Ruby walked through the campus gates, drawing every gaze that dared linger.
She was striking in every sense—tall, poised, and gracefully built, with the kind of hourglass figure that commanded attention without asking for it. The fitted black qipao she wore hinted at her curves subtly, the ruby crystal embroidery glinting under the morning sun like living fire.
Her steps were unhurried, confident, silent—but magnetic. By the time she reached the Vice Chancellor's office, whispers had already followed her path.
A tall blonde girl stepped into her way, freezing mid-step when their eyes met. For a moment, she just stared, lost in Ruby's beauty, before remembering herself.
"Uh—sorry! Who are you here to see?"
Ruby answered evenly, but before she could finish, the girl gasped, blurting out her name but without mentioning her surname
Ruby's gaze sharpened.
*"Although she didn't say Raven I'm not sure what she knows"* Ruby said in thought as she took a deep breath
"How do you know my name?" she asked quietly, her hand brushing the hilt of a hidden dagger beneath her sleeve.
The girl stammered. "I—I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sound rude. I'm Harleen Quincel, your student liaison. I was assigned to show you around. I've been expecting you!"
Harleen Quincel? Ruby thought. The name was odd enough, but the girl's style was odder—blonde hair in twin ponytails, bright clothes, a grin just a bit too wide.
Ruby smiled brightly quickly changing her murderous intention to an harmless aura. "Then I'll be in your care."
Harleen led her to the Vice Chancellor's office. Inside, Ms. Ashen waited, elegant yet humble
"Welcome to St. Heliera College, Miss. It's an honor. I'm Ashen the VC of Heliera, I believe you're one of the students on scholarship."
Ruby tilted her head with a bright smile as she first went in deep thought.
*"The old man really did well hiding my identity swiftly, well done"* she commended Draven with an inner smirk
"You're Ms. Ashen? I've heard a lot about you! You've managed Heliera quite well I had to work my butt off to get in"
Her tone was soft and gentle almost unrecognizable
Ashen gave a small smile . "Of course Ms…."
"Ruby" Ruby replied as Ashen froze, cold sweat appeared on her face as she felt the chill run down her spine
"Ruby..."
"Rose" Ruby replied smiling as Ashen gave a sigh of relief
"M..May I ask why you chose our college?" She asked still suspicious about Ruby's identity
Ruby smiled sweetly
"I wanted to support my mom and dad so I applied for scholarship here, I didn't dream of being chosen " Ruby said with joy and excitement evident in her tone
Ashen blinked then her eyes softened as Ruby felt a change in her tone.
It went from defensive to motherly instantly
"Then welcome Ruby Rose, I hope you shine and bloom like your name" Ashen said sweetly as Ruby smiled back happily
"Thank you Mrs Ashen" Ruby said as she collected her signed documents then turned I leave but halted in her steps before Ashen's question
"How long do you plan to stay?" Ashen asked asked.
Ruby's smile didn't quite reach her eyes but her aura well hidden still warm, since her back was against Ashen she couldn't tell.
"As long as I can to help my parents"
She replied sweetly and her answer prickled Ashen's nerves as she viewed Ruby as a pure soul that must be protected
If only she knew...Ruby then walked out happily as Ashen smiled
"I hope you stay as pure and happy as you are now, I hope you won't turn out like the rest.." She muttered with a sigh looking out her window
Outside, Harley was waiting. "So? How'd it go?" she asked cheerfully.
Ruby smiled brightly again completely, sunlight catching on the ruby patterns of her qipao. She stepped closer, placing a hand beneath her chest in a small, balanced motion—elegant and effortless, more habit than vanity. Leaning close, her voice came out low and smooth.
"I guess I'll be depending on you."
Harley blinked, momentarily speechless. "O-of course! Anything you need."
As they walked, Harley asked if Ruby planned to start classes right away. Ruby nodded. "My luggage should already be in my dorm," she added.
"Wait—you already know your room? I haven't even told you where—"
Ruby nodded. "Ms. Ashen must have arranged it. She said my roommates would suit my taste."
