A crimson apple core spun between Eydis' fingers, its juices staining her lips a forbidden shade. Dean Swans cleared his throat, his voice measured, "Miss Eydis, it would be prudent for you to attend classes occasionally. Your conspicuous absence has not gone unnoticed."
With a final bite of her apple, she grinned, flipping through a thick, heavy book, "My apologies, Dean, I found the excerpt on magic inheritance more intriguing than classes."
Eyeing the book in her hand, he could have guessed its content. Simply put, it explained how magic was passed down to its successor. It wasn't a simple byproduct of noble marriages but rather hinged on the concept of the right marriage. The records showed no instances of an individual wielding more than one elemental power. In unions between opposing elemental powers, a clear dominance prevailed – water over fire, fire over metal, and so forth. If ancestral powers were unrelated, such as water and metal, it was left to the unpredictable hand of chance.
Marriage within the confines of the same noble house was strictly prohibited. This prohibition wasn't grounded in moral considerations but rather to avoid the potential birth of catastrophic creatures, but of course, it didn't stop such occasions from happening.
"So, there is no chance for a commoner to gain magical ability, isn't there?" Eydis mused, tossing the apple core into the bin, her usual playful demeanour was replaced by something darker.
The book lay in Eydis' hands, its weight carrying the weight of bitter truths she had both tasted and swallowed. Gone were the daydreams of wielding fiery magic, the stolen glances shared with Duke Whitlock under the stars. Now, the ink on the page seemed to mock her aspirations, a cruel checkmate etched in stark black and white.
A shadow fell across her. Dean Swans. She looked up, her amber eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, now dimmed to a dull brown. "Dean," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "must you stare as if I'm a stray dog searching for scraps?"
The Dean cleared his throat, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "My apologies, Miss Eydis. But a mind as intricate as yours, a labyrinth of logic and deduction, deserves a grander stage than the confines of high society. Why limit yourself to mending socks and brewing tea when you could be unravelling the mysteries of the universe?"
A ghost of a smile danced on Eydis' lips. "And did you think, Dean, that I haven't already glimpsed a few constellations beyond the usual social constellations?" Her eyes glinted, challenging and playful. "Or that perhaps those constellations whisper secrets you wouldn't dare to hear?"
The Dean felt a shiver of curiosity slither down his spine. He'd caught a glimpse of the fire beneath Eydis' facade, a fire fueled by forbidden knowledge and yearnings he might not fully understand. He watched her go, a stolen apple clutched in her hand like a forbidden fruit. Had he struck a nerve? Or had he simply awakened a beast he couldn't hope to control?
**
Eydis skillfully navigated the sea of poised and pompous students, each gaze a mere ripple compared to the melodramatic acts of book inking or wardrobe slashing, typical. Amidst this theatrical display, she found herself contemplating her role in this rigid world – not as a pawn, but a mere speck of dust, too trivial for its grand scheme.
In a world fixated on predetermined marriages, she pondered her purpose. The second chance at life felt more like a cruel joke, especially when the only significant matter revolved around whom to marry, a choice stripped away from her. The memory of Duke Theomund's hesitant touch lingered, a searing brand on her skin, a stark reminder of her place – an inconvenient wrinkle in his flawless lineage.
Yet, this realisation only fueled her rebellious spirit. If the game involved magic through intimate encounters, fine, she thought. What if, against all expectations, she could carve her own path through this convoluted maze, dismantling the very foundations of a world obsessed with superficial norms? A smirk danced on her lips at the audacity of the notion.
Then, a voice like a leaky faucet interrupted her plotting. "Eydis? Why haven't I seen you gracing the Calculus lectures?"
"Of course, you haven't; aren't you in the advanced class?" responded Eydis, maintaining her pace.
Natalia, looking like a kicked puppy trying to hide its chew toy, sheepishly admitted, "Well, I kinda...flunked my way back to Basic Math, failed an assignment and now, here we are."
Eydis choked on her fourth cup of coffee. Demotion for a single assignment? That was sadistic.
Natalia's eyes widened. "Don't tell my brother! He'd have me practicing long division till the cows come home...or should I say, till the nobles finish their afternoon tea?"
Eydis found the corner of her lips tugged up, "Your secret's safe with me."
"Please, please, please come to Basic Math with me! I can't face another lecture alone," Natalia pleaded, eyes batting like abandoned eyelashes in a hurricane.
"Hmm..." purred Eydis, nonchalant to the fiery girl's plea.
"Pretty please? I'll be your coffee supplier, every day!" Natalia begged, eyes gleaming with hope like an eager puppy.
"Alright," Eydis relented, leisurely adjusting her pace.
Natalia bounced beside her, radiating sunshine through her smile. "Yay! But seriously, who are you calling a puppy?"
"I didn't say anything." Eydis deadpanned, though a corner of her lips twitched.
"You totally did! And why are you walking so fast? My short legs can't keep up!"
