Purely Wicked (discontinued)

Chapter 03|| Hansel's Haven

Sophie knew even more that she was in the right place because the faculty gazed at her with warm smiles and sparkling eyes.

Together they lined the four spiral staircases of the cavernous glass foyer, two of them pink, two blue, showering confetti upon the new students. The female professors wore different-coloured versions of the same slim, high-necked dress, with a glittering silver swan crest over the heart. Each had added a personal touch to the dress, whether inlaid crystals, beaded flowers, or even a tulle bow.

The male professors, meanwhile, all wore bright slim suits in a rainbow of hues, paired with matching vests, narrow ties, and colourful kerchiefs tucked into pockets embroidered with the same silver swan.
Sophie noticed immediately they were all more attractive than any adults she had ever seen- apart from her mother. Even the elder faculty were elegant to the point of intimidation. Sophie had always tried to convince herself beauty was pointless because it was temporary. Here was proof it lasted forever.
"Where are the boys?" Sophie heard one ask another, as the girls filed in in front of three enormous, floating nymphs with neon hair and lips, who handed out their schedules, books and robes.

Sophie led the line behind her, along with Beatrix, and looked at the majestic stair room. The wall opposite her had an enormous pink-painted E, with lovingly drawn angels and sylphs fluttering around the edges. The other three walls had painted letters too, spelling out the word E-V-E-R in pink and blue.

The four spiral staircases were arranged symmetrically at the corners of each wall, lit by high stained glass windows. One of the two blue flights had HONOR tattooed upon its baluster, along with glass etchings of knights and kings, while the other read VALOUR, decorated with blue reliefs of hunters and archers l. The two pink staircases had PURITY and CHARITY emblazoned in gold, with delicate friezes of sculpted maidens, princesses, and kindly animals.

In the centre of the room, alumni portraits blanketed a soaring crystal obelisk that reached from milky marble floor to domed sunroof. Higher up on the obelisk were gold-framed portraits of students who became princes and queens after graduation. In the middle were silver frames, for those who found lesser fates as jaunty sidekicks, dutiful housewives, and fairy godmothers. And near the bottom of the pillar, flecked with dust, were bronze-framed underachievers who had ended up footmen and servants. But regardless of whether they became a Snow Queen or a chimney sweep, Sophie saw the students shared the sake beautiful faces, kind smiles, and soulful eyes. Here in a glass palace in the middle of the woods, then best of life had gathered in service of Good.

Sophie waited with Beatrix and chatted to her before a pink-haired nymph approached her with a smile, handing her a piece of parchment.

Sophie of Woods Beyond
GOOD, 1st Year
Purity Tower 51
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Session
1:Beautification
2: Princess Etiquette
3: Animal Communication
4: History of Heroism
5: Lunch
6: Good Deeds
7: Surviving Fairy Tales
(Forest Group #3)

Faculty
1: Prof. Emma Anemone
2: Pollux
3: Princess Uma
4: August Sader
5: Lunch
6: Prof. Clarissa Dovey
7: Yuba the Gnome

Sophie thanked the nymph before another green-haired nymph thrust her a basket of books, some peeking out:

The Privilege of Beauty
Winning Your Prince
The Recipe Book for Good Looks
Princess with a Purpose
Animal Speech 1: Barks, Neighs, & Chirps

Then a blue-haired nymph held up her uniform: a cute, short pink pinafore, sleeves poofed with carnations, worn over a white lace blouse.

Giggling with Beatrix over their uniforms and textbooks, Sophie looked at future princesses around her, tightening their pink dresses. She looked at the books that told her beauty was a privilege, that she could win a chiselled prince, that she could talk to birds. She looked at her schedule that was meant for her.

Sophie sighed in happiness. She was home.