Zara awoke to the first light of dawn, soft and golden, filtering through the tall, arched window beside her bed. Her breath caught for a moment as her eyes fell on the serene figure across the room—Lily, still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling gently under the covers. Her silken blonde hair cascaded over her pillow like threads of sunlight, and her face was peaceful, free of the worry and care Zara had seen the day before.
She stared at Lily for a moment longer, her heart swelling with admiration. Could I be her friend? Zara thought, biting her lip nervously. Lily seemed so perfect—kind, graceful, and radiant. Zara had never had a real friend before, and the fear of rejection weighed heavy on her heart. Still, she couldn't help but admire how effortlessly captivating Lily was like she belonged in a masterpiece.
Before Zara could dwell too long on her thoughts, Lily stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze met Zara's, and she smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Zara. Ready for our big day?" Lily's voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of confidence.
Zara blushed slightly and nodded, though her heart raced at the thought of what the day would bring. "Good morning, Lily. I think... I'm ready." Her voice wavered, betraying her nerves.
Lily stretched gracefully, then stood up from her bed and began preparing for the day. "You'll be fine, trust me. We just need to get through the exams today. You read a lot, right? The written part should be easy for you." She smiled as she grabbed her academy uniform, a pristine white and silver ensemble that shimmered with enchanted threads.
Zara followed suit, moving across the room to get her uniform. As they dressed, Lily began explaining the academy's rules, her tone casual but firm. "So, there are a few things to remember. First, we're not allowed outside the dorms after sunset without a senior's permission. Second, the dining hall opens at dawn and closes just after the evening bell, so don't be late. And most importantly, you have to respect your seniors. Some of them... well, they think they own the academy." She sighed, clearly exasperated by some of the older students.
Zara listened intently, trying to absorb everything. As she laced up her boots, she glanced at Lily and asked, "Do you think… we could be friends?"
Lily stopped, turning to face her with a smile that instantly made Zara feel warm inside. "We already are, Zara. Now, let's go ace these exams together."
The warmth of that simple statement stayed with Zara as they made their way to the exam hall. The tall, imposing doors loomed ahead, and Zara's earlier confidence began to falter. Her stomach twisted in knots as they approached the entrance. Her stomach twisted into knots as they neared the entrance. What if she messed up? What if someone noticed something off? Only she knew the truth about her power—what if it slipped out?
Sensing her fear, Lily placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It'll be fine, Zara. You've got this. The written part is first, and you're going to breeze through it. Trust me."
Zara nodded, her hands trembling as they stepped into the hall filled with students. She felt small and out of place among them, but she reminded herself of what Lily said. She had read countless books—she knew the material.
The exam began, and as Zara's quill danced across the parchment, the questions felt easy, almost too simple. She breezed through them, her years of reading paying off in ways she hadn't expected. When the exam ended, she glanced at Lily, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"See? Told you it'd be easy," Lily said as they walked out of the hall together.
Zara smiled, the weight on her chest lifting slightly. "You were right. I guess all that reading was worth it."
The two girls made their way to the practical exam grounds, where a wide-open field stretched before them. Zara's nerves returned as she saw the magic dolls lined up in the distance—targets for their practical demonstration. Students gathered around, waiting their turn to show their abilities.
Zara's heart pounded as they lined up. The first student was Thalia, a striking beauty with an air of arrogance that hung around her like a shadow. Her raven-black hair gleamed in the sunlight, and her academy uniform, though Thalia wore the same uniform as everyone else, somehow clung to her figure like it was custom-made just for her. Half the boys in the crowd practically tripped over their own feet, eyes wide, as if they'd just seen a goddess descending from the heavens...
Thalia placed her hand on the magic crystal to measure her power, and the crystal flared a dark purple. She smirked, stepping back as a dozen magical dolls activated before her. With a graceful flick of her wrist, necromantic energy surged forward, striking six of the dolls, reducing them to piles of ash. The crowd erupted in cheers, more for her beauty than her power.
Zara watched in awe, her heart sinking. How could she even hope to destroy one doll, let alone compete with someone like Thalia?
Next was Prince Caelan. His sharp features and regal bearing drew attention from nearly every girl in the crowd, but Zara and Lily remained unaffected. His magic, a mix of elemental control and illusion, was precise. He struck four dolls with ease, maintaining an aura of calm. Thalia gave him a sultry smile, but Caelan barely acknowledged her, his expression distant.
One by one, students took their turns—Anwen, with her dual-wielding fire and earth magic, destroyed five dolls in a spectacular display of raw power. Next, Aurelia Moonstone, a fellow student known as the mysterious oracle, stepped forward.
Her presence commanded attention as she cryptically proclaimed, "One among us will destroy all ten dolls." The crowd erupted in laughter; the idea of any student achieving such a feat in their early stage seemed utterly impossible. Yet, despite the ridicule, Zara couldn't shake the strange feeling her words left behind, as if there were truth hidden within the laughter.
Finally, it was Lily's turn. As she approached the magic crystal, a hush fell over the crowd. Her charm was captivating, but when the crystal flared to life with a brilliant white light, gasps echoed throughout the grounds.
Light magic—pure and rare—was her gift, and it was said to emerge only once every hundred years in a single individual. With a small flick of her hand, eight magic dolls evaporated into nothingness, leaving everyone in stunned silence. The sheer power and rarity of her magic left the spectators awestruck, their admiration palpable as they witnessed something truly extraordinary.
