“Students! Can we have your attention, please?” Dusk recognized the woman as the rabbit beast-folk. Who had greeted him in his acceptance letter. She looked much shorter in person, but that could be his distance from the door. “I am Deputy Headmaster, Mrs. Quartz.” Dusk nodded along when the wolf-folk beside him leaned down and whispered into his ear.

“The Headmaster To is out with his mates; they've had their third son.” His hot breath trickled down Dusk's neck, giving him the weirdest sensation. Dusk wanted to move away, but the surrounding crowd had gotten closer. Most likely to get a better glimpse of their Deputy Headmaster. Resisting the urge to rub his neck, Dusk ignored the feeling as best he could.

“Mates?” Dusk allowed his brain to jump to his question before he had given it time to speak.

“Like your marriage, but more destiny evolved.” He leaned in, spoke, and gave Dusk's neck a quick sniff. Dusk felt his whole body go ridged. That was weird; it had to be a wolf-folk thing, right? Dusk gave him a sideways glance, and their eyes locked. Dusk found himself lost within the clear blue sky… Even with his weird sniffing, he didn't give off any weird energy. Dusk had no doubt that the man behind those eyes was weird. It wasn't until the wolf-folk blinked that Dusk was able to break the eye contact. “Fearless, huh? I liked that.” He leaned in and kissed Dusk's nose so fast, he wasn't sure it even happened.

“I am also the teacher of home studies, and I hope to see some of you there.” Mrs. Quarts continued on, and Dusk couldn't resist touching his own nose. The whole transaction took seconds, but it felt like forever. What was wrong with him today? Dusk reminded himself why he was there and turned to look at Mrs. Quarts. That man was a weird one. Sparing him a sideways glance, he got a toothy grin in return. He would have to ignore him. Dusk decided that was the best way to deal with that type of person. Not that he met anyone like him before, and like he could read Dusk's mind. The man beside him let out a deep chuckle, like his efforts would be all in vain.

“Your first day of classes starts tomorrow. Today is when you choose your courses for the next three years. A difficult task, one that can change the course of your whole life. Even once you leave these walls, make wise choices.” Dusk nodded, but didn't join in on the rush of whispers. He had already planned out which classes he would enroll in. Dusk selected the three he would take while he was here. He had assumed everyone else would be the same, but taking a look around, he saw a few panicked faces.

“Already have your courses in mind? I suspected you would.” Dusk couldn't resist peeking a look at the strange wolf-folk who decided to stand beside him. Dusk swore he looked proud. His chest puffed out a bit from underneath his now-folded arms. He couldn't be; why would he be? Dusk shook off the nonsense notion. Dusk was a complete stranger to him, and nothing more.

“Going with this school's long-standing tradition. We will now announce your student guides!” There what? Dusk didn't remember reading anything about student guides. Yet, she announced them as a tradition.

“Student guides are a well-known local tradition here. They wouldn't bother putting it into the school papers.” Once again, the helpful, though weird, wolf-folk came to his aid.

“My thanks,” Dusk thanked him, with his hand to his chest. How much more wasn't explained to him? Dusk wondered?

“They will help guide you through the difficulties of going about your first year. Every single one of them are third-year students and are exceptional students.” She smiled, and Dusk felt like she looked straight at him when she spoke next. “Some pairings may seem strange at first, but you'll find we chose each guide for the first year for a reason.” When he heard someone on his other side think the same thing, he knew to shrug off the feeling. The nerves were getting to him just as much as everyone else's.

“Now, third years! Here is a third-year representative to say a few words. Micah Tourline.” She started to clap, and the crowd around Dusk got excited. Tourline was the name of the local monarch. Clapping alone with everyone else, Dusk wondered why he wouldn't be addressed as such if he were one of the country's princes.

“Micah wanted to experience life like other students while attending university.” His weird companion told him, reading his thoughts. Dusk nodded, not wanting to match his volume with the crowd. It was obvious that the man beside him knew the prince personally—perhaps a friend? It seems like Dusk was right about Tourline royalty. Why did the name Micah sound familiar, though?

“The man from town,” Dusk muttered, thinking back. When a dark-haired man stepped up, Dusk recognized his pretty face immediately. He couldn't see his eyes from here, but his dress sense was about the same. He had to be him.

“You do remember him! Micah was worried you wouldn't!” He once again got his head patted. Dusk gave him the dirty look he deserved. Why did this man insist on messing with his hair? “Sorry, sorry!” He raised his hands in the air. Dusk was learning fast that his apologies meant nothing.

“Thank you, Mrs. Quarts, for those speedy introductions. I'm sure many of you wish for me to do the same, and I am not one to disappoint!” Micah gave a broad smile. “We can wrap up our three years here in three stages.” Dusk listened, and he noticed that others were more than happy to hear him. Some of their faces looked a little obsessive. At least now he knew why Coal called him Prince Perfect. Dusk thought, more disturbed by the other's interest in Micah than anything else.

“Third-years, we represent something to look up to. I hope each guide lives up to that standard.” Micah held up one finger. “Second-years, you have something to look forward to. Learn and be ready for next year.” Holding up a third finger. “First-years, you have something to chase. Dreams, classes, and future romances.” Micah winked, and Dusk watched a girl get weakly kneed in front of him, barely held up by a friend. Dusk wrinkled his nose at the girl's dramatics. “Now let's announce senior guide pairings!” Dusk clapped, and Micah had a quick and well-written speech. Dusk could relate well to it. Being a first-year student, he had a lot of things to chase. He couldn't wait!

"Who will be my guide?” Dusk wondered, like the other feverish voices around him. It seemed like the pairing could make or break your first year. Dusk hoped he would find someone who would either leave him to his own devices or be more business-minded. Dusk didn't want trouble or anybody nosing into his business.

“Don't worry, Dusk, you've got the best of the bunch.” Ducking from the hand, he avoided having to fix his hair once again. How did he know his name? Dusk looked up at the toothy smile of the wolf-folk man. Unless... Dusk closed his eyes. He didn't want it to be so; he could feel the unwanted drama entering his life.

“We'll start with the pairing everyone wants to know about.” Micah spoke up, “My mate and I will be guiding Dusk Wooddancer!” Opening his eyes. Dusk saw a mixture of clapping, uninterested faces, curious ones, and faces filled with loathing for him. “Your entry scores are the highest the schools have seen in years! The teachers are looking forward to your class choices. Pyrite and I look forward to guiding you. Thank you, everyone! Third-years, find your first-years!” Micah waved and ended his speech.

“I'm Pyrite, by the way.” The wolf-folk man Pyrite, who had been standing next to him, assured him. That he was not at all bothered by the eyes that were fixed on them. Amazed Dusk, but being mated to a prince would make him immune to a certain extent; of that, Dusk was sure.

“I assumed as much.” Dusk said, unable to hide the sudden wave of tiredness from reaching his voice. His school life had gotten much more complicated than he ever intended.