Venera woke to moonlight streaming through the window of her quarters. The silver glow bathed the room, illuminating every corner with a quiet, serene light. She stared at the full moon, her golden eyes tracing its curves. Normally, she would have found it soothing—a small reminder of beauty and calm in an otherwise chaotic world. But tonight, she felt… nothing. The moon's quiet splendor failed to stir her, leaving only an empty ache in its place.
With a sigh, Venera rose from her bed, still dressed in the same clothes she had put on that morning. She didn't bother changing or even slipping on shoes as she left her quarters. The airship's halls were quiet, the usual hum of activity muted in the late hour.
The metal flooring was cool beneath her bare feet as she wandered aimlessly. The faint echo of her steps accompanied her, a lonely rhythm in the vast, silent corridors. Few people were out, and those she passed paid her no mind. She was grateful for the solitude.
Eventually, her feet carried her to the ship's cafeteria. The faint pangs of hunger turned into a growl from her stomach, a stark reminder that she hadn't eaten since morning. With little thought, she began rummaging through one of the cold storage units, pulling out some bread and slices of cured meat. Simple fare, but enough to quiet her hunger.
Turning, she scanned the room for an empty table. That's when she noticed she wasn't alone. Someone else was there, sitting quietly in the corner. The sight stopped her in her tracks.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Venera found herself moving toward the solitary figure. The pull wasn't born of curiosity or obligation—just a quiet instinct she didn't question. She carried her modest meal to the table and slid into the seat across from the girl without a word.
The girl was deeply engrossed in a book, her eyes scanning the pages with intense focus. Venera didn't disturb her at first, instead using the moment to study her. It was Candace, the human girl from her class, her sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the cafeteria's overhead lights. Her expression was calm, almost unreadable, but her body language radiated a quiet intensity.
A few moments passed before Candace finally looked up, likely sensing Venera's presence. Her deep blue eyes widened briefly, surprise flickering across her face before she quickly schooled her features back into neutrality.
"Professor Osiros," Candace said, her tone calm but edged with curiosity. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Why are you here?" Venera asked, her voice low but unwavering as she locked her gaze on Candace's face, watching for even the smallest flicker of emotion.
Candace blinked, her confusion evident. "What do you mean?"
"Why are you here?" Venera repeated, leaning forward slightly. "What made you want to learn magic? Why did you choose my class?" Her tone was sharper than she intended, but she didn't try to soften it.
Candace hesitated, her hands tightening slightly around the book in front of her. "Well… I came here to become a stronger mage," she began, her voice steady but quiet. "So I could help my family and, hopefully, one day—"
"So you have a reason," Venera interrupted, her expression unreadable. "A purpose. That's good."
Candace frowned, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "What's this all about, Professor?" she asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Venera didn't answer immediately, her thoughts still swirling. Candace's words had sounded sincere enough, but something about them—about her—unsettled Venera in a way she couldn't explain. She sighed inwardly, pushing the unease aside as she rose to her feet.
"I'll see you in class tomorrow," she said quietly, her voice barely above a murmur. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving her uneaten food and her student behind.
Candace Lionheart stared after her teacher, stunned. In the weeks she'd been aboard the HGF Expanse, she had never seen Professor Osiros like this—so intense, almost… desperate. The elf had always seemed relaxed, even cheerful, though there was an air of clumsiness about her at times. But tonight? Tonight, the professor's golden eyes had burned with something far deeper, something unnerving.
Candace set her book down, her thoughts trailing after the elf as she glanced at the untouched bread and meat left behind. She stared at it blankly, her mind replaying the encounter.
Now, curiosity gnawed at her. The professor wasn't what she seemed—not entirely. There was more to her than the easygoing facade she wore in class. And for the first time, Candace found herself wondering who Venera Osiros really was.
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Venera made her way back to her room, her thoughts a tangled mess—and she was cringing. Hard.
