Ashes and Crowns

t the cool glass of the window, watching the city fade into the distance. The sprawling buildings, the cracked street

she knew that from the moment she stepped in

n satchel, she whispers to herself "No one he

ng excitedly. The campus beyond was alive with color - green lawns dotted with blooming

all, pale bird in a s

group of students leaned against the ston

th slicked-back hair. "The poor girl

her and smirked. "Yeah, can you imagine? Sc

urried past, trying to disapp

the faces

é, a group of stude

ight? I'm Priya," said a cheerful girl w

rmly. "Good to se

ou ever need a study buddy or someo

spreading through her chest

he standards are high, the expectations are rigorous, and the workload is demanding. You will be pushed to your limits, challenged to think critically, and held accountable for every aspect of your performance. Complacency will not be tolera

during her classes - som

all circle of friends - Priya, Marcus, Lila, and Jay

facing her "Hey

s I do, you sat ne

hope we become fr

hey all continue ch

n't mean Eliana had everything pe

the quad, Mia - a sharp-eyed girl kno

and be one of us?" Mia sneered. "Watch

using to back down. "I'm here to

walked away, leaving a

mpus gardens. Lila pulled out a worn deck of cards

t her family back home, makin

aughed - genuine, unguarded laughter t

nd smiled. "You look be

For the first time, the future felt like something s

so was Eliana - slowly, steadily, toward a