11

The dining hall is enchanted to fit each Acolyte’s needs.

For those who want to dine in nature but don’t want to be outside, there is a balcony overlooking a mountain range where a cool breeze plays through the tables. For those who don’t mind grass and trees, there is a courtyard where they can lounge on picnic blankets or enjoy the spread on picnic tables.

Those who don’t care for nature, can be found dining inside, where the hall itself magically morphs to accommodate the students. Acolytes of Italian descend dine around a fountain that oddly resembles the Trevi Fountain. Those from Australia dine on a deck surrounded by crystal blue water, and every few seconds, a shark or dolphin swims past to make the experience more immersive.

It’s a burst of cultures and cuisine as I follow Eisley down the stairs to find our roommates. From Chinese outdoor dining with bright red paper lanterns to a nostalgic rain shower for which England is known for, it seems Alcove truly went out of its way to make the Acolytes feel as much at home as possible.

At last, we arrive at a table situated on a botanical terrace with bougainvillea’s crawling up the walls and pergola. Not many Acolytes are seated here, and finding space to scoot in is easy enough.

“Finally,” the redhead says when we sit down. “We were just about to start eating. We’re dining Greek-style today, as per Delphi’s request.”

That explains the scenery, I thought as I take in the décor of the terrace.

“Yeah, I had to, uh, properly greet my cousin, you know.” Eisley clears her throat before starting the introductions. “So, this is Syl, whom I’ve told you about. Syl, this is Elsa and Delphi.”

“It’s it so good to finally meet you,” Delphi says in a beat, unable to contain her excitement. “I’m Delphi – but you already knew that – and I’m a seer. Not the best, yet, but so far, I can predict a day into the future and sixty-three percent of the time, it’s completely accurate.”

I recall her mentioning she saw me coming in her vision a second before I arrived in their dorm room. That explains her slightly bad timing.

“And I’m a hothead, literally,” says Elsa, dropping her hoodie just an inch for me to see the smouldering strands of her hair, like embers waiting to ignite. “Before you ask, no, I can’t control it, which is why my parents sent me to Alcove. And yes, I can turn a bathroom into a sauna when I take a shower.”

“That’s…kind of amazing,” I mention after she stopped talking, still studying the ends of her red hair.


“She has an exceptionally high aptitude,” Delphi adds promptly. “Combined with her temper, she’s probably the best Ruination grad at Alcove.”

“Destruction magic,” Eisley mutters to me, keeping in mind that I’m not familiar with the subjects.

I’m almost tempted to ask if I would have to take it as well, but never get the chance. A group of guys has arrived at the terrace, poking fun of how one of them pronounced a Greek cuisine. They haven’t noticed us yet and started shoving each other playfully. However, a particular harsh shove sends the one being made fun of stumbling backward…and he falls right onto my lap.

Too stunned to utter a sound, I can only sit and stare while the other three girls outright snap at them, scolding their ears off.

Meanwhile, the guy on my lap scurries to get up, muttering apologies as he moves. However, all he succeeds at doing it ripping the tablecloth off the table and sending the plates and cutlery clattering to the floor, wreaking more havoc than I thought necessary for one person.

Only when one of his friends pull him to his feet, does he spin around to apologize to my face, “I am so sorry. Here, let me fix that…” Without thinking, he smooths out my skirt and blazer, not even realizing his hands are roaming literally everywhere.

When I realize that little fact, I pull myself out of my daze and seize him by the wrists before he can unknowingly touch my boobs again. “It’s okay, I’ll take it from here.”

As soon as he realized what he did and where his hands have been, a dark tint spread up his cheeks. “Magnus…gods…I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I’m…an idiot. Sorry.”

I study his face as he rambles one apology after the other. He has short ebony hair styled neatly to fit the Academy’s dress code, tan skin, and the darkest brown eyes I’ve ever seen, their depth nearly sucking me in.

My silence must have caught his attention, because he, too, stops rambling to stare once he finally looks up at my face. For a hot minute, he only blinks, lips parted but with nothing to say.

“Hey, earth to idiot.” Elsa snaps her fingers next to his ear, drawing him out of his trance.

“Oh, s-sorry,” he mutters, grinning bashfully. “I just…you…you’re new here. I mean, I’ve never seen you around before. So, you must be new. I think I would’ve remembered seeing a girl with silver hair around this place if you, uh…you know, never mind.”

“No, it’s fine,” I tell him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I am new here and it is platinum blonde, not silver. In case you were wondering.”

He breaths a laugh, staring at me intently. “I’m Gilbert.”

“Sylvina, but people just call me Syl.”
“Syl for silver,” he points out jokingly, gesturing at my hair.

This time, I can’t help but laugh. I suppose my hair does appear silver in certain lighting.

One of his friends clear their throat with a combination of impatience and amusement, and Gilbert hesitantly tear his eyes off me to look over his shoulder. Seeing as his group wants to go eat, he accepts he must leave as well.

“I should go,” he begins, and adds with a hopeful tone, “but I’ll see you around, Syl. Can’t miss a girl with silver hair in this place.”

“Platinum blonde!” I call after him as he rejoins his group, receiving only a smirk from him over his shoulder.

This unexpected encounter left me with a huge grin on my face, and a little tingle in my stomach. I won’t deny it, he’s cute. And if I was staying longer than a month, I would’ve entertained the idea of asking him if he wanted to grab a coffee or something. But alas, my time here is limited and not to mention dangerous. The lass attachments I form, the better.

“Uh, what just happened?” Elsa breaks the silence after a minute.

Turning back in my chair to face the girls, I can’t help but feel confused. “What do you mean?”

“She means,” Delphi begins, her eyes twinkling like the candles on our table, “did Gilbert Whitlock just flirt with you? The most popular, most eligible, most lusted after Gilbert Whitlock?”

“I…don’t know?” I look from Delphi and Elsa to Eisley and haul up my shoulders. “To be honest, I’ve never been flirted with before. For all we know, he was just being nice.”

Eisley snorts and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, sure, just being nice.”

“I’m with your cousin on this,” Elsa agrees. “Apart from flaming hair, I can sense burning passion in the air when I feel it. And that guy was drooling over you – in his pants.”

“ELSA!” Both Delphi and Eisley exclaim, horrified. "Not while we're eating," my cousin adds in mild disgust.
My eyes had blown wide at the redhead’s bold statement, a blush spreading to my cheeks like wildfire. In a desperate attempt to cool off, I summon a glass of water into my hand and down it all in one go. But even after that, I can’t help but wonder if what Elsa said, is true.

Unable to help myself, I steal a glimpse over my shoulder at the table the group of guys occupies…only to feel my heart skip a beat when I discover Gilbert is already looking at me.