– Is spells class next? – Celine asked as they walked.
Harumi sighed – Yes... It's a bit hard for me to memorize spells, so I usually carry a spellbook.
She reached into a small bag and pulled out a red-covered book with a gem embedded in its center. She opened it and showed Celine – I just write the spells here, so when I need one, I just open this.
Celine's eyes sparkled as she pointed at some small drawings – Did you draw these?
Harumi looked a little embarrassed – Yeah… I did. They're not that good…
– I think they're really good – Celine smiled.
They entered the classroom and took their seats – Here, Celine! – Harumi pointed to the seat next to her, so the three of them sat with Harumi in the middle.
The teacher soon arrived and started class, reciting spells and explaining their uses.
He spoke quickly and didn't allow any talking, either pay attention or be completely lost.
His name was Itzal, the basic spells teacher for second-year students and also the advanced spells teacher for the upper years. He was known for being eccentric and arrogant. Asking him for help or clarification was out of the question. He was also the kind of person who disliked students for no reason at all, just because he could.
Harumi handed Celine a notebook from her tiny purse strapped to her belt. A space bag… it must be enchanted, Celine thought. It's so small, but it holds so much, almost infinite space inside.
Many of the spells mentioned were ones Celine had already studied back in Celestia. Others she only vaguely remembered. The spellbook Mother gave me has all of these… I should take a closer look when I'm back at the dorm, she thought. She had barely skimmed through it.
– Alright, dismissed – Professor Itzal announced, gathering his materials.
Before leaving, he scanned the classroom and paused when his eyes met Celine's. He stared at her for a moment before walking out.
Celine pressed her lips together, thinking about Professor Itzal. He was a mage from Mishan Guo, currently the only one known to reside outside that realm. According to the palace servants, he had been expelled by the Guardian of Mishan Guo herself. The reason was known only to the realm's inhabitants, but it was clear that the headmaster of Kesla didn't want to miss the chance to have a mage from such a powerful kingdom.
– Celine! Let's go! – Harumi tugged her arm, pulling her out into the hallway as they chatted on their way to the cafeteria.
Suddenly, they heard some commotion, a buzz of whispers and excited chatter as someone passed by.
– Is that…? – Celine looked toward the calm figure drawing everyone's attention.
– …Professor Weilyn – Leila said, also watching the man with a white band on his forehead – Why hasn't he healed that wound?
Harumi smiled – That's from Professor Mysie. He wants to keep the bruise.
Celine and Leila exchanged confused looks.
– Why would that be obvious? – Celine asked.
Harumi replied cheerfully – He wants to keep the mark she left. I mean… I get it. Love is weird.
Harumi continued walking while Leila and Celine stared after her, then looked back at Professor Weilyn. He didn't seem at all like someone who had been hit in the head, he was smiling, greeting students along the hallway. Both girls had the same thought:
He's probably a masochist.
The cafeteria was already crowded. The girls grabbed their trays, picked out their meals, and headed to a small table for four. One girl was already seated there and smiled as they approached.
Harumi quickened her pace and sat down, introducing the new girl – Celine, this is Asterin from Wigan. Asterin, this is Celine from Celestia.
Asterin, a girl with long silver braids and striking golden strands woven in, smiled at Celine – It's a pleasure to meet you, Celine.
– Likewise, Asterin – Celine said, returning the smile.
It seemed that all the princesses were friends here at Kesla. Asterin Kalion, Princess of Argon, was the only granddaughter of the current Emperor. Wigan was the capital of the Argon Empire.
– Asterin! Did you see Professor Weilyn? – Harumi asked before starting to eat.
Asterin chuckled – He looks funny with that headband. I heard it was Professor Mysie who did that?
Leila nodded. Asterin looked thoughtful.
– Do you know anything about it? What happened between them? – Harumi asked, noticing her expression.
Asterin nodded slightly – I think so…
The girls leaned in unconsciously, curiosity shining in their eyes. Asterin smiled.
– I can't be sure, but I'll tell you what I heard. Apparently, Professor Weilyn and Professor Mysie were a couple. Some say they were inseparable and were even going to get married. One day, Professor Mysie showed up glowing with happiness, and so did he. The students later found out she was pregnant. Everyone was thrilled. Even the principal held a small celebration.
She paused.
– But then one day, she just stopped coming. Everyone assumed it was for rest. A month later, she returned… different. Cold. Anytime someone mentioned the pregnancy, she got angry. Professor Weilyn stopped speaking about it entirely. They began avoiding each other, well, she avoided him. Eventually, a student discovered they had lost the baby. People assumed it was an accident.
She looked at the others – But no one could understand why they broke up. Some think they had a falling out because of the loss. Others believe…
– Unless it wasn't an accident – Celine suddenly said.
