The tension in the air was palpable as Lumi, June, Heath, and Cyana huddled together under the cover of darkness near the academy's main building. The revelation of Professor Aurelian's betrayal still hung heavily over them, but now, with Cyana by their side, the group felt a renewed sense of hope. Having someone with both powerful magic and royal connections was exactly the advantage they needed.
They had decided to spend the next day watching Aurelian's office, searching for any sign of who else might be involved with Erick's plans. For now, though, they needed to lay low and make sure Erick didn't catch wind of their suspicions.
As they finalized their plans for the night, Lumi couldn't help but steal glances at Cyana, her mind still buzzing from the high elf's unexpected arrival. Cyana was so composed, so effortlessly confident, that it was hard not to feel drawn to her. And the way she looked at Lumi with those stormy grey eyes made her feel… different, like maybe all the chaos was worth enduring if it meant getting to know Cyana better.
"So," June said, her voice breaking through Lumi's thoughts, "we'll meet here at sunrise and check out Aurelian's office first thing. If Erick's planning something big, there's bound to be a trail of clues."
Heath nodded in agreement. "We'll need to stay out of sight, though. Aurelian won't risk doing anything suspicious if he thinks someone's watching him."
Lumi sighed, her usual laziness creeping back in. "All this sneaking around is exhausting. I just wanna laze around, you know? Maybe we'll get lucky and Aurelian will slip up early, so I can head back to bed."
Cyana chuckled softly, her voice like music to Lumi's ears. "I'll make sure we get this done quickly, Lumi. I wouldn't want to keep you from your much-needed rest."
Lumi shot Cyana a mock glare. "You're mocking me now, huh?"
Cyana smiled, and for a brief moment, Lumi felt her heart skip a beat. "Just a little," she said. "But in all seriousness, we'll get through this. We just need to be patient and smart."
Lumi gave a half-shrug. "Yeah, yeah. But if this gets complicated, I'm blaming Erick."
June grinned. "We're all blaming Erick."
With their plan set for the morning, the group parted ways, each heading back to their respective dorms. As Lumi and Cyana walked together in the dimly lit corridors, Lumi couldn't shake the feeling that this night had marked a turning point—not just in their mission to stop Erick, but in her life as well.
Cyana glanced at her as they walked. "You seem deep in thought, Lumi. Something on your mind?"
Lumi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's just… everything. Erick, Aurelian, the artifacts. I didn't sign up for this, you know? I just wanted to come to Oberon Academy, learn a bit of magic, and maybe spend my days lazing around. Now I'm in the middle of this mess, and it's just… a lot."
Cyana's expression softened, and she slowed her pace. "I understand. Believe me, I didn't ask for this either. But sometimes, life throws us into situations we're not prepared for, and we just have to find our way through it."
Lumi stopped, turning to face Cyana. "Yeah, but you're, like, a princess. You've probably been preparing for stuff like this your whole life. I'm just… me."
Cyana smiled, a gentle laugh escaping her lips. "Trust me, being a princess doesn't make any of this easier. It just means more expectations. More pressure. And you're not just 'you,' Lumi. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
Lumi blinked, taken aback by Cyana's words. She wasn't used to people seeing her like that. "Uh… thanks," she muttered, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.
Cyana's smile widened, but she didn't press further. Instead, she nodded toward Lumi's dorm. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Lumi nodded, grateful for the excuse to retreat from the conversation. "Yeah, I'll see you in the morning."
As she walked into her dorm room, Lumi couldn't help but feel a strange warmth spreading through her chest. Cyana's words echoed in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of something she couldn't quite define. It wasn't just about their mission anymore—there was something more here, something worth exploring.
The Next Morning
The sun hadn't yet fully risen when Lumi, June, Heath, and Cyana gathered outside the academy's administrative building. The early morning air was crisp, the sky painted in soft hues of pink and orange as they prepared for the day ahead.
"Alright," Heath whispered, his tone serious. "Aurelian usually arrives at his office around this time. We'll need to be careful—if he sees us lurking around, he'll know something's up."
June nodded, keeping her voice low. "We'll stick to the shadows. We just need to watch and see who comes in and out. If Erick shows up, we'll know we're on the right track."
Cyana glanced at Lumi, her calm demeanor as steady as ever. "Are you ready?"
Lumi rolled her eyes, though her heart was beating faster than she'd like to admit. "Ready as I'll ever be. Let's just get this over with."
The group split up, positioning themselves in hidden spots around the building. Lumi took a seat on a low stone wall, her back to a row of bushes that provided some cover. From her vantage point, she had a clear view of Aurelian's office door.
Minutes ticked by in silence, the stillness of the early morning making every sound seem louder than it was. Lumi's eyes began to droop, and despite the tension of the situation, she felt the familiar pull of sleep creeping over her.
"Not now, Lumi," Glaciel's voice echoed in her mind, a hint of teasing in its tone. "You can't sleep on the job—not today."
Lumi groaned internally. "I know, I know. But it's so early…"
Before Glaciel could reply, the sound of footsteps approaching the building snapped Lumi back to attention. She peeked around the bushes just in time to see Professor Aurelian walking briskly toward his office. His face was expressionless, but Lumi could feel the weight of his deception in every step he took.
"He's here," Lumi whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aurelian entered his office without a second glance, the door closing softly behind him. Lumi held her breath, waiting to see if anyone else would follow.
A few more tense minutes passed before a second figure appeared—a tall, hooded figure whose features were obscured by the shadows of the morning. The figure moved swiftly, glancing around cautiously before slipping into Aurelian's office.
Lumi's heart raced. "That has to be Erick," she thought. "He's meeting with Aurelian again."
She exchanged a glance with Cyana, who was hiding nearby. Cyana nodded, her eyes sharp and focused. This was the proof they needed.
They waited in silence, the tension building as the minutes stretched on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door to Aurelian's office opened again, and Erick emerged. His expression was unreadable, but the determined set of his jaw told Lumi everything she needed to know—he was planning something big.
As Erick disappeared into the distance, Lumi and her friends regrouped.
"That's it," Heath said, his voice low but urgent. "We've got what we need. Erick's working directly with Aurelian. Now we just need to figure out what their next move is."
Lumi nodded, her usual laziness forgotten in the face of the danger they were in. "We'll figure it out. But we need to act fast."
Cyana's gaze met Lumi's, and for a brief moment, Lumi felt the warmth of their growing connection. "We'll stop them," Cyana said softly, her voice filled with quiet determination.
Lumi felt a surge of confidence she hadn't expected. With Cyana by her side, she knew they had a real chance.