On the way to school, Flare switched to her wolf form. As the last traces of her human identity fell away, her clothes clung to her fur-covered body. Helping her out of her clothes I then folded them neatly and tucked them away in my luggage bag.

After some time on the road, the Academy started to come into view, its sprawling campus a sight to behold. Excitement building up within me, I eagerly awaited to get there. Finally, the carriage came to a halt, and I thanked the driver before exiting. Stepping out onto the solid ground, I was greeted with the sight of a familiar face.

With a small smile on my face, I slowly approached him. As I neared, I performed a small bow, bending my upper body down slightly as a sign of respect. "Greetings," I spoke, my tone one of respect. "Director Stanton."

As I looked up, my eyes met those of Solomon Stanton, the esteemed director of the school. He stood tall and commanding, an imposing figure whose presence filled the air. To his left was another staff member, who stood patiently on the side.

"Arata, you're finally here," Solomon spoke, showing a smile. He then turned to his side, gesturing with his hand to the nervous man next to him. The man approached me, reluctance written on his face, and took my luggage before walking away.

"Don't mind him," Solomon said, dismissing the man's actions with a wave of his hand. "He'll take your belongings up to your room," as we watched the man disappear around the corner, he turned his attention back to me. "Come, I'll take you to your first class," Following his words I eagerly walked beside him, my heart beating fast with excitement as we made our way inside the campus.

"You've gotten stronger," Solomon spoke with a tone of surprise, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. A flicker of amazement crossed his face as he continued, "I can barely sense your mana."

Startled by his observation, my gaze instinctively shot down toward my arm, where the artifact rested. "Is that so?" was the only thing I said, my voice tinged with uncertainty, unsure of how to respond to his words.

Before I could say anymore, he turned his attention toward Flare and ran his eyes up and down her wolf figure. "I take it that's your tamed beast?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered, a hint of pride in my voice. "Her name is Flare. I found her years ago when I traveled with my father up in Canavar."

"Interesting?" he spoke softly, almost to himself. "Anyway," he continued, stopping abruptly before one of the many buildings. "Were here," he said signaling forward with his gaze. The building was tall and long with many classrooms laying within. "Inside this hall is the class listed in your schedule. You should hurry before the period ends," He pointed out.

"Right. Thank you, sir," I told him quickly. At that, both corners of his lips curved up into a smile as he gave me a firm nod before walking away. As I saw his figure growing smaller within the distance, I felt a sudden sense of eagerness flood through me.

Well, better not waste any more time. Taking a deep breath I attempted to still the rapid beating of my heart as I walked through the door. Quickly rushing through the hallway, I passed classroom after classroom, my eyes darting left and right as I searched for my desired location.

Finally, I saw the door I was looking for, and I rushed toward it with renewed energy. As I approached, I stopped suddenly and knocked. I could hear the faint chatter of students dying down. I didn't know what to expect once inside, but I was eager to find out.

As the door creaked open, I took a deep breath and stepped into the room. Many faces looked my way for a second as I made my way to the professor before resuming their conversation.

Stopping in front of her desk, I gave a slight bow, my head dipping slightly in respect towards the esteemed professor. "Professor," I greeted, my voice smooth and confident. "My name is Arata, I'm sure you've been informed of my arrival," I said, slowly straightening myself as I gazed at her.

"Yes, Director Stanton told me about you," she replied. Then, getting up from her seat she made her way to my side and announced to the whole class, "Everyone I'd like you to meet Arata Arumani, our newest addition to this class." I could feel the weight of many eyes on me, their curiosity fleeting as they returned to their conversations.

Slowly turning back to face me, she leaned slightly towards me, ensuring that only I could hear her next words. "As you may or may not know, first years have this week off, so I won't be starting my lessons until next week. During this time, you can spend your time getting familiar with the place, as well as others." Her expressive hands gestured towards the rest of the classroom, emphasizing her words. "For the remainder of this class, you are more than welcome to talk among your fellow classmates. That is all." Her explanation was accompanied by a dazzling smile, radiating warmth and encouragement. "You're free to sit on whatever seat is empty," she finished, her eyes scanning the room, conveying a sense of inclusiveness.

As the teacher returned to her desk I scanned the classroom with a slow, deliberate gaze. Finally, my eyes landed on a seat wedged between a cat boy and an elf girl who exuded an air of seriousness. Summoning my courage, I made my way towards the desk, my steps measured and purposeful. With a hint of self-consciousness, I lowered myself into the chair, acutely aware of their glances upon me. One of them quickly lost interest and returned to their own pursuits, but the other remained. It was the cat boy, turning my head his way I noticed his eyes were intently fixed on me as his head tilted in curiosity.

"You're... Arata," the cat boy said, his tail swishing back and forth, emphasizing his feline nature. The playful movement of his tail hinted at his excitement and curiosity. "I've heard Theodore talk about you, meow," he said, his voice slightly meowing. Meow? I thought in amusement, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Does this boy still struggle to speak?

"You know Theodore?" I asked, leaning forward in my desk, an eagerness in my posture. My brow furrowed and my eyes tightly locked onto his, displaying my curiosity about his connection to Theodore. "Where is he?"

"I dunno," he answered, his tone casual, a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders accompanying his words. The relaxed tone of his voice added a carefree element to the conversation. "Last I saw him was this morning, meow," he added, showing a smile, the upturned corners of his lips conveying a sort of playfulness.

