Akilah's pov~
I always thought leaving home would feel exciting.
Instead, it felt like grief.
The golden sun hung low over Savana Prime, its light spilling across the ivory sands like a final blessing. The polished, ivory-like landing strip floor beneath my shoes radiated warmth, and the air smelled of heated Earth and Aurelion.
I stood alone for a moment, letting the light settle across my face. I felt Azai's hand rest lightly on my shoulder, his amber gaze soft, like my mother's, while Miro stood beside him, arms crossed, and a familiar stubbornness that mirrored my own.
"You don't have to pretend," Miro murmured, "that you're not scared."
"I'm not scared," I said, letting the lie roll smoothly off my tongue.
Azai scoffed, one corner of his mouth curling. "Ah, yes. Your famous line before doing something spectacularly stupid to stay face. We've lived with you your entire life; you can't lie to us."
I allowed myself the faintest smile. "Ahhh, that's sweet. You really are my brothers and not adopted."
Aunt Saphira appeared beside us, draped in a flowing, sunset-coloured ceremonial silk. Her silver dreadlocks, threaded with tiny desert pearls that shimmered as she moved. Her hand found my cheek, warm and firm. Her eyes were searching mine.
"Remember, you are not alone on this journey, Ndzi famba na wena, n'wana wa mina," She murmured. "The stars will guide you, but it's your fire that will define you. Even fire itself needs breath to burn brighter."
I let her words sink in before pulling her into a hug.
"I will be missing you the most, Aunt Saphira," I whispered so only she could hear.
She pulled back, leaning her forehead against mine. "And I for you, my little sunflower."
My gaze drifted toward the palace doors.
They remained closed, motionless, empty.
My stomach twisted.
"He's not coming, is he?"
Nobody answered, which gave me their answer, and somehow, that hurt more than expected.
I nodded once, swallowing the hurt I felt. I knew what I was doing when I asked that question, and I already knew the answer. I learned long ago to stop expecting things from him because the more I hope, the more I will be disappointed, but I thought today would be different, I guess not.
With one last look at my family, I slung my backpack over my shoulder as I walked towards the awaiting vessel.
The vessel shuddered softly beneath my feet as its engines came alive.
A low, resonant hum rolled through the hull, vibrating up my legs and into my chest as the stairs sealed shut behind me. Outside, the Palace blurred beneath the rising heat haze, ivory sands glowing gold as the ship began its slow ascent into the sky.
The ship was a marvel, hovering in the sunlight with wings unfurling like molten metal in motion. Its hull shimmered between obsidian and Auralion, alive in a way that made the air hum around it. Golden lines pulsed across its frame, veins of energy that seemed to breathe with the vessel itself.
Inside, the cabin was a cathedral of light and technology — black glass walls engraved with faint constellations, golden threads forming sacred runes that pulsed gently. The onyx crystal floor reflected the soft blue glow of the ceiling, transparent and revealing the sky beyond.
Nadira was already inside, lounging across a reclining seat with a mischievous glint in her golden eyes.
Her skin carried a warm, rich caramel-brown tone — smooth, glowing, and sun-kissed. Her honey-blonde curls left wild with volume, each coil catching the cabin light like spun gold. Her figure was lush yet graceful, a narrow waist flowing into full hips, her thighs strong and beautifully sculpted. You could see the intricate golden mandala marking, its delicate lines teasingly revealed beneath the hem of her black dress. The dress clung perfectly, like a second skin, with long sleeves featuring thumbholes and metallic threads stitched around the hem.
She smirked when she saw me. "Took you long enough, princess."
I rolled my eyes, sliding into the seat beside her. I, on the other hand, wore loose grey open-leg sweatpants, paired with a black crop top that layered beneath a dark brown zip-up. I wore sneakers instead of heels, which were practical for a three-hour flight.
My hair was braided into two braids that framed my face neatly.
