Arrivals

The morning air shimmered with the faint hum of descending shuttles, their sleek designs reflecting the golden light as they touched down at the campus landing zone. Clara stood by the dormitory entrance, a clipboard in hand, her warm smile offset by the brisk efficiency of her movements. Beside her, Kaelion stood tall and composed, as he observed the bustling scene with his characteristic silence.

The chatter of students spilled out from the shuttles, a harmonious blend of human and zaylaran voices, each language adding its own cadence to the atmosphere. Clara waved at the newcomers, her enthusiasm palpable.

“Welcome to Telysia Academy!” she called, her voice clear and inviting. “Find your name on the list, and we’ll help you locate your room and roommate. If you have questions, Kaelion and I are here to help!”

Kaelion gave a curt nod, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd like a sentry. Clara glanced at him, trying to gauge his thoughts, but his expression remained inscrutable—a feature that both fascinated and frustrated her.

The first to approach was Rynar Vel’Tael, a zaylaran whose relaxed demeanor was as evident as the sleek black case slung over his shoulder. His easy grin widened as he extended a hand toward Clara.

“Hey, I’m Rynar,” he said, his tone carrying a melodic lilt.

Clara shook his hand with a matching warmth. “Clara Emerson. Welcome! What’s in the case?”

“My kylarith. Couldn’t leave home without it,” Rynar replied with a wink.

Kaelion tilted his head slightly, breaking his usual silence. “A kylarith? You play?”

Rynar’s grin deepened. “Been playing since I was a kid. Maybe I’ll play something at the party later?”

“That would be... appropriate,” he replied, his tone straddling the line between genuine acknowledgment and detached observation.

Clara stifled a sigh, biting back a smile. Typical Kaelion. Polite, yet utterly unreadable.

Not far behind was Jake Johnson, or “J.J.” as he quickly introduced himself. His confident stride and mischievous grin announced his intentions even before he spoke. “Alright, so where’s the party at?” he asked, his tone brimming with uncontainable energy.

Clara chuckled. “We’ll have a welcome gathering this evening on campus, but it’s more about mingling than partying hard.”

“Challenge accepted,” J.J. said, tossing a wink at a zaylaran student who had just arrived with a radiant smile.

“Hi! I’m Lyssara Ael’Vyn,” she said, practically bouncing on her feet. “Isn’t this amazing? Humans and zaylarans studying together—it’s like a dream!”

“Totally!” J.J. agreed, already plotting ways to make her laugh.

Kaelion’s gaze flicked briefly to the duo before returning to the growing line of arrivals.

Next in line was Velira Sylaen, a zaylaran with an air of studious determination. Clutching a datapad tightly, she approached Clara. “Excuse me,” she began, her tone precise. “I have a question about the library hours. Are they accessible 24/7?”

Clara’s smile widened. “Not quite, but they’re open late most nights, and we also have an online system for anytime access.”

Velira nodded approvingly. “Efficient.”

Kaelion interjected, his voice calm and assured. “The Nexus Library is well-equipped. Its holographic archives are unparalleled.”

Velira looked up, clearly impressed. “I look forward to exploring it.”

Amid the activity, Sarah Ling stumbled forward, her flustered expression and loose grip on her bag painting a picture of barely contained chaos. “I think I lost my schedule—or maybe I never got it? I’m not sure—this place is so big!”

“Don’t worry,” Clara said gently, guiding her to the table. “We’ll sort it out.”

Kaelion handed over a spare copy without a word, his efficiency earning Clara’s quiet admiration despite her lingering irritation at his reticence.

The next to approach was a couple, Emily Carter and Noah Barnes. Hand in hand, they exuded an aura of unshakable devotion. Emily’s wavy blonde hair framed her kind face, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She carried a sketchpad tucked under her arm, hinting at her artistic passion. Beside her, Noah’s steady presence balanced her energy. His tall, lean frame and tousled brown hair complemented his practical, down-to-earth demeanor.

“Hi there,” Emily said with a warm smile. “I’m Emily, and this is Noah. We’re so excited to be here.”

Clara returned the smile, already charmed by their dynamic. “Welcome to the program! You’re both going to love it here.”

“Thanks,” Noah replied, squeezing Emily’s hand. “It’s going to be an adventure, for sure.”

As they moved aside, a towering zaylaran stepped forward, his imposing presence immediately turning heads. Drakven Val’Korr, a competitive athlete renowned even among his people, had a sharpness in his golden eyes that matched his broad shoulders and confident stance.

“Drakven Val’Korr,” he introduced himself with a firm nod. “I’m here to see what human athletics are truly about.”

Clara grinned, impressed by his directness. “You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got an amazing sports program.”

Drakven’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Good. I look forward to the challenge.”

As the group’s attention shifted to the arrivals, the warmth of shared introductions began to fill the air. Clara couldn’t help but notice the energy shifting, as each new addition brought their unique flair to the growing group. It was going to be an exciting semester—she could feel it already.

As evening fell, the campus lawn transformed into a softly glowing haven. String lights hung between trees, casting warm pools of light onto tables laden with food and drink for both humans' and zaylarans' taste. Music filled the air, Rynar’s kylarith adding a vibrant, soulful layer to the festivities.

Clara stood near the drinks table, her gaze sweeping over the mingling students. “It’s going well,” she remarked to Kaelion, who stood beside her, arms crossed in his usual stoic stance.

He gave a slight nod.

Clara sighed inwardly. One of these days, she vowed, I’ll get a reaction out of him.

J.J. and Lyssara were at the center of the crowd, their laughter infectious as they led a cultural exchange. “Did you know zaylarans can see in near-total darkness?” Lyssara shared with animated excitement.

“Cool!” J.J. replied. “We have this thing called karaoke. Maybe we can try it later?”

Nearby, Velira was deep in conversation with Emily and Noah, comparing human art and zaylaran architecture. Meanwhile, Drakven entertained the others with impromptu arm-wrestling matches. His booming laughter echoed across the lawn as he took on one challenger after another.

Clara stole a glance at Kaelion. Though he remained on the periphery, his sharp gaze tracked the unfolding interactions with quiet intensity.

Does he think this was a bad idea? she wondered, a flicker of doubt gnawing at her.

Kaelion, for his part, was quietly impressed. The event was exceeding his expectations, though he saw no reason to voice it. Clara’s warmth and leadership had been instrumental in the day’s success. She’s good at this, he thought, a rare flicker of admiration passing through him. His expression softened briefly before returning to its usual neutral state.

As Rynar struck up a cheerful melody on his kylarith, Clara leaned closer to Kaelion. “See? A little fun doesn’t hurt.”

Kaelion glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “It doesn’t.”

Clara laughed softly, shaking her head. “One day,” she murmured, “I’ll figure you out.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***