"What do you mean you were born in a kingdom and we're moving there now?"

I looked out of the car window. "This is what you meant?" I asked. "This is the kingdom?"

"Welcome to Ilea," he chuckled, putting his book away.

"It's not what I thought it would be. It just seems like a small town if anything."

"It has a history. Which you'll find out in ten minutes."

"What happens in ten minutes?"

"We get you to your school," he sang.

"I can't believe you're making me stay on campus even though the house is five minutes away," I scoffed.

"The campus is safer. And it's your final year. I want you to experience life here as I did in my early teens."

I'm sure you're a little lost, let me explain. I'm Clara, I'm seventeen, and I've just moved from the scandalous New York City to Ilea. There's no way I can describe it because I know nothing about it yet. Except for the fact that my father was born and lived here until he was fifteen. Now I'm going from my good old, careless, shitty high school in New York to Arcane High.

It's a boarding school for some and a regular private for others. Normally, the students from other kingdoms, I guess, are the ones who stay on campus. But apparently, so do I.

"Remember, when you go to the principal's office, ask for Daisy Zale."

Daisy is meant to be my dad's best friend's daughter. She also studies there and stays on campus and she's the one who'll be showing me around and making sure I get familiar with the place.

We get weekends off of campus which is when I'll be seeing my dad.

And now for the reason we suddenly moved. Obviously, it wasn't a nice one. Around eight months before my dad decided we would move, my mom passed away in a car accident. And the worst part, I was in the car too. And I barely made it out alive. It's a scary and very heartbreaking memory which I struggled to bury deep down inside of me. Let's not dig it back up.

The car slowed down to a stop in front of the school and I got out with my dad, both of us grabbing my suitcases from the trunk.

"Dad, what does the word 'arcane' even mean?" I asked, wheeling my suitcase behind me as we entered through the huge black-barred gates.

"I don't know, actually," he mumbled.

Two security guards came and took the suitcases from us and then began leading us inside, to the principal's office, I assume.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and searched up the word arcane.

Understood by few; mysterious or secret.

What the hell has that got to do with education? Everyone knows the secret. It's torture.

"Flynn!"

I looked up, spotting a man that seemed to be around my dad's age, walking over to us.

"Kol!" my dad grinned, both of them exchanging a quick hug. "This is my daughter, Clara. Clara, this is my friend, Kol. Daisy is his daughter."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you," I said, smiling at him.

"I actually came here hoping to find you. Daisy has a test for her first period right now, so the principal has arranged for someone else to show her around, I hope that's okay."

"Of course, no problem," I chuckled.

"Great," he replied.

"Off you go then," my dad said, giving me a side hug. "I'll drop by on the weekend to see if you've settled in, okay?"

"Yes dad," I sang, accepting the kiss he gave me on the top of my head. We've been here for two days. So he's settling into the house and now I'll be settling into my room.

"The principal's office is the first room in the left hallway," Mr. Kol informed me.

"Thank you," I nodded and then slipped inside. I found the room fairly quickly and then knocked.

"Come in!" came the voice of a woman.

I walked inside, closing the door behind me.

"Clara, right?" she smiled.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Welcome to Arcane High and welcome to Ilea. So, Daisy is in her test right now, but don't worry, I've told her to come find you after that. Someone else will guide you to your room since you start classes tomorrow. Here is your room key." She opened a drawer and then gave me a key with the keychain of a cherub on it, a white cloth covering its body with matching white wings. "Your room is on the top floor. And sorry, there are no elevators here," she chuckled.

"No problem. Um, what about my stuff?" I asked, looping the keychain through my belt loop so it dangled off my hip.

"The guards have dropped your suitcases in your room. I have a copy of your key in case of an emergency but other than that, you decide who comes and who goes. Daisy's room is right next to yours, she'll guide you with everything. Would you like a map?" she asked.

"A map?" I blinked in confusion.

"Campus is pretty big," she smiled.

"Sure, I'll take one." Even though reading a map is such a waste of time. I'll be better off asking someone for directions.

"If you need anything, you can always come ask me. And um," she hesitated. "Let's have a chat at the end of the week, shall we? See how you're liking or disliking the place?"

"Okay," I shrugged.

There was another knock on the door. "Come in!" The door opened and revealed a boy. A rather cute boy. "Clara, this is Atticus. He'll show you around until Daisy's busy, okay?"

"Thank you," I smiled and then turned to him.

He held the door open for me as I walked through. Then he closed the door once we were out in the hallway and turned to me. "Atticus," he introduced himself, extending one hand.

"Clara," I replied, shaking it. "Nice to meet you."

"And you," he grinned. "So, tell me. What's your second period?"

I pulled up the picture of my schedule on my phone. "English Lit. Room 5A."

"Right this way," he said and then started walking.

"But I need to go to my room first," I cleared my throat. "I start classes tomorrow," I chuckled.

"Right, sorry. We don't get many students, I forgot how to show one around. Which floor?"

"The top floor."

"Fifth floor, come on." I walked beside him on the staircase and then we started going up. "So, where are you from?"

"New York City, you?"

"I'm from Ilea itself. New York, huh? What brings you here?"

"My dad's from here," I answered. "I guess we needed a change," I shrugged.

"Change is always good," he smiled.

Not always.

We made small talk, I told him a little about myself and he did the same in exchange. "So, are you one of the rare ones?" he cleared his throat.

"Rare ones?" I frowned in confusion, my legs growing a little tired.

"I'll take that as a no. Which is good," he said quickly.

"I thought it's good to be rare."

"I think Arcane High has a different definition of rare," he laughed as we reached the floor. He walked me to my room and then I turned to him.

"Thank you for showing me till here," I smiled.

"No problem. My room is on the third floor. 330. Just in case you need anything," he nodded.

"Thanks."

"Bye," he waved as he walked away.

Are all boys so cute in Ilea?

I pulled my key from my jeans and unlocked the door.

Whoa.

The room has everything. The bed, obviously, a fridge, a huge walk-in closet, a vanity, a huge bathroom, a desk by the window. And it's all personalized. Sure, I could personalize it a bit more with my things, but it's a lovely room.

I walked in and closed the door behind me, heading to the closet first. I want to unpack my clothes as soon as possible. I opened it, extremely surprised.

"What the hell?" I asked, pushing open the beaded heart curtains, which I actually loved. I can't wait to be done decorating this room. I want it to be just like my old one. The clothes can wait. I'm going to decorate this room first.

I really didn't want to leave New York, so when I did, I took my favorite decoration pieces from my room with me. And they're coming in handy now.

I grunted, grabbing my suitcase and opening it after pulling it up on my bed. Good thing I took care of all the decorations myself and brought them with me itself.

I unzipped the side holding all my favorite pieces and got each of them out, splaying them on the bed. I stared at the beaded heart curtains in the closet.

"You are meant for show. Time to come out of the closet," I mumbled to myself, walking over and struggling but yet I managed to put the thin strip down. It was a white, barely noticeable strip that the strings were stitched into. That can go anywhere. And they are going near the vanity which separates that area from the rest.

I'm actually a little excited now that I'm here. I mean really, how bad can Arcane High really be?

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