Sure enough, the information desk let them go past where two staircases, one leading up and another down, indicated the two paths told by C. They followed C's lead, took the stairs up and came through a simple door that led them to a vast library.
Easily one of the most beautiful libraries of the world, everything within was shining black and white. Black and white shelves alternated the entire room; matching a checkered ceiling. It wasn't as pointy as it looked from outside which meant there was another large hall above the checkered flare ceiling. A woman sat on a table close, a book about Human policies that exploit surpernatural beings. She sniffed the air, turned her head once, saw her looking at the book and turned away.
Her eyes wandered the library from wall to wall, covered from floor to its high length with books. On one such book laden wall was librarian desk, and a sign erected in the table asking for library volunteers.
"Wait a moment please. I need to sign up too."
And so she went away from her friends and wrote her name in the third place after Kozani- 2nd year and Tara- 3rd year. Her friends joined her as she passed the sheet back to a smiling face librarian, eyes slit like a werecat's. A friendly, unspooked werecat. From what she had read, studied of them, they were private creatures and easily distrusting, lack affection and live in close packs with their own. But seeing the friendly smile, Ash smiled back.
"Are you a first year?"
Ash smiled wider, "yes."
"First days are always a little nerve wrecking. Thank you for signing up for the library."
"Of course. I love being surrounded by books. This is the ideal place for me."
"The princess of Versailles last year wanted to sign up but she was too overwhelmed before graduation by her royal duties. Alas, the little human experience I have is with her only and seem to have not heard your name before. Ash. Where are you the princess of again?"
The slight did not slip her by, nor did the build up to the moment. She smiled softly and said politely, "of a kingdom significant enough to study at the academy. I look forward to working with you."
When she turned, Mayra was smirking and Ash glared at her silently.
"Good one. If her princess of Versalis knew she was putting you down, the little girl would have cut away all her connections with the woman."
Knowing the werecat librarian could here them still she glared harder at her friend and led her away, "it is only natural she has not heard of me or the kingdom, afterall, we are more active on the waters and werecats are more active on the land."
"Ever the diplomat," C whispered but his grunted voice carried over far too well.
They followed C down the aisle and came through on the other side. Another simple door, only a little smaller such that the C hit his head while getting out. It was a small bump but she still felt bad. If she had her brother's healing hands, she would help her friend, help all and actually be on the path of ruling not in the way of someone else's path of ruling.
Shaking those thoughts away she pulled him up and told him to, "go back. We will meet up tomorrow. Let us know when you are coming to pick up your luggage, we will see you at the chancellor's office."
C nodded, still rubbing his head and went back.
Mayra and Ash went down to the information desk on the other side, rather, their side of the campus, and finally got their forms. They each took a seat at the reception, much like other students and filled out their form, submitted it and got a return set of papers.
There was a map of the campus, the dorms and a many lists, of clubs, of emergency contacts and a list of emails, names of clubs and their current leaders, the number of members, meeting days, where to call them or write to them and so on.
Ash put the map to the front and looked at the expanse of the land covered by the university. It was vast enough to have ponds, lakes and mark the position of each flanking mountain. Mayra was thinking the same thing as she said, "it's the size of one fourth of our island. Don't tell me they are planning to make us walk around everywhere."
Or she was thinking something closer. Ash reassured, "you cover the entire island in half a day, this should be a breeze."
"In water."
"And on land."
Mayra cracked a smile and changed the subject, "let's go check the dorms, because I want to head back and check out that music box making class I saw on our way here."
"Only that? Not the werewolf camps?"
Mayra rolled her eyes, "you must be relaxed enough to joke now."
Ash smiled, "I was always relaxed."
Mayra looped her arm with Ash and laughed quietly, "you can fool others. You can't fool me."
Together, they headed for the staircase to the left of the reception and made their way into a long corridor lit with faint wall lights and the lights streaming from the open doors of the rooms placed awkwardly away from each other.
Ash looked at her paper and it read, Room W.
They looked at the door closest to them with a W sign on it. Before either of them could move, the door opened and a young woman of a grace that could equal that of a princess stood in front of her.
