Chapter 15

Serene's POV

The day had finally arrived for me to leave the nest and fly away toward a brighter future. I was excited. 8:18 am was the exact time I was given to use the portal. Since all new students will be arriving today so the portal will be busy. Everyone had been allotted a specific time to use it. If someone misses then they will have to use other means to get there.

I woke up at 6 am, took a bath and changed. I chose comfortable clothes, black and white Palazzo pants with a white tunic shirt and black and white sandals. I had tied my hair in a bun using white floral pins to hold them.

I headed down for breakfast to find my father and grandma already sitting at the table. Their faces beamed as they looked at me. "Good morning," I greeted while hugging them both and sitting beside them for some waffles and cream. "Are you nervous?" Dad inquired. "Not really, I am excited," I told him.

"My dear you are gonna be great, do your best and remember, we are always there with you if you need us," my grandma beamed at me. "I know, grandma," I smiled back at her.

"Heya!" Zian shouted and waved while entering the dining room and sat next to me. "So, you leaving finally?"

"Yes, it seems so," I tried not to sound sad. "Remember, if they kick you out, we are always here to accept you back, no judgements," he said in a serious tone. I kicked him hard from under the table. "Go away," I sulked while grandma and father laughed at our slight skirmishes.

We got up after finishing breakfast. It was time to leave. Zian and our butler fetched my luggage. I hugged my grandma one final time. She looked sad, "I will be alright grandma, don't worry and I will send you letters, I promise," I tried to reassure her. She smiled and we hugged for one last time as she kissed my forehead.

"Time to go, Serene," my father said and we headed out from our castle towards our realm's portal. It was located near our castle. Every realm had portals which made it easier to travel from one destination to another but prior permission was always required to use them.

All portals were heavily guarded at all times and if someone tried to enter it without permission or the destination wasn't in sync with the relevant another portal. They might get stuck forever in a time warp.

We reached the portal. It was like an oval metallic gate with our realm's insignia ingrained in it. The inner part of the gate was like purple jelly. I took out my slip which had arrived with my letter of admission from the institute. The time for my departure was inscribed on it. I still had 10 minutes, I handed it to the portal guards.

"Let me know if you need anything or have any trouble." My dad said for the thousandth time. "I will and stop worrying about me so much." I tried to reassure him while hugging him. Then I turned to Zian who was looking solemn. "You guys are supposed to cheer me up and here I am the one who is doing that," I told them with a sigh.

"Nah, Nah I know you gonna be great there but it's the first time you are leaving the realm and I will be without my best friend," Zian said with a long face. "I will be back in six months for holidays, I am not leaving forever," I joked and he finally smiled before giving me one last hug.

"Crimzon wanted to be here but she had some emergency at work, she sent this for you," he handed me a black chrysanthemum. "Thank her for me and be good to her, she is an amazing person. I am glad you found her.

Also, keep an eye on dad, make sure he won't worry too much about me," I told him in a hushed voice and he nodded. "Don't worry I will take care of things here, you just concentrate on your training and try to stay away from Dark Realm, until we figure out what it's about," he whispered to me and I smiled reassuringly at him.

"Time to go, Princess Serene," one of the guards called out. I placed the flower in my hair, took my luggage and said my final goodbyes. Zian smiled at me while father looked like someone had died. I sighed and with one final look took a step inside the portal.

Everything swirled for a second as I felt lifted in the air and thrust forward. My ears ringed and my eyes blurred. Then as suddenly as it had happened I found my footing again as I stepped outside of the portal.

"This way," a voice told me. I looked up to see one of the guards from Hexum Realm pointing towards an open area where a few other students were standing as well. I stepped down from the platform with my luggage and headed towards where other students were standing.

Everyone began to stare at me as I went closer and some of them even began to murmur amongst themselves. Someone shouted: " Who invited the flower queen?" And many of them began to laugh. I realized they were referring to me as I remembered the flower Zian had given me. Damn, I knew there would be backlash on me as being the only Fae to attend in a long time but didn't realize they would start picking on me instantly.

A girl walked towards me, she had long flowing reddish-golden hair and beautiful brown eyes. "Hello, I am Tanzil. Ignore the brats they don't know what they are talking about," she introduced herself. I shook her hand. "I am Serene, nice to meet you." She stood with me and began talking. She was from a prominent royal family in Lycanus Realm and was here with her boyfriend. Both of them were Werewolves.

More and more students were coming out of the portal and gathering in the area. I was looking around me trying to see all of my fellow students and understand which realm they belonged to. That's when I saw him...