The hallway hums with energy as students spill from their classrooms. Some walk, others glide or vanish into teleportation sigils. A few soar above the crowd on summoned beasts or glowing runes.
Dallas flips through his open spellbook, grinning.
Dallas: "I think I finally got it! I can pronounce it now!"
He chants, "Varn'Tek Sol'Machra!". A flicker of green light bursts beside him tiny metallic limbs whirring and a miniature robot appears, buzzes, then fizzles out.
Dallas (shouting): "Oh my god, I did it!"
Demeter: "Practice makes perfect. You're getting better every day, Dallas. That spell suits you, especially with your ability. Even I can't manage that one."
Dallas: "Yeah… My powers only let me make constructs on my body. But with this this mechanical spell I can create them outside me."
As they talk, a group of students passes Pyraeans, their skin shimmering with the same lunar tone as Star's. They wave.
Group: "Hey, Princess Star!"
Star (smiling): "See you guys later see you at the cafeteria!"
Ava glances over.
Ava: "I don't know why you're friends with them again. They bullied you for weeks after you broke up with Tavius. Now they're back to calling you Princess."
Star: "I have to forgive them. They're my people. I love them. They thought I betrayed Tavius… but once I explained what he was doing to me, they understood. They promised to vouch for me when we return home for summer break. Hopefully my father would forgive me and understand why left him."
Dallas suddenly gasps.
Dallas: "Guys, look!" He runs to a glowing poster on the wall. "Prom! Just a couple of months away!"
He spins toward Demeter, eyes wide.
Dallas: "Will you go with me?"
Demeter: "No. I don't do stuff like that. I didn't even go last year."
Star: "You promised me last year you'd go this time."
Demeter (sighing): "Fine. But I'm not wearing makeup."
The group laughs lightly. Dallas elbows Ava.
Dallas: "You should ask Star. I swear she likes you. I mean, I thought Demeter liked me and look how that turned out. I was wrong about that one, but I'm pretty sure about you two."
Ava thinks of the last prom back on Earth and shakes his head.
Ava: "I'm not going. We should focus on training."
Dallas: "You're always so serious! Come on, this is the perfect break. Don't act like you don't think Star's cute."
Ava smirks.
Ava: "Let's worry about finding you a date first."
Dallas: "So that's a yes, then."
Ava: "Only if you can find a date."
Dallas (grinning): "Deal!"
Dallas checks his watch.
Dallas: "We got a few minutes before class. I'm gonna call my parents gotta tell them about my awesome spell!"
Demeter: "I'll meet you guys in class. I'm sneaking a snack from the lunchroom."
Soon it's only Ava and Star in the hallway. The sound of footsteps fades until they're surrounded by quiet.
Ava: "We should start heading to class."
As he turns, Star catches his hand and pulls him close. She kisses him softly.
Star (whispering): "I'm sorry."
Ava: "It's fine."
Star: "I couldn't help it. Ever since… that night a couple of weeks ago, When we finally…. and then she blushes. I can't wait for tonight. But we still have to keep it a secret."
They stand together, fingers intertwined, gazes locked until distant footsteps echo again. Star quickly lets go just as a group of her people rounds the corner.
Girl: "Hey, Princess Star! Are you going to prom? You and Tavius were king and queen last year!"
Star (smiling): "I'm definitely going. And I'm going to win again. Not sure who I'll take, though."
Girl 2 (teasing): "What about Ava? Isn't he your boyfriend?"
Laughter ripples through the group.
Boy: "Star's a princess the future queen of our people, Pyraeans. She'd never get with a peasant, especially a human. They're just friends."
Star freezes, then forces a smile.
Star: "Yeah… we're just friends. I'd never get with a human. My father would be so disappointed."
Girl: "He'll already be furious about Tavius. Imagine if he found out you were dating a human."
They laugh again and drift away down the hall.
Star watches them go, then rushes back to Ava, grabbing his hand.
Star (softly): "I'm sorry I said that. I just got my people to respect me again…"
Ava gently pulls his hand free, his voice calm but edged.
Ava: "I thought you said you don't care about the opinions of others in this school."
Star: "I don't… but my people are different."
Star: "You said you didn't care to keep it a secret."
Ava: "It's fine. I understand. I'm just a peasant. A human."
Star: "I never called you a peasant."
Ava says nothing. He turns and starts walking toward class, the echo of his steps filling the tense silence.
Star hurries after him.
Star: "You don't understand how strict my father is how my life is as a princess. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
Ava: "It's fine. Come on. We're almost late."
They walk together through the vast hallways, students all around some chatting, some casting spells to float their books. For a moment, everything feels normal again.
Then
A blinding flash.
A massive spear, covered in tribal runes and black flame, shatters the windows and tears through the wall. It pierces the hallway with a thunderous boom, slicing through multiple students before detonating in a roaring explosion.
Ava's eyes flare gold.
Time fractures around him.
He activates Velocity Sync, slowing the very velocity of the explosion as golden ripples distort the air.
Star throws her hand forward, her aura igniting pink. She absorbs the wave of energy, devouring it until the destructive light fades.
When silence falls, the hallway is rubble. Smoke. Blood. Some students lie still. Others groan in pain. A few tremble but alive.
Then the academy alarm blares.
A mechanized voice echoes through every corridor:
"Intruders! Intruders! The Academy is under attack! This is not a drill!"
Ava looks at Star, eyes glowing faintly.
Ava: "Are you okay?"
Star: "Yeah… I'm fine. But the academy hasn't been attacked in centuries."
Her voice trembles.
Star: "This is bad. Whenever there's an attack, it's usually the Outer Gods of their Hyperverse and the gods they rule, along with their minions."
The spear dissolves into glowing motes and vanishes.
Both look up through the shattered ceiling.
Above the academy's skyline, amidst swirling clouds of divine energy, a warrior floats cloaked in black fire and celestial markings, his aura vast enough to bend the air around him.