"Princess Aishwarya. A pleasure to meet you," her eyes flashed golden around the rim before her hand raised to meet Ash in the middle.
"Call me Ash. Is this were I stay?"
"Yes. Come on in."
She moved away and the small expanse of a room, about half the size of the one she had back home, spread before her. Three beds, a large cupboard and desks, office desk and a study desk was placed in the room. The decoration for half the room was plain while the other half was decorated by wall of cloth white with golden leaf designs. There were black paintings, one of a mass of small bodies swarming the sky or covering the frame in wings and bodies. From between them she peeked at a university. The details were exquisite but too chaotic to see or understand much more than that.
She remarked, "that's exquisite. Looks very.. I am at a loss of words."
The woman beamed, "you definitely know how to compliment someone. Well. I am delighted and I am our warden, you are going to have an amazing school year ahead."
"Warden." Mayra asked, "why is Ash getting a room with a warden."
Instead of the warden, Ash answered, "for safety reasons. Even if no one will hurt me, their strength could mistakenly cause a misunderstanding or worse. It is safer to stay with sirens or seers."
The warden nodded solemnly, "since the sirens in the dorm are all grouped together and I am the only seer around, it was the best choice."
Mayra nodded and went to flop on her bed. The warden however had other plans, "since you have no luggage, I might all well take you around now and introduce you to others."
Unsure of why these introductions to others have to be made and what it meant she followed the warden down the corridors. The light streamed from the opened door and inside, the source was mirrors, multiple mirrors with women all leaning over their own mirror applying makeup, fixing accessories, fixing dresses and each stood out in an alluring way.
All their eyes moved in their mirrors to look at the door and went back to their own faces. In the centre of the room, one woman walked over to them, lips red, black round glasses, sitting on her nose. In fact, dark glasses sat on each of them, as if the harsh light of the mirror hurt their eyes. Not all things she read in scarce books on the island could be true. Regardless, it gave each of them a cool look. Ash watched the easy sway with witch the loose black pants and the leather jacket moved side to side with her movement.
Mayra whispered, "if I was into women, this is my type."
Ash smiled lightly and the woman stopped before them, "thank you. That's a great compliment."
Ash could see signs of cuts on her face, cheek, temple and under the eye, hidden behind the makeup. Ash felt a surge of respect for a woman who had been under battle and stood up with the scars. She tucked her head under and bowed slightly. "It's an honor to meet you. I am Ash."
"Princess Aishwarya of Island of Kalai?" the woman tilted her head and put her hand out. Ash took it, "you happen to know. It's not that popular if place."
"I am B. My friends call me Queen B. You might as well too."
"B?" Ash blinked a couple times and looked at that face again. "Lady Bree of the Haven Coven. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Lady Bree was a child when her coven was attacked by the combined force of two other covens and she survived, taught herself the art of politics and revived her coven. Even though her coven is small now, she is a well known figure in the supernatural world.
"I have met your parents at the supernatural conference. It is unique to have humans who worship the moon goddess to the point of gaining her blessings."
Ash smiled uneasily, "We have been blessed as a race for which we are thankful everyday."
She was no blessed child of the moon goddess. Unlike everyone here, she was human, and not even a human of abilities known. When Queen B let go of her hand, she felt the bump of scar on her palm, like an empty space that opened with particular muscle movement. It was like the ache in her shoulder whenever she needed to carry heavy thing. It only came then.
She looked down but Queen B closed her fist and let her hand hang low, not giving away the cut in her palm. Those were usually signs of sacrifice and offerings. She wondered if this woman had a connection to the moon goddess.
Before she could ask, Queen B turned, "Dawn. Come here for a moment."
A woman from the far right gave a long grunt and turned around. Her eyeliner was half done and her glasses small square framed rested at the tip of her nose. She did not have the gravita of Queen B but she did have the same alluring presence. When she walked, nothing swayed, it was hard backed, close fitted and reserved. A black top with some tight fitted jeans.
Someone who could rise to be a memorable person but was yet to find her place in the world. Ash shook herself. Her princess training constantly left her accessing people. She smiled, forcing the unease to face and look more present, trying to take in the beauty.