Zara stared in awe. Lily was not only kind and charming—she was powerful. A sense of admiration, mixed with a growing fear, filled her. How could she ever stand beside someone so perfect? The thought of being friends with someone who wielded such incredible magic made Zara anxious. What if Lily discovered her dark abilities? The fear of rejection loomed over her, and she felt as though she would never measure up to Lily's light.
Now, it was Zara's turn. She hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest as she approached the magic crystal. She touched her mother's pendant, hoping it would help conceal her true nature. As her hand rested on the crystal, it glowed a deep black, the unmistakable mark of dark magic. Whispers rippled through the crowd, and Zara's stomach twisted in knots.
The teacher quickly explained it away as rare magic from the human kingdom borders that lay near the demon kingdom, where only about 1% of the population possessed such dark abilities due to the lingering demonic influence.
Zara felt a mix of relief and dread wash over her. At least they didn't know the full extent of her power, but she could sense the curiosity from the crowd—especially from Prince Caelan, who watched her intently, his expression a mix of intrigue and caution. What would he think of her magic? Would he see her as a threat or something to be studied?
The uncertainty gnawed at her, but for the first time, she felt a flicker of hope—a wave of relief washing over her. As long as no one uncovered the truth about her identity as a demon princess, she could navigate life in the human kingdom without the constant weight of her dark abilities hanging over her.
Here, among those with dark magic, she could blend in, living with less worry about being discovered. Perhaps her powers, once a source of shame, could instead be her shield, allowing her to carve out her path in a world that didn't know who she truly was.
Zara felt a slight relief, but fear gnawed at her insides like a ravenous beast. With a determined breath, she stepped forward to face the dolls, the weight of her hidden identity pressing down on her. Closing her eyes, she recalled her father's teachings: Concentrate on the darkness within, and let it flow. The familiar mantra steadied her racing heart as she summoned the depths of her power.
Slowly, a dark aura began to envelop her, swirling around her like a tempest. It crackled with energy, tendrils of shadow dancing in the air, creating an atmosphere thick with tension. The air felt charged as if the very fabric of reality acknowledged the emergence of her formidable abilities. Her heart raced with both excitement and trepidation.
With a trembling hand, she extended her arm, focusing on the raw power coursing through her veins. "Fire," she whispered, the word escaping her lips like a spell.
In that moment, the dark aura surged forward, coalescing into a beam of shadowy energy. It shot from her hand with blinding speed, a torrent of darkness that obliterated all ten dolls in an instant.
The sound of shattering magic echoed through the courtyard, like a thunderclap heralding her arrival. The force of the blast was so intense that it sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and fragments of the dolls were flung in all directions, some crashing against the walls of the arena.
The crowd fell silent, their faces a portrait of disbelief, mouths agape in shock. Even Prince Caelan and Thalia stood frozen, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension as they processed the sheer power unleashed before them. The wall behind the dolls, caught in the aftermath of her spell, showed signs of damage—a large crack snaked up its surface, dust, and debris raining down like a heavy curtain.
Lily, witnessing the spectacle, looked at Zara with a mixture of awe and concern, sensing the overwhelming power behind the spell. The intensity of Zara's magic was palpable, a dark force that lingered in the air long after the last echoes of destruction had faded.
As the realization of what she had done washed over Zara, a thrill of adrenaline coursed through her, mingling with her fear. In that moment, she felt alive and powerful, yet aware that such power could also be a double-edged sword.
Zara swayed on her feet, feeling the energy drain rapidly from her body, the aftermath of her unleashed power leaving her shaky and lightheaded. The teacher quickly announced her perfect score, a proud smile breaking across his face as he sent her to the infirmary to recover.
The sound of his voice echoed in her ears, but it was drowned out by the buzz of whispered conversations swirling around her. As Zara walked away, she could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on her—admiring, suspicious, and envious, each looked a reminder of the spotlight she had just stepped into.
Thalia stood at the edge of the crowd, her emerald eyes narrowing into slits. Her lips twisted into a scowl, a dark expression that radiated contempt.
"So, she's the one to beat," she sneered, her voice low and venomous. "Just wait until I show everyone what real power looks like. This little display won't keep her on top for long."
The malice in her tone was unmistakable, and her fingers twitched with a barely contained urge to assert her dominance.
As Lily wrapped an arm around Zara's shoulders, guiding her towards the infirmary, Prince Caelan watched from a distance, his gaze locked onto Zara. Intrigued by her raw power, he felt a curious thrill. Yet, along with his interest, a flicker of suspicion deepened within him. He couldn't shake the feeling that Zara was more than she appeared—there was an aura of mystery about her that beckoned him to learn more.
"Are you okay, Zara?" Lily asked softly, concern etching her features as they moved away from the crowd. "You pushed yourself out there."
Zara nodded, though she could still feel the tremors in her limbs. "I'm fine, just a little tired. I didn't expect it to take so much out of me."
Behind them, Aurelia's cryptic prediction echoed ominously in the air, the realization sinking in for those who had witnessed Zara's display. The enigmatic oracle had foretold it—"One among us will destroy all ten dolls." And now, the weight of that prophecy settled heavily upon Zara's shoulders, intertwining her fate with the gazes of the crowd, both wary and fascinated.