It took me about half an hour to finally locate the building where my room was. The sprawling campus looked mind-boggling in the semi-darkness of the night. I couldn't quite make out the structure of the campus yet; all I knew was that it was massive.

My room was located on the eleventh floor of the western building. I was surprised to see a relatively modern-looking building, expecting another castle of sorts. I entered the narrow hallway with white walls and stepped into the elevator.

The entire campus was eerily quiet and silent. Apart from a few people wandering around who didn't pay much attention to me, thanks to the darkness. I reached the designated floor and stepped into an unremarkable long white corridor with doors on either side of me. I passed a massive door, which I expected was the common room of the dorm. It didn't feel much different than my hostel at Stonewall. Just as empty. I felt like just as much of an outsider, looking at my life as if through glass. 

I passed a dozen off-white doors before I reached room 1111, which was to be mine. I was thankfully allotted a single room, for the time being, pertaining to my relatively late admission. I entered the room and felt around for a light switch. I flicked it on and the walls and ceiling were immediately bathed in a subtle white glow as I took in my home for the next five years. Or less.

It was a simple, sleekly furnished room. A cupboard lay on my left, a single, neatly made bed in front of me. There were a desk and a chair on the opposite side of the wall. I walked over to the massive floor-length curtains and gently pried it open. I gasped at the breathtaking scene in front of me.

I could see the entire academy from there. My heart quickened as the nervousness and excitement danced passionately in my chest. I could now see that the campus was divided into several sections. An identical building stood about a kilometre away from mine. Which I presumed was the girls' hostel. My stomach lurched as my anxiety increased.

I had rarely talked to anyone back at Stonewall. Fear of being mocked for my accent. Fear of saying something dumb always playing at the back of my mind. Fear of going off-track and overreacting. I hadn't learned to read properly until I was ten and write at twelve, which was ridiculously late. The many punctuations in my education meant I was barely able to scrape through almost every class, save a few which I had something of a natural penchant for. This had made Stonewall even harsher.

Here, however, all of it was to be magnified.

I shut the curtains quickly as if trying to hide. My stomach churned as the reality of the situation sunk in. It was strange how I had yearned to be at Asteria for so long, and yet now that I was there, I was terrified.

Stonewall had been a harsh, draconian organization. An all-boys school had meant that the professors occasionally got aggressive. It had been difficult to survive, which had meant that I had to distance myself to stay safe. It had worked for the most part. And that's what I was going to do there as well. However, I remembered Aidan's advice and conflict formed in my mind.

I had never really had friends. The idea scared me. I had way too much to hide to be close to anyone. And somehow I feared that if I did bare it all, whatever feeble relationship I managed to forge would be tattered. 

I paced around for a while before I collapsed on the bed, gazing at the high ceiling. I was exhausted from everything that had happened like a rollercoaster the past few days. However, sleep was the bliss which didn't come to me that night.

I lay restlessly. Tossing and turning the entire night. Horrifying situations were forming in my head. I shut my eyes and tried to push them away unsuccessfully. I lay aimlessly for hours before the sun rose, bathing my room in a subtle glow and clashing with the artificial lighting inside. I got up, walking into the attached bathroom. It wasn't much different than the one at the palace, the only difference being that it was much smaller.

I hoped a shower would help reduce my irrational paranoia. Everything was happening so fast. As if I was on an out of control rollercoaster that was now freefalling.

I perused the map and saw that the mess hall was located at the central building. However, I decided to skip breakfast. I didn't want to be in a social setting with no supervisors just yet. My churning stomach already seemed to be on the verge of throwing up due to excessive nerves. I took a long time to get dressed, even though I already had the uniform.

It wasn't much, a simple black full sleeve shirt and trousers. A silver ornate star symbol was emblazoned on the breast pocket. I was glad that it covered all of my skin, afraid of being seen as even more of a freak.

Our first-class was to begin at eight on the grounds, located behind the building I was currently in. I knew that me coming in after the first term would make everything even more challenging. However, it was either now or next year, and for me, the choice was clear. 

As I pulled on my shirt, however, I did another double-take. The mark on my arm seemed to be so dark it looked almost black. I gazed at it for a while, touching it tenderly. Was it supposed to mean something? Maybe I could find others here who would have it too. 

I gently touched the horizontal scars that I had etched into my skin. Although time had mostly kept its promise in healing, I still felt a crippling sense of unjustified shame when I saw the strips of darker flesh on my pale skin. 

I carefully stepped out into the corridor, quickly making my way to the elevator and praying it was empty. It seemed to me that I was incredibly lucky, for I didn't have to face anyone as I reached the ground floor. Just at the exit, however, I stopped in my tracks.

