The sun rose low on the horizon, its soft light filtering through the window, waking Luna with its warmth. Her body stirred naturally, as if by instinct, and she slipped out of bed. Her feet brushed the cool wooden floor as she hurried to the changing room.
In no time, she was dressed in a delicate lavender silk gown. The lace-edged sleeves fluttered with her every movement, and the A-line skirt swayed just above her knees. Tiny pearls glimmered at the neckline, adding a touch of quiet elegance that matched her gentle beauty.
Luna paused for a moment to steady her breath, then took a deep, calming inhale before she walked down the corridor. The academy's hallways were sleek and bright, sunlight streaming through tall stained-glass windows. Rich tapestries decorated the walls, and modern chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow over everything. A plush crimson carpet ran down the polished marble floor, filling the space with warmth, while the high ceiling gave the corridor an airy, serene atmosphere.
She reached Aria's door and knocked twice, the sound of it echoing softly through the silence. Quietly, she pushed the door open and peeked inside.
Aria was fast asleep, her peaceful face framed by the soft covers. Luna's heart warmed at the sight. She tiptoed toward the bed, careful not to disturb the calm, then gently pulled the duvet back and slipped into her sister's arms, snuggling close.
With a contented sigh, Luna closed her eyes, waiting for Aria to wake.
A window above them, perched a raven.
It tapped twice on the glass, its sharp beak ringing like a soft, ominous knock. Without a moment's hesitation, it took flight, its dark wings cutting through the air with quiet grace.
The raven glided through the morning sky, its path sweeping toward the towering Alchemy spire on the left before veering toward the Swordsmanship court, where the sounds of clashing steel filled the air.
It landed effortlessly on the gnarled branch of an ancient oak, its keen eyes fixed on the duel below, watching with an eerie stillness from the shadows of the tree.
Nyx and Ron faced off, wooden swords raised, their eyes locked in fierce determination. The surrounding crowd hushed, anticipation thick in the air.
Nyx struck first, his sword cutting through the air in a sharp, vertical arc. Ron met the blow with a quick parry, the clash of wood ringing out, and immediately countered, aiming for Nyx's exposed side. But Nyx sidestepped with ease, the edge of Ron's sword grazing the air.
Grinning, Nyx ducked low, his sword sweeping in a swift horizontal strike toward Ron's side. Ron reacted quickly, twisting his wrist and reversing his grip, blocking the blow with a sharp twist of his own sword. The crowd murmured, the tension building.
Yet Nyx, always watching, saw the briefest opening—just enough for him to strike. With a calculated flick, he swung his sword with all his might, the force propelling it like a gust of wind.
Ron's eyes widened in shock. Before he could react, Nyx's sword connected with his side, sending him sprawling through the air. He crashed hard onto the ground, breath knocked from his lungs.
The crowd fell silent. For a moment, Ron lay still, catching his breath, before lifting his head with a wry smile. "You got me," he said, raising a hand in defeat.
Nyx stepped forward with a smirk, offering his hand. "Good match." With a swift motion, he helped Ron back to his feet.
Ron grinned, still panting. "Next time, I'll make sure you don't get so lucky."
With a friendly clap on the back, they shook hands and shared a laugh, the rivalry dissolving into mutual respect.
They walked slowly toward the wooden bench, their steps unhurried and quiet. When they reached it, they sat down without a word, the bench letting out a soft creak as they settled in.
"You're getting better and better," Ron said, wiping the sweat from his face with a cloth.
Nyx leaned back, shooting him a concerned glance.
"Don't push yourself too hard. It won't do you any good in the long run," he said, his voice tinged with worry.
Ron chuckled and stood, casually brushing off the concern."It's not a big deal. A little extra practice won't kill me," he said with a grin.
He grabbed his sword and made his way toward the training dummy. Stopping in front of it, Ron turned and called over his shoulder, "I'll practice a bit more. Go ahead and grab something to eat—for both of us."
"Alright," Nyx replied with a small nod, pushing himself up from the bench and heading off toward the cafeteria.
Ron turned back to the training dummy, determination in every step, while Nyx disappeared into the halls beyond the courtyard.
The academy was already stirring to life around them — sunlight pouring in through tall windows, the murmur of students gathering for breakfast, the soft chiming of distant bells marking the start of a new day.
Far across the academy, in a quieter wing where the noise of training and classes hadn't yet reached, a small figure stirred in bed.
Morning light spilled through the window as Aria blinked awake. She shifted, feeling something warm beside her, and turned her head.
Curled up against her was Luna, sleeping peacefully.
Aria's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know why Luna was there, but deep down, she felt a quiet happiness bloom inside her.
As she watched Luna's gentle breathing, a memory stirred—one buried deep in her mind, from years ago.
She could see it vividly, as if no time had passed at all.
"Aria, are you okay?" Luna's voice echoed through the smoke-filled garden.
Aria glanced around in confusion. The mansion and the garden around them were engulfed in flames, the air thick with heat and ash.
But Luna stood there without fear, her hand outstretched toward her, eyes focused only on Aria."Come on, stand up. The ground's cold," Luna said with a soft smile.
Aria, her left leg trembling and weak, took Luna's hand and slowly rose to her feet, leaning into her sister's steady grip.
The memory faded as Aria returned to the present. She smiled warmly and gently wrapped her arms around Luna, pulling her close.
Stirred by the touch, Luna blinked sleepily and mumbled, "We up?"
Still hugging her tightly, Aria smiled so brightly it almost hurt."Yeah," she whispered, "we're up."