The midday sun filtered through drifting clouds, bathing the Quad in pale gold. The space was framed by aged stone walkways and ivy-covered walls. At its heart lay a reflecting pool, dominated by a massive, gnarled tree rising from the water's center—its branches knotted like frozen lightning.
A statue of Edgar Allan Poe stood at the edge, forever judging the chaos of lunch hour with poet's solemn silence.Clusters of Nevermore students scattered across the courtyard—some reading, some plotting, some merely indulging their eccentricities. Faculty members talked amongst themselves near the archways.
Aleksander took in the scene at a glance, cataloging faces, mannerisms, and threads of hidden power.Enid's bright voice broke the hum of conversation. "Welcome to the Quad!" she announced enthusiastically.
Wednesday tilted her head slightly, scanning the expanse. "It's a pentagon," she corrected flatly.
Enid rolled her eyes with exaggerated annoyance. "The whole snarky, goth-girl thing might've worked in normie school, but around here things are different. Let me give you the quick Wiki on Nevermore's social scene."
Aleksander followed as the two girls moved ahead, listening quietly. She's an open book, he thought, but one with useful footnotes. Perfect for gathering information.
They passed packs of students lounging in groups—sirens gossiping near the fountain, a trio of vampires under the shade, and a few werewolves play-fighting by the tree roots.
"I'm not interested in joining some adolescent tribal cliché," Wednesday said dryly, gaze unmoved.
Enid smirked. "Then use it to fuel your bottomless pit of disdain."
Aleksander tried not to laugh but failed, his low chuckle drawing a brief, unimpressed glance from Wednesday.
As they continued walking, Aleksander's eyes flickered across the courtyard—Psychics, Werewolves, Sirens, Gorgons, Sparks, Shapeshifters, Avians, Botanicals, DaVincis, Faceless, Swarmers, Pyros, Vanishers, and Vampires—all coexisting under one macabre roof.
Enid gestured grandly toward a shaded alcove where a group of pale, angular teens sat sipping blood from black eco-friendly flasks. "Those are the Fangs. Vampires. Some of them have literally been here for decades."
Aleksander's gaze paused on one familiar face—Yoko Tanaka. Her long black hair shone under the sunlight, her blackout glasses perched just right. She spotted him instantly and lifted her Hydro Flask in greeting. He lifted his hand subtly in return, acknowledging her with a knowing nod.
Kenichi Tanaka's daughter, he thought. One of the peaceful covens… Unlike Bathory, Vladislaus, Dagon—who still hold to the old pacts.
A loud howl interrupted his thoughts. A group of rowdy boys by the lawn broke into boisterous laughter.
"That bunch of knuckleheads are the Furs," Enid explained proudly. "Werewolves—like me. My pack's from San Francisco. Full moons are kinda… high decibel around here. Might wanna grab noise-cancelling headphones."
Wednesday's eyebrow rose faintly. "I prefer silence anyway."
Passing the reflecting pool, they noticed a group of sirens lounging by the water. At the center sat Bianca Barclay, sunlight glinting off the faint shimmer of scales on her arm as she trailed a hand through the pool's surface.
Wednesday's dark eyes lingered. "I'm guessing Scales are sirens."
"Ding ding," Enid replied with a grin. "And that's Bianca Barclay—the closest thing Nevermore has to royalty. Though her crown's been slipping lately."
Aleksander's gaze lingered on Bianca for a moment. "They are quite good with assassination and interrogation." he murmured.
Enid pretended not to hear but smiled; Wednesday didn't bother hiding her faint irritation.
Enid gestured again, this time toward the far wall, where Xavier Thorpe stood painting a mural—a flock of ravens charging into a crimson sky.
"That's Xavier Thorpe," Enid said in a half-whisper. "He's kind of a celebrity around here—art prodigy, psychic, and serious heartbreaker. He and Bianca used to date, but they split at the start of the semester. Reason: unknown."
Xavier looked up, spotting them instantly. His eyes met Aleksander's, and a grin touched his lips.
