She couldn't suppress her laughter as she flipped through the well worn newspaper, enjoying turning the pages amidst the maestro-less noise.
Although most of her peers saw newspapers as something exclusively for adults, she didn't care.
They are printed and distributed in all the provinces near the capital. Perhaps Danisha was hoping to see a picture of her favorite singer, Iredale, in this scoop. She couldn't tell if Iredale was young or old, despite the clear gray pictures, but she enjoyed flipping through them as if she were an adult with luxurious tastes.
that moment, Thalia sat down in the chair opposite, and gave a simple greeting to Danisha, who returned it favorably. Was it enough that they were best friends, or were they just pretending?
Thalia didn't immediately discuss it as she sat down next to her with her usual grace and friendliness, first she had to perform what seemed like a ritual for every student in an advanced magic class - or perhaps it was something more uniquely hers. Quietly, she pulled out her old notebook and spellbook, both of which were neatly organized.
For Danisha, this was routine for Thalia, whom she had come to know over the years as a hardworking, stubborn, and sometimes annoying girl. She had to balance between criticizing her in a way that didn't seem too harsh, while still being considerate of her feelings.
Thalia wasn't expecting to be asked such a question in the first class two days later. In a completely nonchalant, almost machine like tone, she asked how Ethan was doing after his injury at the Moon Festival. But deep down, she was already worried about him.
Danisha answered truthfully, having visited him with a group of students from her class and Class A. She told Thalia that he was fine, and would likely be back in the next couple of days, if the gods willed it. And if not... maybe he won't come back at all, she thought to herself. The last sentence was a joke, of course
Thalia's expression remained fixed as she stared at the huge book and made no comment. She should have been relieved that he was okay, but she couldn't shake a vague sense of responsibility. Perhaps it was because she had been the leader during that time. Still, she couldn't stop herself from blaming him it was his fault, and he should take the blame.
By nature, she was quiet... but her quietness was arrogant, condescending. She couldn't stand anything more than hearing her name.
But Nila was a talented student who was recognized by everyone, even though she was a commoner. But she was recognized by Lady Camilla, the old lady of the academy.
Thalia hated that girl from the very first moment.
It was like fire and oil-they couldn't stand each other.
She stared at her coldly when she greeted Nila Danisha, her best friend, in the crowded classroom. But what pissed her off to the bone... was that Neela had managed to steal Danisha's conversation from her.
Thalia, of course, realized that their relationship had become close since Danisha met Nyla during Ethan's visit.
It made her angry...it made her envious.
It only made it worse when she noticed that Nila didn't even say hello to her when she sat next to Danisha, even though she was sitting nearby, just a short distance away. It was as if she wasn't even there.
As if that wasn't enough, Radnik joined Nila, further provoking her.
The minutes flew by amidst the sweet talk, until Thalia felt as if Danisha had completely forgotten her presence.
When she tried to get her attention, she failed.
When Danisha replied, she was distracted, and in a cold manner:
"What? What were you saying?"
Thalia felt a deep stab in her glass heart.
Hatred flared up inside her... overwhelming, dark.
Toward Danisha.
And for Nila as well.
The Daughter of the Wind and the Silver Hawk never looks down... except when she's pouncing.
Unconsciously, her stinging words came out:
"The shoe is best left... to the shoe."
Then she smiled coldly and added
"You may have forgotten your principles about public children, but don't worry. I'll remind you. These? Just shoe repairmen."
Nila could have ignored Thalia as Danisha did, knowing full well her friend's style.
But this time...
Nila got up. A strong wind hit her face, and she clenched her hand tightly, staring at Thalia with glowing eyes. There was defiance in her gaze, tinged with provocation, as if her patience had run out. Then she said, in a quiet but sarcastic voice:
"You know, you're a hopeless person."
She continued in a sharper voice:
"You criticize others before you criticize yourself, and you stomp on the weakest just to get that taste... the salty, sexy taste of privilege. I don't hate you as much as you think I do... I pity you."
Silence reigned in the antique classroom, decorated with fine, if slightly moldy, wood. Overhead, a huge dragon skull hung, but it wasn't rare or valuable.
Thalia whispered contemptuously, her voice carrying all the arrogance in her heart:
"And who am I to listen to the words of a peasant, the daughter of a blacksmith who works on the Iron Plateau?"
Trying to stop her, Danisha grabbed Thalia's hand as she stood up and waved her magic wand imbued with power. She lifted a sheet of paper from Nila's notebook using a spell, then suspended it in the air, intended for predation only.
She smiled a murderous smile and continued:
"If I were to respond to you, I would stoop to your level... where you wallow in the mud like a wild boar. So, I'd better shut up about the field rat who arrived in Azuria with the scholarship... or whatever."
With a confident movement, Thalia burned the paper into the classroom air with a holy fire spell, where it was consumed by an emerald-blue flame that reflected on Nila's pale face, falling like rain on a dark night.
Silence reigned in the gloomy, tired classroom, as her wand danced in her hand, burning with magic as she waved it.
Nila stepped forward nervously, like a vengeful dragon, and raised her voice:
"What do you know about me? You didn't get here by your own effort and sleepless nights! I'm not one to sit in luxury, and with a few gold coins I get what I want when I want it! You know nothing!"
She drew her wand, made from the roots of a sacred tree, and the floor was colored with magical layers that resembled ice crystals, while others floated in the classroom space like miniature stars.
She stared at Thalia in a harsh tone, warning her not to mention her father in particular, as for her it was a matter of fate that could end in the death of a hopeless soul. She pressed her magical mass into space, and the glass of the classroom screamed silently, cracking under her desperate attempts to escape her grim grip.
Thalia, who stood against the scorching winter winds, was completely terrified, unable to flee or even scream in the face of this overwhelming talent. But fate intervened, and Camilla let out a single scream that canceled all of Nila's spells and silenced the whispers of the others.
The class fell silent out of respect for her. Even Nila and Thalia, though late, quickly complied. Camilla stared at the students with her arrogant gaze, the one she had become famous for over the past five decades, like cold embers burning with disappointment and disdain.
Then she said in a slow accent, which penetrated their ears with obvious heaviness:
"Thalia..." Under the old woman's blue gaze, Thalia felt like she was being crushed under the weight of a dark ocean, reminiscent of the deadly seas of the East.
She remained silent as a scratch on her cheek, caused by Nila's thoughtless spell, slowly began to bleed...
Camilla felt betrayed by Nila and Thalia's childish behavior. If this was a prestigious academy, if the patrons were the sons of lords and nobles, it was not a battlefield!
She cast a simple spell, but it was enough to remove the scattered ashes and repair the broken window glass.
Thalia touched her cheek, and when she found no trace of that scratch, she realized that it had disappeared completely, as if it had never existed. She grew more terrified of Camilla, the old woman who hides a monster behind a veil of wisdom. On the other hand, Nila's hatred faded into the wind, realizing that she was no match for this woman.
Camilla then gave a long speech about ethics and principles, the essence of which was about respect.
"None of this will go unpunished, whether it's the two of you or the class that didn't report what happened!"
It wasn't an empty threat, and those who know Camila know that she doesn't let up in situations like this. Her punishment was well deserved, not only for Nyla and Thalia, but for the entire class if she wanted to.
Nila knew her fate after the end of the lesson, which Camilla had started with her stern talk. She felt modestly ashamed, realizing that Camilla had lost much of her confidence, as her dark gaze clearly reflected...