"Say goodbye to royal baths and endless meals," Nadira teased. "Next stop — shared showers and cafeteria sludge."
I laughed. "You really know how to calm my nerves."
"Who said anything about calming when there is a tool created specifically for that?" she replied, grinning, reaching into her bag to pull out a small obsidian box.
I raised an eyebrow. "You didn't…"
She popped it open, revealing a sleek silver mistpop that swirled a faint mist, lightly scented with mint and sugar.
"Nadira," I hissed, "we're flying under the royal seal! Do you want to get in trouble before we land"?
"Relax," she said, rolling her eyes. "No one is gonna find out, and besides, it's mostly herbal."
I shook my head as we burst out laughing.
My gaze shifted to the window as I watched the sun begin to set. The afternoon sky softened into a mixture of molten colours. Pale golden light thinned across the horizon, melting into layers of warm amber and honeyed peach.
Nadira eventually stopped laughing.
"You're thinking about him again."
I looked away.
"No."
"Liar."
I didn't answer.
Because the truth was worse.
I was indeed thinking of my father. Wondering why I wasn't enough for him.
The thought sat heavy in my chest.
It had years.
No matter how many times I told myself I didn't care.
No matter how many times I convinced myself I had moved on.
The question always found its way back.
Why did he hate me so much?
Nadira tilted her head, studying me. "Are you okay?"
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should lie, but I knew better than to lie to her. She could read me like a book.
"Do you ever feel like you're not enough, that no matter how hard you try to be the perfect daughter, it's still not enough?" I asked quietly. "I mean, your dad never really expects much from you, but do you ever feel like you need to be great at something for you to get your father's approval.
My father had looked at me countless times throughout my life.
But whenever he did…
It always felt like he was searching for someone else.
Someone better.
Someone worth keeping.
Someone who wasn't me.
"You know," Nadira said quietly, leaning her elbows against the railing beside me, "for someone who claims she doesn't care, you spend an awful lot of time thinking about him."
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"I know."
Her expression softened.
"You ever think maybe the problem wasn't you?"
I snorted.
"Sounds like something people say when they don't know what else to say."
"I'm serious."
She nudged my shoulder.
"Some people just suck."
That earned a small smile from me.
"A very wise observation."
"I know."
She tossed her curls dramatically.
"I should write a book."
I rolled my eyes.
"The world isn't ready for that level of stupidity."
Nadira gasped.
"Excuse you."
I laughed, a real laugh. The kind that loosened the knot sitting inside my chest.
For a moment, things felt normal again.
For a moment, I wasn't the abandoned daughter of a king.
I was just Akilah.
A girl sitting on a ship with her best friend.
"I'm sure you're going to miss your family."
"Well," she said brightly, "anything beats staying trapped under the reign of my dear, dear older sister, Zolana, but I would definitely miss Theo thou."
We burst out laughing. We knew very well what Zolana could be, and trust me, she's such a stick-in-the-mud—that and the fact that she has a crush on Azai. Theo, her little brother, is the cutest beast ever. I call him that cause every time I am around them, he acts tough and tells me how he will always protect me.
A loud crash suddenly echoed from somewhere nearby.
Both Nadira and I jumped.
"What was that?" she asked.
I turned toward the sound.
A stack of luggage had toppled over near one of the seating areas.
Clothes and books were scattered across the floor.
And standing in the middle of the mess was a girl.
A very embarrassed girl.
She couldn't have been much older than us.
Long chestnut-brown hair spilled around her shoulders.
Round glasses sat crooked on her nose.
She stared at the disaster around her with wide eyes.
Her face turned bright red.
"Oh no."
The words barely came out above a whisper.
Nadira blinked.
Then, immediately burst out laughing.
The girl looked seconds away from passing out.
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered quickly, crouching down to grab her things. "I didn't mean to—"
She accidentally knocked over another bag.
A book flew across the deck.
Nadira laughed harder.
I shot her a look.
"You're not helping."
