Alec Lightwood awoke that morning with a heavy head, a buzzing sensation with painful outcomes. For one, his eyes were struggling to keep open, the lack of sleep along with their endless practice upon book after book throughout the night had them exhausted. He barely managed to make his way over at the dormitory cafeteria of the west wing, quite far from the usual main floor, but he needed that, the space.

Alec let out a breath, his hand shielding his eyes from the dim morning light. Rubbing them to get better wasn't enough, using his stele to make his eyes heal enough to let the itching redness go did the trick however. It was also then when his stiff muscles came loose, when the tense shoulders let go of every pain they held. It was indeed then when he realised how truly tired he was.

"This is frustrating..." Alec whispered slightly agrivated yet dryly, accepting somewhat defeat, he woke up with his patiance already running thin. Today is not going to be a good one, he told himself. Alec somehow always came to that conclusion when he didn't get enough sleep, which seems to have grown into a bad habit. But what could he do? He needed answears no one was willing to give.

Sleepless nights filled with endless ancient texts among the countless cryptic books, Alec felt like he was searching for answers that didn't want to fall upon his gaze, like an ominous secret to never be whispered. "Maybe it is just my wonderous delusions..."

Stretching his legs under the round table, Alec closed his eyes. Slumping forward the large but short armchair he had settled on, he allowed his ears to loose focus, the morning blaber of his comrades somewhat loud yet distant. His head hang back, resting on the top rail of his chair while his lower back suffered, edging between the ends of his seat, a bit more and it would be hanging on nothing.

It was unlike him, to show such posture in public. Alec Lightwood is the future head of his family, a position among the council, the Clave, was almost a certain reading, like fate. Always standing straight, receiving and giving commands like it's law, he was presumed to be a strict but a righteous young man. That's all he had been listening since he was a child, don't just follow the law, be the law. Be someone strong, intelligent, a leader of many prosperities.

"..." Alec didn't dare speak aloud his frustration. Everyone has been nodding their heads at his presence in respect, like he is the second coming of the king of the great heavens... In some unfortunate cases, he wishes to forget, some had even bowed. When he was little he didnt get such intense recognision as he had yet to prove himself. Now... Now, Alec had nightmares of being the sucrificial lamp.

Alec sighned, reopening his eyes, he fixed his posture to sit apropriatly. His gaze lingered around for a bit, the west wing was mainly filled with newibies thus why he was left alone, he is unrecognisable here. Around thirty tables, he sat in a far corner, new members tended to be quite the sociable ones, hiding even from them was something he wouldn't openly admit. Alec still held his pride. After all, another reason he chose such place was because of the lighting, less bright, dim, endurable.

This cafeteria didn't match necessarily the rest of the institute, it was darker, the curtains a rotting red colour while the walls were just a bit lighter. The NY Institute was one of the main bases for Nephilims all around the world. So it was represented like their gods, devine and holy. The walls where all shades from white to light grey with golden and silver details, yet the floors were dark, wooden, a reminder where they stood. They might be servants of angels, warriors of grand honour, but they are still walking on solid ground. They have not reached the sky, they will never until their death. And that only if they gain the Angel's favour, passing the final trial of judgment.

Alec didn't necessarily care for the interior of the institute but sometimes exposer to some colour was needed. The institute was a large building with five cafeterias in total, this one wasn't the most popular or the most well kept.
Almost forgotten, Alec needed such place right now. He had to start moving though, his sceduale was strict, supervised and formed by his father. Alec might have been receiving honourable praise by most but his parents were too concernd for him not to loose the favour he had gained rather than to sit back for a second and express their admiration for his hard work.

He had to bear it, if not, his siblings will be assighned to take his place. But even that plan seemed to tear down bit by bit.

Izzy had cunningly made open relations with downworlders, leaving her off the hoop, she chose the label of the disgrased than become something she is not. The drama their parents so much feared did not come from the majority, as it is not such a rarity to see a shadow hunter emerging in a relationship of any kind with a downworlder, but the twelve people in power, the Clave. They did not wish to upgrade Isabelle Lightwood to anything other than a warriror in the front lines, calling her way of life an emmbarashment and a vile insult upon the Nephilim name. Izzy seemed unbothered by it but it was Alec that held her that night, when she felt the hatred of the world was crushing down on her. She didn't loose eveything, just a bit of her dignity. Maryse and Robert had finally let her free, they no longer watched upon her to critisize her mistakes, her flaws that seemed endless according to their lectures.

Izzy might not speak of it, but it did hurt loosing her parents. Nevertheless, it was a sacrifice she had to make in order to live as she wished. Alec could only envy her strength back then, now, he yarns for it. But he couldn't act on it, even if Izzy had managed to gain her freedom, Alec still had Max.

