The theory class left us all heavy with thought. Even as we walked through the grand corridors of the academy, the words of Professor Aldros echoed in my mind: divine anomalies, trinity of realms, harbingers of calamity. I knew he hadn't meant to look my way when he said it—but the silence that followed, the brief pause in his voice, had felt pointed.
Cassian's shoulder nudged mine. "You hungry?"
"I could eat," I said, shaking the thoughts away.
"Good," he grinned. "Because I heard the cafeteria here is insane. Like, ten food stalls, a buffet, and even a spirit chef."
"Spirit chef?" I raised an eyebrow.
Lyra, walking slightly ahead of us with her arms crossed, replied flatly. "A spirit bonded to the cooking flame. Enhances flavors and nutrition. Expensive to maintain."
Cassian whispered to me with a smirk, "She read that off a brochure, didn't she?"
"I did not," Lyra snapped, not even turning. "I memorized it."
We entered the grand atrium that connected the dormitory wings to the main halls and passed under an arched entry where tantalizing scents greeted us like a warm embrace. The cafeteria was less like a mess hall and more like a high-class market fused with a palace banquet. The ceiling was made of enchanted crystal that reflected the afternoon sky, birds flying lazily above, though I knew they weren't real.
Students from every corner of the continent sat clustered at wide circular tables. Some wore tailored coats and badges indicating noble houses. Others, like us, were still new—unsure, wide-eyed, trying to find a place to sit.
Cassian led the way through the rows of food stations. There were stews bubbling in cauldrons, skewered meats sizzling over enchanted flames, rice dishes wrapped in lotus leaves, floating platters of desserts spinning slowly in the air. Even Lyra paused at a stall selling "Holy Nectar-Infused Elven Berries."
"I didn't think I was that hungry," I murmured, "but now I want everything."
"That's the idea," Cassian said, grabbing a tray and piling it with reckless abandon. "We're at the best academy in the realm. Might as well eat like it."
I picked a simpler set—roasted duck glazed with firefruit sauce, seasoned wild rice, and steamed greens. Lyra's tray, predictably, was balanced and elegant: a light fish broth, fresh fruit, and a triangular sandwich with gold-dusted bread.
We sat at an empty table by the glass walls, watching the other students pour in.
Some glanced our way. Others stared.
Whispers traveled.
"That's him. The boy who arrived last..."
"The one who was recommended by the Savage Shadow Lady Mira?"
"...Didn't he fight off a demon before arriving?"
I felt the gazes but ignored them.
Cassian didn't. "We're already famous. Not even a full day in, rumours indeed travels fast"
Lyra didn't bother looking up. "Infamy and fame often wear the same face at first."
Just then, a trio of students approached our table. One of them, a tall girl with a cloak marked by gold threading and a brooch in the shape of twin suns, smiled politely.
"Mind if we sit?"
Lyra looked up sharply, but I nodded before she could object. "Of course."
They took the seats opposite us.
"I'm Alira," the girl said. "From the Solstice Clan. My friends here are Tavin and Mirael."
Cassian perked up. "Wait, the Solstice Clan? Aren't they the light-wielders from the Sunfire Archipelago?"
Alira nodded gracefully. "You're well-read."
"I read labels on wine bottles," he grinned.
Lyra rolled her eyes.
They asked questions—about where we came from, if we'd awakened our elements yet, what class we were in. I let Cassian do most of the talking, his energy naturally pulling them in. Lyra interjected when she felt something was said incorrectly. I just listened.
But I noticed something as we sat there.
A line was forming.
Not for food.
Around us.
Not physically, but in the air. Like an invisible current. Friendships, rivalries, curiosity, tension—threads weaving between people before any duels or lectures had started.
I was being drawn into something far bigger than myself.
And I couldn't tell yet if that was a blessing… or the beginning of another storm.
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