The driver dropped me off at the gate of an ancient sprawling edifice with white walls that expressed the void and pillars that supported the loftiness of its roofs. In a quiet atmosphere, the towering trees in lines and the weeds on the ground greeted me.The name "Academy of Haut" was boldly scribbled in capital black letters on a plank near the gateway.I dragged my belongings through the narrow path lined with shrubs on both sides toward the Academy of Haut's dorm. My gaze was drawn only to a middle-aged woman in a raven falling gown, with a sour face and a sharp gaze. Her dark lips moved, and the word "welcome" came out, but in a cold tone.She grabbed my suitcase in an instant. As a nice friendly gentleman saluted me, the desire to refuse faded. My gaze was drawn to the handsome man's face, which featured a strong jaw and a beard along his cheek, and then to his name tag, Brad Thompson. That man in a dark suit and pants led me to the reception desk, where I could register as a n

I trailed behind Lanzo, my mind racing with thoughts. The girl in the picture was only a small part of what this academy was hiding behind its closed doors. I was certain that they had more secrets.Lanzo escorted me to the library. As soon as we stepped inside, the towering bookshelves drew my attention. This fascinating enormous room contained a wide range of books that I had never seen before."How do you feel about this place?" Lanzo spoke to me in a normal tone."It's incredible." I took a look at the books on the shelves. As a voracious reader, it was the best place to quench my thirst for good books.My time in the library had been consumed by the books in my hands. I didn't realize we'd been in the room for an hour until Lanzo informed me."You can go to the library as often as you want later, but let's get back to the hall; the assembly starts in ten minutes."We rushed into the hall where the assembly was about to begin. The gathering served as Intelligentsia's welcome cerem

"Dylanesa Dawson, an orphan, 16-year-old girl, ID number 2012, 5'4 height, emerald green eyes, wavy long brown hair," a woman described me to my ears. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to open my eyes. What happened to it? Was it in the lab, as drug odors pierced my nose?"What about her previous residence?" There were two or three people in the room. They sounded like they were having a conversation about me."It is not known. She was raised in an orphanage after her mother was killed in a car accident.""How heartbreaking." Those ladies were still having a conversation. I was still struggling to wake up; it was as if something was heavily obscuring my vision.My most recent memory was of someone hitting my shoulder behind me and knocking me out. I was now somewhere, in an unknown location that I couldn't even detect.I was attempting to lift my hand, but I was afraid because they were numb. My hands, legs, and body were all stiff. My mouth was about to scream for help, but it wa

The murmurs filled the room like bee sounds, creating an uncomfortable situation. The academic who just introduced himself as Antony fumed in anger, criticizing the intelligentsia. His cynical quip stopped the small commotion."It seems gossipping is your only skill." It was merely one sentence but enough to get all the mouths shut and our gaze landed on the floor. "I have one rule in my class; hold on to your curiosity about everything."The others might think it normal, their intention was just to study and graduate from this academy with honor. That was all they ever dreamed of. However, it was odd for me. It just emphasized that my assumption might not be fully wrong. The Academy of Haut hid a secret behind its luxury and resplendence."And those who are with me abide by the rule," he continued. "If you break it, you'll bear the consequences." His threatening words stung me. "If you choose to bug out, the door is still open for you."He backed off to his table, observing our reac

It occurred too fast like a flash. Lanzo punched Ron in the face, hit him again when he was trying to rise. Yanking one of his hands, he twisted it mercilessly. Ron shrieked in unbearable pain. I shielded my eyes with my palms while biting my lips in a grimace. I could imagine how painful it was with his crooked hand.Knowing Ron was in danger, the other three who were with him attacked Lanzo in a fast raid together. Their effort ended up in futility, Lanzo knocked them down one by one with his fists. Only my scream stopped him from making them black and blue.This boy's high level of martial art fascinated me. His capability was beyond my expectation. Lanzo still froze in his place, watching them staggering away. They escaped after struggling to push their body off. Among them, Ron was in the worst condition."Why did you do that? I protested and that put shock on his face. We were standing under the dim lit of the half-moon, just a few centimeters apart so that I could see his face.