Having seen what they needed, they retraced their steps toward the final corridor. Along the way, they passed a door with a sign, “Vampires Only”. It opened and three students emerged, their conversation pausing as they spotted Michael.

“Hey Max,” the tallest one said with a genuine smile. “Is this a new student?”

Max grinned. “Potentially. Michael, meet some of our Vampire house students.”

“I’m Elena,” the only girl of the group said. “Hope you get selected into our house.”

“And the common room has the best view of the astronomy tower,” added another. “Perfect for late-night studying.”

As they walked away, Michael felt a flutter of hope. “They seem... normal.”

“Vampires are just people, Michael,” Max said quietly. “Dead people, but still people. We look out for each other most of the time.”

The deeper they went into the Northwest door, Michael could faintly smell plants and earth. There was the small scent of nature that he couldn’t explain.

“What’s that smell?”

“Ah! That’s the smell of nature. This is the Faculty of Natural Magic,” Max said as they ventured down the corridor.

“So, this faculty teaches magic?”

 “It’s easy for one to think that but it doesn’t. This faculty is focused on natures magic, primarily fauna and flora. The herbs and creatures of the monster world. Pretty much fantasy.”

Michael nodded. This wing looked to be the smallest. “What about the upper levels?” he asked as they passed a staircase.

“The upper levels are a collection of some of the classes. The Hall and the Library extend upwards, and there are others that I might be forgetting. At the highest level of the main building is the Headmasters’ offices and that should just about complete our tour of the main building.”

“What’s next?” Michael asked.

“Next is the dormitories. Students are assigned dorms based on the houses they fall under. The school has three: Vampire, Werewolf and Sorcerer. To determine which house a student is assigned,” Max continued after noticing Michael about to ask a question, “students undergo what is called a ‘Selection Ceremony’. This ceremony is a tradition of the school and makes the entire process easier.”

Michael couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild because he couldn’t fathom how a house selection ceremony for monsters that placed them in one of three monster houses that may or may not have anything to do with what they are would work.

Sensing his distress, Max decided to bail him out. “It’s complicated and I don’t think anyone besides the Headmasters knows how it works.”

“Apparently, it’s a spell. A rather complex spell that takes into consideration how well a student would relate on a personal level with either of the headmasters and how the headmasters would relate with the student in question. The combination of this, as far as I’m aware, determines a student’s placement.”

Michael nodded. He could get the idea behind it from the explanation Max had given. It would be interesting to see which house he would be placed under. Suddenly, something occurred to him.

“What about m-monsters who don’t fit into any house?”

Max noticed how he struggled to say the word and smiled. “I can give you my utmost assurance that in all my years working for the Eldritch Institute, that has never happened. I do recall Draken saying something to me around the time I started working for him.”

“‘I want this school to be a place where any monster can find themselves and better their lives. That’s what I want.’ That was what he said to me. I can testify to that. If you’re willing to find a place, you’ll find a place.”

Hearing Max say those things, the fear in Michael simmered down. He would try his best to find a place among the monsters.

After reassuring Michael, Max continued the tour, leading him to the Vampire Dormitory

“On the castle’s north, east and south exits, the buttresses lead to the various dormitories. The north is the Vampire dormitory, the east is the Werewolf dormitory and the south is the Sorcerer dormitory.”

Michael was fascinated at the miniature castle with multiple stories. It had narrow windows with what looked like shutters.

“Will we be going inside?”

“We’ve still got lots of ground to cover so it would be best if we end it here. You can explore to your hearts content when you become a student.” Max paused.

“Now that I think about it,” he said, remembering something. “There are some places I won’t be able to show you. There is an underground network that runs beneath the castle. It houses the kitchens, the storage unit, the Maintenance and Utilities department and a passage system. I won’t emphasise on the last one.”

Just when Michael thought the castle couldn’t get any better, it did. The kitchen had to be grand, he assumed, to cater to the needs of the different students.