Xavier looked up from his mural, noticing them as they crossed the courtyard. His face broke into a grin. He wiped his hands on a paint-stained cloth and strode over, his movements casual but carrying quiet familiarity.Aleksander raised his hand slightly in greeting. "Still can't stay away from drama, huh?"
Xavier chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "Takes one to know one."
Enid paused, her curiosity piqued. "Wait—you two know each other?"
Xavier only gave a small nod, but his expression softened for a moment. "We go way back."
As he drew closer, his tone dropped, barely audible to anyone else. "That blue dog of yours ran away."
Aleksander's brow creased. For a brief moment, his composure cracked before settling again. He exhaled quietly, assessing the faint tug of Stitch's magical presence in the distance—chaotic but unharmed. His voice remained calm. "Don't worry. He's safe. I'd know if he wasn't."
Xavier smirked faintly. "You sure? He was scaling the east dorm wall like it owed him money."
Aleksander sighed under his breath. "Typical." Then, glancing at Enid, he added dryly, "If anyone reports seeing a blue menace hanging from the gargoyles, get me thhe gossip immediately."
Enid blinked, unsure if that was an insult. "Wait—blue dog?"
Wednesday's expression didn't shift. "He and Enid would get along perfectly."
The courtyard buzzed with afternoon chatter. Enid was animatedly describing her vlog plans, her words tumbling over one another with excitement."So I'm thinking of calling it 'Enid's Nevermore Nook!' A weekly vlog for gossip, fashion, and exclusive student scoop! It'll be totally viral—well, not in the disease way, in the fun way."
Wednesday barely looked up. "A gossip broadcast. How shockingly original."
Before Enid could reply, a boy in a loosely worn uniform approached, hoodie visible beneath his unbuttoned blazer and a matching beanie.
"Yo, Enid!" Ajax Petropolus called out, grin wide. "You're not gonna believe the dirt I heard about your new roommate!"
Enid's face instantly contorted into a silent plea. She gestured frantically for him to stop, but Ajax was blissfully oblivious.
"She eats human flesh!" he said, lowering his voice dramatically yet loud enough for half the courtyard to hear. "Totally chowed down on that kid she murdered! Better watch your back!"
Aleksander barely managed to stifle a laugh, holding a hand to his mouth. "Well," he murmured just loud enough for Wednesday to hear, "it seems your reputation is evolving faster than gossip channels can process it."
Wednesday's lips twitched in what might have been approval. "At least it guarantees uninterrupted solitude."
Ajax finally caught the shift in tone and went rigid when he turned to find Wednesday Addams staring directly at him—black and white in every sense, expression unreadable.
Enid groaned and introduced quickly. "Ajax… this is my new roommate. Wednesday Addams."
Ajax blinked. "Whoa… you're, like, in black and white. It's like someone forgot to turn on the color filter."
Wednesday didn't blink. "And yet somehow, you still stand out as the dullest shade in this palette."
Ajax frowned, not entirely sure he'd been insulted. Aleksander coughed softly to hide a smirk.
Enid sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. "You can ignore him. Gorgons spend so much time getting stoned—it starts to show."
Enid continued the tour energetically, dragging both Aleksander and Wednesday across the Quad with her enthusiastic commentary.
Aleksander followed in silence, only half-listening—his senses quietly searching for something else. A faint pull in his awareness flickered like static: Stitch was still moving, but further away now, brushing the edges of his sensing range.
He exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable. "Mathew," he whispered under his breath.
From the shadow at his feet, darkness rippled—fluid and alive. A soft rustle like feathers brushing against parchment followed, and a large raven emerged from the gloom. Its eyes gleamed a pale steel-grey, intelligent and fierce.
"Find Stitch,"Aleksander murmured softly. "Keep your distance but stay close enough to follow his trail."
The bird cawed softly in answer before launching into the air. A few nearby students barely noticed the blur of motion as the raven shot upward, a streak of ink against the cloudy sky.
Enid blinked, wide-eyed. "Wait—did that bird just come out of your shadow?"
"Yes," Aleksander replied as though discussing the weather. "He's a friend, quiet… and much less likely to chew furniture than the other one."