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“A lot of this is stereotyping and extreme generalizations. The predatory nature of certain species can’t be defined or determined from such a general standpoint. It’s highly dependent on individual nature. With that in mind, any supernatural species can be viewed as predatory. Not just supernatural, actually, humans, too.”

Stunning everyone, Professor Blackwater started clapping.

Vorzyr looked more than a little surprised by the reaction as well.

He’d clearly been expecting a fight.

And he’d been willing to fight forme.

On his first day.

Just because he’d seen me looking so uncomfortable.

“Precisely,” Professor Blackwater spoke. “That is the conclusion I was hoping you would all draw.” He looked out at everyone else. “But you didn’t. A brand-new student to our Academy had to point it out. That is a dear shame, wouldn’t you say?” He smiled out at Vorzyrandme. “And it’s about time wetore down these stereotypes that many of you still adhere to, isn’t it?”

“Especially with all the hybrid beings being made—most against their will. Those who can’t help what they are, those who are afraid of what they are,” I actually found myself speaking up. Ineverspoke up in class.

“Those who are largely afraid because of the reactions of others, isn’t that right, Mr. Laryn?” Professor Blackwater posed.

“Yes,” I admitted. “That is a lot of it for me.”

“Or, you could go the other way, like me,” Vorzyr cut in, nudging me with a chuckle. “Revel in that fear and throw it right back in the faces of those rushing to judgment.”

That had a bunch of the students bursting out laughing.

Including me.

I smiled out at him. He really was something.

I couldn’t believe it.

I’d actually been dreading this class so much. It had been a mandatory one for me that I’d been avoiding for the last couple of years. Kai had taken it last year and he had warned me about it. Then again, when he’d taken it there’d been a different professor. That professor was Magnus Holloway, a strict and severe asshole who was teachingControlled Transformation and Shifter Regulationthis year. The guy was a judgmental shithead, but he still taught here because of his knowledge base.

The class continued on with an open discussion that was lighthearted and thoughtful and not at all how I’d imagined it to be.

I actually ended up learning a lot about rarer species like the Wendigo. Even Succubi. I’d never encountered any before and neither had anyone in the class, except for the professor, so that was rather enlightening.

The assignment given involved taking two species of beings that we knew in person who both met some of the stereotypesattached to their species and who also flew in the face of it, something we were to present within a couple of weeks.

As the class continued, I showed Vorzyr how to pair his interactive panel with his laptop, and I told him about a couple of magic-wielders who could create the class textbook for him, because he hadn’t been able to find a copy, as he’d tried to pick up his books just two days before class, not knowing that everyone else did that a couple of weeks in advance. I mean, it would cost him a bit, but he was apparently loaded, so it wasn’t an issue. My best suggestion would have been Kai, but that wasn’t a viable option with them hating on each other.

The issues of Kai aside, this had turned out to be one of the best classes I’d ever had.

The whole time, I found myself coming out of my shell and smiling like a damn fool.

And I loved every moment of it.

“Don’t be shy.”

I rolled my eyes at Vorzyr, and he grinned back at me, as he led me inside his dorm room and shut the door behind us.

Each dorm room was pretty much identical and gave off an elite and modern aesthetic.

They were spacious with a monochromatic palette of charcoal, black, and elements of silver. The floors were a sleek, black stone.

Vorzyr had a single suite and his bed was upon a platform with black sheets with silver trim. There was a study area over on the far side by the window with a floating black glass desk with an angular chair next to a bookshelf. The closet adjacent to the ensuite bathroom was magically-enhanced ensuring thatall clothes hanging there remained pressed and clean. I could see the bathroom through the door that he’d left open and it followed the same modern design with black and deep grays, the countertops black marble. There was even a waterfall shower.

Personalization was very limited because the Academy wanted to keep all the rooms uniform. Only a few personal effects were supposed to be allowed.