Part 1

  Raphael gnced at the clock and took a breath.Ok. I think it’s time to go to the Great Hall for dinner.

  He took a step forward, then paused.Wait! I forgot to ask which way I should go. Oh! Stupid me...He closed his eyes in frustration, sighing quietly. Great start, Raphael.

  But when he opened them again, his heart skipped a beat — he was suddenly standing right in front of the Great Hall.

  He hadn’t taken another step. He hadn’t seen any corridor, any stairs — just darkness behind his eyelids... and now this.The grand wooden doors loomed before him, slightly ajar, with a warm golden glow spilling out into the hallway. The hum of distant voices and clinking cutlery reached his ears.

  Wait! What? What just happened? And how...?He blinked in disbelief, his breath catching. Did I just teleport? How did I get here so fast?

  His hand hovered for a moment before gently pushing the door. It creaked open, revealing a vast chamber filled with long tables, high arching windows, and floating orbs of light casting soft illumination over the crowd. The scent of roasted spices and fresh bread wrapped around him like a welcoming bnket.

  As Raphael stepped through the doors, his breath caught in his throat.

  The Great Hall was nothing like he’d imagined.

  It was vast — impossibly vast — with a vaulted ceiling that seemed to rise into the clouds, supported by soaring pilrs of pale stone veined with silver. Rows of long, polished tables stretched the length of the chamber, gleaming under the soft light of floating crystal orbs that hovered high above, slowly drifting in gentle patterns like stars in motion.

  The air smelled of roasted herbs, fresh bread, and something sweet he couldn’t quite pce. A subtle warmth filled the space, not just from the food or the flickering hearths set into the side walls, but something deeper — a sense of belonging, of ancient rituals and quiet magic woven into the stones themselves.

  The walls were lined with arched windows, but there was no visible moon or stars beyond them — only a swirling expanse of dusk-light, shifting gently like liquid twilight. It felt as though the hall existed outside of time, suspended in its own reality.

  Above the high table at the far end hung a massive chandelier shaped like a blooming flower of light, its petals unfurling with a slow, radiant pulse that seemed to match the rhythm of his heartbeat. Banners bearing unknown sigils fluttered from the rafters, their colours rich and deep — sapphire, gold, emerald, crimson.

  Students of all kinds sat along the tables, talking, ughing, and eating. Some looked completely human. Others… less so. Raphael caught glimpses of horns, glowing eyes, hair that shimmered like liquid metal, wings that rustled quietly as their owners leaned in to speak. No one here seemed surprised by the strangeness. It was the norm.

  He stood frozen in the doorway, overwhelmed not just by the size or beauty of the pce, but by the feeling it gave him — as if the hall itself were watching him back. Not in a threatening way, but with ancient eyes, measuring, remembering.

  For the first time since arriving at the academy, Raphael didn’t feel like an outsider.He felt like he’d stepped into a pce that had been waiting for him.

  He entered slowly, his eyes scanning for familiar faces. Era... Kael... but neither of them was in sight.

  Instead, something else caught his attention — or rather, someone.A boy with striking orange hair sat alone at one of the long tables. His posture was rexed, his fingers idly tapping against a goblet, but his vivid green eyes were focused — locked on Raphael with quiet intensity. There was no judgment in his gaze, just curiosity. And something else… amusement?

  Feeling slightly uneasy but determined not to retreat, Raphael crossed the space between them.

  – Hi. May I sit here? I’m new, and most of the pces are already taken.

  The boy’s expression shifted immediately into warmth. He gave a small, lopsided smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly with genuine welcome.

  – Of course – he said, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. – I’m Liam. Nice to meet you.

  He extended a hand over the table. Raphael reached out and shook it, feeling the steadiness of his grip — firm, confident, but not overbearing.

  – I’m Raphael. Nice to meet you too. – He smiled back, grateful for the kindness.

  Liam’s smile deepened, his gaze lingering for a heartbeat longer than expected.

  – Raphael – he repeated slowly, as if testing the name on his tongue. – That’s quite an unusual name. Is it French?

  He leaned back a little, arms folding loosely as he continued to study Raphael’s face, his curiosity now more open, less guarded.

  – Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been moving from pce to pce since I was little. I don’t know where I come from.

  There was a pause, not of awkwardness, but of unexpected understanding. Liam’s expression softened, his amusement repced by something more thoughtful.

  – Wow, that must have been tough. – He absentmindedly traced patterns on the wooden tabletop with his thumb. – So you really have no idea about your origins?

  – Unfortunately, no. Sorry for killing the mood.

  Liam’s head snapped up, and he immediately shook it.

