AFTERWORD

Chapter 3

2. Ophelia

Overview

Ophelia arrives at Sorrowsong University and encounters the mysterious Chancellor Carmichael in the Grand Hall, where she learns the dark history of the castle. She then discovers that Alex Corbeau-Green—a person connected to her parents' deaths—is also a new student, and to her horror, is assigned to Nightshade House instead of the safe Hemlock House where she expected to be placed.

Summary

Ophelia crosses the drawbridge into the Grand Hall of Sorrowsong University, a setting her parents kept her away from despite working there for a decade. The vast hall is dominated by a haunting fifteen-foot painting of Achlys, the personification of sorrow, depicted as a manic woman holding four poisonous plants that represent the university's four houses. Chancellor Carmichael appears beside her and shares the legend of Achlys: Lord MacArtain painted her after his wife died of illness, driven mad by anticipatory grief. The chancellor unnerves Ophelia by knowing her name without introduction and warning her that sadness doesn't equal moral innocence—everyone has a breaking point. He directs her to the second door on the left, mentioning that worse things than expulsion await those who fall behind. Ophelia makes her way through the corridor, apprehensive about the sinister atmosphere. She briefly reviews what she learned about the houses: Cortinar (ruthless and logical), Hemlock (physically strong and driven), Snakeroot (medical excellence), and Nightshade (famous alumni but also notorious for violence and missing students). She meets Colette DuPont, a glamorous French-speaking student in fine arts, who befriends her warmly. When Colette mentions seeing her with "Alex Corbeau-Green" earlier, Ophelia is shaken: Alex is connected to Green Aviation, the company whose name was found at the wreckage of the car accident that killed her parents four years ago. In the welcoming assembly hall, Ophelia and Colette arrive late, drawing the attention of the room. Ophelia immediately recognizes Alex sitting with Nightshade House, and he greets her with a mocking expression. The chancellor assigns Colette to Cortinar House, then shocks Ophelia by assigning her to Nightshade House instead of the Hemlock House she expected based on her swimming ranking. Ophelia is placed in the most dangerous house at the university alongside the man whose family may have caused her parents' deaths, a development that feels like a nightmare.

Characters

  • Ophelia WintersProtagonist; a psychology student assigned to Nightshade House against her expectations, haunted by the death of her parents four years ago.
  • Chancellor CarmichaelUniversity chancellor who greets Ophelia in the Grand Hall, shares the legend of Achlys, and presides over the welcoming assembly, assigning students to houses.
  • Colette DuPontA glamorous French-accented fine arts student who befriends Ophelia warmly and is assigned to Cortinar House.
  • Alex Corbeau-GreenA new Nightshade House student whose family company Green Aviation was connected to Ophelia's parents' deaths; he flirts with Ophelia despite her distress.
  • Mura SayariA supermodel and technology heiress recognized by Ophelia from a fashion magazine; attends the welcoming assembly.
  • AchlysThe subject of a haunting painting in the Grand Hall; a legendary figure representing sorrow who supposedly haunts the castle.
  • Lord MacArtainHistorical founder of the castle who commissioned the Achlys painting after his wife's illness-driven death.
  • A Snakeroot studentGrins at Ophelia and warns her that Nightshade will eat her alive.
  • Ophelia's fatherDeceased; worked at Sorrowsong for a decade and deliberately kept Ophelia away from the castle, sharing dark stories about student violence.
  • Ophelia's motherDeceased; died with Ophelia's father in a car accident four years ago connected to Green Aviation.
  • Colette's stepfatherMentioned as disliking lateness and willing to help Colette set up her own art gallery after graduation.
  • Colette's driverMentioned as being overly cautious on the roads, making Colette late.
  • Ophelia's parents' taxi driverMentioned in Ophelia's traumatic memory of the accident day.
  • Lord MacArtain's wifeDeceased; fell ill before the castle's completion, and Lord MacArtain believed she was Achlys reborn.
  • HeraMentioned in mythology by the chancellor as having been provided poisonous flowers by Achlys.
  • Magazine figuresVarious fashion and lifestyle personalities mentioned in magazines Ophelia browsed during her journey.
  • Investigators, engineers, reporters, and firefightersMentioned in Ophelia's traumatic memory of her parents' accident scene.
  • Unnamed Hemlock studentGives a sympathetic gasp at Ophelia's reassignment to Nightshade.
  • Various assembly attendeesOne hundred and fifty students gathered for the welcoming assembly in various houses.
  • Girls in Cortinar HouseStudents who appear to already know Colette and welcome her warmly.
  • Students in Nightshade HouseOphelia's new housemates; described as kind and welcoming in their expressions.
  • Snakeroot student with bubblegumLeans over and warns Ophelia that Nightshade will eat her alive.