I stood at the entrance of The Arcane Institute of Mystical Sciences.
They weren't just gates—they were ancient, breathing, groaning things. Tall, black iron twisted into elegant shapes, with glowing sigils humming softly across the surface. They opened on their own, creaking like something alive, revealing a world I never thought I'd be part of.
A gust of wind swept through, brushing my hair into my eyes. I clutched my acceptance letter like it was a lifeline. The ink had faded a bit from how many times I'd read it, still half-expecting it to vanish like a dream.
I looked up at the institute beyond the gates.
The buildings stretched high into the misty sky, their spires glimmering with ancient magic. Vines curled up the stone walls, blooming with silver flowers that whispered secrets. Gargoyle statues turned their heads slightly as students passed by—watchful, silent guardians.
This place... it was alive.
This was where I belonged.
So why did I feel like I didn't?
I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap on my bag, and stepped through the gates.
The second I did, something in my chest stirred.
A warmth.
A spark.
It was real now.
My journey as the Gate Way Keeper had begun.
---
Ravenwing Hall – Room 3C
I walked into my assigned dorm room slowly, unsure of what—or who—I'd find.
The scent of parchment and lavender greeted me, along with the soft rustle of turning pages. A boy sat at a desk near the window, buried in a fortress of books. His chestnut hair was a mess of soft curls, and his round glasses slid slightly down his nose as he scribbled notes furiously.
He looked up when he heard me.
"Oh!" he said, eyes lighting up. "You must be Eli Whitmore!"
His voice was cheerful, warm like a fire in winter.
"I'm Felix. Felix Moonshadow. I'm your roommate."
He stood up and offered his hand, ink-stained and friendly. I shook it, feeling the nervous knot in my chest loosen just a little.
"I like your name," I said quietly. "It sounds like a spell."
He laughed and pushed his glasses up. "You should hear my full name. It's longer than most incantations."
There was something comforting about him—like someone who knew more than he let on but didn't need to prove it. He looked at me like I wasn't strange, like I fit in here.
Then the door opened behind me.
"Hope you two don't mind sparkles," said a teasing voice. "I enchanted my shampoo to smell like starfruit, and now everything I touch glitters."
I turned around—and honestly, the girl standing there looked like a constellation.
She had midnight-colored hair that moved like silk in a breeze, tiny floating stars glittering around her like earrings. Her eyes were sharp, but playful. She flopped onto Felix's bed like she owned it.
"I'm Luna Ravenwood. I live next door, but I'm practically your third roommate."
Felix rolled his eyes fondly. "She's been in this room more than I have."
Luna smirked. "You're not wrong."
Then she turned her gaze on me, one eyebrow raised. "You're the Gate Way Keeper, aren't you?"
I hesitated, not sure how to respond. "Uh… yeah. How'd you know?"
She winked. "Gossip flies faster than lightning spells around here. Also… you've got that look. The 'I see dead people' vibe."
I turned red, but she grinned. "Relax, cutie. I'm not trying to steal your heart. That's someone else's job."
"Luna," Felix muttered, half-scolding, half-laughing.
"What?" she shrugged. "I'm just saying."
---
The Orientation Hall
The Grand Hall was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Floating lanterns drifted overhead like jellyfish made of light. The walls were etched with glowing runes, shifting with every breath the room took. Rows of students filled the space, all buzzing with excitement and magic.
And then I saw him.
Thorne Everhart.
He stood near the front, tall and silent. His black jacket hugged his broad shoulders, embroidered with silver runes that shimmered faintly. His hair was dark, tousled just enough to look effortless. But it was his eyes that trapped me—cold, quiet, knowing.
Like he carried the weight of a hundred secrets.
Felix nudged me. "That's Thorne Everhart. Son of Victor Everhart—you know, the Everhart Enterprises guy."
I tried to act like I didn't care, but my stomach had already started fluttering.
"He's a Dark Paladin," Felix whispered. "Spectral Vision. He sees… things."
"Things like what?" I asked.
"Things you don't want to see," Luna cut in softly. "He sees shadows. Death. Dangerous spirits. The kind that don't just whisper—they scream."
Thorne looked in my direction—and his gaze met mine.
For a second, everything else vanished. I couldn't hear the murmurs or the floating lights or even Felix talking beside me.
Just him.
He tilted his head slightly, studying me. Then, almost imperceptibly… he smiled.
It was small, brief. But real.
My heart jumped like it had been struck by lightning.
---
That Night – Ravenwood Garden Courtyard
I needed air.
The moon hung low, casting silver over the garden. Glowing flowers bloomed beside the stone benches, pulsing gently like they were breathing. I sat down and tried to collect myself.
That's when I heard footsteps.
"Mind if I join you?"
His voice was low, smooth. I looked up to see Thorne standing there, hands in his pockets.
"S-Sure," I said.
He sat beside me, not too close but not distant either. The silence between us wasn't awkward—it was... heavy. But not in a bad way. More like the kind that makes you aware of every heartbeat.
"You're Eli," he said, almost like a question.
I nodded. "I saw you today."
"I saw you too."
He paused, glancing at the moonlight reflecting on the pond. "You saw your first ghost when you were ten. Your grandfather, wasn't it?"
I turned to him, stunned. "How do you know that?"
"I see echoes," he said. "Residual energy. Sometimes… memories. Yours was peaceful. Most aren't."
I looked down at my hands. "I didn't even know what I was. He told me I was a Gate Way Keeper, and then he… left."
Thorne was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, softer now. "You help spirits cross over. That's a gift… and a burden."
"What about you?" I asked. "How did you… become what you are?"
He gave a bitter smile. "My father wanted a soldier. I became a shadow walker instead."
"That sounds lonely."
He looked at me again. "It was. Until now."
My breath caught.
He added, "Your power—it doesn't feel like mine. Yours feels like light. Like warmth. Hope."
I swallowed hard. "Do you think we'll survive this place?"
His lips curved slightly. "If we stay close... we'll survive anything."
---
The Rest of the Outcasts
In the days that followed, I met more of them.
Ryker Stone was the first. A tall guy with rough hands, soft eyes, and a smile that made everyone feel safe. He was a werewolf, but more than that—he was a healer. The kind of guy who made you tea and asked if you'd eaten.
"I'm not just fangs and fur," he joked, handing Felix a steaming cup. "I also bake."
Felix flushed. "You bake?"
"Best muffins this side of the magical realm," Ryker said proudly.
Felix tried to play it cool. He failed.
Then came Draven Blackwood—a vampire, tall and pale with eyes like moonlight on ice. He barely spoke at first, but when he did, his voice was smooth and deep.
Luna teased him constantly.
"So, do you drink blood straight from the bottle or with a straw?"
Draven blinked slowly. "Only when invited."
Luna grinned. "Good answer. You're invited to movie night."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll bring popcorn."
And just like that… we became a circle of outcasts, drawn together by strange powers and stranger pasts.
---
This was my New Beginning
A haunted boy like me with too many questions. A dark paladin with a wounded heart. A cheerful mage with ink-stained fingers. A star-kissed witch with a silver laugh. A gentle werewolf with a healer's soul. And a vampire who finally smiled again.
This was the Arcane Institute of Mystical Sciences.
And I—Eli Whitmore—was finally ready to discover who I truly was.
To be continued...