  – No, no, please don’t apologize. I think it’s really interesting, actually. – He gave Raphael a warm smile, this time tinged with something like admiration. – And it definitely hasn’t killed the mood.

  – Thanks. So... where is the food served?

  Liam chuckled, the sparkle returning to his eyes. He pointed toward a rge buffet table at the far end of the hall, where students were helping themselves to heaping ptters of steaming dishes.

  – Over there. – He stood up and offered his arm with a pyful tilt of his head. – I’ll show you. It’s kind of a free-for-all — you can take whatever you want.

  – Oh, great. After everything that happened today, I’m starving. – Raphael’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he accepted the offer.

  As they walked together toward the buffet, Raphael felt a strange mix of comfort and disorientation. He couldn’t ignore the gnces following them. Curious stares. Whispers. Some students turned their heads as they passed, voices dropping to murmurs. It felt like walking through a dream — one where he was both guest and enigma.

  But Liam didn’t seem to notice — or perhaps he didn’t care. He kept talking, describing the food with light-hearted energy, completely at ease.

  As they reached the buffet, Raphael’s eyes widened.

  The table stretched farther than he’d expected — long enough that it seemed to shift with perspective, as if its end y just out of reach. It was overflowing with food, arranged in ornate ptters, steaming bowls, and gleaming trays. The sheer variety was staggering.

  Rows of roasted meats glistened under enchanted heat-mps — some familiar, like golden herb-stuffed chicken or slow-roasted mb in wine gze. Others were... stranger. Purple-tinted cuts with shimmering skin, or spiral-shaped slices that gave off a subtle, sweet aroma he couldn’t pce.

  Beside them were vegetable dishes — grilled roots, marinated mushrooms that seemed to pulse slightly with light, sads sprinkled with edible petals and jewelled seeds. There were dishes wrapped in leaves, gzed in sauces that shimmered like molten silver, or topped with delicate frost-like crumbles.

  He spotted piles of rice in every imaginable colour, steaming dumplings arranged like flower petals, and soups that changed shade as they stirred in their bowls. Some items glowed faintly. Others hissed quietly as they steamed.It looked like someone had pulled recipes from every corner of the world — and perhaps some worlds beyond.

  Liam nudged his arm gently and pointed toward a small shelf nearby.

  – Trays and ptes are over there. Grab whatever you need — forks, knives, enchanted spoons, whatever works.

  Raphael nodded and did as instructed, choosing a polished tray with subtle filigree along the edges, a white ceramic pte, and a set of simple silver utensils. He returned to the table, eyes flitting from one dish to the next.

  What the hell is half of this...?He hesitated. But instead of feeling intimidated, he felt intrigued. Curious.

  You’ve done this before, he reminded himself. New kitchens, new homes, new countries... You always try something.

  During his years of drifting from pce to pce, Raphael had learned to embrace the unknown — especially when it came to food. He'd discovered that tasting unfamiliar things often revealed something about the people who made them — their spices, their stories, their hearts.

  He began filling his pte, carefully selecting what looked both unusual and appetizing: thin slices of something caramelized and smoky; a small pile of luminous green noodles; golden cubes of something that smelled like cinnamon and fme. He didn’t know what any of it was, and somehow, that made it better.

  Liam watched him with an amused smile as Raphael moved down the buffet line, loading his pte with a confident — if slightly chaotic — selection of dishes.Some were exotic. Others looked outright alien. None of them had bels. And Raphael didn’t seem to care.

  – You’ve got guts – Liam said, arching an eyebrow. – You don’t even know what half of that is, do you?

  Raphael chuckled, eyeing his overloaded pte.

  – Not a clue. I just go by smell, colour, texture… intuition.He gnced back at Liam with a grin. – I guess I just love world cuisine. Or should I say... worlds cuisine?

  Liam let out a soft ugh.

  – Good call.

  – Besides – Raphael added, holding the tray with both hands – I’m starving, and luckily, Mother Nature blessed me with a ridiculously good metabolism.

  Liam gave him a pyful once-over, his eyes flicking from Raphael’s tray to his lean form.

  – I can see that. Honestly, if I had your figure, I’d be eating triple.

  Raphael blushed, a small, surprised smile tugging at his lips.

  – You’re not exactly doing bad yourself.

  By the time he moved toward the dessert section, his pte was already full of colour, scent, and mystery — and his appetite, despite the awe, had only grown.

  – The witches make the best desserts – he added with a grin. – I swear by the strawberry tarts.

  – Mmmmm... I love desserts. – Raphael’s smile widened, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.

  Liam ughed at his eager expression and led him straight to the dessert table, bypassing the heavier dishes without hesitation. He grabbed a pte and began piling it high with an assortment of sweets — chocote va cakes with glossy centers, golden strawberry tarts topped with sugared fruit, delicate cream puffs dusted in powdered sugar.

