It's that day of the month,when students were given permission to leave the academy grounds, breathe in real air, see real people, and pretend,just for a few hours,that they weren’t trapped under constant training, rules, and Mage supervision.Rhea had been vibrating with excitement since dawn.“Soraya, hurry up!” she whined, hopping around the room while Soraya calmly tied her sash. “If we’re late, all the good stalls will be gone! And the baker sells out the honey pastries by mid-day!”“You sound like your whole life depends on pastries,” Soraya said, even though a small smile tugged at her lips.“It does,” Rhea declared dramatically.They finished changing into casual wear,simple dresses, nothing that screamed Academy student and joined the stream of youths pouring toward the academy’s main gates. Outside, Mage Neriah stood, hands clasped behind her back, gaze sharp as a hawk.Her voice was heard over the crowd. “Listen carefully. Free Day is a privilege, not a right. You are forbi

When they finally reached Prince Eldan’s room, She walked in quietly and sat at the edge of the bed, hands folded on her lap. Eldan stood near the door for a moment, unsure, shifting his weight like someone who had never brought a girl into his room before… because he hadn’t.He cleared his throat.“So… uh… this is my room.”Soraya glanced around and smiled. “It’s nice.”Eldan brightened. “Really? I… thought it looked too plain.”“It suits you,” she said, her tone soft.He felt heat rise to his cheeks and hurriedly walked over, sitting beside her, not too close, not too far, just enough to feel her presence. Silence settled between them again.Eldan exhaled slowly and finally spoke. “…I know I’m not what people expect a prince to be.”Soraya looked at him.“My father wanted strength. The palace wants perfection. The academy wants results.” He gave a small laugh with no humor in it. “But when they look at me… all they see is the weak one. The disappointment. While Rian is…”Soraya’s ex

His voice came out rough, disbelieving.“…Vanya?”Soraya didn’t respond to the name. Didn’t blink. The blade in her grip pushed closer, a thin line of red appearing on his neck.She repeated, slow and deadly,“Where. Is. My. Spellbook.”Lysander swallowed,hard.“I thought you were dead,” he whispered, “The king told me that you were”The steel at his throat silenced him.“Answer me.”“I…” A breath. He forced himself to meet her eyes.“I lost it.”Soraya froze.The blade loosened.“What?” The word felt scraped out of her.“It was stolen” he said quietly. “I tried to stop the assassin but he was too fast.”The sword slipped from Soraya’s fingers.It hit the stone with a ringing clang that echoed through the entire tomb.Her knees buckled.She dropped to the floor, hands open, breath shaking out of her as if something vital had been torn from her chest.The world is actually doomed.Lysander didn’t move for a long moment.Then, slowly,hesitantly,he bowed his head.A respectful gesture. A

The Grand Hall buzzed with noise. Students streamed in from every direction,some already seated, some still searching for a place to sit, others standing in tight circles gossiping loudly. The air crackled with anticipation for the Mid-Term Evaluation.Soraya and Rhea slipped in through the large double doors.“Oo look,empty seats,” Rhea whispered, pointing toward a row near the middle. Without waiting, she tugged Soraya’s sleeve and they began making their way toward them."Soraya!”They both stopped.Soraya turned, her expression freezing the moment she saw who it was.Eldan.He waved at her cheerfully, practically coming toward them as if nothing in the world could go wrong. Soraya’s first instinct was to pretend she didn’t hear him and keep walking,but he was already too close.“Good morning, Soraya!” he said breathlessly, stopping in front of them. “Oh and Rhea! Morning.”“Morning,” Soraya replied stiffly.“Morning, Prince Eldan,” Rhea added politely.A silence slipped between th

Zah walked a few steps ahead of them,he kicked stray pebbles along the mountain path.Behind him, Eldan kept glancing at Rhea, his face unusually tense. “Uh… Rhea?” he finally said.“Yeah?” she replied, not slowing down.“Is Soraya… um… seeing someone?”Rhea blinked, then shook her head. “Nope.”“Oh. Okay,” Eldan said quickly.Rhea raised a brow at him, smirking. “Why do you ask?”“No reason,” he stuttered, looking away so fast he almost tripped.Rhea laughed softly. “Eldan… do you have a crush on her?”“Um… no. I mean,yes.” He groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “Yes.”“Really?” Rhea said, delighted. “Wow. I did notice something between you two but I didn’t want to push it.”Eldan exhaled heavily. “The thing is… I told her earlier today. That I liked her.”Rhea’s eyes widened. “What! You confessed?!”“Yeah.”“And she said…?”“She said we’re better off as friends.”Rhea slapped a hand over her mouth. “Damn… she turned down a prince. So brutal.”“I know, right?” he muttered. “Even