Bound By The Stars

A NEW BEGININGS

Lydia stepped out of the car and onto the gravel pathway leading to the gates of the Supernatural Academy.

The towering, ancient building loomed ahead, its stone walls lined with ivy, giving off an air of mystery that sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced back at her parents, who smiled warmly from the car, but something in their eyes seemed distant.

"We’ll be in touch," her mother said, leaning out of the window, her voice gentle yet hurried. "Take care of yourself, Lydia."

Her father nodded silently from the driver's seat. Without another word, they drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.

Lydia stood there, feeling a strange emptiness settle in her chest as the car disappeared down the road. She hadn’t expected to feel this... alone. It wasn’t just the academy that felt strange, it was the abruptness of her parents' departure. She shook her head, trying to push the uneasy feeling away.

Gathering her things, she walked through the gates of the academy, her black sneakers crunching on the gravel. The campus was alive with students, all seeming to know where they were going, chatting in groups, laughing. Lydia kept her head down, tugging on the sleeves of her black top and adjusting her backpack as she tried to disappear into the background.

But disappearing was harder than it seemed. She caught glimpses of curious eyes from the other student she didn’t know why, but they watched her, just as they had watched her parents pull away. She hated the attention. It was always easier to blend in, to avoid the spotlight, and yet she couldn't escape the feeling that she stood out here, in a place she barely understood.

The day passed slowly. Classes were uneventful, filled with students who seemed confident in their abilities, abilities Lydia had yet to discover. The whole academy was buzzing with supernatural energy, but Lydia felt like a blank page, a canvas untouched by any extraordinary power.

By the time she reached the cafeteria for lunch, she was exhausted, not from the activities but from the weight of feeling out of place. She found an empty table near the corner, far from the chatter of the other students, and sat down with her tray of food. The silence around her felt heavy, pressing against her skin.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes were watching.

Across the room, Eryx leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed casually as he observed her. He had noticed her the moment she arrived—how could he not? There was something about Lydia that was... different. She didn’t seem to realize how much attention she attracted. Her long black hair fell effortlessly over her shoulders, and while she dressed in a way that suggested she didn’t care about appearances, it only added to her striking beauty. But beyond the physical, Eryx sensed something else in her.. a depth, a quiet power waiting to be revealed.

He wasn’t the only one who had noticed her. But unlike the others, he wasn’t going to rush to introduce himself. He preferred to observe first, to understand before he acted. Lydia, though alone and introverted, intrigued him more than anyone else at the academy.

Lydia felt the weight of someone’s gaze but brushed it off. She wasn’t interested in making friends, not now, not when her whole world felt so uncertain. Her parents’ strange goodbye still lingered in her mind, and the fact that they hadn’t called or messaged her since made the silence even more unsettling.

Days passed, and Eryx continued to watch from a distance. Every day she sat alone in the cafeteria, eating in silence, her dark eyes scanning the room as if looking for answers she couldn't find. He saw how she kept to herself, how she avoided the other students, and it only deepened his curiosity. He knew there was more to Lydia than stealing glances.

And then, one day, he decided it was time.

The cafeteria was crowded as usual, but Lydia had found her corner again, sitting with her tray, eyes distant. He stood from his table, his tall frame moving through the crowd with purpose. A few heads turned as he walked past, he was known around the academy, after all. Handsome, with his dark brown hair and sharp features, but Eryx wasn’t interested in them. His focus was solely on Lydia.

Lydia noticed him before he reached her. She blinked, her mind racing as he approached. Why was he coming over? What did he want?

He stopped at her table, his expression cool but his voice soft. "Is this seat taken?"

Lydia frowned, confused. "No... but—"

Before she could finish, Eryx sat down across from her, his eyes never leaving hers. She felt her heart race, unsure of what to make of him. He was striking, yes, but she didn't like the way he looked at her, as if he knew something she didn’t.

"I find you appealing to me," Eryx said, his tone blunt, but somehow, it wasn’t awkward. He wasn’t playing games, wasn’t being coy. He was just... honest.

"What’s your name?" he asked suddenly, his voice steady.Lydia stood up abruptly, grabbing her tray, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. She wasn’t interested in answering, not when everything about this place already made her feel out of place.

She was ready to walk away, but as she turned toward the exit, she paused.Her mind ran through the possibilities, weighing her options. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to know someone here. Maybe, just maybe, letting someone in would ease the overwhelming loneliness she felt.

She glanced over her shoulder, her voice quiet but resolute. "Lydia.", Eryx smiled as he stood up too, his bright brown eyes catching the light. "And I’m Eryx. You can call me Ryx."