GLASS || The Catalysts Series, #1

IV || Unearned Duel

As Lena steps into the classroom, it's as eerie and cold as an abandoned house. The door she's entered from shuts and probably disappears behind her, and all eyes turn towards her. A chill runs down her spine at the dead silence, and she doesn't know if it's a good sign — she is half expecting someone to attack her, or throw her with fireballs as a "welcoming gift".

She's only been in the city for less than a week and the academy for not even a day, but she's already having all these crazy thought. She wonders if people here go insane often.

What is she supposed to do? Introduce herself? Is that considered normal in Arcane Academy?

Her eyes dart around the room. Every student, dressed in the same uniform as her, still has their eyes on her. Some look bored, but some are genuinely curious. Yet no one makes a move.

Can this be the test Arcana mentioned? What exactly is her move supposed to be?

Then, just as quickly as Lena had appeared in this room, the students divert their attentions to the glass planes as windows on the other end of the room. Something seems to be going on.

And no one pays her any more attention.

Relief floods in and then out of her, another part of her feeling dejected, her heart sinking in disappointment.

Part of her is craving some attention after all she's gone through — with no one sparing her as little as a mere glance even if she was nearly crushed to death by a falling car and almost killed being tossed into a building by flying teenagers; no one but Neesha leading her through the grounds of Arcane Academy, all students minding their own fights as she struggles to fit into an entirely new territory.

Hence with the way Lena entered the room — though not voluntarily — with the door popping out of no where and ejecting a new girl, she half expected someone to come flying out of their seats and checking what's going on.

Apparently new students popping out of the walls from a temporary door instead of the front door doesn't seem to surprise people here.

And, apparently, she isn't interesting enough.

The door beside Lena — the proper entrance to the classroom — swings open. Relief floods Lena as her eyes catch sight of a familiar face in this strange new world.

"Oh, Lena!" Neesha says. Upon seeing Lena, her furrowed brows pull away, and her tensed shoulders relax. "I assume we're in the same class then?"

"Uh. Sure," Lena replies, completely unsure. Arcana never mentioned anything, but if he willed his door to appear in this class, then Lena thinks this must be it. She walks near to Neesha, then whispers, "Why is everyone so... quiet?"

Neesha doesn't peel away from her stare at the ground. "A student's making a ruckus."

That's surprising. "Isn't Arcane Academy full of students making a big deal out of everything?"

"Well, this is another case," Neesha explains, and her hard eyes make Lena bite her lip.

If some student making a ruckus is enough to get someone's attention, more than any fights or destruction of the academy itself — not like Lena has seen any crazy thing yet after 2 hours into the academy — then either this guy is some big shot or that something insane is going to happen. Something that will shake even the elites of Arcane Academy.

And Lena's right. Everyone seems agitated in their seats, and Neesha confirms it with her hardened expression.

Still, Neesha manages a smile. "It's nothing to worry about. I guess Arcana will take care of it soon. Here." She gestures to the back of the class. "I guess you can sit here —"