The wolf and the gnome

Principal Valtheris, his stoic elf face as intense as ever. He had the kind of presence that immediately made everyone in the room stand a little straighter.

"Welcome, students!" he bellowed in his commanding voice. There was a slight pause, as if he was expecting some kind of applause or maybe a round of cheers. Instead, there was just the hum of whispers and shifting feet.

Theron suppressed a chuckle. Valtheris had a way of sounding like he was announcing the beginning of a war.

"This year, I expect nothing less than your best... and also your worst, because let's be real," he said, with a sudden grin that was a little too sharp to be completely comforting. "I've seen your 'best' before. I know what you're capable of." He gave Kael a pointed look, though he didn't even need to mention his name for it to be obvious. Kael had once turned an entire classroom into a miniature volcano for a "harmless experiment."

Theron shot Kael a knowing glance. "What'd I tell you?"

Kael only winked in response. He knew how to play the charming idiot, even if it was at the risk of starting a small, unplanned fire every year.

"I want to see enthusiasm," Valtheris continued, his voice now dramatically cheerful, "but I do not want to see anything exploding, burning, or disappearing without a trace. And no, Kael," he added with a half-smile, "I'm not talking about your social life."

The whole room burst into laughter. Even Theron couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Kael's endless stream of 'flames'-both metaphorical and literal.

Valtheris stood tall, his pale hand raised as though summoning some invisible force to still the room.

"Remember that while pranks and wild antics are the heart of this institution, we do still have a few rules. Not many, mind you, but they exist. So... try not to set fire to the dormitories, alright?"

The students chuckled. Kael gave an exaggerated nod, as if to assure Valtheris that fire-related incidents would be kept to a minimum, though no one was entirely convinced.

"Second," Valtheris continued, his voice turning just slightly more serious, though still carrying that touch of humor, "if you're going to get into trouble, make sure it's at least interesting trouble. No more of those boring, predictable incidents. We've all seen the exploding potion mishap-be original. Surprise me."

"Is he talking to you, Kael?" Lirien whispered, her lips curling in amusement.

"Probably," Kael replied with a sly grin, leaning back in his seat. "I do have a flair for the dramatic."

The rest of the students exchanged knowing looks, some shaking their heads but grinning all the same.

Valtheris wasn't done yet. "And last but not least," he said, his eyes scanning the crowd, "don't forget why you're here. You're here to learn, to grow, and, more importantly, to test your limits. Some of you will excel. Others, well... we'll see if you survive."

Theron couldn't help but snicker under his breath. Valtheris was good. The way he could turn a serious speech into something almost like a casual conversation was a skill.

"And now," Valtheris said, raising his hand one final time, "go out there and make something of yourselves. Just remember, if it all goes wrong, we have a fully stocked infirmary and a very forgiving dean. Enjoy your year, students!"

The room erupted into applause and cheers. The assembly was over, and the chaos had officially begun. Students started to rise from their seats, stretching and chatting excitedly.

Theron leaned back in his seat, looking around at his friends. "So, what's the plan?"

Kael's eyes gleamed. "I'm thinking... mischief and mayhem. But first, I'm gonna go annoy the new guy," he said, jerking his head toward the tall vampire with the sharp features. "I bet he thinks he's too cool for this place."

"Be careful," Lirien warned, her voice full of mock concern. "If you start a fight with him, I'm not bailing you out from the Principal's office this time."

Kael grinned, completely unbothered. "Who said anything about a fight? I'm just gonna shatter his cool factor a little," he said, striding toward the vampire with an exaggerated swagger. His every step seemed designed to make it painfully clear that he was on a mission to find trouble-as if it weren't already obvious to everyone in the room. Theron couldn't help but chuckle, watching his friend parade around like a peacock, eager for chaos and completely oblivious to the spectacle he was creating.