"Hunt," Elijah said, his jaw set into a hard line. His cold grey eyes flashing as he looked at me. The corner of his mouth pulled up in a hateful scorn. "I guess dad finally smuggled you in."

He was accompanied by two people who were staring at me with unabashed curiosity, their eyes studying my frame. I didn't respond, trying to move past him before my overpowering anxiety returned with overwhelming ferocity.

"Oh!" One of his mates said. "He's Zeke?" he laughed. "After everything, I must say I expected him to be more...impressive."

I sighed, not ready to indulge. I tried to take calming breaths.

"You're 1111," the other dark-haired guy said, and I started. He shrugged. "I'm resourceful."

"Er...congratulations," I said and again tried to make my way past Elijah. Thankfully he stepped aside. I tried to quickly walk forward before I tripped and fell facedown onto the hard ground and tasted blood. Pain shot up my body. Anger flared in my insides. If it was anyone except Elijah, I would have fought back. My several years at the boarding school had taught me enough. However, I knew I was already on thin ice with the Ellermans and wasn't willing to push my luck so soon. I planned to just tell him off and ignore him.

"What the fuck-'' before I could react, however, I had been pulled to my feet and pushed up against the wall. Elijah's face hovered inches from mine, his silver eyes flashed as they gazed at me coldly. I could feel his hot breath and had the urge to punch his hateful face. Anger coursed through my veins, engaged in a furiously passionate battle with fear. 

"I don't want to have to kill you, Ezekiel. Let's have this clear. Leave Asteria. Leave Evimeria. Leave Obscura, and we shall have no issues. If you stay here, however-'' I felt his grip on my collar tighten so I almost choked. "I'll make sure you leave in pieces."

He left my collar, and I spluttered, trying to regain my breath as my heart hammered in my chest. The three of them walked away towards the elevator as dread filled my stomach. I tried to straighten my shirt, and I could still taste blood in my mouth and wondered if I had broken some teeth. I hated that I was afraid of him. But I always had been. Intimidated of his name. The one good thing was that I hadn't spoken. If I had, I was sure I would have broken into a stutter.

I was already late for class, however, and instead decided to rush into the restroom to try and fix my face as best as I could. My shirt was rumpled pathetically near my chest. A bruise had formed on my jaw, which steadily seemed to get darker in colour. I looked around and saw the first aid kit attached to the wall. I quickly put a bandage on the now dark blue area, making sure it wasn't visible. It felt sore, sending pain shooting through my face and into my skull. I took a few deep breaths, my mind reeling before I was finally ready to go out.

Mornings seemed to be busy at Asteria. Which meant that nobody spared glances at each other as everyone made their way to their classes. Some were chatting animatedly, some showing off their skills. I stopped in my tracks as I saw a guy create a stunning tornado in the palm of his hand, which vanished as soon as it had appeared. 

I finally reached the massive grounds, and my heart sank as I saw that the rest of the class was already seated as a bulky man addressed them in a gruff voice. I strolled over to the end of the class and quickly sat behind the last row. I fixed my gaze on the emerald grass as it gently rippled in the soft breeze. I hoped and prayed that I wouldn't be apprehended. 

"-a necessary survival skill," the man finished as I wondered what he had been talking about. "We will also be learning the art of stealth soon. And you young man can learn from it." He glanced directly at me, a challenging smirk on his face as the entire class turned their heads to see me. My heart raced as I began to speak.

I started picking at the single strands of glass, trying to ease my suffocating anxiety as it mounted. "Er..."

"Hunt, is it?" the man asked. I nodded, and all at once, there was a murmur of whispers in the class, which made my heart sink lower. I caught little wisps of words I couldn't quite make out. How much about me was known? Whore. Delinquent. Bastard. Half-breed. These sorts of words were embedded in my brain.

"I do not remember this being a tea party," the man said as silence fell immediately. He gazed at me; his eyes were suddenly glittering kindly. I felt the familiar paranoia and rising sense of suspicion that had become my constant companion. He had no reason to be nice to me. Why was he then? 

"Greenwood," he called and a guy answered in a wary voice.

"Yes?"

"I want you to bring Hunt up to speed with whatever's happened yet." He gestured to someone sitting near the back, and a blonde guy rose to his feet. "Rest of you, we will be revisiting some old basics. I want you all to write about the different fungi and their properties and which fungi you would use if I have a snakebite."

I groaned internally. In all honesty, I would have felt much more comfortable to remain on my own and wondered if I should just ask the guy to leave. 

There was a ripple of movement as everyone started working. The blonde guy walked over to me; his eyes widening slightly when he saw me. He tilted his head to the side. "Hey...are you okay?"

