"Whispers of the Enchanted Forest: Rita's Mysterious Odyssey"

Chapter 15

It was 5am when the sound of trumpets signaled the time to wake up. The entire area emerges in darkness as the sun yet to rise. I hid my head under the covers, groaning miserably, hoping to get back to my wonderful dream. Shortly after, the principal made an announcement. "Everyone is to report to the auditorium in building 1 please. You are allowed to come in your pajamas. If I were you I would take advantage of this. Principal out. See, I'm cool."

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as Dominic entered my room. The soft creak of the door hinges accompanied her entrance. I couldn't help but notice the exhaustion etched across her face, the weariness evident in the circles beneath her eyes.

Dominic, clad in a long sapphire blue dress, looked like she had been through a long night. My gaze flickered to the light emanating from her room, and I observed the telltale signs of a late-night study session. Textbooks were scattered on her desk, notebooks lay open, and highlighter pens adorned the pages. It was evident that she had been immersed in her studies, perhaps the entire night.

Concern etched my expression as I stepped out of bed, still in my feather pajamas. "Dominic, have you been studying all night? You look exhausted."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I had a lot to catch up on. Exams are around the corner, and I want to be prepared."

I nodded understandingly, knowing the pressures of academic life. "You need to take breaks, you know? It's not healthy to push yourself so hard."

Dominic managed a tired smile, appreciating the concern. "I know, I know. I just wanted to make sure I'm ready. Anyway, let's head to building one. Maybe that'll help me wake up a bit."

We left her room, and the soft glow of the hallway lights revealed the weariness in Dominic's eyes.

The bizarre scene in Alexa's room left me utterly stunned. A white leopard peacefully sleeping on her bed was not something I expected to find. Dominic, however, seemed unfazed as she casually approached the leopard and playfully hit it with a pillow.

I watched in disbelief as the leopard, seemingly unperturbed, yawned and stretched, eventually transforming into Alexa. The transition was surreal—fur turning into human skin, leopard paws becoming human hands, and the wild animal's yawn morphing into a human one.

As Alexa stood up, her long white hair turned an unexpected shade of blue, and the distinctive snowflake pendant in her hair became more pronounced along with black capri set clothing. The room, once occupied by a wild animal, was now filled with the presence of a person who seemed entirely at ease with the transformation.

"I'm too tired for the morning madness," I thought, trying to process the surreal spectacle before me. The fatigue from waking up early coupled with the sheer oddity of the situation made it challenging to comprehend what had just transpired.

Alexa, now fully human and seemingly accustomed to this peculiar morning routine, greeted us with a nonchalant smile. "Morning, guys. Sorry about the leopard. It's just easier for me to get up this way."

As I blinked, still trying to wrap my head around the magical transformation, Dominic simply shrugged. "Well, it's one way to wake up, I guess."

We left Alexa's room, the morning madness lingering in the air.

As Alexa, Dominic, and I entered Anika's room, she was already awake, immersed in her own world with headphones on. When the lights were turned on, she looked up and noticed the three of you. Anika took off her headphones and let out a tired yawn. Anika is described as wearing a long, orange sleep shirt. After rolling her eyes, likely in response to being disturbed from her activities, she stretched—perhaps signaling the beginning of her day after the interruption. The orange sleep shirt suggests a comfortable and relaxed choice for night-time attire.