Max wasn't fit to take the pressure that was and still is placed upon his big brother. It's the certainty of Alec's reliability for such position that has allowed their parents to love and spoil their youngest. Somehow, even without them saying it, Maryse and Robert were truly greatful for Alec's demeanour and responsible character. It gave them the ability to breath, knowing they did their part as parents of such status.

In the end it was Alec, the future head of the family that suffered the most. Sometimes, it was too much, it could become so unbearable, so sorrowful knowing he can never live according to his wishes. The young man placed a hand on his chest, soothing his heart.

Alec hasn't even noticed how empty the cafeteria had came to be, he just sat there with a grim look on his face, contemplating his life choices. It didn't take much to burst the bubble. "Excuse me? The cafeteria is about to close..." The middle aged man called out softly, a worker assigned for the clean up.

Alec nodded, letting out a subtle apology for the unnecessary burden. He left the cafeteria with newfound anxiety, he had Robert over his head the past days, nagging and ordering him around without one pleasant thing to say.

'He has been up my ass all weekend...' Alec thought with a slight grimace.

His strides seemed urgent, some shadow hunters moved out of the way for him, it made Alec uncomfortable. They started whispering, making second glances his way. Did they knew him too? They are at the west wing for angel's sake, they are not just new to being a shadow hunter, they are new to everything, this world of myths is their new discovery, of all surprising things, Alec Lightwood was what caught their attention this early in the morning?

Alec shook his head, the west wing isn't attached to the rest, a garden separated it from the entirety of the building, how could they possibly know him?

"Hey, em..."
A hand had grasped his shoulder, cutting his walk abruptly, mainly by his own surprise than the strength implied. Alec turned his attention to the woman on his heel, red hair, bright green eyes.

"Hi, good morning! I am Clary Fairchild, I seem to be lost..." She smiled with a face of anticipation, somewhat of an anxious eagerness. She had moved her hand for a friendly shake but Alec didn't seem to take notice, maybe even deciding to ignore it.

"Where are you heading?" Alec signed, taking a breath and focusing where he must, to the present.

Clary raised an eyebrow at the sudden exhale, mistaking it for a silent complaint. "If I am troubling you, I can always ask someone else."

Alec's own brown twitched at such tone, maybe it was because of his already built up moodiness, Alec knew it shouldn't aggravate him that much but it did. "Did I say I won't help you?" He too, misunderstood.

"You implied it." The response came quick, with a tad of arrogance, Alec rolled his eyes at that. "Go ahead then."

It seemed both shadow hunters have been having it rough the last few days, different reasons, mutual feelings. If they weren't so stubborn, it might have been an opportunity for a friendship to form. Alas, it may be time that they need.

Clary looked left and right, everyone had already headed out to handle their daily duties, what a luck. For a moment she contemplated her options, hesitant she spoke up again. "Look, I am sorry for that, I am just new to all these... It has been a struggle among other things."

Alec nodded, wanting this to be over with so he can move on with his day, the stages of misery, which one would it be this time? Failure? Loneliness? Self doubt? All of it?

He also had to continue his research tonight... So many things to do in so little time.

"I am supposed to go training at the northern wing, I am not sure where exactly that is?" Clary tried again only to frown under Alec's look of mocking disbelief. "The northern wing is for more... For shadow hunters that have some experience in the field."

"... How can you make such assumption when you just met me?" Clary huffed, of all people this institute carries she just had to stumble upon him.

"We are at the west wing... People here train to learn how to hold a dagger, let alone kill off a demon." Alec pointed out, a subtle show of his own arrogance that was cut short.

"Aren't you also in the west wing?"

"... I came by just- I'm not going to explain myself to you."

Clary moved on, a victorious smile on her face. "I have killed a demon before... Jace, a high ranked shadow hunter was there too! He is the one who brought me here... I can confirm it... When I find him." As she spoke the more confidence she came to loose, her uncertainty becoming her ultimate weakness.

Alec bit the inside of his cheek, taken aback by the sudden revelation of things. "Jace Herondale?"

"Him!" Clary exhaled with relief, finally feeling understood. "The tall blonde with all these tattoos on his arms! He said if I speak his name people will understand."

Not that tall, Alec thought before wincing, how can see move up the scale when she doesn't even know what runes are? "When exactly did you arrive?"

"Last night."

That was it, the thing Alec didn't like about that girl. It was that dumb confidence she has without knowing anything. "Right... Of course."

Alec started moving again, the redhead close behind him, trying to reach his side. "Why the hurry?" She questioned, getting to walk next to him. Alec glanced at her, his annoyance clear and loud. "You and I both are late."

"You also are heading to the northern wing... Despite being from the west wing?" She could help but imitate surprise at such fact, laughing when Alec kept ignoring her. In Clary's eyes, she had stumbled upon a comrade of the same level, maybe a tad more advanced, thus the cockiness.

In Alec's eyes, it seemed he had become some short of magnet that attracts all short of trouble and idiots, Jace being the leader of the trolls in his life. He let out another sigh, wishing for the day to end quickly.