The sharp trill of the campus bell echoed through the hallway, a reminder that the day was truly beginning. I rubbed down my simple shirt nervously, holding the notebook Marcus had insisted I carry. It wasn’t much compared to the shiny supplies I’d seen Jeile unpack yesterday, but it was mine, and somehow, that made it enough.
The classroom was already half full when I stepped inside. Rows of sleek wooden desks faced a broad chalkboard at the front. The hum of chatter buzzed in the air, light laughter mixed with the squeak of chairs against the tiled floor. Some students leaned close to their friends, whispering about assignments or gossip; others scrolled through glowing screens.
I chose a seat near the window, not too close to the front where attention might single me out, and not too