Why had she done that? Candace probably thought she was insane now. And, honestly, maybe she was. She couldn't explain why she had acted the way she did. It was as though her mind had been wrapped in a thick haze, clouding her thoughts and pushing her into a moment of intense, almost uncharacteristic desperation.
At least the sharp pain in her foot had snapped her out of it. Stubbing her toe on a chair outside the cafeteria had done wonders for her focus, even if it left her limping slightly on the way back to her quarters.
As she reached her door, Venera hesitated. Maybe she should turn back, apologize to Candace, and explain herself—or at least try to. But before the thought could fully form, she found herself inside her room. The door clicked shut behind her, and with a sigh, she made her way to the bed and sat heavily on the edge.
For a moment, she stared down at her hands, the faint tremor in her fingers betraying the chaos of her emotions. Slowly, she brought them to her face, covering her eyes as she exhaled shakily.
Then, with a defeated groan, she let herself fall backward onto the bed, the mattress creaking slightly beneath her. She lay there, unmoving, the cool air of the room pressing against her skin as her mind churned with unspoken thoughts. It wasn't her finest moment. Not by a long shot. And she had no idea how to make sense of any of it.
"Class starts again tomorrow…" Venera mumbled to herself, her voice heavy with reluctance. The thought of facing her students after the day's events felt like a mountain she wasn't ready to climb. She glanced out the window, noting the inky darkness outside. Past midnight. With a sigh, she pulled the covers tighter around herself.
"I guess I should try to get some more sleep," she whispered, though she doubted it would help much. She turned over, closed her eyes, and eventually drifted into a restless slumber.
Morning came far too quickly. The golden light filtering through her window felt more like a mockery than a greeting. Groaning, Venera forced herself out of bed. The view out of her window had changed yet again, meaning the airship had left port in the early morning. She moved mechanically, cleaning up and dressing in her formal deep-blue mage robes. The insignia marked her as a professor—a title she still wasn't sure she deserved. With a resigned sigh, she stepped out of her room and into the airship's bustling halls.
She didn't make it far before running into her first obstacle. Turning a corner at the end of the hallway, she found him leaning casually against the wall.
"August," she grumbled, her tone already laced with annoyance.
"Good morning, Venera," the old mage greeted her, his kind smile as infuriatingly calm as ever. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," she replied curtly, brushing past him without breaking stride.
August sighed, leaning on his staff as he fell into step beside her. "Are you sure? If you need to take the day off, I can arrange for someone to cover your class. Yesterday was—"
"No," she cut him off sharply. "I won't take the day off. Yesterday was… it was nothing."
"Venera," August said gently, his voice tinged with concern, "it wasn't nothing, and you know it."
"Drop it, August." Her voice turned icy, her golden eyes narrowing as she shot him a glare that could have frozen fire.
August held her gaze for a long moment before shaking his head with a sigh. "If you insist…" he said softly.
And then he vanished into thin air, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air where he'd stood.
Venera clenched her fists, muttering under her breath as she continued down the hallway. The day had barely started, and she already wanted it to end.
The classroom fell silent as Venera entered, her presence commanding attention without effort. She walked to the stand at the front of the room, placing her hands on it for a moment to steady herself. Drawing a deep breath, she raised her head and surveyed her students. Dozens of faces, filled with a mix of curiosity and expectation, stared back at her.
"So," she began, her voice calm and even, "who's ready for some practical training?"
For a brief moment, the students exchanged uncertain glances, as if waiting for someone else to react first. Then, as the realization sank in, an excited cheer rippled through the room. A faint smile tugged at the corners of Venera's lips.
"Everyone, head to the upper deck," she instructed, her tone growing sharper with authority. "When you get there, I want two lines facing port side. We'll be doing casting drills today, so be ready."
The students erupted from their seats, excitement spilling into their hurried movements as they filed out of the room. Venera lingered for a moment, watching them go. Her gaze fell on Candace as the human girl rose from her desk to follow the others.
Candace's movements were casual, her expression neutral—completely normal. Venera let out a silent breath of relief. Whatever effect last night's encounter might have had, Candace didn't seem any worse for it.
