The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the academy dormitory, casting a warm golden glow across the polished wood floors of the room Seraphine and Elena shared. The soft sounds of birds chirping outside filled the otherwise quiet space. Seraphine was already awake, sitting cross-legged on her bed and staring out the window. Her sword lay beside her, polished and gleaming in the morning light.
She had been up for hours, her body trained to rise early from years of discipline. Sparring came easily to her, almost as natural as breathing, but the sudden shift to life at the academy had unsettled her in ways she hadn't expected. The rigorous schedule, the challenges of both physical and academic lessons—none of it bothered her. But the people, the friendships she had never cared much to cultivate, that was new.
Seraphine was a lone wolf by nature. It had always served her well. But since arriving at the academy, she had found herself unexpectedly drawn into a web of connections with other students, especially Elena and the boys she had met in their shared classes. It wasn't something she had anticipated, but here she was.
She glanced across the room where Elena still slept, her chest rising and falling gently under the soft covers. Elena was quiet, reserved, and though they had only shared the same space for a few weeks, Seraphine had already developed a sort of protective instinct toward her. Elena seemed fragile, like she was carrying something heavy that no one else could see, and Seraphine's sharp instincts noticed it right away.
It wasn't long before Elena stirred, her eyes fluttering open to the morning light. She blinked a few times before stretching, her long hair spilling over her pillow as she slowly sat up.
"Morning," Seraphine said, her voice calm but alert.
"Good morning," Elena replied, her voice still soft with sleep. She offered a small smile, one of the few Seraphines had seen from her.
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't unusual for them. Despite their differences, Seraphine and Elena had quickly fallen into an easy routine since becoming roommates. They weren't the type to chat idly about meaningless things, but there was a quiet understanding between them—a mutual respect.
"Are you heading to the training grounds today?" Elena asked after a while, brushing her hair back from her face as she slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Yeah," Seraphine replied, her gaze still focused out the window. "But first, I thought I'd stop by the library. I want to look up something for one of the seminars."
Elena nodded thoughtfully. "I think I'll head to the library too. There's a book I've been meaning to check out."
They dressed quickly, neither of them wasting time on unnecessary frills or adornments. Seraphine fastened her sword to her back while Elena pulled on her robes, simple but elegant. Together, they left their room and made their way through the dormitory halls.
It had been a few weeks since their arrival at the academy, and while both of them had kept mostly to themselves, they had gradually started forming connections with others. Most notably, the three boys they now found themselves frequently in the company of—Caelan, Dorian, and Aldric.
Seraphine thought back to the sparring match that had ignited that connection. Her duel with Caelan had been exhilarating. He was skilled, no doubt, and even though they hadn't finished the fight due to the professor's intervention, she had enjoyed the challenge. Dorian, too, intrigued her. He had a sharp mind, and there was a quiet intensity in his demeanor that matched her own. Aldric was different, more easygoing and grounded, but just as capable.
And then there was Lysandra.
Seraphine hadn't interacted with Lysandra much yet. The girl was a mystery. She wasn't a typical student; that much was clear. Lysandra was often absent from group activities, preferring to spend her time in the research workshops rather than in the dorms or common areas. Seraphine had heard about her reputation as a brilliant researcher, but beyond that, she didn't know much. She knew Lysandra came from Caelan's kingdom and had a connection to him, but how deep that went remained to be seen.
As they neared the library, Seraphine noticed Elena glancing at her, hesitating before speaking.
"Do you think we'll see Lysandra today?" Elena asked, her tone curious but cautious.
Seraphine shrugged. "Maybe. She's hard to pin down."
They entered the library, the scent of old parchment and leather-bound books filling the air. It was a peaceful space, much quieter than the rest of the academy. They made their way toward the back, where the large reference section held the books, they needed.
To their surprise, Lysandra was already there.
She stood in front of a large wooden table, her head bent over a stack of ancient tomes. Her long brown hair was tied back in a simple knot, and her sharp green eyes were focused intently on the pages before her. She was dressed in practical clothing—nothing extravagant, just the simple attire of someone who valued utility over appearance. Next to her was a small leather-bound journal, filled with notes scribbled in a precise hand.
Seraphine and Elena exchanged glances. Seraphine was the first to approach.
"Lysandra," she said, her voice cutting through the quiet of the library.
Lysandra looked up, her gaze landing on Seraphine first, then flicking briefly to Elena. A brief, polite smile touched her lips. "Seraphine, Elena. Didn't expect to see you here so early."
Seraphine crossed her arms, studying her. "We didn't expect to find you here either. I thought you spent most of your time in the research labs."
Lysandra gave a soft laugh, her eyes brightening with amusement. "I do. But sometimes, I need to consult the archives here. There are things the labs don't have."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like ancient texts on pre-Great War artifacts," Lysandra replied, gesturing to the books spread out in front of her. "I'm studying how ancient civilizations used certain technologies that were lost during the war. It's fascinating, really—how much they understood about the world and how much we've forgotten."
Elena stepped forward, intrigued by the topic. "That sounds… incredible. Do you think any of those technologies could still be recovered?"
Lysandra shrugged, but there was a glint of excitement in her eyes. "That's the hope. Some of it is dangerous, of course, but there's a lot we can learn from it. If we're careful."
Seraphine glanced at Elena, who seemed captivated by Lysandra's research. "You're doing all of this on your own?" Seraphine asked, slightly impressed despite herself.
"For the most part," Lysandra admitted. "But the professors help when they can, and I've gotten access to some of the academy's resources. It's slow-going, but progress is progress."
The three girls stood in silence for a moment, the weight of Lysandra's words sinking in. Despite their different paths—Seraphine focused on swordsmanship, Elena on her quiet studies, and Lysandra on her research—they were beginning to realize how intertwined their futures might be.
"We should work together," Seraphine said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I mean, we're all here to learn. If you're looking into ancient technologies, there might come a time when we'll need to know how to deal with them. And if Elena's right, some of it might still be out there."
Lysandra looked intrigued, tilting her head as she considered Seraphine's words. "You have a point," she conceded. "And you're right. Some of the ruins we've been studying… there are things there that haven't been touched in centuries."
Elena smiled softly. "Maybe we could help each other. Share what we learn."
A small, rare smile appeared on Lysandra's face. "I'd like that."
Over the next few weeks, the three girls found themselves spending more and more time together. Seraphine and Elena were often in the same classes, while Lysandra balanced her studies with her research in the labs. It wasn't always easy to coordinate, but slowly, they began to carve out time for one another. They studied together, sparred together (though Lysandra was less interested in combat and more in the theory behind it), and exchanged insights from their different fields of expertise.
In the evenings, the three of them would meet up with Caelan, Dorian, and Aldric, forming an unlikely but cohesive group. Dorian, ever the strategist, often led their discussions, while Caelan brought a sense of intensity and focus. Aldric, with his calm demeanor and sharp wit, balanced them all out, always keeping the mood light when things got too serious.
It wasn't long before an announcement was made by the academy regarding an upcoming expedition. A rare opportunity to explore an ancient ruin that had recently been unearthed.
The six of them—Seraphine, Elena, Lysandra, Caelan, Dorian, and Aldric—immediately volunteered to form a group. It felt right. They had been drawn together for reasons none of them fully understood yet, but there was a sense of purpose, of destiny, in their partnership.
As they gathered in one of the academy's courtyards to prepare for the expedition, Seraphine felt a strange sense of anticipation. It wasn't just about the ruins or the chance to prove themselves. It was something deeper, something that told her this was only the beginning.
Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.