The Excursion
Country: Aurivelle
City: Auremont
Alvara
Morning light had already filled my room by the time I finished freshening up.
The institute always seemed to wake up earlier on days like this.
Excursion days.
Even the hallway outside had more footsteps than usual.
More laughter.
More doors opening and closing.
Students rushing around, getting ready.
I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the sleeves of my blouse.
My outfit was simple but polished.
A cream long-sleeve blouse tucked neatly into navy wide-leg trousers,
brown loafers,
a beige shoulder bag,
small pearl stud earrings,
my hair tied neatly in a low ponytail,
and just minimal makeup.
Clean.
Professional.
Appropriate for visiting real fashion houses.
I slipped my phone into my bag, then added a small bottle of water and a few snacks.
Just in case.
Excursions meant long hours outside the institute, and Isabella had already warned us the schedule would be packed.
I had just picked up my bag when a knock sounded on my door.
Three quick taps.
I already knew who it was.
When I opened the door, Isabella leaned dramatically against the frame like she had been waiting for hours.
“Took you long enough.”
Mila stood beside her, calm as always.
“You look nice,” Mila said with a small nod.
“Thank you.”
Isabella tilted her head while studying my outfit.
“Very sophisticated.”
“I’m visiting fashion houses,” I said. “Not a nightclub.”
“Speak for yourself,” Isabella replied. “I could make this outfit nightclub-ready in five minutes.”
Mila sighed.
“Please don’t.”
I laughed and stepped out of my room.
“Let’s go before the bus leaves without us.”
The institute courtyard buzzed with students gathering in groups.
The excursion bus was already parked near the front gate.
Large.
White.
The institute logo printed across the side.
Some were chatting excitedly nearby.
And of course…
Some people were watching us.
I noticed them immediately.
Helena.
Leonora.
Ally.
Standing together like usual.
When Helena saw me, her lips curled slightly.
Not a smile.
A smirk.
Leonora whispered something to Ally, and the three of them started walking toward us.
Isabella muttered under her breath.
“Oh great.”
Mila quietly adjusted the strap of her bag.
Ally reached us first.
She folded her arms, looking me up and down with exaggerated curiosity.
“You know,” she said slowly, “I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday.”
Her tone was dripping with mockery.
“I never knew you had that in you.”
She placed a hand over her chest dramatically.
“I was truly touched.”
Isabella rolled her eyes.
I looked at Ally calmly.
“Then maybe you should write it in your diary,” I said.
Her smile tightened.
Ally leaned closer.
“You should be careful how you talk to me,” she said quietly.
“Unless you want to find out what happens when I decide to deal with you.”
Isabella shifted slightly beside me.
But I didn’t move.
Instead, I looked Ally straight in the eyes.
“If you’re going to threaten someone,” I said calmly, “at least make it sound interesting.”
A few nearby students had started watching.
Ally’s jaw tightened.
Before she could reply, Leonora stepped forward.
She didn’t look angry.
She looked amused.
Her gaze traveled slowly over me.
“Don’t worry,” she said smoothly.
“I have a lot in store for you.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“And just so you know…”
Her voice lowered.
“I’m not Helena.”
The meaning behind those words was clear.
She thought that made her more dangerous.
The courtyard had grown noticeably quieter.
Students were openly watching now.
Waiting.
I met her gaze without blinking.
“Trust me… I know you’re not Helena.”
A faint smile touched my lips.
“Helena had class.”
My gaze dropped over her slowly.
“You’re just loud.”
The silence around us thickened.
Even the students nearby looked stunned.
Leonora’s smirk faded.
For the first time since I’d met her…
She looked surprised.
Behind me, Isabella whispered under her breath.
“Oh my God.”
Before anyone else could say anything, the instructors finally arrived.
“Alright everyone!”
Their voices immediately broke the tension.
“Line up. We’re doing attendance before boarding.”
Students quickly gathered.
Names were checked.
Clipboards marked.
When the instructors finished counting, they nodded.
“Good. No one is missing. Everyone on the bus.”
And just like that…
The excursion officially began.
First Stop – House Valmont Showroom
The House Valmont flagship showroom looked exactly like something out of a fashion magazine.
Tall glass walls.
Soft golden lighting.
Mannequins displayed in perfectly arranged layouts.
Each piece looked like art.
We walked through the showroom slowly while a junior stylist explained the display techniques.
“The way a garment is presented,” she said, “is just as important as the garment itself.”
Students scribbled notes.
I studied everything.
The spacing between mannequins.
The color flow of the collection.
The way fabrics caught the light.
Isabella whispered beside me.
“If I owned this place, I’d move in.”
“You’d get banned in a day,” Mila replied.
Second Stop – Verite Co. Atelier
This place felt different.
More intimate.
More artistic.
The Verite Co. atelier focused on haute couture techniques.
Embroidery frames lined the walls.
Designers worked quietly at long tables.
One woman showed us a gown with hand-stitched beadwork.
Thousands of tiny beads.
Every single one is placed manually.
Students were allowed to sketch discreetly.
I pulled out my notebook.
Ideas began forming almost instantly.
Lunch Break
Lunch was held at a beautiful café connected to the fashion district.
White tablecloths.
Elegant plated meals.
Delicate desserts.
Even the water glasses looked expensive.
Students sat in small groups discussing the morning.
“I loved the embroidery section,” Mila said.
Isabella nodded.
“I want to steal half the designs.”
“Please don’t,” I said.
She grinned.
“No promises.”
Discussion Session
We briefly gathered with instructors to share inspiration ideas.
Some talked about fabrics.
Others about presentation techniques.
I mentioned the way House Valmont used color gradients across their displays.
One instructor nodded approvingly.
Workshop – élan Fashion House
This was the interactive part.
Professional designers guided us through quick exercises.
Accessory design.
Draping techniques.
Sustainable luxury fabrics.
Garment finishing.
Isabella got overly excited
.
“I think I was born for this.”
“You say that about everything,” I replied.
Boutique Walkthrough
The final activity involved walking through several luxury boutiques.
We observed merchandising strategies.
Client interactions.
Sales techniques.
It felt like studying fashion from the business side.
By the time we boarded the bus back, everyone looked tired.
But also satisfied.
The ride back to the institute was much quieter than the ride earlier.
Students leaned back in their seats.
Some even dozed off.
When we arrived back at the institute, the sky was already turning golden with evening light.
We stepped off the bus slowly.
The courtyard felt calm again.
Just as we reached the dormitory corridor, Isabella suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Hey.”
I looked at her.
Her expression was serious.
“You need to be careful around those girls.”
“The look in their eyes earlier…”
She shook her head slightly.
“It wasn’t normal.”
I shrugged lightly.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Alvara.”
“I’m always on my own anyway,” I said.
“And they’re the ones who keep looking for trouble with me.”
Isabella sighed.
“Just ignore them from now on.”
I gave a small nod.
“Fine.”
She looked at me for another moment.
Then finally said….
“See you at dinner.”
I gave a small nod.
“Yeah.”
She walked away first, disappearing down the corridor with her usual confident stride.
For a few seconds, I stayed where I was.
The hallway slowly emptied.
The silence felt strange after everything that had happened today.
I exhaled slowly.
Maybe Isabella was right.
Maybe ignoring them was the smartest thing to do.
But something in my chest told me this wasn’t the last time trouble would find me.
Not here.
Not in this place.
And somehow…
Something told me my time at this institute wouldn’t stay this simple for long.