The garden was quieter at night.
Too quiet every noise in my head just got louder instead.
So I sat at the edge of the stone path, watching the torches flicker one by one, their light stretching across the grass. The academy felt different in the dark—less overwhelming, more… watchful.
Like it was waiting i had a strange feeling i could not tell.
A soft breeze brushed past me, cool against my skin. But it wasn't just wind. There was something in it. Something I couldn't see but could feel was i just overthinking or it is just the atmosphere here. It made my skin prickle.
I frowned slightly and reached out, letting my fingers hover near the nearest flame. The fire shifted. Not much. Just a slight bend toward my hand. I stilled Wah I guess I am getting magical now.
"…Okay. That's new." I muttered
or it was the wind It had to be the wind.
I pulled my hand back quickly—
The flame flickered blue.
Just for a second.
My breath caught.
my eyes widened i stared at it too long, unmoving, my heart beating a little too fast now.
Then it went back to normal what the hell is happening now I'm suddenly seeing things.
Orange. Calm. Like nothing had happened forget it mira forget it.
"…Yeah. No. I'm not dealing with that right now." i stooped thinking about it and slept a nights sleep only to wake up to loud noises
A distant bell rang, breaking the silence.
I stood up, brushing off my clothes, trying to shake off the feeling crawling under my skin i stretched myself the other two were still sleeping or to say they were pretending to be asleep.
anyways the academy already had too many things I didn't understand.
I wasn't adding myself to that list.
But as I walked back—
That small, uneasy thought stayed.
Something had responded to me.
And I didn't know why I'm just thinking too much i changed my dress and by then the other too were ready woah that was really fast.
"Mira! We're going to be late!"
Rhyshe's voice cut through the next morning before I'd even finished tying my hair back cant belive she was saying that to me she slept more than me.
"Yeah, yeah—coming!"
I yanked the jacket into place. The uniform still felt borrowed, even though it was mine now. A short frock with a fitted jacket over it, patterns stitched along the edges like they were supposed to mean something. Everything here looked like it meant something, even if nobody bothered explaining.
When I stepped out, Rhyshe gave a low whistle. "Okay. You clean up nice."
"Wow. Thanks."
Celvia glanced at me once, then ahead again. "They don't like delays here. Keep up." yeah i could see that yesterday.
The corridors were just as overwhelming as the courtyard—tall marble walls, massive paintings of figures frozen mid‑spell, light twisting in their hands like it was alive. I slowed without meaning to.
"Do you think Akira will be there?" I asked.
Rhyshe glanced at me. "At the ceremony? Obviously. She's kind of a big deal here."
I wasn't sure why that made my chest tight. "She's my childhood friend. I thought she'd at least talk to me."
"She hasn't?" Rhyshe frowned.
I shook my head. "Nothing. Not even a 'hey, welcome to the secret magic world.'"
Celvia walked a few steps before answering. "Did she ever mention magic before you came?"
"No." My voice came out sharper than I meant. "Not once. It's like she just… cut that part off when she was with me."
A small silence. Then Celvia said, more quietly, "Students aren't allowed to talk about this place outside. There can be consequences i guess."
"So?" I kicked at a loose thread on my sleeve. "She could've said something. Anything."
Rhyshe bumped my shoulder. "Hey. Don't spiral. Being inner court captain probably means she's busy."
"Yeah" inner court captain "yeah" muttered. "Busy ignoring me."
The grand hall stopped me cold.
High ceilings stretched above, chandeliers glowing like stars. Vines curled along the walls, gold thread woven through green, like the whole place was breathing. Students filled the space—hundreds of them. Talking, laughing, like they'd always been here.
I found a seat somewhere in the middle.
"This is… a lot," I muttered i was getting boared quick.
"First years alone are over three hundred students," Celvia said.
"Seriously?" I remarked like 300 humans how come this has not hit the headlines
"And the full academy?" Rhyshe added. "Way more."
I let out a breath. "Okay. Mildly terrifying."
I glanced at Celvia. "How do you even know all this?"
She paused. Just a beat too long.
"Student manual."
I narrowed my eyes. That wasn't the whole answer she really was hiding ssomething both of them actually terrible actor were they supervising me or something. But before I could ask—
The ceremony started.
I didn't hear most of it false appreciations and long speeches.
Voices blurred together, words slipping past without sticking. All I could think about was Akira. Where she was. Why she hadn't come. Why she hadn't said anything these questions were eating my head now.
By the time it ended, my head felt stuffed with cotton.
We walked back in near silence. Even Rhyshe didn't talk much. That alone said something.
By the time we reached the dorms, I felt drained. Not physically. Just… everything stacking up with nowhere to sort it.
The next morning came too fast.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my uniform again. Same clothes. Same face. Same me.
And yet.
The classroom was louder than I expected. Students filled the space, some already showing off, sparks flickering in their palms. Others whispered in groups, sizing each other up.
I stayed close to Rhyshe and Celvia.
"Mira," Celvia murmured. "Stay away from Rose."
"Who?"
Rhyshe tilted her head toward a cluster of girls by the window. "That one."
The girl in the center didn't look special at first glance. But the way people gave her space said plenty.
"Daughter of an elder," Celvia added. "Thinks that makes her untouchable."
"And she's not even that good," Rhyshe muttered. "Just loud about it."
"So," I said, "a bully." yeah i said that loud
Celvia shot me a look. "Lower your voice."
but it was too late.
The girl turned.
And then—she walked toward us. Slow. Confident.
like she owned this place.
She stopped in front of me. Her eyes swept over me like I was something mildly disappointing.
"New?" she asked.
"Yeah."
She smiled. Not a nice smile.
"You must be one of the thirteen."
Something cold settled in my chest. "Thirteen?"
"Scholarship entries." She tilted her head. "Try to keep up."
She turned and walked away before I could answer.
I stared after her.
"…Did that just happen?"
"Just ignore her," Rhyshe said quickly.
But the tension stayed. Sharp. Uncomfortable. Like something had shifted by noon i was in class the class was big with all kinds of students even rose and her sidekicks were there to
"Good morning, class."
The room went quiet instantly it was a woman the voice was comanding some students felt discomfort some felt anticipation i was judging as to what was about to unfold now.
A woman stood at the front. No raised voice, no theatrics. Just a presence that made everyone sit a little straighter. I straightened without meaning to.
As the lesson began, I tried to focus. I really did.
But my mind kept drifting.
Back to the flame. Back to Akira. Back to that feeling—
And I had no idea what it was yeah I'm just an overly certified overthinker i hoped everything went normal today well well i really regrated everything by the end of this day had i not hoped that really regretted praying.