The grand hall of the Ascension Magic Academy buzzed with the nervous energy of second-year students. Elara Lunari Von A'Royale, however, remained unfazed. Her white hair, tipped with streaks of shimmering purple, cascaded down her back, catching the light from the enchanted chandeliers. Her sun-kissed brown skin glowed, and her forest green eyes, like twin emeralds, held a depth that belied her sixteen years. She wore a simple, elegant gown of deep indigo, its subtle embroidery hinting at constellations. Barefoot, as always, she felt more connected to the stone floor, to the earth beneath it.
Nyx, sleek and black as midnight, walking by her feet, while Helaris, larger and more muscular, patrolled the perimeter, his golden eyes scanning the crowd. Their presence was a comfort, a silent understanding passing between them, a bond forged through years of shared experiences. They were more than familiars; they were her family, her confidantes. 'Elara, are you nervous?' Nyx's voice echoed in her mind, a gentle prod.
'Relax,' Helaris added, 'they're just humans.'
'Easy for you to say,' Elara thought back, a flicker of amusement touching her lips. 'You don't have to pair up with them.'
As Elara made her way to her seat, Dean Thorne's voice boomed across the hall. "And now, the results of the mid-term evaluations! Our top five students are… Anya Sharma, Liam O'Connell, Zalu Dlamini, Chloe Dubois… and, as always, Elara Lunari Von A'Royale!"
A polite smattering of applause filled the hall. "Miss A'Royale," Dean Thorne continued, "as our top-ranked student, we would be honored if you would say a few words."
Elara sighed inwardly. This was her least favorite part of these events. She had no desire to stand on a stage, to make a speech to a crowd of people she barely knew, barely cared about. She simply wasn't wired that way. "Anya can do it," she muttered to Nyx, who gave a small, feline shrug.
"Haa," Dean Thorne sighed, "Miss Sharma, as the second ranked student, would you please grace us with your speech, as always." He says while looking a bit annoyed.
Anya Sharma, ever-prepared, nervously took the stage. "Thank you, Dean Thorne," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm… I'm very honored to receive this recognition. I've worked hard, and I'm grateful for the support of the faculty and my fellow students." She paused, glancing at Elara, who was pointedly looking away. "And… and I especially want to thank Miss A'Royale, for inspiring us all to strive for excellence."
As Anya spoke, Elara slipped out of the hall, Nyx and Helios following silently in her wake. She could practically feel the whispers trailing after her.
"She's so rude," she heard one girl hiss. "Always skipping out on everything."
"Yeah, and she probably rigged the results again," another snickered. "Since her family has so much influence."
Elara rolled her eyes. 'Rigged the results? Please.' It wasn't her fault she understood magic so effortlessly. It wasn't her fault she found human interaction so… draining. She just wanted to be left alone, to pursue her studies, to connect with the cosmos, to be with her panthers.
As she walked away, a voice cut through the whispers. "Hey! Leave her alone!"
Elara stopped, curious. Zalu Dlamini, a tall, athletic girl with a warm smile and a sharp wit, was glaring at the group of gossiping students. "It's none of your business what she does, " Zalu said, her voice firm. "And it's certainly none of your business to talk about her behind her back."
The girls mumbled something inaudible and looked away, embarrassed. Zalu shook her head and turned to walk in the same direction as Elara.
Elara glanced at the scene, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. 'Humans are a drag.' She thought. 'Don't they get tired of doing that?' She gave Zalu a cursory look, a silent acknowledgment of her presence, and then turned away, absorbed in her own thoughts. 'Ugh, Mom's review. If I start now, how long will it take? Should I even do it? Must I do it? Do I need to do it?' She sighed dramatically in her mind.
I don't want to do it, but I have to… for the babies! Nyx and Helaris are the ones forcing me! ' She pouted mentally. 'High-quality gems don't pay for themselves.'
She was so absorbed in her internal debate that she almost didn't notice Zalu falling into step beside her. 'Maybe just a quick peek at that new constellation chart first… just for inspiration,' she thought, her mind drifting to celestial wonders.
Then, something shifted. Elara, despite her preoccupation, sensed Zalu's continued presence. It was a subtle shift in the air, a feeling of being observed. She stopped, turning her head slowly to look at Zalu. She didn't speak, her expression unreadable, those emerald eyes fixed on the other girl. She simply observed, a silent assessment taking place behind her enigmatic gaze.