"I'm trying," she wheezed.
"No, you're not."
I walked over and picked up the book.
The girl froze.
For a second, she looked like she expected me to yell at her.
Instead, I held it out.
"You dropped this."
She blinked.
"Oh."
A pause.
"Thank you."Her voice is barely above a whisper.
"No problem."
She accepted the book carefully. Like she was afraid it might explode. Or maybe she was afraid I would. I wasn't sure.
Nadira finally wandered over. Still smiling.
"You're heading to Veyloria too?"
The girl nodded quickly.
"Y-yes."
"Ahhh, you must be the third who's coming with us, well I'm Nadira, and this is…,"
"Princess Akilah, I know who you are. I spent a lot of time observing you in high school," she replied.
"What's your name?" I asked.
The girl hesitated.
"Eria."
Nadira smiled brightly.
"Nice to meet you, Eria."
Eria offered a nervous smile in return.
"Wanna come sit with us? After all, we are going to be spending a lot of time together, so we might as well get to know each other," Nadira said, waving her over before sitting back down.
She accepted the gesture and sat opposited from us.
I had a feeling our journey had just become a little more interesting.
—————————————
After what seemed like an eternity, we were finally met with emerald forests that started to appear beneath us, rivers glowing silver as if lit from within.
The closer we got to Lycaria, the quieter the cabin became.
Nobody said it out loud.
But we all knew.
We weren't arriving as guests.
We were arriving as outsiders.
Lycaria rose from the land like a living entity. We reached an opening surrounded by trees and a fleet of cars awaiting below.
The vessel descended to the ground, landing on the landing strip. The doors then opened, exposing a blindingly bright light as we stepped out.
I couldn't explain it, but the moment my feet touched Lycarian soil, a strange feeling settled in my chest.
We walked towards them, Nadira next to me as Eria hid behind me.
In front of us, parked one of the sleek, black cars, every line and edge shimmering with engineered elegance.
They were flanked by guards—tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in black uniforms stitched with wolf motifs.
One of them stepped forward, fist crossing his chest in a formal salute.
"Princess Akilah of Felinara," he said. "By order of His Majesty, King Theron of Lycaria, we are here to escort you and your companions to your designated destination. You are most welcome within our kingdom."
The guards seemed polite, by eyes weren't. Every stare lingered a second too long, and their expressions seemed carefully controlled.
I inclined my head, composing myself. "Thank you. It's an honour to finally stand on Lycarian soil."
"We hope your journey was not too taxing."
Before I could respond, Nadira leaned in beside me.
"Taxing?" she echoed. "I could still feel my butt cramping from sitting for too long."
"The king has arranged transport for your arrival," the guard continued smoothly, gesturing toward the vehicles.
The guards moved forward to collect our luggage. I grabbed Eria's hand to assure her it's okay before moving towards the car. One of the guards opened the door of the vehicle for us, revealing the dark leather seating stitched with silver thread. You could smell the faint scent of cedar and polished metal that lingered inside.
Nadira paused dramatically at the doorway. "Ohhh, wow, Lycaria definitely has taste."
"Get in," I murmured.
She slipped inside, immediately inspecting every surface, while Eria kept playing with her fingers, poor thing must be terrified. I looked out, settling in against the cool leather seat as the car began to move.
We drove for what seemed like an hour through the forest before a bright city surrounded by nature came into view.
Lycaria unfolded like a living painting.
Moonstone streets stretched wide and clean, glowing faintly beneath our tyres. Buildings rose in elegant harmony—tall spires and sweeping arches, their surfaces carved with celestial patterns that shimmered as sunlight kissed them. Glass bridges connected towers at impossible heights, and hanging gardens spilled over balconies, silver-leafed vines trailing like starlight caught mid-fall.
The streets were filled with werewolves, walking and chatting among each other, entering stores with their hands filled with bags. Lycaria is definitely the opposite of Felinara. Is more luxurious, while Felinara is more humble.