Harley's smile twitched. "Unless your taste includes two psychopaths, a bookworm, and a fantasy-obsessed girl, I'm not sure about that."
For a brief instant, Ruby's expression fell into faint dark satisfaction—too quick to notice.
*Perfect,* she thought simply.
"It's okay.." She replied sweetly making Harley freeze
"Wait, really?" Harley laughed nervously. "No one wants that room. Miccah—the bookworm—might be the only one happy about it."
Miccah, Ruby thought. Probably not. I'm all of them combined—and worse.
When they reached the dormitory, Harley explained that most students were still in class and that the dorms were empty due to a recent "incident." She promised to introduce Ruby later, then waved and hurried off.
The moment the hallway fell silent, Ruby's aura changed again becoming even heavier than before, a black raven appeared at Ruby's shoulder.
"Find anyone who suspects my identity," she ordered quietly. "Anyone with enough reach to trace me to the Ravens."
The bird tilted its head innocently. Ruby's tone cooled. "If you slack off again, you'll end up as bird soup."
Its feathers puffed nervously before it vanished out the window. Ruby turned toward the curtain, sunlight painting her face in gold.
Tiny ruby-like crystals began to bloom along the fabric—fragile, beautiful, and dangerous. They pulsed with her heartbeat until, with a faint hum, they shattered into glittering dust, taking part of the curtain with them.
"So… it evolved again," she murmured.
She slipped on her gloves, sighing softly. "I'll have to keep my distance this time. The last thing I need is more blood on my hands."
Ruby was already settled by the window when the door burst open.
The noise didn't startle her — nothing ever did. She merely lifted her eyes from the sunset's reflection dancing on the glass as four girls tumbled in, dragging their chaos behind them like perfume.
"Finally!" Harley's voice rang out first, all brightness and drama. "Ladies, meet our new roommate—" She spun, grinning wide, and pointed toward Ruby. "—Ruby Raven!"
Ruby smiled, her aura softening into something warm and deceptively pure.
"You can call me Nyx," she said lightly.
For a heartbeat, silence pooled in the room.
Sage and Luna — twin storms wrapped in human skin — frowned in perfect sync. Their mirrored voices echoed, "Welcome to hell, Nyx." They brushed past her, each wearing that dangerous smirk that made even the air seem to flinch.
Miccah, balancing a tower of books, froze mid-step. "Oh great," she muttered, "another princess under our roof."
Ruby's gaze drifted to the title of the top book: The Quantum Paradox of Souls. A rare find, even among collectors.
So the crazy clown-girl imitator wasn't lying about their personalities, she thought, lips curving faintly.
Of course, Harley had warned her — the last roommate had been a spoiled brat, the kind that treated others like furniture. Ruby could feel the tension still clinging to the walls, like smoke that refused to leave.
St. Heliera wasn't just a school. It was a battlefield disguised as an academy — a place where the privileged dumped their rotten heirs, and the desperate clawed their way up for scraps of opportunity. The middle class? Trapped in between, bleeding quietly.
Murder rates spiked every year, yet no one dared investigate. The rich funded the silence. The scholarships were their leash.
A perfect place for a silver tongue to bleed without the scent being traced back.
Ruby exhaled slowly, pushing her thoughts into order. She wasn't here to make friends or prove herself. She had a mission — to find her childhood friend, the heir to the White Dragon's throne. If the rumors were true, he'd grown colder, harder… perhaps even ruthless.
But once upon a time, he melted — only for me.
That thought almost made her smile.
Choosing silence over small talk, Ruby climbed onto her bed, turned toward the others, and whispered, "Good night." A yawn followed naturally. Within minutes, she was asleep.
The room went still.
Sage's eyes narrowed. No rich brat ever ignored them. The move was too calm, too deliberate.
What if she isn't like the others? Sage wondered. Is she really not here for power?
If that were true, she should've at least shown some fear. Unless… she thought they weren't worth her time.
That last thought made Sage's jaw tighten.
She exchanged a look with Luna, who caught the silent signal instantly — a silent warning that the new girl might be more dangerous than she looked.