The Rules
~Euphoria~
“Enough shit chat, ladies.
Let’s get down to business.” The red-haired woman interrupted.
Her voice was commanding now, her patience clearly wearing thin.
“I am Mrs.
Miyra, and I will be your mortal representative while you attend school here,” Mrs.
Miyra began.
“Now, before you ask, yes, I am a beast.
A fox, to be specific.
This is important.
Most of the students and professors with red hair are from the fox clans in the Fire Sect.
You will learn about our world and how its laws are dictated while you stay at Yueying University.”
“Rule number one: Do not go out after dark without a professor as an escort.
We cannot keep you safe if you are not with us during non-school hours.”
“Rule number two: Do not pick fights with people you can’t win against.
Here, death is practically part of the curriculum.
Get used to it.
Fights break out all the time, and they can get messy.
Keep your head down and stay clear of them.”
“Rule number three: Missing classes is a punishable offense, so have a good excuse or a pass.
You don’t want to find out what it looks like to get in trouble here.”
“Rule number four: This is possibly the most important rule.
Stay clear of the princes.
They don’t like mortals, and the power they hold is not worth the risk.
That is a death wish.”
She repeated again, “This is for your safety.
If you get hurt because you get in the way, you’re on your own.
Here at the university, we do not have the status to punish them.
They are the highest-ranking people at this school.
They run it according to their clan and sect rules.”
“Sirens are from the Water Sect.
Foxes are from the Fire Sect.
Dragons and other beasts are from the Earth Sect.”
“Who’s from the Air Sect?”
The question came from a girl with copper skin and black hair.
Keep your voice down, or you’ll get us all in trouble.”
The Air Sect?
“Our last sect is the Spirit Sect, but that is where the dead go.
No one living is capable of entering the Spirit Sect.”
“These are all things you’ll learn about during your studies here.”
“Wow, they’re pretty tight-lipped about the Air Sect here,” Niera whispered to me.
“Shhh…” I whispered back.
The last thing I wanted was to lose my new home because I was talking about things I shouldn’t.
“Fine, but I’m not dropping this.”
“Now for the tour,” Mrs.
Miyra finished.
Only four?
Seems a little too little…
The moment I stepped onto the stone path, past the tall iron gates, a veil opened up, and my breath caught in my throat.
I froze.
The school stretched out before me like something from a fairy tale.
Tower after tower reached toward the night sky, their pointed rooftops disappearing into the darkness.
Warm golden light spilled from hundreds of windows, making the buildings glow against the forest surrounding them.
It didn’t look real.
It looked like the kind of place people wrote stories about.
The kind of place little girls dreamed about.
Magic lanterns floated above the pathways, casting light over the gardens that decorated the space.
I couldn’t stop staring.
Perfectly trimmed hedges lined the paths.
Flower beds overflowed with blooms in every color imaginable.
Crystal-clear water bubbled from a fountain at the center of the courtyard, while trees and a massive stone wall surrounded the place.
Protected.
Secret.
The air smelled cleaner than back home.
Fresh pine, flowers, and saltwater.
I took a deep breath and felt my shoulders relax.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt peace.
The peace others talked about.
Everywhere I looked, there was something new to admire.
A balcony.
A tower.
A glowing lantern drifting through the darkness.
The entire place felt alive.
Like the school itself was watching us arrive.
Waiting.
My fingers tightened around my violin case.
This place couldn’t possibly be real.
And yet here I was.
Standing right in front of it.
A poor girl from a forgotten little village.
Staring at the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
For the first time since Ba died, a tiny shred of hope stirred inside my chest.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
I could belong here.
“This place is fucking insane,” Niera commented next to me.
“It truly is a spectacle.”
“These are your dorms.
Feel free to keep anything left by its previous occupants.
They won’t be back.
No rooms have been assigned, but they are all the same.
Four people per room.
There’s no rule on mixing genders or years.
But just know whoever you pick to room with will be your roommate until you leave this school or the new year starts.
Some rooms have open beds available.
Some rooms are completely available.
Every mortal for themselves.
Good luck.
I’ll see everyone tomorrow morning.”
The minute she finished her sentence, she was gone.
Like she had disappeared into thin air.
That was so cool!
“Come on, let’s pick out our room.” Niera grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
I had no words.
Did I have a friend already?
Someone picked me!
Someone as pretty as her!
I couldn’t believe it.