The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the cliffside where the Willden family home stood. The apple tree, a silent witness to countless memories, stood proud near the edge. Alice Willden, known affectionately as Alicea, sat beneath its branches, her fingers gently tracing the contours of her brother Marcus's name etched into the bark.

Her ability, Sound Adjustment, allowed her to manipulate sound to her will. In this quiet moment, she chose to hear the echoes of Marcus's laughter, the whispers of their shared secrets, and the soft rustling of the leaves that mirrored the dance of their childhood. Alice felt a bittersweet connection with the fragments of memories her brother had left behind.

Only daughter of Nathaniel and Isabelle Willden, Alice bore the weight of her unique power and the haunting memories of Marcus's tragic death. The family dynamics were complex, and her relationship with Lilith Nelson, her father's current wife, added an extra layer of tension. Alice chose to keep the Willden name in defiance, a silent tribute to Marcus.

As the gentle hum of the car engine filled the air, Alice stirred from her slumber, her mind reluctantly emerging from the depths of a vivid dream. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she found herself nestled in the backseat, the soft morning light filtering through the window casting a warm glow on her face.

Rubbing her eyes, Alice glanced around, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings of the car. She caught a glimpse of her father's profile behind the wheel, his expression focused on the road ahead, while she sat beside him.

As the last fragments of her dream faded away, Alice shifted in her seat, her thoughts lingering on the surreal images that had danced through her mind. She could still feel the lingering echoes of emotion that had accompanied the dream, a strange mixture of longing and unease.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Her father’s voice broke through the silence, pulling Alice from her reverie. "Did you have a nice rest?"

Alice offered a faint nod in response, her gaze drifting back to the passing scenery outside the window. The familiar landmarks blurred together as they drove, the rhythmic motion of the car lulling her into a sense of calm.

Lost in thought, Alice found herself replaying snippets of her dream. There had been fleeting glimpses of faces she couldn't quite place, and a sense of urgency that had pulsed beneath the surface.

"Are you excited to see your new school?" Nathaniel's voice cut through the quiet, his tone filled with anticipation.

Alice nodded, offering a small smile in return. "Yeah, I guess so," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

As they neared the school, Alice's thoughts turned to the day ahead, a mixture of nerves and excitement swirling in her stomach. With a deep breath, she pushed aside the remnants of her dream, focusing on the carved-in stone name plate reading "The Intuition of the Destined".

Inside the school office, the atmosphere was bustling with activity. Papers shuffled, phones rang, and voices murmured in the background. Alice took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable encounter with the school's director.

As they approached the reception desk, Alice's father engaged in a hushed conversation with a stern-looking woman behind the counter. Alice strained to catch snippets of their conversation, her curiosity piqued by the serious tone of their exchange.

"...special arrangements..." her father murmured, his voice low and urgent.

The receptionist nodded briskly, scribbling something on a clipboard before gesturing towards a door marked "Director’s Office."

With a sense of trepidation, Alice followed her father into the office, her heart pounding in her chest. Seated behind a large desk, the principal greeted them with a warm smile, though there was a glint of shrewdness in his eyes.

"Ah, Mr. Willden, welcome," the director said, his voice smooth and polished. "And you must be Alice, our newest student."

Alice stared at what seemed to be a name plate, it read “Remi Callum.”

Alice nodded, her throat dry as she tried to muster a polite response. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to this meeting than met the eye.

As her father engaged in polite small talk with the director, Alice's attention drifted to the framed certificates and awards lining the walls. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, as if the very air in the room crackled with tension.

Just as Alice was beginning to feel overwhelmed, a voice broke through the haze of her thoughts. Turning towards the doorway, she saw a boy with a friendly smile, his hand outstretched in greeting.

"Hey there, you must be Alice," the boy said, his tone cheerful and inviting. "I'm Charleston Palms do please call me Charlie, I’ll be your personal guide. Ready for the grand tour?"

Alice shook Charlie's hand. With a nod, she followed Charlie out into the hallway, her nerves gradually giving way as she embarked on her tour around her new school."Nice to meet you, Charlie," Alice replied, grateful for the distraction from the intensity of the meeting with the director. "And yes, I'm definitely ready for the tour."

