At precisely six o'clock in the morning, the bell of the school castle rang out, signaling the start of a new day. The sound echoed through the ancient halls and stirred Lyra from her sleep. She reluctantly opened her eyes, still longing for the happiness of the dream she had been enjoying just moments ago.
As she shook off the remnants of sleep, her first move was instinctive; she reached for the breadfruit resting beside her bed and took a hearty bite. The intense sourness immediately jolted her awake, her face scrunching up as the sharp taste ran through her. It was a shock to the system, but that's exactly why she kept the fruit close by. Nothing quite snapped you into alertness like a bite of breadfruit.
After shaking off the initial shock, Lyra got out of bed and began dressing for the day. She donned her school robes, neat and pressed, and grabbed the black satin headband from her bedside table. She tied her hair into a simple, practical style that suited her busy schedule. By the time she made her way downstairs to wash up, her hair was neatly gathered and her thoughts were already on the day ahead.
The Beginner's Guide didn't specify much about what students should bring to class. Luckily for Lyra, the school supplied the essentials; pens, ink, and paper could be fetched from the castle's storeroom. After a quick mental checklist, she decided she was ready. She grabbed the largest breadfruit she could find from the utility room and headed out, confident that it would take care of her food and hydration needs for the day.
As Lyra stepped outside, she joined her friends Vasida and Sylph, who had also prepared for the day but in their own unique ways. Vasida had a breadfruit cake and a kettle in hand, her eyes bright with energy.
"I went to the breadfruit forest last night," Vasida said proudly, "Filled my belly and packed a fruit cake for backup. Today's going to be a breeze!"
Sylph, on the other hand, carried only a small, delicate pouch with a fruit cake about the size of her palm. "This is just for lunch," she said nonchalantly. "I'll make dinner when we get back."
The three girls set off together, their light-hearted chatter blending with the morning air. As they walked, Lyra noticed other students, little witches like herself, each holding their own breadfruit. But Vasida and Sylph, with their travel light approach, caught the attention of some of the other witches.
"Did you forget to pack lunch?" one of the witches asked, looking concerned. "It takes two hours at noon just to go back and forth between the castle and the dormitory. You won't have time to make anything!"
Vasida, already prepared for such questions, pulled out a small oil-paper bag from her purse with a grin. "Oh, I didn't forget!" she said proudly, presenting her breadfruit cake like it was the most precious treasure.
The witch raised an eyebrow. "Can that tiny bit really fill you up?"
Sylph, quick to back up her friend, added with a smile, "It's not just any cake. This is the breadfruit cake that Lyra made! It's incredibly filling."
The witch's eyes widened. "Breadfruit cake? Isn't breadfruit… sour? Can you even eat something made from that?"
Word quickly spread among the second-year witches about the mysterious breadfruit cake. It didn't take long for a crowd of curious students to form, all eager to know more about this culinary marvel. Even though Lyra hadn't packed any herself, Vasida and Sylph were happy to share their stash with anyone who asked, offering small pieces to anyone who wanted a taste.
Each witch got only a bite-sized sample; just enough to intrigue them but not enough to drain Vasida and Sylph's rations. Fortunately, only the first- and second-year witches were walking to the castle that day, so the demand for breadfruit cake wasn't overwhelming. Had there been more students, the girls might have run out entirely.
As the tiny bites of cake were passed around, the other witches' faces lit up. It was a revelation; who would ever want to lug around a heavy, sour breadfruit when they could carry a delicious and light breadfruit cake?
Lyra, watching the scene unfold with a knowing smile, spoke up to address the growing interest. "The breadfruit cake keeps the same hunger-satisfying effect as raw breadfruit, but it won't restore your magic power like the fruit does."
The witches, still savoring their bites, nodded eagerly.
"If you're still interested," Lyra continued, "I can teach you how to make it. It's not difficult at all!"
"Interested! Definitely!" The witches chimed in, their excitement buzzing through the air.
And so, the morning walk to school transformed into an impromptu cooking lesson, with Lyra explaining the art of breadfruit cake. The other witches hung on to her every word, eager to learn how they, too, could turn something as sour as breadfruit into a treat as delightful as cake.
