The road to the university stretches farther than I expected. The familiar fields of my village slowly fall away, replaced by stone paths and structured roads that feel almost too precise.
The quiet fades with them.
By the time the university comes into view, everything feels different.
It's bigger than I imagined. Pale stone catches the light, clean and distant. Tall pillars frame the entrance, banners hanging between them in four colors—blue, gold, red, and green.
It doesn't feel like just a school. It feels like a meeting point.
Students pass by in steady streams, voices overlapping, footsteps purposeful. Even without knowing where anyone is from, there's something in the way they move that sets them apart.
I step through the gates, taking it in as I walk.
At first, it all blends together—voices, movement, nothing I need to focus on.
"...Hey, look at her."
"I've never seen her before."
"Wow... she's beautiful."
"I wonder which land she's from."
The comments are quiet, but they follow. A group nearby nudges each other, glancing my way without trying to hide it.
"Go talk to her."
"No, you go."
"I'm not getting rejected today."
"You get rejected every day."
"...Shut up. I got this."
"Hey, sweet cheeks."
...Wtf?
Why is he calling me that?
A tall guy steps into my path, a few of his friends behind him already grinning.
"Haven't seen you around before. You new?"
"...Uh, yeah."
"Damn," one of his friends mutters. "She's even cuter up close."
"Right?" the guy continues. "You just got here, huh?"
"...Something like that."
"So what's your name, sweet che—"
"Chris." A girl steps in beside him, completely unfazed. "Leave her alone."
"Mira, I was just being friendly."
"You're never just being friendly."
"Bro, did you really just say sweet cheeks?"
"...Shut up."
Mira doesn't even look at them. "Move."
Chris raises his hands. "Alright, alright. Didn't know you'd get involved."
"I didn't. I just don't feel like dealing with you today."
His friends laugh. "She is cold today."
"Fine. I'll back off."
He looks at me from head to toe, then gives me a quick wink and walks off with his friends, laughing like nothing happened.
What...? I stand there for a second. What just happened?
Mira looks at me like it was nothing.
"You're new, huh? I've never seen you before."
"...Yeah."
"First year?"
"...No. Second year."
She looks at me for a second, clearly surprised. "Wait—really?"
"They let me skip first year."
"Second year already... that's pretty impressive, I've never heard of anyone skipping first year before.
...That's actually really interesting."
"...Oh, thanks."
"I'm Mira, by the way. And you are?"
"I'm Luna, nice to meet you, Mira."
I glance past her briefly, noticing a few people greeting her as they pass. "So... are you second year too? It seems like people know you around here."
"Yeah... you could say I'm kind of popular."
"Come on," Mira adds, gesturing ahead. "I'll show you around. This place can be a bit overwhelming at first."
We walk side by side as she talks, pointing things out without slowing down. I follow her lead, taking everything in without focusing too long on any one thing.
As we move, a few people still glance our way. Not as obvious as before, but enough—quick looks, quiet murmurs, heads turning as we pass.
Even while I'm walking next to her.
"So yeah, people from all four lands study here. You'll figure things out eventually."
"...Which land are you from?"
She stops. Then turns to me, clearly amused. "Wow. You're making it really obvious that you're new."
"...That obvious? Am I not supposed to ask that?"
She chuckles. "You didn't read the school handbook, did you?"
"...There was one?"
"Wow. You really are fresh."
"...Oh, I see. I'll read it later."
"Yeah, you should. You're not allowed to ask that—or tell anyone where you're from."
"...Why?"
"It's just a rule, people don't always get along when that stuff comes up. Some already know each other from before, though. Same land, same background... they still stick together."
I look around again, paying closer attention. "...So you can tell."
"Most of the time."
"...Can you tell where I'm from??"
She looks at me briefly, then shakes her head. "Nope, I have no idea.. better to keep it to yourself anyway."
We continue walking as she explains the rest. I follow along, listening, keeping up.
Our first class ends up being History of the Four Lands. Mira takes the seat beside me without hesitation. I settle in as the lecture starts.
Halfway through, a few students near us lean over slightly.
"Hey, Mira," one of them whispers. "Who's that?"
"Just a new student. I'm helping her out."
"Oh," another says, glancing my way again. "Not gonna lie... she's actually pretty."
Mira exhales quietly and rolls her eyes. "Focus on the lecture."
They laugh it off, but the looks don't really stop.
History isn't really my thing. I can sit through it, but it's not something I'd choose.
Still... Grandma used to tell me stories about all four lands all the time.
So even when my attention drifts, I already know most of what's being covered.
The first class ends, and people start packing up around us.
"What's your next class?" Mira says
"Uhm.. I have Poetry and Prose,"
"Oh—we have the same one. Come on, I'll show you."
A few of her friends nearby start gathering their things.
"Mira, you coming?"
"Nope... I'll catch you girls later."
The walk takes longer than I expect. We leave the main building, crossing into another part of campus. The space opens up more out here, quieter, less crowded—but the distance makes it clear this isn't just down the hall.
