1 Chapter 1

Anaya drove down a long tranquil road that was surrounded by dense foliage. The trees were towering above both sides of the road, creating a natural canopy. Rays of sunlight filtered through the trees casting dappled shadows on the road.

She couldn't help but roll her window down and stare at the mesmerizing scenery. The road was quiet, and the only sound she could hear was the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with clean crisp air and the smell of pine and cedar. An involuntary smile showed up on her face.

'It's going to be a good year', she thought. Anaya turned twenty one a month ago, just in time to join Arcane Academy. The idea of leaving home to join Arcane made her feel like a bundle of nerves. But she was determined to look at the positive side of her new home.

Arcane Academy was a place of tradition, where generations of students learned how to use their powers to protect their lands. The women at Arcane studied the art of healing through mana. They learned about the human body, about herbs and medicines, and about how to heal injured Wahrens using their mana. Most women also learned how to defend themselves and their patients, in case of an attack, using smaller weapons like knives, bows and arrows.

The men of the academy, the Wahrens, studied the art of warfare. The Wahrens were defenders of the lands. They had enhanced physical abilities that they used to protect their people from rogue vampires, werewolves and the undead. They learned about tactics and strategy, about weapons and armor, and about how to lead and inspire their men on the battlefield.

The Wahrens and Healers at Arcane weren't just learning how to control and use their powers but also how to use them ethically and responsibly. They worked together, men and women, learning from each other and strengthening their bonds of friendship and the love for the land.

While Wahrens and Healers lived harmoniously with humans, humans could not enter Arcane. Monserrat, the town that was home to Arcane, was inhabited by humans, healers and Wahrens alike. Monserrat was like any other town, however, in it's midst was a massive dense forest that hosted the Academy.

The Monserrat forest was an enormous expanse of trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. The forest was so huge that it was easy to get lost in its depths. Walking through the forest, one couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in comparison to the towering trees.

Humans barely ever entered the forest and few that did had no luck entering Arcane. That was because there was a special field force that surrounded the academy, creating a powerful barrier around its walls that kept humans out.

As Anaya drove through the long, winding road that led to the academy, her thoughts drifted to her family. Her mother, Annalise Willow, was a healer and her father Thomas was a human. She had a sister, Ariel, who was now married and moved out of their home. Her family lived in a small town called Bellevue, eight hours away from Monserrat.

"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Annalise asked her daughter. She tried to keep her voice steady but her eyes gave away her concern.

"I do." Replied Anaya. She gave her mother a reassuring smile and reached for a tight hug. Anaya fought back tears while she hugged her and took a deep breath to memorize her mother's smell. Dandelions and honey, that's what her beautiful mother smelled like. Annalise was a beauty like no other. She had striking blue eyes and rich brown hair, a stark contrast to Anaya's black hair and hazelnut eyes.

"Take care, my love." Said Annalise. "Remember, while Arcane is an Academy, do not look at it as a place of discipline, but as a place of freedom. You will learn so much and make the strongest bonds. This is just the beginning of all the wonderful things life holds for you."

Annalise kissed her daughters forehead and hugged her once again. Anaya saw that her mother couldn't shake off the feeling of sadness and it made her heart clench. She loathed leaving her parents, but like every healer, she had chosen her path. Arcane was now her new home.

Anaya held on to the image of her parents waving goodbye to her until a structure behind the tallest gates she had ever seen snapped her out of her daze.

The trees were a blur of green as she drove, her car gliding over the road that lead to Arcane. She stopped in front of a set of large, wrought iron, gates that marked the entrance to the academy. The gates were imposing, with tall, pointed spires that reached towards the sky. They were made with intricate patterns and designs that looked like they had been forged by the most skilled craftsmen.

They creaked open as they detected her vehicle. Anaya drove through them and as she did, she felt a sense of awe and wonder. As she continued down the driveway, the academy's buildings came into view. They were tall and stately, made of grey stone walls and blue roofs. The main building was a towering edifice, rising up to the sky with multiple floors and windows that let sunlight in. The building had a grand entrance with tall columns, reminding her of ancient temples.

Overwhelmed by the structure in front of her, Anaya looked for signs to the parking lot and started to follow them. There were not many cars that day because most students arrived way ahead of her.

Anaya delayed her travel so she could spend a few extra days at home. Anaya's best friends, George and Meghan took some of the same classes as her. She smiled at the thought of her friends.

Anaya met George when she was six and they had been inseparable ever since. When they turned fourteen, George introduced her to his girlfriend Meghan. While she was scared that she would loose George's friendship when she met Meghan, the girl became closer to her than George had been. It was like she gained another sister. Meghan made sure her room was right next to Anaya's and they gushed all summer about how they were going to have the most epic school year!

She stopped at a sign that said 'Luggage Drop-off', where she was greeted by a gruff man with broad shoulders and a strong, muscular build. His face was rugged, with a thick beard and mustache that covered his jaw and upper lip. His dark hair was cut short, revealing a high forehead. His eyebrows were thick and furrowed, giving him a look of constant seriousness.

"Name?" He asked her curtly.

"Anaya. Anaya Willow" she replied. She flashed a nervous smile at him, that he seemed completely oblivious to. He stared at a list in his hand, flipping through the pages to find her name. Anaya looked ahead of her to find a full parking lot filled with cars.

'Not a single person in sight' she thought.

The man walked to her car and instructed that she open her trunk. As she did, he roughly pulled out her 4 suitcases. "Park at spot 82F on the left. You're late, so rush to the dining hall before lunch is closed" he said. With that, the man shut her trunk, loaded her luggage onto a trolley and disappeared behind the car.

Anaya brushed aside her worries about where he would take her luggage and drove ahead to find her parking spot. She got out of the car, smoothed the creases on her black skirt and started to rush to find the dining room to make sure she got some lunch. She knew her mood only worsened when she was hungry and that, she did not want.