"Thank You"

Amber was reading through more books, trying to learn more about Angexthus when an alarm sounded.

'Newcomers please make your way down the stairs to the meeting room, please' A woman announced.

'Downstairs?' She closed the book and returned it to its shelf.  Closing the door behind her, she walked down the stairs where hundreds of students were already gathered. 

She took one of the many seats at the back, bending her neck to the side by the walkway to see who would be talking. 

"Welcome everyone to Angexthus' Academy." She held both her hands together and bowed.

"I trust that you new students have gotten at least a little background of the school since your time here. Studies and your training will be starting next week which means you will have an extended week if you did not get enough background. There is also a library here, so feel free to explore." Her voice was smooth and neutral and she was also very good-looking. 

"Since I am sure you do not know me, I am Vanessa, one of the oldest teachers here but make no mistake, I see everything." She places two fingers at her four eyes and then to the students.

Vanessa didn't look any older than 40, she was fit and almost built as a 20-year-old. Her back was starting to bend a little and a few grey strands were peeking from her tight bun but she was healthy. She had bright cherry lipstick on as well as some blush on her slightly wrinkled cheeks.

"In this academy you will be split into groups, depending on your wealth, knowledge, and your ancestors. In other words your blood." She explained, and towards another student standing not too far away from her to bring a scroll, "Thank you...the groups are told in colors, where there are also banners to represent, so you'll know what group is when you pass them. There are four groups,  Blue is known as the shields—defense magic and combat. Red is for combat—skills, swordsmanship, and attacking abilities. The stronger magic. Green is for added-on assets—abilities that work better with a partner/support and purple is for spell-based—healing abilities, potions, and reading. 

I hope this is clear for you all because today you are finally getting to be in these groups. Like I said the colored banners will lead you to your group rooms or where your group will have meetings and which parts of the academy they will be located. Please don't forget to socialize and also have a good time as that is important as well as studies. Thank you all for coming." 

Groups? 'Am I in one of these groups. I don't think so.'

Amber had not heard about any of those groups, was she the only one not aware.

"That is all. If there are not any questions or anything you will want to discuss about your group, you may feel free to leave."

What should she do? Should she just leave…

Everyone was already leaving to go to their group. 'Argh! I'll just return to my room and wait it out. Problem solved, right?'

'No!'

"I don't belong to a group!" Amber blurted out with her hand raised over her hand.

Heads turned to look at her, staring and whispering to each other.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean you don't belong to a group child?"

***

"This girl doesn't belong to any of our groups?" They stood in a large room that resembled both an office and lounge area.

Chairs streaded the area along with more bookshelves and there were also some plants. The area was simple, and a cool breeze could be felt, uplifting the area. There was a large window touching the floor and ceiling and an open walk space following in front of the room ahead of her, leading to a porch outside.

Amber stood beside Vanessa who carried her to the room when she said she wasn't in a group. 

Arveion, Arsan, Indigo, Sage, and a few others were in the room. Indigo and Sage were seated at the table chatting with each other. Arsan was supposedly trying to cook and Arveion was most likely pressuring him. 

The others were either seated, on the porch or standing and observing Arsan.

Arveion came from behind the black stone kitchen counter, "Vanessa, thank you, we'll take it from here. This is Amber and she's new with us so that is why she isn't in any of our groups yet. We will place her in a group."

Vanessa then left a nod, gesturing to Ambet to take a seat where wants in the meantime Arveion and Arsan burn the kitchen down.

She took a seat on a long lounge chair, her hands tied together and her eyes on her eyes, quietly laughing to herself at the guy's failed attempt to cook. 

Warm hands wrap around her shoulders and she flinches, twisting her shoulders to see a guy smiling down at her. He had orange hair, slight freckles the same color on his nose, his pale complexion causing his cheeks to appear a light pink, and also pink lips almost the same color.

He continued to smile down at her and she continued to look into his sable eyes. She sends a half-smile and he then jumps over from the back of the chair to sit next to her.

"Hey, I'm Jack…" He coos, shifting closer to her.

"Nice to meet you, Jack, I'm Amber."

He smirks, "That's a really pretty name for a real girl." He says and she blushes. 

"Thank you, Jack."

"No problem sweetheart, so you're new around here, right Amby?" 

Amby? She internally giggles, such a silly name. He also called her sweetheart. That's very new to her.

"Yes, yes I am." 

There was an awkward silence as he just stood there, staring into her eyes. 

Amber blinked and he smiled, leaning his head forward and closing in any further space between them.

What is happening?! Her heart was pounding, what was he planning? Why is he looking at her like that?

"You also have really beautiful eyes." He whispers and then tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ears.

"Thank you." She murmurs, slightly turning her head from him, not knowing what else to say. The guy's a creep!

His fingers then lightly tap her cheek, trailing down to her jaw, "Your skin is so soft." He breathes, slightly gripping it, he turns her to face him, "Goddess." He brings her head closer to him but right before her eyes, she watches as a hand grips around his wrist.

Very fiery eyes look down at him and Jack shrinks in the seat.

"Don't fucking touch her Jack." Arveion snarls and then stanches his hand away, so hard she thought it might've broken. 

Jack backed away from her, holding his arm and cursing under his breath when he walked away.

Arveion continues to glare down at her, his shoulders tense.

"You didn't need to push him away like that." She crossed her hands over her chest, her lips in a pout.

His eyes met her lips and she folded it into her mouth when he continued to stare.

He licks his lips, then looks back up into her eyes not saying anything. 

"Thanks." She looks up at him, deciding that she should thank him, not just for that but how she remembered him from her flashbacks. When he saved her.

"I didn't do that for you." His glare deepens and she looks down at her hands again. 

'Well shit off then.' She was a different person in her head than her shy self in reality.

She jumped when his fingers grazed her cheek, his thumb rubbing over the part where Jack touched, "Why did you let him touch you that way?" 

"I-I didn't...uhm, he was only being friendly." She could've sworn his eyes softened but she blinked it away and he was once again only glaring at her.

"I…" She stammered as his thumb remained on her cheek. A shiver ran down her shine. 'What is up with me, Jack did the same thing.'

"Arveion…?" She looks at his hand which remained on her cheek. 

"Yeah…" He then looks down at his hand, noticing that he was still touching her. He retreated his thumb and then used his hand to lift her off the chair. 

He grips his palm under her arm and drags her, "Let's go."