As Jujube trudged through the Academy grounds, the sky above seemed to press down on her. Thick, bruised clouds rolled low, the kind that carried more thunder than light, and a bitter wind sliced through the campus, biting at every inch of exposed skin. The tall pine trees shivered under the rain, their branches dripping steady streams of cold water that hit the ground like needles.
Despite the gloom, the massive black-and-gold gates of the Academy were wide open, alive with noise and movement. Students hurried through in groups, clutching suitcases and umbrellas as the clock neared three. Everyone knew the rule — arrivals after 3 PM meant detention, or worse. The Academy had no patience for excuses, not even from its wealthiest pupils.
Jujube was one of the new arrivals, and her nerves showed in the way she gripped her suitcase. Fixing the orange beret on her head. A sports bag hung off her shoulder. She has this brown leather jacket over her soft knitted pink sweater underneath. The rain slides off the leather. She pulled a damp slip of paper from her pocket, squinting at the smudged ink: Block 3, West Wing.
Before she could look up, a sudden wave of students brushed past, knocking into her. Her suitcase rolled out of reach, and the paper slipped from her fingers, spinning into the puddles. Jujube's eyebrows knitted.
"Oh no! I didn't see that," a girl with streaks of blond and green hair laughed, not even bothering to hide her smirk. The bump had been on purpose, anyone could tell, but Jujube didn't react. She only reached for her suitcase and began flicked her boots to ehgtof the water that has splashed on them.
The crowd thinned, leaving the sound of soft rain and her uneven breathing.
It took her a while to find the right building. The signs made little sense, the halls twisted like a maze, and the rain only made things worse. By the time she reached the administrative office, her beret was in her hand, The jacket despite its repulsion to the rain soaked in the inside.The form she was supposed to hand in was a soggy ruin.
The door clicked shut behind her. Inside, the office was warm, chocolate-brown walls, brass lamps, and the faint scent of paper and polish. Behind the desk sat a tall, sharp-featured woman, glasses perched perfectly on her nose. Her nameplate read Headmistress Silvia Ward.
Silvia looked up, spinning a pen between her fingers as her gaze ran over Jujube from head to toe.
"What can I help you with, miss?" Her tone already hinted that she knew the answer.
Jujube stepped forward, setting the dripping papers on the desk.
"What are these supposed to be?" Silvia asked, her irritation barely restrained.
Jujube kept her head low. "Forms," she said quietly.
"Well, I can see that," Silvia snapped. "But you should be able to see, if your vision allows it, that it clearly says no submissions are accepted after 3 PM." Her words hit like cold water.
"I got lost," Jujube murmured, teeth pressing together.
Silvia exhaled sharply through her nose, flipping through the damp pages until she found the name. Her brow arched. "You're a new student. So you think that means you can just do as you please?"
"I apologize," Jujube said softly.
"An apology won't make up for wasted time," Silvia said. "This Academy runs on rules. Everyone follows them. No exceptions."
Jujube said nothing, only nodded once.
Silvia studied her a moment longer before setting a gold key and a thin folder on the desk. "Here. Your dorm key and schedule. I'll overlook this once because you're new. Don't make me regret it." but it seemed that their was another reason she was letting it slide.
Jujube took them with a small bow and stepped out.
The folder included a map of the campus. According to it, her dorm was only a few blocks away though the rain made it feel like miles. The wind bit through her wet clothes, and her teeth began to chatter. She pulled the suitcase along, the wheels rattling on the tiles as she hurried down the hall, trying to stay beneath the narrow overhangs that offered little shelter from the storm.
The Holly House dormitory stood on the western side of the academy, known for its picturesque view and quiet surroundings. Its distance from the main campus made it feel like a hidden sanctuary tucked inside some forgotten corner of a fairy-tale kingdom. The cobblestone path leading to it was lined with tall, whispering trees whose branches bent as if guarding a secret.
Jujube, a new student at the academy, walked slowly toward the dormitory. Families stood along the path, hugging their children, saying their goodbyes. She watched them for a moment, feeling a dull ache in her chest. There was no one here for her. No warm hug or farewell smile. She pulled her eyes away and focused instead on the towering trees. They were much older than the academy itself, untouched by the years, unlike the ones in the city that were always cut down and replanted.
As she reached the row of brick-red Victorian buildings, the air buzzed with laughter and chatter. Excitement mixed with the faint smell of fuel in the breeze, making her wrinkle her nose. Inside, the hallway was alive with groups of girls standing around, whispering and giggling.
"Who's that?" a sharp voice rang out. "Didn't know they let broke students in."
A few heads turned toward Jujube.
"She must be the lottery girl," the same girl continued with a mocking tone. "We get one every year."
Jujube didn't look up. Her steps were steady, her face unreadable. Their words didn't touch her. It was almost like she couldn't even hear them.
She walked straight to her assigned room, number 257, gripping the key tightly in her hand. The door was heavy and carved with intricate patterns that gave off an ancient charm. Inside, the room was small but warm. Two beds sat beneath wide windows covered in thick ivy. The walls were painted a soft tea-pink, and the ceiling arched gently with floral engravings. Tall wardrobes stood built into the walls, their doors etched with the same designs.
Jujube locked the door behind her, dropped her luggage, and took a breath. She needed to get ready for the evening assembly.
The academy once had a strict dress code, but that rule had long been discarded. Her suitcase was neatly packed, everything folded in perfect order. She picked a black high-neck top and brown trousers and headed into the small washroom.
She took off her wet jacket and placed it in the basket, pulling off the pink sweater underneath until only a tank top clung to her slim frame. Her pale skin was marked with brownish, red, and blue bruises. For a moment she stood frozen, staring at herself in the mirror. Her ribs showed faintly beneath her skin. The sight of her own reflection made her chest tighten. Her jaw locked, and she turned her face away, shutting her eyes. After a few seconds, she inhaled deeply, grabbed a towel, and started dressing again.
.................
Suze sat across the room, staring at Kingston, who was snoring on the bed opposite him. The guy had shown up drunk the night before, collapsed right outside Suze's door, and somehow made it inside. Suze hadn't gone to class that morning, mostly to cover for him. Because he was drunk again, Though Kingston could easily get away with rule breaking it was still a nuisance while it lasted.
"Kingston. Wake up," Suze said impatiently.
Kingston groaned, opening bloodshot eyes. He blinked around the room, disoriented. "Where am I?"
"You're in the dormitory," Suze replied. "You showed up drunk last night."
Kingston rubbed the back of his neck, still half-asleep. "You actually live here? You should be home. This place is depressing."
Suze gave a small laugh. "Unlike you, I've got seven siblings fighting for the same inheritance. I'll take this place over that chaos any day."
He started getting ready for class, but Kingston suddenly straightened up. "I'll attend classes today too."
Suze glanced at him, raising a brow. "Is it because of that girl who offended you?"
Kingston's lips curved into a slow, unsettling grin. "Finally, something interesting to play with around here."
The tone in his voice made Suze's stomach twist. He sighed quietly, hoping Kingston wouldn't take it too far whoever the unlucky girl was.