Charlie's easy going demeanor began their exploration of the school. He pointed out various classrooms, the cafeteria, and the library, peppering their conversation with anecdotes and insider tips about life at the school.

As they walked, Alice couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. Despite her initial apprehension, she found herself becoming more and more intrigued by the prospect of this school.

"So, what made you choose this school?" Charlie asked, glancing over at Alice with genuine curiosity.

Alice hesitated for a moment, unsure.

"Well, my old school didn’t necessarily fill my needs, and this school seemed to have it all," Alice explained, choosing her words carefully. "Plus, I've heard great things from a friend."

Charlie nodded, listening intently as Alice spoke. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her, and Alice couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for his kindness.

As they continued their tour, Alice felt herself wanting to get to understand the social aspect of the school. Growing more and more excited about the possibilities that lay ahead. Despite the lingering sense of unease from her earlier encounter with the director, she couldn't deny the sense of optimism that was bubbling up inside her.

"Thanks for showing me around, Charlie," Alice said, smiling gratefully as they reached the end of their tour back to the director's office. "I really appreciate it."

"No problem at all, Alice," Charlie replied, returning her smile. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Welcome to the school, by the way. I have a feeling you're going to fit in just fine."

With a final nod of thanks, Alice watched as Charlie disappeared down the hallway, his easy stride filled with confidence and warmth. As she opened the door, she couldn't help but feel a sense of interest building within her.

As Alice stepped into the director's office once more, the warm smile on the director's face greeted her with a nod.

"Ah, Alice, welcome back," the director said, his tone cordial. "I understand there's been a small hiccup with your uniform. Unfortunately, it seems there's been a delay in ordering your specific uniform, but not to worry, we made arrangements to have you borrow a temporary uniform until your correct one arrives. In the meanwhile we can head up to your new home for the next year."

As Alice listened to the director's reassuring words about her uniform, a glimmer of laughter began to emerge within her. Maybe this setback wasn't an advantage more than an annoyance.

With a renewed sense of devising, Alice followed her father out of the school office and towards the dormitories. The prospect of being able to move her belongings early was a small comfort in the face of her uniform dilemma.

Once they reached the dormitories, the director showed them to Alice's room, a cozy space with a large window overlooking the campus grounds. "You can start moving your things in whenever you're ready, Alice," the director said, gesturing towards the empty room.

Alice felt a surge of gratitude towards the director for his generosity. "Thank you so much, sir," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I appreciate it."

With a nod of acknowledgment, the director and her father left Alice to settle into her new surroundings. As she began unpacking her belongings, Alice couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the coming year.

The director had left her a black uniform, almost offended to know that it was the uniform ranked for individuals of low standing, but guess they had more leftover than students of greater power.

She tried the uniform on, it fit her body well, and overall looked good for her, that was if she wasn’t bothered by the uniform's rank.

She decided to look into the school library, afterall she had a lot of studying to catch up upon transferring to the school.

As Alice made her way through the hallway, her mind filled with thoughts of settling into her new dorm room and exploring the school, but most importantly she had her mind settle on meeting a long time no see childhood best friend. She suddenly felt a jolt as she collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.

"Watch where you're going, airhead," a voice sneered, breaking through Alice's thoughts.

Startled, Alice looked up to see a tall, intimidating figure standing before her.

She straightened up, meeting the boy’s gaze with a mixture of defiance and curiosity. "Sorry about that," she replied evenly, her voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The boy’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Alice's uniform, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Well, you might want to start begging for forgiveness, moron," he remarked with a mocking tone. "Unless you think you run this school."

Alice felt an urge to laugh but not for the right reasons. Instead, she squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze with a defiant stare.

"Thanks for the advice, but I think I’m alright," she replied coolly, her tone laced with determination. "After all, it's not the uniform that makes the person, right?"

The boy’s smirk faltered slightly, caught off guard by Alice's confident response. For a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps surprise, or maybe even respect.

But before Alice could dwell on the boy’s reaction, he regained his composure, his expression morphing back into a sneer. "Suit yourself, dimwit," he said dismissively, before brushing past her and disappearing down the hallway.

As Alice watched the boy’s retreating figure, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. Maybe, just maybe, she had a new interest in unmasking the root of his nasty personality. And if not, well, she was more than prepared to enter her new life in this new environment.