Reading Between the Lines

Chapter 1: Impressions

"The greatest friend of the soul is the unknown."

~John O'Donohue

***

The future...

Sarvani-

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HIM!" I yell as I run toward the other bloodied soldier, ready to pounce and save Shanthi with an epic attack that I practiced. These talons have been nothing but a pain in my ass recently, but they can be pretty useful when they need to be. I do admit, the castle is not the best choice of scenery for all this blood, but sometimes fights like these break out when you least expect it. I move my messy hair out of the way as I lunge and slash her arm through to the bone, making her yell out in agony.

Now I know you may be thinking: Why are you trying to murder someone with sharp fingernails? And why are you at a castle?

Well, that reason will come much later. It's a pretty complicated story.

It all began in August 2022, when I decided to move across the country to a new school called Hillmore University. I just wanted to start fresh in a new city and attend one of the best universities in the world for Finance. But I got nothing except the opposite. My entire life flipped upside down the moment I stepped onto that campus.

And it all started with them... it all started with directions to a class.

***

One year ago-

"And I thought Stern was huge," I mutter to myself as I circle the hallway for the third time trying to find my Econ class. I've had to go to that class 3 separate times, on 3 separate days, and I still can't remember how to get there. I see the murals and glass panels (which I'm sure I remember) and think I'm going in the right direction, but end up right back where I started.

It's the second week, so I wanted to start on a confident note. I have a map with me on my phone, but that only made me more confused. So now I'm back to just walking around until I coincidentally stop in front of the room. The confidence is flowing out of me right now!

Be a transfer student, they said. It will be fun, they said.

Yeah, maybe if you're not scared out of your wits. What was I thinking by moving all the way from New York City to Dallas?

 No, no. I shouldn't think like that again. The whole purpose of moving all the way here for the ultimate dream: Sir Garfield Hillmore University, aka one of the best and probably the most enigmatic university in the world.

 Sure, the school's website is a little dinky and no one I know was even aware of this place's existence, but the mystery is intriguing. And if mystery means attending the 3rd best undergraduate business school in the US behind Wharton and Sloan, then it doesn't matter. My parents were always so against me applying here, but they suddenly realized that I need to discover the world and they were all for it. So now...

Nako Kroft School of Management, I have arrived. After a brief stop in Greenwich Village.

Once my freshman year was over, I spent the entire summer with my friends before I moved down here with my family two weeks before classes began. The funny part? I was so confident about my first week here. I thought I could adapt here quickly and have a stress-free time.

Being here as a full-fledged student is a completely different feeling, though. Now I'm realizing how daunting this place truly is. The school looks like it's straight out of Fairytale 101, everything looks pristine, and people here are too ethereal to exist. I know that having a crush on your prof is gross, but have you seen the professors here? I spend more time gawking at them than paying attention to the class, which already tells you how I'm going to do at this school.