The table fell silent. Asterin nodded.
– That's what some believe. That Professor Weilyn… did something. And that's why she hates him now.
Harumi frowned – But he was happy about the baby, wasn't he?
– Exactly. That's why it doesn't make sense. People stopped talking about it. Newer students just assume they dislike each other – Asterin said, returning to her meal.
The others stayed quiet, lost in their own thoughts. The cafeteria buzzed around them, but at their table, a pensive silence lingered, one that even dessert couldn't sweeten.
After lunch, the halls were quieter. Somewhere else in the building, a lone student walked slowly, turning a small amulet over in his hand.
– You're just an ordinary human. What are you even doing here? You don't take your classes seriously. You're just wasting the Tasvali family's last shot at glory.
He stopped when he heard the voice, drawing closer to where it came from.
– Glory? Please. The Tasvali family is nothing without the First Mage of the Night. If it weren't for that amulet, they'd be nobodies.
The boy sitting in the corner didn't flinch. He leaned back slightly, one hand in his pocket, pretending to inspect the ceiling.
But his eyes tightened.
He only moved when he heard someone else's footsteps approach.
A light cough echoed in the room.
The boys turned and froze.
– President Thamy – they said in unison.
The boy, Raphael, raised his brow but said nothing, as if this were just another interruption to a dull afternoon.
Thamy smiled calmly – Shouldn't you all be in class?
The boys mumbled something and scattered without another word.
Thamy walked over to him – Are you alright? Don't listen to them.
– I never do – Raphael said with a shrug, though his voice had a slight tremor. He didn't meet Thamy's eyes – And… they're not wrong.
Thamy reached into his pocket and held out the amulet.
The boy stiffened, blinking once. His fingers curled around the fabric of his uniform.
– I'm sorry about what happened last year – Thamy said quietly – It wasn't your fault.
There was a pause. Then the boy exhaled, the smallest shift softening his shoulders.
– You don't have to say that – He muttered. He took the amulet and tucked it into his uniform. – Thanks.
And with a nod, Raphael walked off, his pace even, but his hand clenched tight around the amulet.
Thamy stood still for a moment, eyes narrowing at the empty corridor before walking away.
"Does that thing come out during the day?" He thought.
The sunlight filtering through the windows cast long shadows along the walls. One of them suddenly shifted, sliding across the floor before transforming into a person.
His long silver hair shimmered in the light as he stared at the spot where the green-eyed boy had vanished.
Night mages… If I could steal his power, I wouldn't need to stay here anymore, he sneered, then melted back into the shadows, leaving only a faint whisper in the corridor, barely noticeable.
Far from that hallway, in the quiet of the girls' dormitory, Celine sat at her desk, flipping through the spellbook given to her by the Sorceress of the Nine Realms. The room was still, everyone was studying, each absorbed in their own world.
Celine, as usual, took her time. She read every page carefully, committing the symbols and incantations to memory. She finished it easily.
During classes, Celine had noticed how diverse the student body was, with many different species.
Then something flashed in her memory. She grabbed a sheet of paper and quickly sketched the strange symbol from the tapestry again.
– What creature is that? – A voice asked.
– I don't know – Celine replied – I saw it somewhere and have been trying to figure it out.
Harumi looked over her shoulder, grimacing – It's… ugly. Is that a lizard? With wings?
– I thought the same. A flying lizard, maybe.
– Lizards are creepy enough without wings. I'd die if I saw one flying… – Harumi shivered.
Leila came over, looking at the drawing. She stared at it for a moment before whispering – A dragon?
Celine and Harumi both turned to her.
– You know what this is? – Celine asked, wide-eyed.
– I'm not sure – Leila replied – I saw something like this in one of my father's old books about ancient creatures. The word 'dragon' was written underneath it, but the rest was either blurry or in a language I didn't understand.
– Please tell me these things don't exist… – Harumi gripped her shoulders.
– They don't – Leila reassured her – I asked my father. He said they were all wiped out in the Great War two thousand years ago. A minister with him called them lust-driven monsters that destroyed entire cities. The kingdoms joined forces to destroy them, and only after that, peace was restored.
Harumi let out a sigh of relief – Their appearance alone is horrifying. I'm glad I wasn't born back then.
Leila nodded.
Celine stared at the drawing again. Why did I see two people with this symbol on that tapestry? Dragons… Are they a shapeshifter race? A race…
– We should rest. Tomorrow we have combat and weaponry classes – Leila said as she climbed into bed. Harumi and Celine agreed, and soon the room was quiet.
In his room, Raphael looked at the amulet in his hand, stroking it from time to time. He pressed it to his chest before putting it away and lying down on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"The Tasvali family would be nothing without it" He thought, the words echoing louder in the silence than when they had first been spoken.