“Now that we’re done with the dormitories,” Max continued as they left the Vampire dormitory, “all that’s left is to explore the grounds.” He led Michael back into the main castle as they stood in front of the castle doors.

“The land acquired by the Eldritch Institute measures about five hundred acres in total, a splendour to behold. Our first stop, the Security Hub.”

Max led Michael down the path towards a stone lodge.

“What kind of security does the school employ?” Michael asked excitedly. The initial fear he had was slowly dying down.

“The school uses a network of Gargoyles.”

“Gargoyles?” The confusion was clear on his face.

“Yes. Gargoyles. They are a peculiar type of monsters with no affiliation to anyone besides the grounds they protect. They were created to protect and there has never been a more efficient system of security. They have proven themselves time and time again.”

Michael nodded, intrigued at the explanation as they walked down the path leading to the stone lodge. He turned back to look at the castle and it was just now that he took note of the considerably grotesque creatures that were perched on the castle in various places. It was funny how he didn’t notice until just now.

“The gargoyle in charge of the Security Hub is the Groundskeeper,” Max said as they reached the stone lodge. It was a relatively simple building crafted with the same material as the castle. The windows were narrow, and arched.

By both sides of the door were two small gargoyles, Michael noticed, perched on squat pillars. Max knocked on the heavy wooden door. Silence.

“I don’t think he heard you,” Michael said, eyeing the thick wood.

The stone gargoyles flanking the door suddenly turned their heads toward them with a grinding sound. Their eyes flared briefly with amber light.

Michael stumbled backward. “They’re alive?”

“Everything’s alive here if you know how to look,” Max said as the gargoyles resumed their stillness. “And now Lucius knows we’re here.” Come on, Max said as he led him past the well-trimmed grounds that surrounded the lodge.

They walked for a short while and Michael could see a body of water in their direction. As they got closer, the more impressed he was with the lake in front of him and soon they reached its edge. The lake shimmered with a silvery sheen as it reflected its surroundings, enhancing itself.

Michael was at a loss for words. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice said from behind him. When he turned around, Max was already face-to-face with the… person? He was at a school for monsters so he couldn’t assume that the person in front of him wasn’t one. The person in front of him was tall, taller than Max, and quite muscular despite being lean. His eyes, Michael noticed, were deep amber and they looked like they were staring into his soul. Just who was this person.

“Michael, meet the groundskeeper of the Institute, Lucius. Lucius, meet Michael, a new student.”

It seemed surprising to Michael, because the person in front of him looked nothing like the gargoyles he saw in front of the lodge. He looked just like Michael and Max.

Michael turned to Max. “Is he a gargoyle? But he looks like us.”

“I assure you boy,” Lucius spoke, a voice that sounded deep and echoey, “I am a gargoyle. As for my appearance right now, you have magic to thank for that. Don’t think much of it. I can become stone like the others.”

Lucius’ tone sounded friendly despite its deep echo and Michael relaxed slightly.

“Why are you here?” Max asked.

“Looking for you. Headmaster is just about done with his application. Figured you’d want to go back to meet him.”

As he said this, he strolled off. The exchange was short and Michael, despite the feeling of friendliness, couldn’t help but feel bothered by Lucius.

“Pay no attention to him,” Max said as they began their trek back to the school. “He means well, but he’s always looking for something to do. He easily is one of the best people you can befriend in this school.”

Michael nodded but there was a question lingering in his mind. “Are we done with the tour?”

“Not quite. There must be two or so places we haven’t seen yet but that won’t be an issue. It’s just a quick tour. Let’s get you ready for being a student.”

With that said, Max and Michael made their way back to the main building and up the stairs to the headmasters’ wing. As they reached the door, this time it swung open to reveal two figures. Michael recognised one as Draken but the second was someone he hadn’t met. She felt more human than any person he had met since he came to the school.

When their eyes met, Michael saw warmth fill hers. She looked like someone who was about to cry. Why though?