"Oh, well... Thanks," was the only thing I said as I turned my attention elsewhere, a hint of disappointment reflected in my voice. As time went on, I began tapping restlessly with my fingers against the table's surface, attempting to appear composed, even though my heart beat with unease. Despite my best efforts to ignore it, I couldn't shake the sensation of the boy's eyes upon me.

With a curious gaze, I glanced in his direction, finding him still fixated on me, his tail gently swaying back and forth. My muscles tensed, yet I mustered the courage to speak up, suppressing my discomfort. "Do you... need something from me?" I inquired, my voice tinged with a hint of caution. "You keep looking at me."

"Hehe," he giggled, his hand darting up to quickly conceal his glee. My eyes studied him, taking in his appearance, noting his dark hair and strikingly feminine features. Such delicate beauty that, had he donned a female uniform, I might have easily mistaken him for a girl. "Sorry," he uttered, the word filled with sincerity. "It's just that... I can't help but feel drawn to you."

A perplexed expression crossed my face as I tilted my head, trying to comprehend his words. "Uh?" I murmured, my voice laced with curiosity and a touch of confusion. "What do you mean?" I probed, my intrigue overriding my unease for a moment.

"It's just... your presence," he began, his nostrils flaring as he spoke, "I can smell your scent, so I know you're there, but I can't feel your mana..." Leaning closer, his eyes searched my being, examining every inch of me. "You're just... there," he mused, his eyes gleaming with wonder. "My race is incredibly sensitive to mana, and yet you possess none. So that means, either you're extremely strong or pitifully weak," he concluded, settling back in his seat. "So which one is it?"

Letting out a sigh, I took in his image for a moment, my eyes lingering on his slightly upturned lips and his unwavering gaze fixed upon me. His delicate features conveyed not only his patience and curiosity but also a hint of amusement as he waited for me to give an answer. "What is your name?" I asked, deciding to divert the conversation in a different direction.

A spark of excitement ignited in his eyes, and he couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he exclaimed, "It's Selkie! Meow!" His entire body seemed to come alive with energy as if he had eagerly anticipated this very question. "Selkie from the Avalon tribe."

I arched an eyebrow, intrigued by his response. "So, Selkie," I began, my mind racing to find something to discuss. "Do your tribe members have individual last names, or do you all go by Avalon after your first name?"

His expression shifted momentarily, a furrow of confusion appearing between his brows. He let out a soft "Uh?" as he redirected his gaze towards the floor for a moment, lost in contemplation. After a brief pause, he finally lifted his eyes to meet mine, his voice steady as he responded, "It's a cultural custom for us to share and pass down our tribe's name, even among those who choose to go rogue."

And by that, he means those who leave and start a family elsewhere. For example, Diana, the cat woman from Leon's party, isn't a full-blooded cat folk member. Her father is human, and that's why her name differs from others of her race, though she still kept the Avalon name. Being half-human is also the reason she picked up a sword instead of training in the Avalon style's hand-to-hand combat. "That is interesting," was the only thing I said as I fixed my attention straight ahead.

After my prolonged silence, Selkie's gaze lingered on me, her eyelids blinking in a constant rhythm. "So are you not going to answer my previous question?" he said, leaning my way slightly, his voice revealing a hint of curiosity.

Letting out a deep breath, I brought my hands up and rubbed my eyes before saying, my voice tinged with a mix of discomfort and vulnerability, "Can you not look at me for a second?" I shifted in my seat, my body language reflecting the unease I had tried to hide.

"Hm, okay," he mumbled, leaning his head down on his desk. His gaze finally drifting elsewhere, until it landed on Flare, my loyal companion who curled up at my feet. "That beast," he spoke, his tone laced with slight surprise. "It's yours, right?"

His curiosity about Flare caused us to engage in conversation as she was the main topic of our discussion. I entertained him with tales of her exploits, my voice filled with pride and affection as I spoke of her. But deep down, I knew that there was more to her story than I was willing to reveal.

"Hehe," he giggled, a twinkle in his eye as he spoke. "Sorry if I came off as a bit annoying at first, you just caught my interest," he admitted, his broad smile revealing the genuine curiosity that sparked within him.

"It's alright, don't worry about it," I reassured him, a small smile gently tugging at the corners of my lips. Raising my hand in a defensive gesture, I attempted to diffuse any lingering discomfort, ensuring him that all was forgiven.

Just then the loud sound of the bell resounded through the classroom, causing him to look back towards the door. "Oh, it's the end of class," Selkie pointed out. At his words, the students around us quickly stood up and eagerly walked out the door and toward their next class.

He then turned back to me, his eyes still shining from entertainment. "You're new here right?" he asked. "If you want, I can show you the way to your next class," he offered. His face friendly and open, and his body language was relaxed and welcoming, making me feel instantly at ease.

"Please do," I replied, grateful for his kind offer. Since this was my first day in this school and I was still lost, I needed all the help I could get.

With Selkie's guidance, I made it to my second class without issue. I turned to Selkie and thanked him for his help. He nodded and waved goodbye before disappearing down the hallway. As I stood there, preparing myself to enter the classroom, I couldn't help but feel like an outsider. It was as if everyone else had already formed their own groups, and I was the only one left without a place to belong.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the classroom door and stepped inside. Making my way to the professor I introduced myself, and once again, I was told that there would be no teaching until next week. A small part of me was relieved that I hadn't missed out on any lecture, but the rest of me couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outcast.