**
Eydis felt her eyelids threatening to embrace eternal slumber when a persistent "Pssst" shattered her maths-induced coma. "Natalia, what now?" she grumbled, the question practically dripping with syrup-thick sleepiness.
Natalia, crimson blooming across her cheeks (possibly from embarrassment, possibly from the questionable colour schemes favoured by their instructors), hissed, "Focus! Operation 'Level Up' to advance class is a go!
Eydis considered the proposition through heavy eyelids. "No, thank you."
"My brother would be so disappointed to see you sleeping in class!" Natalia's attempt to blackmail her was rather amusing. Eydis chuckled, getting ready to slip back into slumber.
"Hey! Don't igno-"
Suddenly, the air crackled with the professor's booming voice, "You there! If you think my lecture is beneath you, solve this." He jabbed his pointer towards Natalia, before frantically writing a complex formula on the board – an advanced question masquerading as a basic one.
Eydis watched Natalia turn the colour of undercooked pastry, the insult clear as day. Public humiliation was about as thrilling as a root canal for a noble, and being a Marquess's daughter amplified the sting tenfold. The silence stretched, thick with Natalia's impending mortification.
Just as she opened her mouth to stammer and surrender, a gentle nudge from Eydis broke her trance. Glancing down, Natalia's jaw dropped faster than a rogue comet. The answer, neat and defiant, was already written on her paper, Eydis nonchalantly pretending to be engrossed in her nails, a ghost of a smirk played on her lips.
**
Natalia, bubbly as ever after vanquishing the professor with the heat equation, bounced back to her friends. Eydis, munching on Natalia's gratitude cookie, snorted a laugh – a rumble that surprised even herself.
"What's got you so excited?" chirped Colete, the Azura noble with a smile as sharp as her wit.
Natalia, still giddy from her Maths lecture, gushed, "The professor! Speechless! You should have seen his face – a wilted lettuce leaf deflated by calculus!"
Colete, eyebrows high, pivoted towards Eydis. "And why are you slumming in Basic Math when you can solve heat equations like a boss, source material be damned?"
Eydis shrugged, cryptic as ever, "I've read about it before," she mumbled, taking a suspicious sip of Birgit's orange juice.
"Keep it," Bitgit grimaced, earning a smirk from Eydis.
"Sneaky, sly Eydis!" Natalia cackled, loving the rare fluster on Biỉgit's usually stoic face. "You do care about me!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," deflected Eydis, in a classic move straight out of the "Deny Everything" handbook.
Colete chuckled, "Look at you warming up to us. We thought breaking down those thick walls of yours would be harder than solving advanced Calculus."
Birgit, who rarely chimed in, surprised everyone with, "But we'd love you as a friend, Eydis, not just Natalia's shadow. Don't lump us in with the rest of those pompous nobles."
A genuine smile, a rare and precious treasure, dawned on Eydis's face. Natalia, seizing the moment, slung an arm around her shoulders – a feat possible only when Eydis was seated. "That's the spirit! We're breaking down those walls, one brick at a time!"
Laughter bubbled between them, unaware of the icy glare burning into their backs. A pair of sapphire eyes, like frozen fire, watched with a fury that simmered like the heat equation Natalia had so effortlessly tamed.
**
Sunlight dappled through the glass windows, shadows of leaves dancing on the timber floorboards. Eydis traced the embossed inscription on a leather-bound book, her fingers lingering on the words 'The Essence of Magic.' A sigh escaped her lips, as she shifted on her chair, stirring her desk and sending a stack of letters fluttering to the floor. Love confessions. Black ink bled through the pristine white, each declaration as predictable as the sunrise. A wry smile played on her lips. These pronouncements, whispered against the backdrop of ivy-covered towers and cobblestone courtyards, held no weight in her eyes. She was an anomaly, a discordant note in their orchestrated aria of privilege. It seemed these boys regarded Eydis as an easy target for no-strings-attached flings.
While the original Eydis held steadfast to her principles, Amelia wasn't a stranger to the occasional night of detachment, adrenaline-fueling, secrets spilling that dissolved into dawn's gentle light, with faces best left forgotten.
She stepped out of her room, finding these 'grand' corridors suffocating. Bumping into disapproving familiar gazes was as inevitable as breathing, each encounter a reminder of the invisible lines that bound her. Love was foreign, and now, even primal human needs were inaccessible. The academy was no better than another gilded cage she found herself in.
A sudden gurgle shattered the silence. Water materialised before her, cascading down her dress like a spectral waterfall. Shrill laughter, laced with malice, pierced the corridor, echoing with a chilling familiarity. A jolt of déjà vu surged through her, a buried memory surfacing from Eydis's past: crimson staining her cheeks, fear a bitter tang on her tongue, the sting of public humiliation.
"Oops," the culprit drawled, her blue eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Mistook you for a real mage. Silly little country rat, overestimating yourself."
