Chapter 16: A Semester of Shenanigans
With their first semester at Eternity Academy in full swing, Yun-ho, Nova, and Ethan found themselves juggling the demands of classes and the subtle undercurrent of their secret mission. The academy, though imposing, had its lighter side, and the trio wasn't about to let the pressure weigh them down completely.
One day, during a break between lectures, they strolled through the sunlit courtyard, where the atmosphere was lively with students chatting and laughing. It was in this setting that Yun-ho, distracted by his thoughts about the Heart of Darkness, accidentally bumped into a fellow student.
"Whoa—sorry about that!" Yun-ho quickly apologized, helping the student back to his feet.
"No worries, I'm fine—just my usual clumsiness," the boy mumbled, his cheeks reddening.
Nova quirked an eyebrow. "You're not kidding. How do you even stay on your feet for most of the day?"
The student, Riley, chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Barely."
Despite the awkward start, Riley's light-hearted nature quickly endeared him to the group. His amusingly bad luck became a source of entertainment for Yun-ho, Nova, and Ethan, especially when Riley's clumsiness led to hilariously unexpected situations during training sessions.
One afternoon, after an intense session of magical combat, the trio, joined by Riley, decided to indulge in some well-earned shenanigans. Ethan, always the prankster, suggested a harmless joke to lighten the tension. "I say we leave Professor Willow a little surprise," he whispered, grinning mischievously.
Nova rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smirk. "What now? Another illusion spell?"
"No, something simpler." Ethan pulled a small rubber duck from his bag. "I've got just the thing."
The group snuck into Professor Willow's office during a break and placed the rubber duck in a conspicuous spot on his desk. By the time the professor discovered it, the students were sitting innocently in their seats, trying to stifle their laughter.
At first, Professor Willow seemed mildly annoyed by the prank, but after a moment, he burst into laughter, holding the duck up as if it were some grand treasure. "Whoever did this, I'm taking this home as a reminder of your impeccable sense of humor!"
Despite their antics, the group maintained a delicate balance between fun and focus. By the end of the semester, Yun-ho felt like the academy had begun to feel like home—though their mission still lingered in the back of his mind, waiting for the right moment to resurface.