"This is Drew. She will be taking over after me. She is a second year and will be in some of your classes too. After this year, I am moving out and will leave things to her. I hope you will see her in favour and take care of her."
Ash heard the genuine request of assistance is that formal introduction. Something in her heart felt Queen B as a kindred spirit. Drew how ever scowled, big eyes and thin brows drawing closer. "I don't need anyone's favour and I can take care of myself. I am not a child."
Queen B reached out and patted her small head with a smile and Drew scrunched her neck. Truthfully, her temper tantrum made her more of a child, a teenager in a rebellious phase. She wondered how someone as young as Drew turned vampire. Knowing not to ask, she joined her hands to the front and lowered a little without bowing her head, "greetings to the lady in making."
Drew gave her a look, a first look and turned back to Queen B. "Don't leave a guardian over my head, that too, one I have never even heard of."
Ash smiled slightly, "we will be allies at best. And that if you please."
Now queen B smile dropped and she gave Drew a sharp look. "I want you to research everything you can on the geopolitical of the vampires today. I expect a discussion at the end of the day."
Drew frowned, confused a little. Ash smiled to herself. While Queen B had honed her political skills by working her way up and Ash had been trained all her life, Drew was unlike them and did not understand where the sudden change of subject came from. To her, it would be a simple punishment for acting out but Queen B was teaching her about the geopolitical importance of Kalai in the supernatural world. Their trade of supernatural items and our expertise in it was second to none in the entire planet.
Drew turned away, chin up and Queen B turned to her, apologetic. Before she could say the words, Ash spoke, "we will be on our way then. We still have to go to find my friend's room. This is Mayra. She is a siren."
Mayra took Queen B's hand and shook enthusiastically. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Queen B smiled, "same. We will see you around."
They left with the warden and found themselves next door, at the end of the hallway, bustling with giggles and laughs. Mayra stepped past them and opened the door, more excited than she was meeting the Queen B. "Sirens' room."
From behind Mayra, Ash saw the women scatter like fish scattering from nets, blankets fluttered up in the air and light of small and big treasures shone from under it.
Ash turned quickly, "Excuse me for this is sudden. I wanted to ask how you end up as a warden, being a seer. Aren't seers usually ambitious and aim for royal employees or even the head of the organization?"
The seer smiled, so wide, the golden light in her eyes diminished behind the thin eyed smile and crows' feet. It showed her age.
"You might as well move Ash for I already know what's going on in there." The warden spoke. Ash smiled, acting a little sweeter, tilting her head, blinking her eyes and letting her hair fall to the side. "So you are letting them slide. That's very sweet of you. Let them have the illusion of it as well. Please?"
The warden narrowed her eyes but the playful smile on his face told her she knew what Ash was doing and didn't mind. If Mayra brought in the warden with her, she wouldn't be liked by the other sirens. Ash kept up the sweet smile until one of the siren's sweet voice overrode her sweet expression, "look, the pretty lady is here."
The warden shared an amused look with her as Ash moved out of the way.
Within moments of stepping in, the seer was surrounded by the chorus of compliments.
"Your hair looks shiner today."
"It smells amazing. I can scent the changed shampoo. Are you using coconut?"
"May I suggest this sea salt infused one? It has similar effects to that of our hair."
Another one of them was already on it, "here. I got one just for you."
The warden tossed the hair and met her eyes, "I am glad you noticed." Ash bit the inside of her cheek, holding back the laughter that threatened to her then. The warden's self pleased smile told her, they won;t be leaving soon.
She closed the door and stepped inside, going to Myra who hesitated at the back of the group. She asked, "there seem to be four empty bed, which one will be yours?"
Those at the back of the group, answered, "come with me. Our own seer brought you, surely you girls are special."
Then the sirens paused close to Mayra and looked at her, "human?"
More sirens turned and the chaotic activity in the room came to a halt.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." the one closest said softly, and added in a whisper, "thank you for blocking the door."
Ash blinked once, slowly and let them feel like a personal secret. Hoping it will make things easy for Mayra, she asked, "I hope you will take care of her."
The sirens wrapped their elbows around Mayra in the same way Mayra did for her.