Eydis's lips remained a set line, but her mind crackled with a retort. "Perhaps this country rat prefers cleanliness even in her insults, unlike those who dine on city rubbish." The blue-haired girl's face flushed, steam seemingly emanating from her ears. "Qu'est-ce que tu as dit?" she hissed, resorting to French in a vain attempt to regain control.
With a predator's grace, Eydis took a step forward. "Je suis désolée si mes pensées t'ont offensée. Dernière vérification, ce n'est pas une infraction d'insulter un noble dans ses pensées privées." ("I'm sorry if my thoughts offended you. Last I checked, it's not an offence to insult a noble in private thoughts.") Her voice dripped with sarcasm, as sharp as the glint in her eyes. And then, it happened. Just as the water lashed out again, Eydis moved with the grace of a predator. Her hand, swift as a viper, snatched the girl's wrist, twisting it behind her back. They fell to the floor, with the noble cushioning the fall. The tables turned, the once-confident noble now a whimpering puddle at Eydis's feet.
"Ouch, let me go! You dirty rat!" The blue-haird girl screamed.
A stunned silence descended. Bewilderment etched across the girl's face as she struggled against the unexpected strength of the commoner. Her pleas for help fell on deaf ears, her friends as frozen as the onlookers. Only then did a figure appear at the edge of the crowd, a familiar smile playing on his lips. Prince Adrian, a captivating silhouette bathed in the soft glow of approaching nightfall. The air crackled with his arrival, drawing every eye away from the subdued girl at Eydis's feet.
A ripple of hushed whispers, laced with admiration, swept through the onlookers as his magnetism drew every eye away from the subdued girl at Eydis's feet. Prince Adrian, however, held his amused gaze solely on her.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice smoother than silk, yet edged with the glint of a well-honed blade. "Looks like someone's forgotten how to play nice."
Eydis, spine stiff with defiance, rose to her full height, releasing the trembling bully at her feet. "What brings Your Royal Highness to grace this corner of the academy with your presence?"
Adrian, unfazed, shrugged with an infuriatingly charming grin. "That, my dear Eydis, is hardly the proper greeting for an old friend, is it?" His steps were languid as he neared, his fingers brushing a stray strand of damp hair from her cheek, a veiled intimacy that elicited surprised gasps from onlookers. "What would Duke Theomund say to see his precious…friend reduced to this?"
The name hung heavy in the air, silencing the murmurs anew. The blue-haired bully paled visibly, the prince's icy glare cutting through her antics like a winter wind. His gaze then returned to Eydis, meeting hers with a challenging glint.
"Duke Theomund needn't concern himself with such trivial matters," she declared, her voice steady. "Matters I, quite effectively, handled myself."
A slow smirk played on Adrian's lips as his eyes scanned her, lingering on the clinging white blouse that revealed the hint of a black camisole beneath. With a flourish, he draped his black blazer over her shoulders, his voice dipping to a silken whisper as he leaned close. "Is this your definition of handling, then, you are…drenched."
Eydis rolled her eyes at the juvenile attempt at innuendos. A flicker of annoyance crossed the prince's face, hardening the line of his jaw. "Juvenile? Eydis, by the sun and stars, you are five summers younger than I!"
"Indeed, Your Highness," she replied, her voice cool as the stream she sidestepped, "which is precisely why you shouldn't be here. Your days at the academy are long over."
He feigned hurt, pressing a hand to his chest with a theatrical sigh. "Ouch, and double ouch! Are you suggesting I'm past my prime? Duke Theo is still older than me!"
The prince found himself in a surprising race, his legs straining to keep pace with Eydis's effortless stride. He marvelled at the way her laughter danced on the wind, light as a feather. What secret springboard fueled her steps, leaving him breathless in her wake?
"Duke Theomund's relevance escapes me," she said, her voice clipped. "If you don't explain your presence, drawing unwanted eyes like a moth to a flame, I shall banish you from our chessboard. Forever." The threat hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken promise of lost evenings, of strategies unravelled, of checkmates unclaimed. Chess had been their secret pact, a battlefield where she, despite his royal blood, reigned supreme.
"Fine, fine, you win," he panted, waving a hand in surrender. "Slow down!"
Eydis pivoted swiftly, almost causing the prince to collide with her. With a practiced grace he barely registered, she planted a hand on his chest, holding him back with a touch as light as a snowflake. "My apologies, Prince Adrian," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "I'd love to chat, but see, wet clothes?"
They stood before a door, presumably leading to her room. He nodded and positioned himself outside to wait.
As Eydis opened the door, she was met with a very irate girl with silver hair and vibrant violet eyes in the midst of changing.
Inside, chaos reigned. A whirlwind of silver hair and violet fire, presumably Eydis' elusive roommate, whose name escaped her memory, stood poised in the midst of changing, discarded garments crumpled at her feet. Violet eyes blazed with fury.
"Just my luck," she muttered, hastily closing the door behind her.