Nocticadia

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, death by suicide, child abuse, mental illness, racism, and gender discrimination.

Lilia gets lost while searching for her dorm building. She bumps into Devryck, who ignores her, and seeks help from an eccentrically dressed student named Melisandre, or Mel, a resident assistant for Lilia’s floor. Mel says that the dorm, Corbeau Hall, has a nickname, Crixson, after the Crixson study that Devryck’s father performed. Mel says that the Rooks aren’t actually a secret to most people on campus and that they tried to suppress information on the study.

The women involved in the study stayed in Crixson. One night, six of the women drowned themselves in the lake. The other two escaped. Mel also says that Devryck is nicknamed “Doctor Death,” and she believes that he killed the missing student, Jenny Harrick. Jenny’s boyfriend scarred Devryck with acid.

Lilia doubts this story, and Mel says it’s only rumor; however, Jenny was last seen on camera entering Devryck’s lab. Mel also explains how Commodore Adderly is commemorated in the area, but she is disillusioned with the narrative around Dracadia, which favors rich, white men. Despite Mel’s warnings, Lilia is excited about her place at Dracadia and curious about Devryck.