The next day, the halls of the academy buzzed with chatter as students rushed toward their classrooms.
Aisha walked side by side with Miya, weaving through the crowd.
"You know," Miya said, crossing her arms with an annoyed sigh, "it's all because of that idiot yesterday. Thanks to him, our magic class got canceled. That's why today, we're being sent out to the mountain side instead."
Aisha glanced at her curiously.
"You mean... what happened to him after that?" she asked.
Miya shrugged. "That Rio guy? I don't think he's coming today. He caused too much trouble yesterday."
But Aisha couldn't stop thinking about him.
He's powerful, she thought, remembering the surge of magic she'd witnessed the day before.
I don't know why... but I want to know more about him.
They finally reached their classroom.
As Aisha stepped inside, the first thing she did was glance around, searching for Rio.
But he wasn't there. His seat remained empty.
A small frown tugged at her lips.
She made her way to her desk, dropping her bag onto the chair with a soft thud.
Just then, Miya came over, standing right in front of her with a playful grin.
Miya opened her mouth to say something, but before she could finish, the classroom door slammed open.
Rio entered.
Aisha's mind immediately scattered.
Her attention split in two—the world around her faded, and all she could see was Rio.
Miya noticed the sudden change in Aisha's expression and frowned. She turned around to see what Aisha was staring at—and there was Rio, casually walking toward his seat.
"Hey, Aisha?" Miya waved her hand in front of her friend's face.
No response.
"Aisha! Are you even listening to me?"
Aisha blinked, snapping out of her trance.
"Oh, sorry!" she said quickly. "I... forgot you were saying something. Sorry, Miya..."
Miya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Why were you staring at him?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Rio.
Meanwhile, Rio, without paying attention to anyone, strolled to his desk and dropped into his seat with a bored look.
He acted like the world around him didn't exist.
Aisha's gaze drifted toward him again, unable to stop herself.
Noticing it, Rio raised an eyebrow, then casually waved his hand in front of her, blocking her view.
"Hey," Aisha said softly, still staring.
Rio leaned back and muttered under his breath, "What an annoying girl. She's just sitting there, staring at me.
Rio glanced at Miya with an annoyed look and said,
"Hey, fat girl. Why is your friend staring at me? I don't like it."
Miya's face turned red with rage.
"Who the hell are you calling fat, you idiot bastard?! I'll kill you if you say that again!" she shouted, slamming her hand on the desk.
She turned furiously toward Aisha.
"And you! Aisha, what's wrong with you? Why are you staring at that bastard? And why aren't you even listening to me?!"
Aisha looked at Miya, about to say something, when the classroom door opened and the teacher entered. Miya quickly went back to her seat.
All the students immediately stood up and greeted him, "Good morning, sir!"
The teacher smiled lightly.
"Good morning. Sit down," he said.
The students returned to their seats, the room settling into a quiet hum of excitement.
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Listen carefully, everyone. As you already know, today we are going to the mountains to learn magic. Now, why are we going so far from school?" He paused, his voice steady. "Because today, you will begin learning the most basic and important magic — how to control the natural elements like water, air, and more."
The students buzzed with excitement, whispering and smiling among themselves.
"Silence," the teacher said firmly, and the room immediately fell quiet.
"We will be traveling to the mountain area by bus. Do not make noise or disturb anyone during the trip," he continued. "And once we arrive, no one is allowed to wander around without permission. The mountain area is vast and easy to get lost in. You must stay close and follow me at all times. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the students replied in unison.
After class ended, the students poured out of the classroom in a lively rush. Miya quickly caught up to Aisha, and the two of them, along with a few other girls, headed toward the school gates.
Once most of the students had already left, Rio casually strolled out of the classroom, hands in his pockets, looking completely unbothered.
About fifteen minutes later, the buses lined up outside the school started to rumble to life.
Everyone boarded in groups. Aisha and Miya found seats somewhere in the middle of the bus, while Rio wandered to the back, slumping into a window seat alone. Their teacher sat at the very front, keeping a close eye on everyone.
The bus finally pulled away from the school grounds, its wheels rattling against the paved road.
Aisha sat by the window, her head turned slightly as she gazed outside. At first, tall buildings lined the streets, blocking the sunlight. But as they drove farther, the view began to change.
The towering buildings grew fewer, replaced by small houses and fields. The scenery slowly shifted from a bustling city into a quiet countryside.
An hour passed.
Finally, the bus slowed down and came to a stop at their destination — a wide open area near the foot of the mountain, where the real magic lessons were about to begin.
One by one, the students began climbing down from the bus, chattering excitedly.
Aisha and Miya followed soon after.
As Aisha stepped off the bus and walked a little ahead, she paused.
A strange feeling washed over her.
The air here was different — cleaner, cooler.
The place was quiet, almost too quiet, yet it felt beautiful.
The soft chirping of birds echoed through the trees, mixing with the gentle sound of a river flowing nearby.
Aisha closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply. It was like the whole world had slowed down.
"This place..." she whispered to herself, awestruck.