Amberine paced back and forth in her small dormitory, her feet shuffling across the wooden floorboards that creaked under her weight. Her fiery red hair was tied up messily, with several unruly strands hanging down in front of her face. She brushed them away with frustration, her amber eyes darting across the cluttered room. Parchment papers filled with hastily scrawled spells and notes were scattered everywhere, along with discarded robes, empty potion bottles, and an alarming number of half-burned candles.
"Where do I even start?" she muttered, biting her lower lip, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. The upcoming symposium loomed over her like a dark cloud, a daunting task that she hadn't quite come to terms with yet. Her stomach churned with anxiety as her gaze landed on the empty travel bag sitting on her bed, its emptiness a reminder of just how far behind she was in her preparations.
