Loki appeared at the outskirts of the sprawling Novalith Academy campus, taking in his surroundings with a sigh of familiarity. The towering iron gates loomed over him, like ancient sentinels that guarded this world where the mundane met the extraordinary. Novalith Academy was known for producing some of the brightest minds, and for Loki, it was both a stage and a sanctuary—a place where he could be seen and hidden at the same time.
He stepped behind a cluster of trees, casting a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, and with a flick of his wrist, transformed his attire. His hooded cloak vanished, replaced by the sleek navy-and-gold uniform of Novalith Academy. The tailored lines of the uniform highlighted his athletic build, and the colors made his sapphire eyes gleam. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, letting it settle in a perfectly careless way, a sly grin pulling at the corners of his mouth as he emerged from the shadows. There was a thrill in the game he played, hiding in plain sight, choosing when and how he would reveal himself.
For now, though, secrecy was his ally. Ascendants were revered but also heavily watched, and Loki preferred to keep his true nature hidden—for his own sake and for his sister's safety.
As he strode confidently through the gates, conversations came to a halt, and heads turned in his direction. Some students nudged each other, faces lighting up as they spotted him, while others tried to hide their excited smiles. Loki was well-known and well-liked for his wit, charm, and his uncanny ability to make people laugh. He was more than just a familiar face; he was someone people looked forward to seeing.
"Look who finally decided to show up!" Jason's booming voice cut through the murmurs, and Loki grinned as his boisterous friend approached, arms outstretched in mock disbelief.
"Miss me that much, huh, Jason?" Loki replied, flashing a playful smile.
Jason clapped a hand on Loki's shoulder, shaking his head with a grin. "Please, you flatter yourself. Although, you might want to worry about someone else missing you—your 'girlfriend' has been scouring the entire academy for you, and, I swear, she looked scarier than a Chaos Dragon."
Loki laughed, brushing off the remark. "She's not my girlfriend, Jason. We're just… you know, close."
Jason raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Right. 'Close.' I'm sure she'd agree." He shot Loki a knowing look. "You should've seen the look on her face. I was genuinely afraid she might smite someone."
At that, Mark, who had been listening with a wry grin, interjected. "Honestly, Loki, I'd kill for that kind of attention. How do you do it? The girl's practically obsessed with you."
Loki shrugged, playing it cool. "It's a burden I bear with grace." He glanced at Mark with a smirk. "But be careful what you wish for. You don't know the lengths she might go if she thought I was in trouble."
"Oh please," Mark groaned, rolling his eyes. "As if anyone would even care if I went missing for a day."
Loki's smirk widened. "You never know, Mark. Maybe there's someone out there harboring a secret crush on you."
Jason snorted. "Yeah, like the cafeteria lady. I'm pretty sure she gave you an extra apple the other day."
They shared a laugh, Jason throwing his arm around Loki as they continued walking. Just as they neared the courtyard, a group of girls nearby spotted Loki and immediately burst into a fit of excited giggles. One of them, a girl with braids and a bright smile, whispered loudly, "There's Loki! I swear he gets better looking every week."
Another girl elbowed her, whispering back, "Shh! What if Amara hears you?"
"So what? He said they're not dating," the first girl argued.
The other one shook her head. "Tell that to her face. See how long you last."
Catching the last part of their conversation, Loki threw the group a friendly smile and winked. "Ladies, any plans for tonight? Study group, maybe?"
A chorus of giggles followed, and a few of them nodded shyly. But before any of them could respond, their expressions morphed from admiration to sheer terror. They stared past Loki, eyes wide and mouths slightly agape, like they'd just seen a ghost.
Confused, Loki felt a chill run down his spine. He turned around slowly, half-knowing what he'd see. Standing behind him, arms crossed and expression as sharp as a dagger, was Amara. Her eyes held that dangerous glint, the one that could silence a whole room with a look.
"Oh, Amara!" Loki stammered, attempting a casual laugh as he raised his hands in a show of innocence. "What a surprise! Skipping class again, are we? Tsk, tsk."
Amara's face didn't soften. If anything, her gaze grew sharper. "You're one to talk, Loki. I've been looking all over for you. Care to explain why you're late?"
Loki coughed, trying to regain his composure. "Late? Me? Never! I was… just, you know, networking," he said, gesturing toward the crowd, who were inching back, sensing the tension in the air.
Amara's lips twitched, though her face remained stern. "Networking, huh? You call leaving your friends to sit through Professor Halcyon's history lecture alone 'networking'?"
"Exactly," Jason chimed in, hiding behind Loki. "You left us to die in there, Loki. We could've used your 'networking' skills to liven things up."
Amara took a step forward, her voice commanding as she spoke. "On your knees. Now."
Loki's eyes widened. "You're joking, right?" He looked around, hoping for some sympathy from the crowd, but all he got was Jason and Mark's knowing smirks.
"Not joking," Amara said, folding her arms more tightly.
Reluctantly, Loki knelt down, throwing his hands up in exaggerated surrender. "There, happy now?"
A few giggles rippled through the crowd, and Amara finally let a small smile slip through her stern facade. She stepped forward, helping Loki up with a sigh. "Honestly, Loki, one of these days you're going to regret pushing my patience like this."
Loki dusted off his uniform, shooting her an innocent look. "Come on, Amara, you know you love it." He flashed her one of his trademark grins. "Besides, without me, life here would be so dull."
She huffed, though a hint of amusement lingered in her gaze. "You're impossible."
"And you, Amara, are terrifying," he replied, leaning closer and lowering his voice. "In the best way, of course."
Amara smirked, but as he straightened up, she reached out and flicked his forehead lightly. "Just keep yourself out of trouble, okay? I'd hate to have to save you."
As she turned away, Loki caught up, jogging beside her. "By the way… you look beautiful as always." His voice softened, sincere despite the playful glint in his eye.
Amara's cheeks flushed a faint pink, though she quickly regained her usual stoic expression. "Save the charm, Loki. You're not getting out of this that easily."
Loki chuckled, watching her walk ahead. Amara had her own reasons for being guarded. She had faced her own trauma—years ago, she had survived a monster attack that took the life of her mother and left her father critically injured. It was that tragedy that had driven her to be the strong, disciplined person she was today. And, for all his lightheartedness, Loki respected her strength deeply. In this academy, where everyone hid something, Amara was the one person he trusted to keep him grounded.
As they made their way across the courtyard, he fell in step beside her, a comfortable silence falling between them—a silence that, in this loud, buzzing world, felt like a rare, treasured peace.