, the arena erupting into chatter and a rush towards the four sets of doors at the corners of the arena.

   “Is that Nicholai Crawford?”

   “Eh? Wasn’t he banned from taking the entrance exam because of his violent behavior?”

   “I heard he passed and all the judges were left speechless.”

   “Didn’t Marquise Crawford disowned him because he tried to steal something in the castle?”

   “Isn’t his older brother ranked first among the fifth-years?”

   As I listened to the murmurs and whispers from the students around us, Nic just yawned, his disinterest in others clearly showing with his attitude. Two female students timidly walked over to me, clinging to each other.

   “H-hello!” one of them squeaked.

   “Hi,” I greeted. “Can I help you?”

   “We wanted to know if you wanted to hang out with us,” the other one said.

   They both looked at Nic.

   “Anyone would be a better influence than him,” the first said.

   I frowned. Despite the rumors and murmurs from others, I did not think any of them were true. Humans were untrustworthy and would use others to raise themselves up. I told myself I wouldn’t believe anything unless it came from that human’s mouth.

   “I’m sorry,” I started, “but I think I’ll be fine with my friend.”

   The girls and other passing students seemed to pause, their minds trying to catch up to what I said. I sighed, realizing how slow humans were.

   “I’m saying not to bother us again,” I stated more bluntly. “Got it?”

   The girls scampered away and I glanced at Nic who had a surprised look on his face. The arena was practically empty by now, all the students vanished as soon as the speech was over. Nic took a deep breath, straightening himself and putting his hand out.

   “Nice to meet you,” he said. “My name is Nicholai Crawford, second son of Marquise Crawford and younger brother of fifth-year student Erland Crawford. I look forward to getting along with you.”

   I smiled, reaching up to my hood and pulling it down. My ears popped out, twitching after the weight of the cloth was removed. I saw Nic’s eyes widen, but firmly took his hand.

   “My name is Rico,” I said. “I’m a half-wolf who wishes to become a Royal Knight to serve Princess Luella in the future. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”