With that small reassurance, Venera straightened her robes and followed her class toward the deck. Once on the deck, Venera quickly organized her students into two groups of six, lining them up with some difficulty as some of the students seemed intent on being distracted by the view. The open air of the upper deck was crisp, the faint hum of the airship's engines providing a steady backdrop to the nervous chatter among the students. Venera handed each of them a small piece of cloth—either blue or red.
"We're going to start with a simple competition," she announced, her voice carrying easily over the deck. "Each team—Blue and Red—has six members. The objective is straightforward: each of you will fire one spell. The team that successfully casts six spells wins. The catch?" She paused, letting the suspense linger. "All spells must be projectile spells."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, shifting on their feet as they appraised their teammates. Venera could see the anxiety written on their faces as they processed the task ahead.
"You can begin," she stated calmly, folding her arms and stepping back to observe.
Panic spread quickly. Students muttered hurriedly to themselves, some fumbling with the components needed for their spells, others staring blankly as though trying to will the magic to work. Makael, the dwarf, was visibly flustered, his hands trembling as he tried to summon a fireball. Beside him, Cal, a human boy, wasn't faring much better—his efforts producing nothing but faint sparks that fizzled out before taking shape.
To Venera's surprise, it was Sylvia, the lizard Beastkin, who managed to compose herself first. Her pale scales glinted in the sunlight as she stepped forward, her breathing measured despite the tension.
"Water Drop!" she called out confidently, extending her hand toward the open air beyond the ship's edge. A small blob of water formed in her palm before shooting forward, arcing gracefully into the sky before dissipating harmlessly.
Sylvia turned back toward Venera, panting slightly but clearly proud of her success.
"Good," Venera said with a nod of approval. "Blue team gets one point."
Sylvia cheered, her tail swishing with excitement, before stepping back to rejoin her team. Confidence radiated from her as she watched her teammates take their turns. A few more students managed to fire off spells, though not without some fumbling, and the Blue team maintained a narrow lead of three to two.
Then Candace stepped forward.
Unlike the others, she didn't hesitate. Her movements were fluid, almost instinctual, as she wove mana into a sharp, crystalline spike of ice. The air around her seemed to chill slightly as she launched the spell, the icicle streaking off the side of the ship in a graceful arc before vanishing into the sky.
The deck fell silent. Every student turned to stare at her, their mouths slightly agape. Candace, however, showed no sign of satisfaction or pride. She simply stepped back, her expression neutral, her gaze drifting upward to the sky as though the whole thing had been entirely unremarkable.
Venera raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a faint smirk. "No longer hiding your abilities, huh?" she murmured under her breath. The quiet admiration in her tone was meant for herself, but she quickly noticed the other students staring at her now.
Right. The competition.
"Red team gets one point!" she called, her voice cutting through the tension.
The Red team erupted into cheers, their earlier uncertainty replaced by newfound hope. Candace remained silent, her focus still seemingly elsewhere. But Venera's golden eyes lingered on the girl for a moment longer, curiosity tugging at the edges of her mind.
"Fireball!" Makael roared, his voice echoing across the deck. In his right hand, a small orb of fire flickered to life, its surface swirling with barely-contained energy. With a triumphant grin, he hurled it forward. The fireball curved slightly in the air before exploding in a burst of light and heat, far enough away to be safe but still impressive.
"Yes! Did ya see that, Cal?" Makael bellowed, practically vibrating with excitement. "I've been workin' on that for a week!" He punctuated his statement with a hearty slap on his human friend's back.
Cal visibly winced from the force of the blow, nearly stumbling before catching himself. Adjusting his glasses, he looked down at the beaming dwarf and offered a smile. "Nice one, Makael," he said, his tone genuinely encouraging. "Let's see what I can do."
Taking a deep breath, Cal stepped forward, his hands already sparking with energy. The faint hum of building mana grew louder as he concentrated, shaping the magic with careful precision. A small ball of blue electricity formed between his fingers, crackling with power. With a steady hand, he released it.