By the time we get there, a few people are already heading inside.
"Thanks! For showing me, Mira."
She just nods.
I head toward the back and take a seat.
A second later, the chair beside me shifts.
Mira.
A couple of students glance over as we settle in. Nothing like earlier—just brief looks before they turn back—but it's still there.
Then — lecture starts.
This time, it shifts into poetry—old verses, meanings layered into everything.
I like this. Stories, poems... I've always liked them. There's something about the way they say things without saying them directly. You have to notice it.
I follow along a little more closely this time.
The lecture ends, and people start getting up. I grab my bag and stand, already thinking about food.
...I'm starving.
The cafeteria is bigger than I expected.
Bright, open, and filled with the smell of food—fresh, warm, everything mixed together. I slow down a little as we step inside.
"Okay," Mira says, glancing around. "Grab what you want. Let's meet back here."
"...Alright."
She heads off one way. I go the other.
For a second, I just look around. There's a lot—pizza, burgers, grilled food. Everything smells good.
Then—
noodles.
Soup.
I stop, my eyes locking in. Spicy, probably.
I grin like a happy kid, already heading toward it. Heck yeah, this is what I'm talking about.
I grab a tray and step up.
The lady behind the counter looks at me for a second, then smiles. "Hey, I haven't seen you before."
"Ah—yeah, I'm new here."
"I could tell," she says, amused, glancing at the noodles. "You look pretty excited."
I glance down at my tray.
...Okay, maybe a little.
She laughs softly. "Here," she adds, scooping a bit more onto my plate. "I'll give you extra."
"Really?!?"
"Of course!"
"...Thank you."
I walk away a little happier than I should be.
By the time I get back, Mira's already there, holding her tray.
"Oh—there you are," she says.
I walk over and glance down at her tray.
What the...
A freaking salad?
"Okay, let's go to that table," she says, pointing toward the far side.
I start walking with her, but after a few steps I notice she's no longer beside me, so I stop and look back.
Mira's just standing there, her attention fixed somewhere ahead, her expression gone strangely still.
I follow her line of sight. A group sits at the far corner.
And then I see her—the same girl from earlier.
Mira exhales softly, almost like she forgot I was right there. "...Eline."
"Huh? Eline???"
...Wait. Is she blushing?
She blinks and straightens, like she's snapping back into herself. "Oh—yeah. That table."
She starts walking again, and I follow, glancing toward the girl once more.
Are we talking about the same girl? Is her name Eline?
We're not even close to the table yet when —
"SAY THAT AGAIN!"
The voice cuts through the cafeteria, sharp enough to pull my attention immediately. At the center of the room, a boy grips another student by the collar, holding him in place while a few others stand around them.
"Please—I don't have it," the other boy says, his voice shaking. "I told you already, I didn't take anything."
"Then where is it?" the first boy snaps, tightening his grip. "You think I'm stupid?"
"I'm not lying—"
He shoves him hard, and the boy stumbles back, hitting the floor.
No one moves. People are watching, whispering, but no one steps in. I glance around, expecting someone—anyone—to do something.
Nothing.
What the...
Why is no one stopping this?
My eyes flick back to Mira. She hasn't moved, still looking in the same direction, completely out of it. What the hell... is she fangirling that hard? She's gone gone.
The boy on the ground tries to push himself up, but the other one steps forward again, fist already raised.
Alright, that's enough. I exhale slowly and step forward. "HEY!"
His hand stops mid-air as he turns to me. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!?"
"Stopping you."
"You don't know who I am."
"I don't need to."
He moves.
So do I.
One clean motion—a sharp kick—and he hits the ground hard.
The room erupts instantly. Students start crowding around us, chairs scraping back as people stand and push closer.
"Fight!"
"What just happened?"
"Did you see that—?"
Voices overlap, louder now, some cheering, others just trying to get a better view as the circle tightens around us.
An older man pushes through the crowd, slightly out of breath, glasses crooked.
"What is going on here?!?"
Before anyone else can answer, his attention lands on me—and just like that, he starts lecturing.
I don't say anything. I just stand there, gaze lowered, letting it pass.
Unbelievable.
It's my first day... and I'm already getting scolded. This isn't fair. Why am I the only one getting yelled at?
Grandma said I was born lucky.
...Guess that luck isn't working today.
Still, it doesn't matter.
After a moment, I lift my head and glance past him. The student is still on the ground, shaken—but okay.
I give him a bright smile.
He'll be fine.
"And you—" the older man snaps, his attention shifting toward the other boy. "What do you think you're doing?"
While he starts going off on him, I step past him and walk over to the boy.
"Are you alright?" I ask, offering him a hand.
He hesitates for a second, then takes it. I help him up, making sure he's steady before letting go.
"...Thank you."
He looks a little flustered, a faint blush creeping in. "I'm sorry... for the trouble."
"Don't mention it!"
"You," the older man says sharply. "Come with me. Now!"
Ugh... why me?
I look back at my tray.
...
Damn it.
My noodles.