"Thank you, Miss Celeste." Janice said. At least her teacher was nice too and didn't seem scary. Still she felt extremely paranoid knowing that everyone around her was just a mere fake image of what they really were. Sure it was better than seeing them all walk around in monster form, but it was the uncertainty of it that scared her. She felt safer around Nydran than anyone else here because he was nice enough to tell her what he was, but she still hadn't seen his true form, which was understandable because of the school rules. All she had to do to survive in this school was to pretend she was a monster too, but which would be a secret as well. The teachers dog sat before them and she couldn't resist the urge to reach down and pet the dog on the head.<br/><br/>"Let me show you to the dorms so you can get settled in." Nydran said. He led her outside where he retrieved his things from his locker<br/><br/>They left the school and followed the short path to the dorms nearby. The male and female buildings were right beside each other according to the map and thankfully clearly marked. Peering between the buildings, Nydran could see that they were connected in the back with what he assumed was a main hall and a cafeteria.<br/><br/>"Let's go and find our rooms and get settled in. Everyone should be gathering in the main hall around dinner time." he said, then added, "Be careful."<br/><br/>"Thanks, Nydran." Janice said, trying to smile. She gave a polite bow and bounced up the stairs to find her room.<br/><br/>--------------------------------<br/><br/>Nydran felt happy as he ascended the stairs. He passed a few other students, some showing signs of their monster form, thinking that the dorms were a zone where the rule didn't apply. He kept glancing at his sheet for his room number and found it quickly. Once inside, the curtains were parted in a way that shone a glorious ray of light on the pristine made bed, as if it were a classic car at a motor show. The holy grail of mattresses. A divine duvet, if you will. The sight of it nearly brought a tear to his eye. It was so beautiful to his fatigued eyes. He stumbled forward, his bags dropping to the floor as he stumbled. Arms outstretched as he groped for it, then at the last moment, he tripped on the rug and landed on the bed, his head hitting the pillow. A glorious sigh of relief escaped his lips which was quickly replaced by a light snore...<br/><br/>-------------------------------<br/><br/>Janice felt anxious as she ascended the stairs. She passed a few other girls on the stairs, hugging the wall as they passed and chatted about the Human world, as if it were some other dimension or country. Staring at her sheet, she tried not to attract any attention as she found her room. Once inside, she closed the door and locked it behind her, setting her bag on the floor beside the bed. Taking a seat on the sheets, she pulled out her cell phone. On the screen a picture of her parents, and in the corner, a big red X that made her feel even more depressed. Scooting back to put her back against the wall she pulled her sketchbook from her bag and started drawing a Merman, or what she thought Nydran would look like, anyway. The hours began to slip away as she indulged in her hobby.<br/><br/>-------------------------------<br/><br/>"Dinner time!" someone yelled as he rapped on the door.<br/><br/>Nydran woke with a start and snorted embarrassingly, his pillow stained with drool. He slowly sat up and immediately groped for his water bottle which he emptied quickly. His next mission was to refill it as soon as possible. Fixing his hair and washing his face, he carried his now full bottle as he made his way down the stairs to the dining hall where the smell of food invited him in.<br/><br/>------------------------------<br/><br/>"Dinner time!" someone yelled as he rapped on the door.<br/><br/>Janice jumped from her trance and yelped, making her face flush red with embarrassment. She looked down at her page, having a very respectable representation of Nydran as a Merman complete with his tail in a red ocean and rocks all around him. In her trance, she had also drawn a towering figure standing on the rocks with red eyes glowing. It had to be the other guy that was with Nydran on the beach. There was something about him that she couldn't stop thinking about which she thought strange. Packing her things she left the protection of her room and cautiously made her way downstairs to the main Dining hall.<br/><br/>------------------------------<br/><br/>"Settle in alright?" Nydran asked when he saw Janice. She stepped up beside him and nodded, noticing his groggy state.<br/><br/>"You slept, didn't you?" she asked, "Have a good sleep?"<br/><br/>"I died as I hit the pillow. Still feel tired. I should be fine by tomorrow." he said. He was only able to make simple sentences at this point, making Janice smile in amusement. They grabbed a tray and stood in line for a welcoming feast of steak or fish, an expensive looking meal with all the fixings. Janice took a steak while to no surprise, Nydran took fish, then they went to sit down at a rather empty table.