Fierce Red

, her voice soft but firm as she tapped lightly on the doorframe of her daug

le curtains, casting a soft glow on the floor. Almora groan

y? And besides, no one is going to like me there. I doubt anyone

r heart wasn't fully in it. The idea of stepping into a new environment, one that wasn't ex

ed or isolated-was something she shared, deep down. She hadn't shown it, not even to her husband. But she

eeting with the headmistress of Greenland College, Ms. Carmen, her worries had eased. Ms. Carmen had seemed ca

I promise," she said, tr

e a shower, and get dressed. You don't want to sign in to your hostel late, do

array-books stacked unevenly on the desk, a hoodie flung over the chair, her boots half tucked beneat

out the minty paste, and brushed slowly, her mind already swirling with doubts. Would the other students

her thoughts didn't calm. She tried to think of it as a fresh start. A place where she might actually learn to h

ticking to her neck. She got dressed in her favorite pair of blue jeans, a simple white t-sh

t no one else in her town had. Her deep red hair, flowing just past her shoulde

el herself for the day ahead. Grabbing her bag, she

e boarding institution nestled in the countryside-private, mysterious, and well-funded. But f

erwent a screening process to determine whether they had any latent powers. Only those who did were accept

sion of peace. Birds chirped in the distance, and the trees swayed with a gentle breeze. Flowers bloomed in vibrant co

there grew twisted and gnarled, the light barely touched the ground, and the air itself felt heavy. Only students with po

out the window, watching as other new students streamed in. Some were laughing, some loo

rything was spotless-gleaming floors, high arched ceilings, and portraits of past headmistr

th gold lettering: Ms

ia knocke

" a voice

d the walls, filled with ancient tomes and modern texts alike.

r skin, and short chestnut hair that complemented her feature

g, Mr. and M

rmen," they both repl

brief discussion, Ms. Carmen

to take their leave," she s

hug Almora tightly. "Be b

father gave her a quick but warm

me over Ms. Carmen. The friendly, practiced smile

Ms. Almora," s

elf, So she was only being nice because my parents

desk and sat down, trying to appear c

ou're the red. The last of your kind. How interes

one had ever said i

, your hair-your aura. You're different. That much is clear. It'

ilence. Almora star

ng just slightly, "if you need anything-an

subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Perhaps Ms. Carmen

mora said, st

ID card with her name printed in bold letters

You're not just here to learn, you're h

ding up with a mix of apprehension

nto the unfamiliar halls of Greenland

here's no tur