As Almora made her way through the long, echoing corridors of Greenland College, she could feel the eyes on her. Whispers floated around her like dust in the air, impossible to ignore no matter how hard she tried.

"Is that the Red?"

"She's... beautiful. But dangerous."

"Do you see her eyes? They look like fire."

"Her hair's actually glowing a bit..."

Almora clenched her fists around the strap of her bag, trying to focus on walking steadily. Her boots tapped against the polished floor, each step echoing like a countdown in her mind.

"Oh God," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. "Here goes the whispering again. Well... I might just have to get used to it."

Her voice was low, barely audible to herself. She sighed, a long exhale that helped her push forward despite the unease gnawing at her stomach. She wasn't surprised people were talking-it had always been this way. Ever since her powers had started to manifest, people had been either afraid, curious, or both. There had never been a place where she truly blended in, and from the looks of things, Greenland wouldn't be any different.

Still, she walked forward with quiet dignity, her chin slightly lifted, ignoring the stares and murmurs like a seasoned performer walking onstage.

Eventually, she reached her room-a plain wooden door marked "32B." She hesitated for a second before inserting the key and turning the knob. A soft click echoed as the door swung open.

Her heart sank the moment she stepped inside.

"Great..." she muttered in her head. "Now I can't even have the room to myself."

It wasn't that she didn't want to meet people-she just wasn't prepared. Not today. Not after everything. She had hoped for a bit of solitude to adjust, maybe even breathe for a while without being judged.

The room, however, wasn't cramped or unpleasant. In fact, it was surprisingly spacious, like a mini apartment split into two mirrored halves. There were two beds, two wardrobes, two study desks, and two private bathrooms. Even the windows had separate curtains. The layout was symmetrical, designed for individual comfort despite shared occupancy.

As Almora stood there in the doorway, taking it all in, she heard a voice from the far side of the room.

"Hi! I'm Stacy. I'm a Blue," the girl said cheerfully, waving from her side of the room.

Almora blinked, stunned not just by the fact that she had a roommate, but that her roommate was... smiling at her. Genuinely smiling.

"...Nice to meet you," Almora replied cautiously. Her tone was a bit guarded, her voice slow, like she was testing the waters.

She had expected her roommate to be just like the others-whispers, stares, maybe a little fear. But this girl seemed completely unbothered. In fact, she seemed downright excited to meet her.

Almora tilted her head slightly. "Aren't you... scared that I might do something to you?" she asked, her voice quiet but serious.

Stacy tilted her head in return, a playful smile on her face. "Why would I be scared of you?"

Almora raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm a Red. Most people think that makes me dangerous."

Stacy laughed softly, shaking her head. "Oh, that? Look, we never really know who's dangerous or who isn't. Powers or not. I can't just assume you're a threat because of your color code. That would be unfair-and kind of boring, don't you think?"

Almora was genuinely taken aback. That reply wasn't what she had braced for. It wasn't even in the same galaxy as what she had expected. People usually walked on eggshells around her, or avoided her altogether. But Stacy... Stacy looked at her like she was just another girl trying to survive in a new school.

Before she could process it further, something even more unexpected happened.

Stacy walked over and gave her a hug.

A real hug. Arms wrapped around her tightly, warmly, like they'd known each other longer than a few minutes.

Almora froze. Her entire body went stiff, her brain short-circuited, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

When Stacy pulled back and looked at her, a puzzled expression crossed her face.

"Hasn't anyone ever hugged you before?" she asked gently.

Almora gave her head a small shake. "Only my parents... and my brother," she said after a pause. "I've never had any friends before, so... it was shocking. But... it's nice. It's nice to have a friend now."

A genuine, if shy, smile crossed her lips. She felt something unfamiliar, something warm bloom in her chest. Was this what it felt like to be accepted?

Stacy grinned. "Well, then it's official. You've got a friend now."

Despite coming from a wealthy background-her parents were millionaires and well-known in magical circles. Stacy had none of the snobbery Almora had come to expect from privileged students. Compared to Stacy's parents, Almora's were billionaires, with powerful influence both inside and outside magical society. But Stacy didn't seem fazed or impressed by Almora's status. She was cheerful, curious, and refreshingly open-minded.

"Well," Almora said with a hint of relief, "at least I've got a roommate who isn't scared of me."

"And a friend too," Stacy added brightly, and the two of them laughed together, the sound light and effortless.

After getting settled and unpacking a few of their things, they sat side by side on the floor and opened the rules booklet together. Both of them were new students, and neither wanted to make a mistake in a school full of unpredictable power users.

The rules were clear and surprisingly strict:

1. No recording of yourself or others using magic.

2. No using magic to harm anyone, unless in a defense class under supervision.

3. No wandering about past curfew. Curfew begins at 9:00 PM sharp.

4. Do not enter the dark forest between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

5. Detention will be assigned to anyone caught wandering during class hours.

6. Do not leave the school premises under any circumstances.

Almora raised her eyebrows at rule number four. "Wait... rule four. 'Do not enter the dark forest between noon and three'? Isn't that odd? You'd think it would be at night."

"I know, right?" Stacy said, frowning. "That's what I thought too. But hey, I love surprises," she added with a wide, silly grin.

Almora rolled her eyes, half-laughing. "Are you always like this? You act like a newborn puppy."

"Puppy? That's new. But I'll take it as a compliment," Stacy replied, laughing again.

Their conversation drifted naturally from the rules to their backgrounds, their favorite things, their hopes for the year. Stacy talked about growing up near the coast, her love for animals, and her tendency to say whatever was on her mind. Almora, in turn, shared that she had been homeschooled her entire life kept out of the public eye because of her powers, because of what being a Red meant.

This-being in a dorm, having a roommate, laughing over strange rules-was all new to Almora. Every minute felt surreal. But it was also oddly comforting.

Eventually, after hours of talking and laughter, the two of them began to doze off. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and the moonlight painted their room in soft silver.

Almora stirred awake sometime later. The room was quiet, save for Stacy's steady breathing.

She stood, walked quietly into the bathroom, and turned on the light. The mirror greeted her with her own tired reflection. Her red eyes still glowed faintly, even in the artificial light.

"You've got a new friend, Almora," she said softly to her reflection, a tired smile forming on her lips. "But tomorrow's still going to be tough."

She sighed, then smiled more earnestly. "I'm going to be fine."

After washing up, she turned off the light and stepped quietly back into the room. She crawled into her bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and let her eyes drift shut.

But as she slept, something strange began to happen.

A faint red light started to emanate from her skin soft at first, like the glow of an ember. Then brighter, pulsing slowly with her breath. Her hair shimmered like flickering flames, and her body floated an inch above the mattress without her knowing.

And yet, she slept soundly.