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As a child, Dominic often searched through old family archives, spending hours learning of knowledge meant to be concealed. Back then, he’d gotten a small glimpse of the magic world hidden from society. Yet he never would’ve imagined just how big it really was, until he found himself standing before the gates of Ninth House. A prestigious academy, where magic users found belonging and an opportunity to thrive. Dominic couldn’t help but wonder how such an establishment could lay hidden in the mountainside, without any word of it outside their inner circle. Its gothic towers hidden beneath the mist resembled architecture that was centuries old. It felt almost as if he’d stepped into a realm frozen in time, furthering the disorienting feeling of entering a foreign world.
He found himself among the members of Umbra Coven, the group that Dante had mentioned when they first met. Dominic didn’t have a single clue what he’d meant back then, but he should’ve guessed he’d fall among their ranks. The shadows never seemed to be far behind him, trailing him even in a place that was meant to be a safe haven. It almost seemed he was destined to be overcome by the darkness that haunted him.
Regardless, what was done was done. He made his choice to enroll and there was certainly no turning back now. Dominic had received an invitation to a so-called masquerade party. He wasn’t a fan of celebrations, in fact he would’ve rather skipped it and took his valuable time to explore the enigmatic and captivating towers he was standing in. Yet he was more lost than ever, not only as a new student, but as someone quite unfamiliar with magic. He had no choice but to attend, as draining as it felt. If there was ever a chance to get acquaintaned with the institution, such a large event would be it.
Dressed in a rather unremarkable way, Dominic aimed to blend with the crowd as much as he could. He put on a simple black suit with the plainest mask he could find, finishing it off with only a coat. At least there was one bit of familiarity in this whole situation, and it was his tendency to hide in the shadows and observe. His presence didn’t need to be made known yet. If something were to go wrong, he could slip out unnoticed and return to his old way of life.
Unfortunately for him, shadows weren’t the only thing constantly tied to him. They went hand in hand with misfortune, and it proved itself true just as he’d stepped into the ballroom. A speech from the headmaster himself, which he’d assumed would be another generic welcome, turned out to be an ominous warning of what lied ahead of him. News about the disappearance of a student, rather “unexplained absence”, clearly hinting at some deeper secrets. Yet the ball went on as if nothing happened. A chill ran down Dominic’s spine at the realization that anyone in the crowd could’ve been involved. In fact, everyone could already be aware but staying silent out of fear. Or maybe, it was a regular occurence to the point nobody bothered. He scanned the crowd with caution, his eyes landing from guest to guest, all hidden beneath their costumes for the night. Their masked faces made it hard to uncover their intentions, any one of them could be a threat. Just what had he gotten himself into? Following a complete stranger’s advice to enroll in Ninth House was so unbelievably impulsive, he could barely understand what went through his mind that day. And Dante, the very reason he was in this situation, was nowhere to be found. Rather, he was another person hidden beneath those masks.
The rational part of his mind was telling him to leave and go back to his old life. But his curiosity, as pestering as always, urged him to get a glimpse into this unfamiliar realm. He grabbed a drink, non-alcoholic to keep his mind sharp and present. And with that, he sat at a table in the corner, far from the busiest spot, so he could watch without getting involved. As his eyes wandered through the crowd, Dominic listened to the muffled voices blending with the music. People were all the same, having shallow conversations in their attention-grabbing costumes, attending some extravagant ball that had no meaning. This was an academy for people like him, outcasts among society due to their special powers. A place he was meant to find belonging in, yet, he felt more like an outsider than ever. Dominic didn’t belong in either world, and it was made painfully obvious that night.
A mysterious woman caught his attention, with her sapphire blue dress that was simple, yet elegant. He was captivated by her presence, his curiosity growing about what kind of person hid underneath that mask. But as she turned around and met his eyes, that was when he realized he’d been staring for longer than he should’ve. Dominic looked down at his drink, avoiding her gaze.