The wolf and the gnome

The two made their way to the Great Hall, where students were filing in for the opening assembly.

As they found a spot to stay, they were joined by the rest of their group. 

Lirien, an elven girl with striking green eyes, greeted them with a warm smile. "Theron, Kael. Late as always." 

"We prefer to call it 'fashionably on time,'" Kael replied, flashing her a grin. 

"More like 'predictably tardy,'" Aelric chimed in, his fairy wings shimmering as he fluttered beside them. "I had time to grab breakfast and gossip before you showed up." 

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Gossip? About us?" 

"Not this time," Aelric said, smirking. "But give it a day. You're always headline material." 

Theron shook his head, amused. Aelric's flair for dramatics was rivaled only by his sharp wit. 

The group was rounded out by Bronn, a towering vampire with a calm demeanor. He nodded silently in greeting, his silver-streaked hair catching the light. 

"Good to see you all again," Theron said. 

"Let's hope this year doesn't start with you hacking the academy's systems," Bronn said, his tone teasing but dry. 

"That was one time," Theron replied. 

"And yet, unforgettable," Lirien added, her lips twitching in a smile. 

As the assembly droned on, Theron's attention wandered. He observed the new students scattered among the crowd. 

New faces dotted the court. A naga coiled her tail beneath her, her scales shimmering as she chatted with a sylph, whose translucent body seemed to blend with the air around her. A towering jotunn, frost clinging to his shoulders, stood nearby, speaking in low tones with a minotaur whose horns gleamed with an obsidian sheen.

Theron's gaze shifted to a group of elementals. Most were showcasing their powers in harmless displays, creating swirls of water or gusts of wind. Among them, one girl stood out—not because of her skill, but because of the lack thereof.

Her singed clothes and sheepish expression spoke volumes.

"That one's struggling," Theron noted.

Kael followed his gaze. "She's not the only new one. Look at the minotaur—he's practically shaking."

"Be nice," Lirien said.

"I'm always nice," Kael said with mock offense.

"Sure," Aelric drawled, smirking.

Nearby, a tall vampire boy with sharp, angular features surveyed the room with an air of quiet confidence. His piercing gaze seemed to miss nothing. Beside him stood a stocky werewolf girl, her rich brown skin glowing under the light, her curly hair wild and untamed. Her stance was defiant, as if daring anyone to challenge her with a mere glance.

"Interesting mix this year," Aelric said, following their gaze. 

"I'm betting that werewolf's gonna start something by the end of the day," Kael said, leaning in with a smirk. "She's got that 'don't mess with me' energy."

"Or she's just hungry," Lirien added dryly. "You know how they get before breakfast."

"You don't think she's a little intimidating?" Aelric mused, his wings fluttering as he adjusted his posture. "I mean, the way she's looking around? I'm half-expecting her to growl at someone any second."

"Probably just trying to figure out who's worth challenging," Theron said with a grin. "But honestly, I kind of like the energy."

Aelric glanced at him with raised brows. "Is that the calm and collected Theron I'm hearing?"

Theron shrugged, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "I'm all for chaos—just the kind I can control."

Kael shot him a sidelong glance, one which Theron chose to ignore.

As they continued to scan the room, a loud voice suddenly broke through the chatter.

The Principal, a stoic elf named Valtheris, stood at the front, his commanding presence silencing the crowd.