After Lyra finished sharing her breadfruit cake recipe, some of the little witches with cooking experience began to brainstorm their own twists on the dish.
Amy, one of the more adventurous cooks in the group, was already deep in thought, wondering aloud, "Do you think I could add some meat paste to the breadfruit? It might balance out the sourness!"
The others giggled, but soon the conversation took on a life of its own. Suddenly, everyone was buzzing with ideas, and the enthusiasm for breadfruit-based creations reached a new peak. Thoughts of food and creative recipes fueled their energy, making the normally tiring walk up the mountain almost effortless.
Before they realized it, the group had arrived at the gates of the academy castle.
Sylph, wiping sweat from her forehead, remarked, "It feels like we went up the mountain faster than usual today! I barely noticed the climb."
Lilith, however, glanced at the clock tower and shook her head. "The clock just struck nine times. It's already half-past nine. If you think about it, we actually took longer than usual."
Amy, still smiling about their food talk, chimed in, "I was so excited about trying out that breadfruit cake recipe, I didn't even feel the mountain climb. Now that we're here, it feels like no time at all!"
Just as they were catching their breath, Alba pointed towards the sky. "Look! The seniors are arriving!"
They all looked up to see dozens of brooms soaring through the sky from the dormitory area. The third-year students descended gracefully and landed in the small square outside the castle, their broomsticks making the journey in just a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Lyra and her friends had spent nearly three hours climbing up the mountain.
"We're going to have flying lessons soon, too!" Lilith sighed wistfully. "One more year, and we'll be able to leave at 9:30, just like the seniors."
The envy was palpable among the younger witches. They all stared at the seniors with longing, imagining the freedom that flying would offer. Still, one of the younger witches couldn't help but notice something odd.
"Why aren't the fourth- and fifth-year seniors here?" she asked, tilting her head. "Don't they have morning classes?"
Lilith, always ready to share what she knew, shrugged. "The older students rarely come to the academy castle for lessons. I'm not sure what they're up to these days, but they don't spend much time here."
Lilith scanned the square thoughtfully. "This year's astrology ceremony seems to have ended earlier than usual. It's only the fourth day, but I haven't seen any tents from the fourth-year students yet."
Before the conversation could continue, Vasida interrupted, curiosity written all over her face. "Who's teaching the alchemy class today? And why do we have alchemy all week? When are we going to learn cooking magic?"
Lilith's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Oh, you'll find out who the teacher is soon enough. Just don't be too shocked when you meet them! As for cooking magic, that's next week's lesson."
Before they could ask more, some of the senior witches began hurrying towards the castle. "Class is about to start! Let's go!" one called, quickly disappearing into the entrance.
The younger witches looked at each other in frustration. Their senior classmates clearly enjoyed keeping them in suspense, hinting at what was to come without giving away any details. Lyra, sensing it was time to move on, pulled out the map.
"The schedule says the introductory alchemy class is on the top floor of the west tower," she said, pointing toward a far-off wing of the castle. "It's not too far from here."
"Let's go!" Vasida said, already walking ahead. "I can't wait to start learning magic!"
The group of little witches followed suit, heading toward the west tower. As they passed through one of the long, winding corridors, they encountered Ms. Amisha, the dean of the academy, wearing her elegant dark blue witch's robe.
"Good morning, Dean!" the girls greeted her in unison, trying to keep their excitement in check.
"Good morning!" Ms. Amisha smiled warmly at them. "You'd better hurry along; the West Tower is quite far, and class is about to begin!"
"Yes, Dean! Thank you!" the girls responded, quickening their pace.
As they sped up, Lyra glanced back and saw Ms. Amisha disappearing into a classroom. She noticed Lilith's bright red hair through the open door; it was the classroom for the second-year seniors. Without dwelling on it, Lyra focused on navigating the castle's maze-like corridors, her thoughts returning to the alchemy lesson ahead.
After several twists and turns, they finally reached the west side of the castle.
"There's a shortcut on the second floor that leads directly to the west tower," Vasida said confidently. "This way!"
They started up the stairs with renewed excitement, but halfway up, their enthusiasm hit an abrupt wall. The sheer number of steps in the tower and the looming reality of the climb began to take its toll. What had once been an excited march to class slowed to a labored ascent.