On a quiet hill overlooking the outskirts of Crescent Moon, a small wooden cabin stood alone against the breeze. Inside, a large suitcase rested atop a neatly made bed—though it was anything but tidy now. Clothes, books, and trinkets were crammed inside as a young girl hurriedly packed.
Luna Grimm, with her long blonde hair cascading down her back, moved quickly from one side of the room to the other. A faint lightning bolt pattern was etched into her hair, catching the light when she turned her head. Her bright green eyes were focused and determined as she worked. She wore a dark red military-style uniform, accented with yellow and brown buckles and buttons that gleamed softly. The outfit was finished with a matching skirt, patterned in a neat checkered design that swayed with her movements.
She pressed down on the bulging suitcase with all her strength, finally managing to snap it shut with a satisfying click. She let out a breath, then broke into a proud smile.
With a quick snap of her fingers, she spoke a single word. "Shrink."
The suitcase shimmered, folding in on itself as if space itself bent to her will, until it became a small coin resting on the bed. Etched into its surface was a tiny image of the suitcase.
Luna picked it up, turning it between her fingers with quiet admiration—until a knock sounded at the door. It creaked open before she could answer, and she quickly slipped the coin into her pocket.
"Are you ready to go?" Martha asked, stepping inside with a train ticket in hand.
Luna patted her pocket and gave a confident nod. "All set."
Martha handed her the ticket. "The train should arrive in about twenty minutes."
Luna took it, then suddenly pulled Martha into a tight hug. Her voice wavered as her eyes began to glisten. "Thank you, Martha. I promise I'll find a way to repay you—and everyone in the village."
Martha smiled warmly, gently placing a hand on Luna's shoulder. "You don't need to worry about that, Luna. Just do your best at school. We'll celebrate when you come back."
Luna pulled back, wiping her eyes before breaking into a determined smile. "You can count on me."
Luna sat alone in her train car, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks filling the quiet space. She had just begun to relax when a knock sounded at the door.
Before she could respond, it slid open.
Two girls stood in the doorway, both wearing military-style uniforms similar to Luna's—though each wore theirs in their own distinct way. Between them was a mountain of luggage.
The first girl stepped forward slightly. She had medium-length purple hair, neatly styled, and striking red eyes framed by glasses. Her uniform skirt was longer than usual, nearly brushing the floor like a dress, giving her an elegant, composed look. Despite that, there was a natural warmth in her expression—a kind, welcoming aura that made her seem instantly approachable.
The second girl stood with her arms crossed, clearly less enthusiastic. Her long, light blue hair fell past her shoulders, and her sharp yellow eyes scanned the room with mild irritation. Unlike the others, she wore shorts with her uniform, giving her a more practical, no-nonsense appearance.
"Sorry to bother you," the purple-haired girl said politely, adjusting her glasses. "Would it be alright if we joined you? All the other train cars are full."
Luna smiled and gestured to the open seats. "Not at all."
The two stepped inside, hauling their luggage with them. Once everything was crammed into the small compartment, the space felt noticeably tighter—bags stacked under seats, wedged into corners, and barely leaving room to stretch.
The girls settled across from Luna.
"Thanks again," the purple-haired girl said with a warm smile. "I'm Holly Magnus, and this is Misty Frost."
"Nice to meet you," Luna replied. "I'm Luna Grimm."
For a moment, Holly and Misty froze. Then they slowly turned to each other, wide-eyed.
"Wait… you're Luna Grimm?" Holly asked.
"The one who got the full-ride scholarship to Scarletwood Academy?" Misty added, her earlier annoyance replaced with surprise.
Luna blinked, caught off guard. "You know about that?"
Holly let out a small laugh, still clearly impressed. "Know about it? Until you got it, I thought that scholarship was just an urban legend."
"Oh—well, thank you," Luna said with a smile. "I can show you the letter I got—it's in my pocket. But first… do you mind if I make a little room in here?"
Holly tilted her head. "How?"
Misty leaned forward, suddenly excited. "Yes, please."
Luna grinned playfully, sticking out her tongue as she snapped her fingers. "Shrink."
In an instant, the piles of luggage shimmered and collapsed inward, shrinking down into two small coins—just like Luna's. The transformation finished in a blink, leaving Holly and Misty staring in stunned silence.
Two coins appeared in Luna's hand. She casually handed one to each of them.
"Just slip them into your pockets so you don't lose them," Luna said. "They'll return to normal in a few hours."
Holly accepted hers, still processing. "Thanks, Luna."
Misty, however, was practically glowing with curiosity. "Okay—how did you do that?"
Luna blinked. "Uh… magic?"
Misty groaned. "I know that. I mean how did you do it without a wand?"