"Shock ball," he announced, the projectile streaking forward in a jagged path before dissipating in the open air.
The effort left him slightly winded, but Cal turned to Makael with a satisfied grin, the dwarf clapping his hands together in approval. On the sidelines, Venera watched with a small nod of acknowledgment. For all their struggles, her students were starting to find their rhythm—and their confidence.
"One point for each team. We're tied at four points apiece," Venera announced, her tone calm but firm. The declaration seemed to light a fire under the remaining students, who redoubled their efforts with newfound urgency.
Despite their determination, the minutes stretched on. Venera checked her pocket watch and frowned. Nearly thirty minutes had passed without another spell successfully cast. She began to wonder if the competition would drag on much longer than she'd planned.
Then, finally, movement caught her eye. Two students stepped forward—Zoe and Zane, the red-headed human twins who usually kept to themselves at the back of the classroom. They exchanged a glance and, without a word, reached for each other's hands.
The air around them shimmered as they began channeling their mana together. Their coordination was seamless, their connection palpable. In unison, they raised their free hands and cast their spells. Two water drops formed simultaneously, sparkling in the sunlight as they shot forward, arcing gracefully through the air before dissipating.
The crowd watched in awe, their earlier chatter silenced by the display. But the moment of triumph was short-lived. The twins wavered, their energy visibly drained, and a second later, both of them collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
Venera moved toward them, her golden eyes filled with a mixture of concern and admiration. "A remarkable effort," she murmured under her breath, gesturing for a nearby student to help them up. Despite their exhaustion, Zoe and Zane managed faint smiles as they were guided back to their team.
"Blue team wins, 6 to 4," Venera announced, her voice calm as she flipped her pocket watch shut with a soft click. She glanced up, her golden eyes glinting with mischief. "Let's make this interesting. How about… the losers buy the winners lunch."
The declaration was met with a chorus of outraged groans from the Red team.
"Professor, you can't be serious—" Makael began, his face turning red with indignation. But his protest was cut short by a sudden, piercing screech that echoed across the open sky.
The sound was unnatural, grating and distant, but growing louder. Venera's playful expression vanished instantly, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward the source. Scanning the horizon, she saw nothing at first—just the endless expanse of clouds. Then, slowly, shapes began to emerge, dark and unmistakable, cutting through the mist with beating wings.
Her breath caught. "Wyverns," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the growing noise.
The shock only lasted a moment before her instincts took over. She straightened, her voice sharp and commanding. "Everyone, below deck! Now!"
The students froze for a fraction of a second, the gravity of her tone snapping them out of their confusion. Panic rippled through the group as they scrambled toward the stairwell, their earlier excitement now replaced by fear. Venera stayed rooted in place, her gaze fixed on the approaching shapes. Her hand twitched at her side, ready to summon magic if it came to that.
"Should I get some help, Professor?"
The voice startled Venera for a moment, and she glanced back to see Candace standing behind her. Unlike the rest of the class, who had hurried below deck as ordered, Candace hadn't moved. She stood still, her expression calm, even curious.
"Don't bother," Venera replied, turning her gaze back to the sky where the wyverns were growing larger with every beat of their wings. "I'm sure the other mages aboard have noticed them by now. Besides…" She let her voice trail off, flexing her fingers as she felt the familiar prickle of mana dancing between them. "There are only a few of them. It might do me some good to fire off a few spells." The words were more to herself than anyone else.
"Can I stay and watch?" Candace asked suddenly. For the first time in three weeks, her voice carried an eagerness Venera hadn't heard before, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Venera paused, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied the girl. Candace met her gaze, unflinching, and for a moment, Venera considered refusing. But with a sigh, she relented.
"Suit yourself," she said, shaking her head. "Just stay out of trouble."
Without waiting for a response, Venera strode to the edge of the ship's deck. The cool wind whipped at her robes as she stopped at the railing, her gaze fixed on the incoming wyverns. She took a deep breath, centering herself, and then she jumped.