Nadira pressed her nose lightly against the window. "Okay...I hate to admit it, but this place is fairly beautiful."
This place… was certainly breathtaking. My chest tightened in awe as I looked at the people standing near the buildings chatting with each other.
So this is where destinies collide, I thought.
We passed a grand plaza where a massive lunar fountain stood—three stone wolves howling toward a suspended crescent moon, water cascading upward instead of down. Children laughed nearby, chasing each other. Elders watched from wooden benches.
A small smile crept onto my face as I watched them.
The car slowed as we came upon towering gates bearing a howling wolf. We passed through them and came face to face with a huge old-style building.
From a distance, it resembles what I believe is an old castle. Its structures rose in layered tiers, the stone was etched with old runes and celestial markings, and vines cascaded along the windows.
"No fricking way that's the school," Nadira squealed as we passed by.
"Yes, it's actually the first castle where King Theron the First used to live, which was then transformed into Veyloria Academy," Eria said.
"And you know this how?" Nadira asked
"I read it in a book," she shyly replied.
We drove around seeing more of the school. The courtyards had striking features. Their gardens are full of different kinds of flowers I have never seen before, with stone benches floating inches above the ground, fountains, and trees that seem to bear fruit. The training grounds are carved directly into the stone floors. Further down the road, a few buildings started to emerge. The car came to a halt in front of one of them. The door was opened for us, allowing us to step out and admire the place.
Tall, narrow towers with iron-laced balconies and glowing lanterns.
As we walked towards the building, a middle-aged woman stood ramrod straight at the entrance of the building courtyard, hands clasped behind her back like a warden preparing for inspection. Her hair was pulled into a severe bun, every strand tight, unmoving. Her face was sharp—angular cheekbones, thin lips pressed into a line of disapproval, eyes cold and assessing.
"So," she said flatly. "You must be the transfers. I am Mrs Elinor and shall be addressed as such. I am the dormitory's management, and all inquiries run through me. You may be new to Veyloria Academy, but as you have seen, this is a prestigious school for werewolves and lycans. Our school is known to be the best, and we hope it stays that way."
Nadira leaned toward me and whispered, "Geez, who put wrinkle face in charge?"
Mrs Elinor's gaze snapped to her. "I heard that."
"Of course you did," Nadira smiled brightly, before leaning towards me again, " Ndzi vula ntsena, hi tindleve to fana ni teto, ndza tiyisisa leswaku a a nga twa ku rhuvha ka mina ku suka eFelinara ku fika kwala."
I let out a snort, covering my mouth. She wasn't wrong; she did have big ears.
Mrs Elinor turned her attention to me, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "You must be Princess Akilah, you know it's very unusual for a princess to snort, did you not learn any manners back home?"
"My apologies if my laugh offended you, that was not my….,"
"Well, this isn't Felinara, no foolishness will be tolerated, only elegance and standards, but don't worry, by the time we are done with you, you will be a proper princess," she said, a smile plastered on her face.
That caused me to gasp at her choice of words and call me an improper princess.
"Now listen carefully. I do not like to repeat myself."
She began to pace slowly.
"Girls and boys are housed in separate dormitories. This one behind me is the girls' dormitory, and the one on the far left is for the boys. You are not permitted to enter each other's living quarters under any circumstances. Curfew is at 10 p.m. sharp. Doors lock automatically."
Nadira raised a hand. "Automatically, what if you're stuck in a situation?"
Mrs Elinor stopped. Smiled thinly. "Then, the more reason to run or be prepared to sleep outside."
"Run, as in use my legs. What am I, a cheetah?" Nadira muttered.
"Breaking curfew," Mrs Elinor continued, "results in disciplinary confinement and loss of privileges. If you get three strikes, a disciplinary hearing is set, and you could get expelled."
Veyloria academy more like a Veyloria prison; they run a tight ship.