"Oh." Luna shrugged. "I do all my spells without a wand. I never had one. It was hard at first, but I got the hang of it eventually. Why? Is that weird?"
Holly and Misty exchanged a look.
"…Yes," Holly said gently. "Where did you go for your basic magic training?"
"I didn't," Luna replied. "My village didn't have a school. I learned everything from Clover's Basic Guide to Spell Casting."
"No school?" Misty asked. "Where do you even live?"
"The mountain village of Crescent Moon."
Holly frowned slightly. "I've never heard of it."
"Really?" Luna said. "It's the only place in all of Cauldron that has rainbow catfish."
Misty's eyes lit up. "That's where it comes from? That fish is amazing!"
Luna immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "Whoops… I wasn't supposed to say that. We try to keep the village from getting overrun with visitors."
Holly smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with us… right, Misty?"
Misty shrugged. "Sure. As long as I can come fishing whenever I want."
"Holly!" Holly snapped, clearly embarrassed.
Luna laughed. "Deal. You can come too, Holly." She paused, then tilted her head. "Hey… why are your pins different from mine?"
Holly glanced at the small emblem on her uniform. "This is a toad pin—it shows what class we're in. The levels go Toad, Newt, Raven, and then Black Cat. What about you?"
Luna reached into her pocket and pulled out her pin.
"…They gave me a Black Cat."
Misty smirked. "Yeah, that has to be a mistake. No way someone with no formal training gets placed in the senior class on day one."
"Misty!" Holly scolded quickly. "That's rude."
Luna shook her head. "No, she's right. I actually wanted to start at the beginning like everyone else. Just because I can cast without a wand doesn't mean I know everything. There's a lot I don't understand… like flying. I've never even tried it. I don't even know what type of incantrix I am."
"There's a spell for that," Misty said. "It's called the—"
"Source Spell," Luna finished. "I tried it. Nothing happened."
"That's because of feedback," Holly explained.
"Feedback?" Luna repeated, completely lost.
Misty leaned forward. "Wow… you really are new. Feedback is the cost of casting a spell. Ever feel drained after using magic? That's it. Every spell has it—the stronger the spell, the worse the feedback."
Luna nodded slowly. "Okay… so what about the different types of incantrix?"
"There are three," Holly said. "Wicca—healing and enchantments. Hex—curses and dark magic. And Pagan—elemental magic."
"Everyone can use a little of each," Misty added, "but eventually you hit a limit. Your bloodline decides your true strength. Like me—I come from a Pagan family, but I'm a Hex incantrix. Holly's Wicca."
"I think I connect more with Pagan magic," Luna said.
Misty's eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed Luna's hands. "Then let's switch!"
"…What?" Luna blinked.
"You don't understand," Holly explained. "Misty comes from the Frost family—an ice-based Pagan bloodline. Not being able to use ice magic… hasn't exactly helped her reputation."
Misty nodded eagerly. "I wasn't even allowed into Frost Academy. I'd 'embarrass the family.' But if you're Pagan, we can swap abilities with a spell!"
Luna hesitated. "I don't know… what if I'm not ice?"
"I'll take anything," Misty said quickly. "As long as it's not fire. I'd definitely get disowned."
"You can't just ask someone to swap magic with you," Holly said firmly.
"It's fine," Luna said cautiously. "How does the spell work?"
"The Magic Transfer spell!" Misty said excitedly—before immediately blanking. "It's, uh…"
Holly sighed. "It's a B-class spell. You don't have the mana for it. And the feedback would be severe."
"Maybe someone at the school could do it?" Luna suggested.
Misty lit up again. "That's perfect! See? I knew I'd find someone to switch with."
"I thought Scarletwood was the best school," Luna said with a teasing smile.
"It is."
"Then why not stay and graduate at the top—just to rub it in your family's face?"
Misty grinned. "I like you, Luna. See, Holly? She gets it. We're going to be great friends."
Holly grabbed Misty by the ear. "You are unbelievable—"
"Ow! Okay, okay!"
Holly let go with a sigh, then looked down at the coin in her hand. "Oh—I wanted to read up on the capital. How do I get my book back?"
"Easy," Luna said. "Just bend the coin and it'll rematerialize."
"Like this?" Holly began to bend it.
"Wait—" Luna started, suddenly nervous.
The coin glowed.
In an instant, the luggage exploded back into full size, bursting outward and filling the compartment. Clothes, bags, and books went flying everywhere.
A moment later, the three girls were buried under the mess.
The door slammed open.
A senior incantrix stood there, clearly irritated. "Hey! Keep it down, you good-for-nothing toads!"
Luna lifted her head from a pile of clothes and held up her pin. "Actually… I'm a senior too."
The girl stared for a second—then slammed the door shut.
There was a pause.
Then all three burst out laughing.