**Chapter 56 – The Everyday Life Before the Trip and Elara's Letter**
The days following the announcement were a mix of anxious excitement and sweet nostalgia. The academy's invitation brought a sense of "end of an era" to the orphanage, but daily life remained as mad-cute as ever, now with an added touch of "preparation"—more intense training, longer hugs, as if everyone knew the house would soon be empty… but not truly empty.
Breakfast turned into "war council": Lysithea cooked now (with the children's help), saying "to strengthen you for the academy tests," telling stories of how strong Mirella and Graciela were out in the world. Joker and Harley stole sweets as always, but now added jokes about "training to steal at the academy." Elara, Mirella, and Graciela were missed—the orphanage felt quieter without Mirella's hammer training, without Graciela's axe hitting wood, without Elara's temporal magic speeding everything up. Everyone felt the emptiness, but exchanged determined looks: "We'll be with them soon."
Morning classes/training became "academy preparation": Lysithea taught "emotional defense" with endless hugs and stories of Lunalie. The children practiced their awakened powers with more focus: Sylvara's carnivorous flowers as "living weapons," Lirien's prophecies to "predict tests," Rina's pink fire tails for "quick attacks," Kuroe's chaos runes to "confuse evaluators," Astrid's brute strength for "physical," Marina's steam for "area defense." Joker's nightmare shadows for "psychological," Harley's real illusions for "tricks." Group hugs at the end of every session, to "recharge the heart."
Lunch became "family council": picnics in the garden, conversations about "what to bring to the academy"—Joker: "My laughter." Harley: "My hammer." Everyone laughed, but Lysithea sometimes cried quietly, hugging whoever was near: "You're going to shine there, and I'll be right there to see it all."
Afternoons: playtime turned into "test simulations"—treasure hunts with powers, "hug fights" where the "loser" got tickled until they laughed. Everyone sent letters to Elara, Mirella, and Graciela via messenger, sharing every detail, waiting for replies.
Then, a week later, Elara's letter arrived by messenger.
Lysithea read it aloud in the garden, her voice trembling with emotion:
"Dear eternal family,
I passed the teacher test! Mirella and Graciela passed too—she as Archery and Elven Discipline teacher, she as head cook. Now we're official at the Eternal Academy.
The place is incredible: towers that touch the clouds, students of every race training as equals, a director who keeps order with firmness and justice. We're together in the same dormitory, as we requested.
I miss the endless hugs, the smell of bread Graciela made, Joker and Harley's laughter… everything.
Come soon. The circus needs everyone to shine.
With love that freezes time,
Elara – forever big sis
(Mirella and Graciela send kisses and say: 'Eat properly there, you little pests!')"
Explosive reaction: Lysithea collapsed crying with happiness, hugging the parchment as if it were the three of them. "My girls… they made it!" The children jumped laughing: Joker: "Big sis Elara teacher, teacher Mirella, and cook Graciela—the circus already has the full team there!" Harley: "And we'll blow up the rest!" Sylvara: "Flowers to decorate their rooms!" Lirien: "I saw this… they're happy there." Rina: "I'll bite anyone who messes with them!" Kuroe smiled: "Chaos in Elara's class is going to be epic." Astrid: "I'll carry them on my back when we get there!" Marina released steam hearts. The group hug lasted the whole day, laughing/crying. The family more united than ever—"We're going to them!"
(to be continued…)