"There are many different species that exist in our reality. Ones that we've heard and seen, and those that scurry under our radar, known by few."

The professor spoke calmly, fascination and deep knowledge buried within his words. Professor Alexander was a man who'd once been an adventurer, exploring the continent in search of different variants of life.

He'd retired once he reached his prime, too old to go trudging through mossy swamps, or scaling dangerous cliffs.

"Of course, you are all aware of the most common species. Humans, Elves, Dragons, Dwarves and Fairies. Well-known because their ability or their cruelty puts them in a position higher than others."

Chalk screeched against the blackboard as he wrote the words, circling 'dragons'.

"The rarest, but most powerful in terms of ability, are the dragons. However, few are blessed with that blood. We have a few students in the Academy, who you may or may not have met. Here, we gather diversity and share teachings for all species."

Nicola peered at Kaden's notes with bright eyes, praise flickering over her stare. She leaned in to whisper, "Please show me these later."

"...student president, what're you doing in this class?"

"I'm relaxing." she answered simply with a smile. "You can't expect me to be working and studying all the time, right? Regardless, I'd always been curious in this class but never quite applied for it, so here I am."

There was a tap on Kaden's back, and he glanced over cautiously, moving away from the touch. An amused gaze stared back at him in the form of lazy crimson eyes.

"May I also take a look at your notes, dear classmate?"

Danger echoed in Kaden's mind as he narrowed his eyes at the careless curve of a smile. He moved back an inch more, his actions not going escaped by the man behind him.

"Are you perhaps, scared of me?" wondered the other curiously, widening his smile. "I wonder why? Have I done something to offend you?"

Nicola's eyes flickered over to Kaden worriedly—the other looked as if he'd seen something terribly wrong. And even she felt goosebumps line her arms under the watchful red gaze.

Kaden could tell immediately, having played the role of a heartless maniac for so long. Half of him had already gone mad, twisting his personality into whatever it currently was, and that was how he could be absolutely certain.

Because crazy could see crazy.

And this man before him was the real deal. A true, venomous creature, waiting patiently with laughter on his lips to wrap around his target.

Kaden's laugh came out forced, as he raised his chin. "And with what right are you asking to use my notes?"

"Well, my classmate rights, I suppose."

"I refuse."

Kaden almost flinched, feeling as if the atmosphere had constricted, making his lungs choke and body tremble under the weight of it all.

"Do you?"

Then a blink, and suddenly the pressure vanished as if it was never there and the other waved his hand, resting his chin between open palms. "I guess there's nothing I can do about it then. What a shame."

Suddenly, Nicola gasped. "Aren't you... I apologize for my rudeness, your highness." She slowly begun to lower her head, and Kaden frowned, displeased.

Her sudden formality made him quickly realize who this person was—likely a member of royalty from a neighboring kingdom.

Nevertheless, Kaden remained calm in his seat smiling vaguely. "The Academy doesn't judge based off class or race, remember, student president? The only exception would be if some disobeying student were to enforce that rule..."

The other shook his head, raising it in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dare go against the rules of this school. I've never been one for formalities, regardless. My name is Lux, and I'll keep my country a temporary secret."

Nicola nodded with understanding and gave him a gentle smile. "I am Nicola. Nicola Akasha."

"Wonderful to meet you," He bent forward and lifted her hand to press a kiss onto the top. Then, he slowly turned to Kaden. "And you?"

"Kaden." answered the man curtly, still cautious.

"Ah, the darling royalty, is it?"

Although the previous demure had disappeared like a passing dream, almost as if he'd imagined it—Kaden definitely recognized the sly glint in those eyes.

A vision that had seen and indulged in countless cruelties.

Kaden turned away to focus on the board again, ignoring the gaze that bore into his back without rest. Thankfully, the lesson coupled with Alexander's story-telling way of explaining easily distracted him from his earlier unease.

"I believe there is an exploration for the first year students sometime in the upcoming weeks." said the Professor. "The Eastern Forests contain some of the most wonderfully unique creatures, who prefer keeping to themselves and shy away from humans."

He fell silent for a moment in contemplation before shaking his head. "That isn't to say there are no dangers, but encountering a violent species is unlikely."

Drawing a long line across the board, he labeled one end red, and the other blue. "We, of the speaking races, or at least, we who communicate in the similar tongue, have formed a method of ranking species."

A swipe of the chalk, and he sectioned off the line into several parts.

"There is no such thing as a friendly species. Humans are cautious to elves, and elves are cautious to humans. While we all coexist, being from different births and lands in this very classroom, each group is wary of the other."

"Regardless, we have two categories on the simplest scale. 'Blue' species are neutral, and will not attack you. 'Red' species are the most dangerous, ones you should immediately turn away from."

He circled the middle. 'In the center, 'Purple' species are those who will act violently only on certain occasions. Of course, the scale is much more complex, but I believe this will suffice for you students to be cautious."

A hand raised into the air. "Professor, how would I go about learning the differences?"

Alexander gave a vague chuckle. "There is no other way than to read, and to experience. I recommend taking a look over the books in the library to be best prepared for any situation."

"Is interacting with other species dangerous?" Another person called out.

"Hands please, if you would like to ask a question." said Alexander before shaking his head. "However, I believe that not interacting would be more dangerous. To live in a world unknown, believing that what you understand is enough, would be a grand mistake."

"Curiosity is both a gift and a curse. Yet we exist to learn, from our very birth to the day we die. We never stop learning."

The class was getting noisy loud, with hushed whispers of discussion between the students. Alexander made no move to silence anybody, instead choosing to quietly listen from where he stood, answering any questions that were posed.

"We should be careful though, right? Because other species are really dangerous." Somebody asked.

Alexander thought about it and smiled. "To other species, it may be you that's the dangerous one. So yes, be careful, but worry less about being harmed and more about doing something that will harm them."

"Because it's only in disturbing another creature's reality that they would attack."

"That's too cryptic!"

Another relaxed laugh. "I'm old. I have the right to be cryptic."

The discussion continued going until the end of class, and Kaden's notebook was filled with pages and pages of ideas that came from the professor, his own mind and the students.

Even within the school, discrimination was plain as day. But discriminating against another was stupid—for their blood, or for their place of birth.

Their appearance, their differences; every single thing seemed to be made to be judged and critiqued.

What was the point of that?

He started in the direction of the library after parting ways with Nicola, who reluctantly sulked back to her duties as student president.

Honestly, Kaden wasn't the largest fan of reading. Most of his reading had been done through bloody noses and sleepless nights in order to catch up—no, to surpass his peers. The stress of becoming the best, and knowing there'd always be somebody better.

And now he couldn't help but wonder what the point of all the studying, the information that was now nothing but a hazy memory.

He didn't quite understand the joy of getting lost in pages, though much of his reading had been non-fiction.

Pushing the doors open to the expansive library, a heavily funded area in the Academy with two equally luxurious floors and thousands of books. It was beautiful, aching with history and words, a silence blanketed over to smother all outside sounds.

It was rather peaceful, the scene of old wood and paper, and the warm pulse of orange light hanging on the crystal chandeliers to light the area. He wandered around, looking at the section labels above before finding the one on 'monsters/species'.

A monster generally referred to a dangerous species, to begin with. Some books solely focused on the violent side of the unknown, while others on the unique abilities of each.

He grabbed a few books down, specifically ones involving the Eastern Forest, and found a seat in the back corner to read.

Nobody even spared him a glance.

And Kaden found great comfort in knowing that fact.

Until he happily placed his large stack of books down, and a low, forever gloomy voice spoke out to him.