𝒃𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒚𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒖𝒔

The morning light filtered through the tall windows of Lecture Hall C, casting long rectangles of gold across the wooden floors. The room was already half full—students scattered across the tiered seats in loose clusters, their voices rising in the easy, unhurried rhythm of the first day back.

Sienna Moreau

Can you believe registration was actually smooth this year?

Valentina De Luca

settles in on her other side, pulling a sleek laptop from her bag You say that every semester.

Sienna Moreau

And I mean it every time.

Valentina De Luca

glances at Y/N with a small smile, soft brown eyes crinkling Morning. Did you get any sleep, or were you re-reading that syllabus again?

Isabella Álvarez

arrives dramatically, sliding into the row ahead of them and twisting around in her seat Wait, wait—please tell me you got into Adler’s seminar.

Sienna Moreau

tilts her head, curious Adler? That young professor everyone’s been talking about?

From the row behind them, a voice cut in—dry, half-amused.

Lucien Moreau

lounging back with one earbud out I heard she’s twenty-eight. Finished her doctorate early. Transferred from Heidelberg last semester.

Sienna Moreau

Of course you already know everything about her.

Lucien Moreau

the corner of his mouth lifts I know enough.

Isabella Álvarez

waves a hand dismissively Whatever her credentials are—if she’s that young, and that beautiful, she’ll have every lecture hall full within a week.

Valentina De Luca

dry you got your registration in early. Y/N ended up here because her first three choices were full.

Sienna Moreau

snorts Brutal. But true.

Y/N glanced down at her phone, scrolling idly through her schedule for the fifth time that morning. There it was—English 420: Advanced Literary Theory. The room was already filled with the soft buzz of students sinking into their seats, backpacks unzipped, laptops open, planners spread across desks in anticipation of the syllabus.

Isabella Álvarez

Yo.

Sienna Moreau

nudges her gently with an elbow She’s manifesting. Let her work.

Valentina De Luca

quietly amused Are you manifesting a good semester, or just trying not to drop this class?

Before Y/N could answer, a shift ran through the room. Not loud. Just noticeable enough to make her look up.

Camille Adler

a beat of stillness