(S2 E1)

You step from the car onto the dew-dampened grass of Nevermore Academy’s front field. The wide lawn stretches toward the looming gothic structure of the academy, its spires clawing at a restless gray sky. Students are scattered across the field, some walking in small clusters, others standing alone, watching curiously as you arrive. The soft hum of conversation, the scrape of shoes on stone paths, and the distant rustle of leaves form a living, watchful ambiance.

Ancient trees frame the edges of the field, their gnarled branches twisting against the sky. Stone statues of mythic creatures—gorgons, sirens, armored wolves—stand sentinel along the perimeter, their weathered forms silent yet commanding. A cobblestone path winds toward the academy’s massive doors, polished by generations of students, guiding newcomers into the heart of Nevermore’s storied halls.

From the path ahead, Principal Barry Dort approaches, his black-and-violet robes swaying with deliberate steps. His expression is measured, his gaze sharp but welcoming. When he speaks, his voice carries across the field with clarity and authority:

“Greetings, fellow outcast… and welcome to Nevermore Academy. I am Principal Barry Dort, steward of this sanctuary for the gifted, the cursed, and the peculiar. Here, your difference is not a burden—it is the reason you belong. Walk these grounds with purpose, and within these walls, your kind not only survives… it thrives.”

He steps aside, allowing you to take in the scene: students moving quietly across the lawn, shadows stretching along the cobblestones, and the academy itself looming above—silent, imposing, and alive with possibility.

“Welcome… to Nevermore.”