Chapter 14-The fiery four

Chapter 14: 14-The fiery four

By the time Maisa and Sapphire left the redblood dormitory, Veris academy had fully awakened.

Unlike the quiet stillness that had settled over the academy at sunrise, the castle now overflowed with life. Every illuminated corridor echoed with conversations as vampires from every bloodline poured out of their dormitories in neatly pressed uniforms.

White, black, blue, crimson, and dark red formed rivers of colour that flowed through the castle’s countless hallways toward lecture halls and training grounds.

Maisa walked silently beside Sapphire, clutching Zolani’s borrowed notes tightly against her chest. Every student they passed seemed impossibly confident about the night.

They laughed, told jokes, and mingled with friends. They looked at home, they belonged there, and Maisa felt like an intruder who had somehow wandered into someone else’s world.

Her eyes wandered across the academy’s architecture as they climbed another sweeping staircase.

The classroom building before them was magnificent. Tall gothic pillars stretched upward like ancient trees, supporting arched ceilings painted with murals depicting the rise of vampire civilization.

Moonstone chandeliers floated high above, bathing the halls in cool light despite the night outside. Elegant stained-glass windows displayed the crests of the five bloodlines, their colors spilling across polished marble floors.

The second floor overlooked one of the academy’s largest courtyards, and as soon as Maisa stepped into the hallway, she froze. The corridor was overflowing with students.

Every available space along the balcony had been taken. Some students stood on benches, others leaned dangerously over the stone railing, and several students were even standing on windowsills trying to gain a better view below.

Dozens of conversations filled the air. "They’re coming!"

"Move aside!"

"I can’t see!"

"Let me through!"

"Just one look!"

Students shoved each other, struggling to secure a spot, and those who already had a clear view fought to maintain their spot.

Maisa blinked in confusion. "What..." she looked toward Sapphire. "What is happening?"

Sapphire smiled knowingly. "You picked an interesting night to start classes."

Maisa looked back toward the crowd. "Why is everyone looking outside?"

Sapphire leaned casually against the railing. "They’re waiting, obviously," she said it like it was supposed to be common knowledge, but for Maisa, who was new, she didn’t know the reason.

"For who?"

A small laugh escaped Sapphire. "The fiery four."

Maisa frowned. From her expression, it was clear that she didn’t know who those were.

"The student council," Sapphire simplified it for her.

The words alone explained everything. She had met them all once and not only was she intimidated despite her background, she was reduced to a shivering mess.

"Every evening before first class starts..." Sapphire looked toward the courtyard below. "They walk through the central courtyard together towards their class. It became something of a tradition."

Maisa looked around again. "And everyone gathers just to watch them?"

Sapphire nodded without hesitation. "You’ll understand why in a minute." She pointed toward the courtyard, excitement filling her body. "They’re here."

The endless chatter stopped almost instantly. An expectant silence spread through the buildings. Hundreds of vampire students collectively leaned forward.

Then, on cue, they fiery four appeared. Princess Varitreya Vancrest walked at the front. She didn’t merely enter the courtyar, she commanded it with her mere presence.

Her immaculate white academy uniform seemed almost luminous beneath the moonlight, the pristine fabric embroidered with delicate silver thread that shimmered with every graceful step she took.

A fitted white blazer rested perfectly over her shoulders, fastened with the royal crest of house Vancrest. Beneath it, a crisp white shirt disappeared beneath an elegant silver cravat adorned with a moonstone brooch.

Her long platinum hair cascaded like liquid silk down her back, untouched by the slightest breeze, while her pale skin seemed carved from flawless marble.

Every movement carried effortless dignity, every step radiated authority. She looked less like a student and more like a queen temporarily attending school.

The courtyard fell into stunned silence. Several students unconsciously held their breath, others simply stared scared that reacting would disturb her.

One blackblood vampire boy whispered reverently, "She gets beautiful everyday..."

No one disagreed with him. As vampires, immortality was assured, but paired with ageless beauty, it became impossible not to worship the most beautiful and outstanding vampire in the school.

Maisa found herself unable to look away. Even knowing how cold Varitreya had looked in the council chamber, she couldn’t deny it the truth. The princess was breathtaking in every way and from every angle.

We’re Varitreya to attend a normal human high school, she knew her presence would skyrocket to the top of the popularity chart. She’d dominate and be the center of attention. Many envious eyes would follow her everywhere.

"In any universe, she and I are set apart. Our worlds could never meet," she murmured, a sadness enclosed around her heart.

Then, another figure emerged behind her and it was none other than, Addessa Challan. Where Varitreya’s beauty was radiant, Addessa’s was dangerous.

She wore the academy’s black uniform flawlessly. Her tailored black blazer hugged her tall figure perfectly, decorated with subtle crimson embroidery along the cuffs that denoted the prestigious Challan family.

Her long raven hair flowed freely down her back like midnight silk, contrasting sharply against skin almost as pale as the princess’s.

In one hand, she carried two school bags. Her own and Varitreya’s. It was not because she was a servant but because she was the princess’s assigned warden and inside was the secondary seal of the royal family that grants Varitreya power to command the vampire nation at any time. It was safer, guarded by her.

Her expression remained cold and unreadable. Her crimson eyes never wandered and she never smiled. She didn’t acknowledge the countless gazes following her for even a second.

She walked only half a step behind Varitreya. Close enough to protec and far enough to respect royal protocol.

The female students watching from above quietly clutched their chests. No one dared scream or openly admire her.

Addessa wasn’t someone ordinary students confessed to. She was someone they admired from a very safe distance. Because with her every cold exterior and fierce combat skills, she was unrivaled and capable of killing opponets in three moves.

Fear and fascination blended together whenever her name was spoken.

Maisa unconsciously swallowed. Her eyes lingered a minute longer on the cold beauty. While she thought Varitreya was on the moon and unreachable, Addessa was among the skies, equally unreachable and strangely dangerous in an attractive way.

"What a perfect symbol of beauty kills."

The third council member appeared, Lumi Ashbourne. Unlike the first two, Lumi seemed entirely detached from the world around her.

A thick leather-bound book rested comfortably in her hands. Her eyes focused solely on what she was reading.

Her sapphire-blue hair shimmered beneath the moonlight like gentle waves beneath a full moon, perfectly complementing her elegant blue academy uniform.

The rich blue blazer and pleated skirt, trimmed with silver accents, gave her the appearance of calm ocean waters.

She never once lifted her eyes from the pages. Yet somehow, she avoided every obstacle on the paths, didn’t stumble in every staircase and barely wavered on every turn.

Without slowing down, stumbling and looking where she was going, she moved with quiet elegance and never bumped into Addessa in front of her.

Students watched her in silent amazement. "She can reads while walking everyday and it’s fascinating to watch everyday..."