I averted his eyes, aware of my heartbeat audible in my ears and bit my tongue. I realized that my impulsive acts had resulted in a bald patch between the grass that I had subconsciously picked clean. I stopped at once.

 "What happened to your face?" he asked, his voice slightly raised as if in amusement.

"Er...I...n-nothing," I cursed under my breath, my unwelcome stutter was back. "I...look-look like this?" I answered, confused before I realized that he was perhaps referring to my eyes. I was half afraid he would laugh cruelly at my accent. At my words. At my compromised speech.

However, he smiled. "I mean the bandage. What happened?"

"Shaving," I lied smoothly. I felt irritated at his prodding questions and attempts at small talk. 

He stared at me for a while before shrugging. "Aureus Greenwood," he said, holding his hand out as if for me to shake.

"Er...Ezekiel Joziah Hunt," I said, not taking it.

"Your reputation precedes you as I'm sure you know," he replied. He looked a little offended, his eyes brows furrowing and his nostrils flaring ever so slightly at the rejection of his friendly handshake. He took a deep breath and glanced around at the rest of the class. "Come on."

We walked over to the end of the grounds, where what looked like random camp equipment was strewn around. This class was simply written as 'Life Skills,' on the time table and I had no idea what that would entail. I was half afraid he would start a small talk again but was grateful when he didn't.

"That's a tent," he said, pointing to a rolled-up fabric lying near my feet. "They always teach you that in the first sem."

He crouched down and I saw a flash of reflected light on his wrist where an elaborate, green bracelet was wrapped. It looked feminine, worn-out somehow and I wondered if it belonged to someone else. It glinted in an almost unearthly way under the sunlight.

He started undoing the material, revealing another rolled-up fabric. I nodded as he deftly set up the tent, instructing here and there. He stood back to admire his work after fifteen minutes. Our gazes met and I started at the striking similarity between his irises and the jade bracelet on his wrist. "So...there you go."

I nodded, knowing full well that I had understood nothing.

"How come you joined in so late?" he asked as my heart sank. I crouched down and started aimlessly fiddling with the tent so I wouldn't have to look at him.

"Situations," I answered. "Er...circumstances."

I could feel his green eyes boring into me. "Thanks for the synonyms. But I'm asking you directly because there have been a lot of speculations. All of them preposterously ridiculous."

I knew there would have been rumours. A part of me was itching to learn what they were. The other, more rational one was blissful to remain in the dark. I was already hating the way he was butting in uninvited. The way he kept asking questions that held no meaning to him and internally hoped he would leave me alone. 

"You can't have missed much. The Asteria Preliminary Academy...I've heard that it is pretty much the same as the one in the mortal world." He crouched in front of me, gazing at me intently. "So, what are they? The situations slash circumstances?"

He prodded again, much to my dismay. His green eyes shone with attention. My skin crawled uncomfortably, tiny insects prickling in my flesh. I wondered if it would be so bad to just ask him to leave. 

I sighed and straightened up. "It doesn't matter," I replied dismissively, struggling to keep my voice even.

I was dangerously annoyed at his insistence as he continued. "You're not obliged to tell me," he said. "But I'm just saying maybe it is better, to tell the truth than to believe in some cooked up lie." He kept staring at me as I fixed my eyes on the ground silently. "They're saying that you tried to kill a member of the royal family," he said nonchalantly. "Or, that you fell into er-intoxicants in the mortal world."

I scoffed. "Yes. Because Andreas sent me a truckload of money to snort coke at fucking Stonewall." I bit my tongue immediately after I said it.

He smirked. "So, I guess none of that is true?"

I was mildly shocked that he hadn't recoiled at me using my grandfather's first name. Something that was perhaps considered treacherous in Evimeria.

"Why are you so interested?" I asked, feeling suddenly defensive after my outburst. "Just believe in whatever the fuck you want. I think you should get back to the class anyway."

I nodded at the students who had already started submitting their sheets to the unnamed professor. Aureus stared at me, his emerald eyes suddenly dark and shrugged. "Whatever."

He walked away, leaving me feeling worse than before. I averted my gaze from him, my heart hammering in my chest as hot molten metal pooled in my stomach. Shivers and unpleasant tingles travelled up my spine. I knew I had been rude, but hoped it would keep him and everyone else away. 

I knew there would be rumours about me. However, I had only come to know two of them. Who knew how much worse they were? I knew I was about to find out, but I wasn't too eager.

A/N: Omfg I'm so excited that I got to finally introduce my favourite character! I love Zeke of course but that's a given but Aris asdfghjkll Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy the journey that Zeke will now start. Remember to vote if you liked the chapter and point out anything or just talk and chat down below!