  – Here. – He handed him the full pte with a small flourish.

  – Oh, thanks. – Raphael took it, blushing slightly as their fingers brushed.

  Raphael gnced around the hall once more, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces, while they approach their table.

  – I was actually hoping to see Era here.

  He paused, Why I didn’t mention Kael too? I’m not sure...The thought flickered in his mind, uninvited and unexpined.

  – But she’s nowhere to be seen.

  Liam tilted his head slightly, then smiled in recognition.

  – Ah, so they assigned Era to help you settle in?

  Raphael nodded.

  – You got lucky – Liam said with a soft ugh. – She’s one of the best. Smart, kind, actually listens to people. And not the type to act like she’s better than everyone else.

  Raphael’s lips curved into a faint smile.

  – Yeah... I got that impression.

  Liam leaned in a little, dropping his voice.

  – I think I saw her earlier, but she left not long after. I overheard someone saying the Headmaster called her in. Something about a matter of great importance, whatever that means.

  After turning back to their table they sat down to eat. Raphael took his time, savoring the explosion of fvors — some familiar, others entirely new. One bite was tangy and sharp, another rich with spice and sweetness. It was a journey through unknown cuisines, and he loved every moment of it.

  This pce… it’s insane, he thought between mouthfuls, but the food alone might be worth it.

  They exchanged casual comments and a few ughs, but conversation remained light — until they returned with dessert.

  As they moved to their desserts, each with a full pte of sweets, Raphael took a small bite of his cream puff, the sweet, airy texture melting instantly on his tongue. Beside him, Liam dug into a warm chocote va cake, the rich filling spilling onto the pte with each motion of his fork.

  Their knees brushed beneath the table — a soft, accidental contact that neither of them seemed eager to break. Liam didn’t move away. He simply kept eating, casually, as though nothing had happened.

  – So, Raphael – he said between mouthfuls.

  – Yes?

  Liam leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. His breath was warm against Raphael’s cheek, sending an involuntary shiver up his spine.

  – Since you’re new, I thought I’d warn you about something.

  Raphael gnced at him, curious.

  – There are three main groups you should be aware of — the witches...

  – Ok. Continue.

  – The witches are powerful and tend to stick together – Liam expined in a hushed tone. – Then there are the shifters — strong, proud, very territorial. And finally... the vampires.

  He paused there, letting the st word settle. His green eyes locked onto Raphael’s, intense and unreadable.

  – They can be dangerous if you’re not careful.

  – Ok. So who are you? – Raphael tilted his head slightly, studying Liam. – Because you look like neither of them.

  Liam chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

  – Good observation – he murmured, leaning back in his seat with a rexed grace. – I’m a bit of a rare breed. I’m a Nephilim — half human, half angel.

  – Wow...

  Liam ughed softly at the astonishment in Raphael’s expression.

  – Yeah, I get that a lot – he said with a wink. – Anyway, just watch your back around some of these groups, especially the vampires. They can be real jerks to new students sometimes.

  – I’ve already met one — Kael. And he was very nice to me. Mysterious, but nice. And... I felt it was honest.

  Liam’s expression shifted at the mention of Kael — a subtle softening, thoughtful rather than reactive.

  – Kael is... different – he said after a pause. – He’s one of the oldest vampires here, and he’s got a reputation. Keeps to himself. Definitely mysterious. But if he was kind to you, that’s a good sign.

  – One of the oldest? He looks our age. What does he do to look so great?

  Liam grinned and shook his head.

  – Vampires age differently than humans – he expined. – Kael’s over a hundred, but because of their healing abilities and the way their bodies work, they barely age. It’s kind of unfair, really.

  – So I guess it’s better not to ask anyone’s age at this school.

  Liam burst out ughing.

  – You’re catching on quickly – he teased. – Yeah, age is kind of a... sensitive subject around here. You might get some very surprising answers.

  – Like yours?

  Liam fshed a wide grin at Raphael’s pyful tone, his eyes glinting.

  – Exactly like mine. – He leaned in again, voice dropping to a teasing murmur. – I’m actually older than I look too.

  – I think I don’t need to know. – Raphael’s voice dipped just a little, softer, more honest. – You seem very nice. And... you look hot.

  He blinked, realizing what he’d just said.Oops.

  – Sorry for that.

  Liam’s grin only widened, clearly amused.

  – No need to apologize – he said with a low chuckle. – I take it as a compliment.

  He leaned back casually, though his gaze stayed locked on Raphael’s, calm and steady.

  – And you’re not so bad yourself.