As I reached the door, I took in the bio-magical access panel that was flush with the wall—a vertical strip of black with arcane symbols etched into it.
I knew the deal, as it had been communicated with a whole lot else concerning induction to Loxley Academy.
I pressed my palm to it.
A moment later, a gel oozed over my hand, coating it in a cool liquid shimmer.
It was scanning for my magical essence, determining my species, abilities, and power set.
It took just moments before it was done and the gel retracted, not leaving even a trace of residue on my palm. Then a translucent film of light rolled over the outside of the room, and I saw it sweeping underneath the door too. The walls pulsed for a couple of moments, indicating that the protective wave had completed—it was an adaptive containment ward customized to each specific student which would safeguard the space from any power or strength explosions and losses of control.
The lock clanged and I pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me with a slight tap from my boot.
My suite was larger than Winter’s, but it looked pretty much the same, except for the massive seating area in the middle that consisted of furniture from back home, not here. I shook my head to myself, but a smile curved my lips. Of course my dad had done this.
Super fluffy white and pastel-blue chairs and a snowy-white furry couch surrounded an ice coffee table that was imbued with my grandmother’s magic to keep it from melting. It had wings protruding from the shorter edges of its rectangular shape. They’d also put portraits around the room of different Quadrants from the Dracoryn Realm, and one of our family—me, Torvek, my dad, and my grandmother from a day out we’dhad on the top of Elasva Mountain, the tallest snowy mountain in the Ice Dragon Quadrant.
My three combat trophies were positioned around the room on shelves too from competitions I’d won that went beyond the standard ice dragon training. Yeah, I really enjoyed hand-to-hand combat.
The room had a modern gothic architectural style—clean lines and minimal décor, but possessing a fancy arched window with multiple glass panes.
There were dark gray stone walls with that black tiled floor.
Blue orbs of light were positioned around the room strategically lighting the area, like on the dark wood tables of the nightstands either side of the bed.
I noted five leather-bound books already situated on the shelf of the left nightstand and I peered closer to see that they were the epic adventure stories that Torvek and I had read to each other as kids. He’d had them put here for me.Aww, flame bite.
There was a rectangular desk with metal legs and a gray chair opposite the bed with its charcoal sheets.
Charcoal was actually my favorite color, so I was loving this décor. To me, it was elegance, power, serenity and modernity all rolled into one.
I peered to the right far end of the room beside the window and saw the door to an ensuite bathroom that was ajar, noting a sunken bathtub as well as a granite tile shower inside. There was a little hallway where I noted a closet, and it led to a balcony.
Yeah, this was going to be good. I could definitely work with this. Really well.
I put my bags down on my bed and took a moment to catalogue everything, to freeze this moment in time—my first night in my dorm room. My first night at Loxley Academy.
Things hadn’t exactly played out the ideal way I’d hoped for with the Keuric insanity, then the painful Winter situation.
But I was here to build a new life.
I was here for me.
To learn and grow.
To become… something more.
That was what I needed to focus on.
That was what had to take top billing.
Yeah, it would all still be okay.
These were just complications. They wouldn’t drive everything.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text from my grandmother.
Badass G:Give them hell. Be loud, be brazen, be proud. Above all, be you. Remember, darling girl, Vortimer women don’t apologize for their power.