"Additional rules," she added, ticking them off. "No unsanctioned duels. No sneaking out of school premises. And absolutely no leaving academy grounds without being told so."
"Now any questions?"
"Yea…," Eria tried to say what was cut short.
"Now for your rooms." She paused, eyes flicking to me again. "Princess Akilah, you have been requested a private room."
"That really isn't necessary..." I began
"It was by request, " she cut me off.
"Who requested it?"
"The king. Do you have a problem with the king's request?" she said.
"No, the room is fine," I replied, not trying to cause any drama over a room.
"The rest of you," she said coolly, "will share."
Nadira and Eria looked at each other.
Mrs Elinor motioned for us girls to follow.
As we walked, the atmosphere shifted.
A group of werewolf girls stood near a stone archway ahead—tall, athletic, and very beautiful. They stopped talking when they noticed us.
As we walked past them, I could hear the whispers that followed.
"I still can't believe they will be attending school with us."
They don't belong here."
"Look at them."
"The king should never have allowed this."
"I heard they're savages."
Their stares were sharp—some openly hostile, others curious, a few burning with envy. We were being measured, catalogued, judged.
Nadira leaned closer, whispering loudly, "Wow. If looks could kill, we'd already be dead."
One of the werewolves snarled softly.
Nadira waved. "Hi! Love the hair. Very feral chic."
I shook my head. This girl is going to get us killed or, even worse, expelled. Even in the most serious moments, she can't take life seriously.
Mrs Elinor didn't slow her pace. "Ignore them," she said curtly. "They're just territorial."
We reached Nadira and Eria's room before I was shown to mine. It was a floor above theirs.
I reached my room and opened the door. I sucked in a sharp breath. The first thing that drew my eye was the curved glass wall, stretching wide and tall, framing the outside world like a living painting. Thick branches from an old tree press close to the window, and leaves brush against the glass. The light that filters in is gentle and natural.
Beneath the window sits a curved wooden desk, custom-built to follow the shape of the wall. It is worn in places, clearly loved and used. A Holo-pad screen glows faintly, brand-new notebooks stacked neatly together with pens placed beside them.
To the right corner is a bed, with a nightstand on its side. A navy blue hoodie, with the school crest, sat folded on top of the bedding.
What completes the room is the balcony, accessible through a slim glass door beside the window.
"Your class schedules should be sent to you via your holo-pad. School starts at 8 sharp. I will be waiting for you girls downstairs tomorrow morning."
I nodded once, keeping my expression firm as Mrs Elinor turned away as she walked out of my room, the door shutting behind her.
My gaze drifted outside the window as I took in the scenery. Lycaria was indeed beautiful.
I watched as the moon began to rise.
"Finally, I can be free. "Vespera's voice echoed in my head.
I rolled my eyes, "Mmmm, not happening. You know you're not allowed to come out, let alone being in a werewolf kingdom."
"Oh, please, these tail-chasing, wet fur-smelling mutts have nothing on me, you are no different from that man," she said before disappearing into the back of my head.
Vespera and I weren't the closest. Ever since, I've been keeping her dormant; her hate for me has grown each passing day.
I stared at the moon a little more before turning to my bags placed near the door. Releasing a sigh, I walked over to them, deciding to unpack my clothes and place them in the closet. After all, I will be here for a while.
A while had passed, and I was drained. I dropped onto the bed, my eyes feeling heavy. Closing my eyes, my holophone lit up, showing the time on the screen. It was now 11:15, and the moon had risen fully up in the sky. I decided to change into a tank top and shorts before sliding underneath the bed cover. Giving one last look at the moon.
A sharp vibration echoed through the room.
My holo-pad suddenly lit up.
Bright blue.
An incoming academy notification.
I frowned.
Slowly, I picked it up.
WELCOME TO VEYLORIA ACADEMY, FIRST YEARS.
I plopped my head back on the pillow, already dreading what's to come in the morning.