Chapter 8: The Warning

I take a sharp breath and reply evenly, "May I ask, does the academy forbid boys and girls from being friends?"

Brandy doesn't mince words. "You can be friends with anyone except that dragon."

"Why?" I'm genuinely confused.

"The dragonkin burned and looted everywhere hundreds of years ago. They're the source of all evil. Though they've toned it down in recent years, many races still suffer because of them."

Really? I never expected even the dean to join the campaign to isolate George.

"Then why did the academy accept him?" Wouldn't it be easier to just reject all dragon descendants from the start?

"Because our academy set a firm rule a thousand years ago: we only look at individual ability and recruit talent without discrimination. But centuries have passed. The entire magical world has changed dramatically. The hidden evil in certain races has gradually surfaced, threatening the balance of the magical world. As dean, I'm also thinking of your safety."

One line about my safety, and she thinks she can take away my right to choose my own friends? The human world values freedom and equality. Has this place actually gone backward by centuries?

But that's how people are—the more you forbid something, the more rebellious they get.

I choose my words carefully. "But George hasn't done anything to hurt me so far. The evil you're talking about was committed by his ancestors. Even the children of criminals have the right to live normal lives. For instance, if someone's grandfather was a murderer, can we say, look, this person might kill too, so let's not accept them?"

Brandy's eyes widen with rage. Her hand resting on the desk instantly clenches into a fist. She takes a deep breath, looking like her authority has been challenged. I brace myself for a lecture.

She glares at me over the rim of her glasses and lets out a cold snort. "No wonder people say that anyone who's spent too much time in the human world carries a natural stupidity. They can never tell good from evil in this world."

Her words drip with superiority and prejudice, making me even more uncomfortable. But the scolding I expected doesn't come.

She collects herself, and her voice turns stern as she warns me, "Since you refuse to listen, I won't waste more words on you. Remember this: if you ever break the academy's rules, I won't hesitate to expel you!"

I quietly breathe a sigh of relief and bow deeply. "Ms. York, thank you for your advice. I'll follow the academy's rules. I don't want to go against anyone. Thank you for understanding."

Brandy stops looking at me. She turns away and focuses on the screen in front of her, getting back to work.

Walking out of the Basilisk, my steps feel like they have a heavy stone tied to them, incredibly heavy.

I don't know if she represents the academy's stance or just her own opinion. Since George was accepted through proper channels, they really have no legitimate reason to expel him.

But this kind of verbal cold violence against a new student is making my fondness for and expectations of this new world and new life crumble piece by piece.

Just as I'm feeling down, a familiar figure catches my eye.

Early winter in the magical world isn't very cold. George's long coat flutters in the wind. One hand is casually in his pocket. His expression is clear and cool, like he's thinking about something. From a distance, he looks refined, quiet, and striking.

I notice a golden dragon-shaped pendant hanging on his slender neck. It looks warm and luxurious, without any hint of tackiness. Instead, the lifelike dragon carving gives off an air of elegant nobility.

Seeming to sense my presence, George looks up. Our eyes meet. I feel two slightly burning gazes, as if waves of heat are rushing toward me from all directions, surrounding me completely.

Could he... be waiting for me?

No, how would he know I was called in for a private meeting?

I walk up boldly to greet him. "Hey, George. What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you." He answers directly, looking straight at me without dodging, his blue eyes bright and clear.

My heart skips a beat. That wave of heat from moments ago rushes straight into my chest. Could it be that after class ended, he didn't actually leave, that he's been watching out for me?

I'm not used to this feeling yet. I raise my hand to scratch my hair and look away slightly from his gaze. "Were you worried Brandy would give me trouble?"

He nods. "Because I'm a dragon descendant, she must have warned you to stay away from me."

"I don't care." I wave my hand, raising my voice a few notches, as if speaking too quietly would make him sad from not hearing clearly.

I can really relate. When a person faces unexplained hostility from everyone around them, that helplessness and loneliness—if someone shows them kindness at that moment, they'll feel like they haven't been abandoned by the world. Maybe it's this sense of connection that makes me want to get closer to him even more.

"Karla told me you're dragonkin, but I don't mind. I don't have many friends. Since I drew your gift..." The chocolate is in my backpack. I pat it through the fabric and say seriously, "I think this is fate between friends."

"Hi, I'm Thelma Johnson." I introduce myself formally.

A flicker of surprise crosses his eyes as he looks at me, but mostly he seems touched.

He curves his lips into a slight smile. "Hi, I'm George Stanley."

In the warm early winter sun, we walk and chat like friends meeting for the first time, ignoring the strange looks from people passing by.

He reassures me in his deep voice, "There are several factions within the academy supporting different people. You'll understand eventually. Don't take Brandy too seriously. She doesn't have the power to do anything to you."

I'm not sure how he knows so much, and I don't ask. I just feel somewhat relieved. At least this place is still livable. I only tell him that I don't actually know my own race.

His sharp eyebrows rise in mild surprise. "This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. But don't humans always say? It's a big world—nothing's too strange. Especially among magical beings."

My first meeting with George turns out to be pleasant and relaxed. Though we're still a bit unfamiliar with each other, sincerity is what matters. Before going to the dining hall, I need to go back to my dorm to change clothes. The sun is bright today, and I'm wearing too much.

George lives on the 5th floor, I live on the 3rd. I get off the elevator and head toward my room following my memory.

But the corridor seems to stretch longer the more I walk. My room should be in the middle. Unlike when I first came in yesterday, footsteps suddenly sound behind me—strange, deliberately muffled.

As the footsteps get closer, the elongated shadow cast on the floor doesn't look human. My heart tightens. I instinctively look back. Three wolf-faced creatures lunge at me with bared fangs and claws, their eyes blood-red, glowing with an eerie light.

A massive terror grips me instantly. I scream and spin around, running forward for my life.