Chapter 5: The Sphinx

I immediately shut up. Looking back, I see Karla's lips pressed into a tight line, her brown eyes full of wariness, like a hedgehog on guard. I instinctively squeeze Karla's hand, trying to calm her down.

George walks right past us. He's a whole head taller than me. Only now do I notice he has a faint scent of ambergris—subtle and understated, yet deep. I barely hear him let out a cold snort, apparently reacting to Karla bad-mouthing him behind his back.

But he doesn't stop. He walks away with his head up, eyes straight ahead, as if he's above it all.

I feel Karla's body go stiff, and I realize my heart almost skips a beat too. My mouth opens but I hold back. What the hell.

Karla snaps out of it, staring hard at me: "See? Even you got scared of him. Next time he scares you to tears, don't say I didn't warn you."

I let out a long breath. I think to myself: Was that really scary? I clearly wasn't afraid of him just now.

But I know there's no point arguing with Karla about this. I quickly change the subject and ask what gift she drew. Karla is a simple, enthusiastic girl, and she's back to chatting excitedly with me. Soon after, a brown-haired boy calls out to her.

Karla sticks her tongue out at me: "My people are here. You'll have to get back to the dorm on your own."

I nod. In this strange new world, everyone else can easily find their own people, while I'm all alone.

I shake my head, shaking off that slight loneliness. I follow the signs toward the student dorms.

It's a building with a giant human face on the outside, reminding me of the Egyptian Sphinx. Somewhat confused, I find the dorm entrance at the mouth of the face. A few students are scattered around, coming and going.

I get off the elevator and reach my floor. A long hallway stretches left and right. Most of the others have gone off to hang out with their own kind. Only a few rooms have voices coming from them. Curious, I walk toward the far end of the hallway. My small leather shoes tap against the floor, the footsteps echoing endlessly in the long corridor. The cold white motion-sensor lights flicker on and off. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I keep feeling like there's an echo trailing behind me.

And the further I walk, the more something feels wrong. I figured earlier that the distance from the elevator to the end of the hallway wasn't that far. I've clearly passed four or five rooms. I should have reached the end by now. But it seems to go on forever.

A chill runs through me. My breathing gets faster. Thinking of the human-face exterior I saw earlier, images from vampire stories flash through my mind. In this magical world with multiple species, could those creatures exist too?

All kinds of thoughts flood my head.

Forget it. I'd better not wander around. I obediently find my room and enter the door code.

The amazing thing is, the moment I step inside, the tightness in my chest and shortness of breath I felt in the hallway are much better.

Maybe that was a little punishment for wandering around?

The room is bigger than my school dorm in the human world, though the furniture is pretty much the same.

Above the desk on the wall is a magnetic whiteboard with the latest schedule posted. Tomorrow there's Fundamentals of Magic. I've heard it updates automatically every day. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's update.

I test the mattress firmness. Medium—way more comfortable than the hard wooden bed in the Johnson house storage room. The Johnson house. Ha.

By the time the weekend comes, they'll get the letter I sent and know I've run away from home. What will their reaction be? Anger? Frustration? And then Margaret's brother tracking me down across the entire Continent?

Thinking about this actually lifts my mood.

I lie down happily for a while, and it feels like the day's exhaustion has mostly faded. When I get up again, I notice the furniture layout in the room has changed.

I realize—could this be the power of magic?

This Academy of Magic really does have magic everywhere.

My heart burns with excitement, and I feel a bit of hope for the future. Things can't get any worse anyway. I might as well just go for it and embrace this new life.

I try on the two sets of school uniforms in the closet. Both fit perfectly, like they were custom-made. Based on my earlier magical experience, I'm not surprised anymore about how the academy knows my measurements.

After a quick rest, I leave the dorm to find Karla. We agreed to keep exploring campus. When I get to the big tree where we're meeting, I find Karla already waiting there, along with her people—the one I saw in the auditorium earlier.

"This is Stephen. He hasn't explored the school either. Mind if he comes along?" Karla takes my hand and smiles.

"Of course not." I smile and greet Stephen. "Hello, I'm Thelma."

"Hello. Karla's told me about you." Stephen flashes a row of white teeth.

We walk and chat. Stephen is as warm and chatty as Karla.

We talk about new students, about how well the upperclassmen are doing. But then he switches topics and starts talking about George from the dragonkin.

"The school hasn't had a dragonkin student in two years straight. Because the dragonkin have done so many terrible things, they're too ashamed to apply to the Academy of Magic. This year a dragonkin actually passed the entrance exam. There must be someone on the inside at the school."

Stephen suddenly lowers his voice, his eyes darting around: "Since he got here, he's been going to the Back Hills every night. They say he goes there to catch small animals and drink their blood. Anyway, nobody wants to eat at the same table with him. The new students near his room have all asked to switch rooms!"

I get goosebumps listening, but I ask curiously: "Did someone actually see it? Why didn't they film it?"

Stephen gives me a look and says mysteriously: "The academy doesn't allow random recording. Didn't you know?"

I shake my head innocently. Stephen continues: "Anyway, he's not a good person. You should stay away from him."

Is this...

My attention sharpens. I glance at Karla. Is this her way of getting her people to convince me indirectly since she couldn't talk me out of it herself? Do they really have no grudge against the dragonkin?

While my mind is wandering, I hear an "Oof" next to me. Stephen has actually tripped and fallen flat on his face on level ground, sprawled out on all fours.

"Oh my god!" Karla cries out, quickly bending down to help Stephen up.

Sensing a strong gaze behind me, I suddenly turn around and spot George passing by diagonally behind us. I don't know if it's my imagination, but in the sideways glance he throws our way, there's actually a hint of amusement.