Aiden
'Beautiful' was all I could think while I stared at her. 'Human-born' was the next and 'intelligent' followed, each word resonating deeper than the last. When she turned to meet my gaze, a ripple of surprise crossed her features. 'She finally felt my eyes, huh?' I thought, masking every flicker of emotion behind the scowl I've perfected over the years. Yet, the confusion in her eyes struck like a blade, soft yet sharp, and it broke my heart. Why? I couldn't explain. Now, 45 minutes later, her puzzled expression still haunts my mind, the ache in my chest growing heavier. Why her? Why now?
"What was that nonsense you pulled back there?" Jason asked once we were far enough from them.
"I don't know," I groaned, dragging a hand over my face and letting it fall to my side. "I saw her up front during the sorting, almost placed in Mortivane, and that caught my attention." My hand ran through my hair, frustration simmering. "That wild, red curly hair made her stand out even more. Bravery and intelligence at this age? Father would've loved her... if she wasn't human-born. Why did she have to be human-born?" I moaned, the words heavy on my tongue.
Matthew puffed out a laugh, breaking the moment. My glare sharpened at him, ready to cut, but Jason scoffed first.
"Don't get me started on you, Matt, especially after yesterday," he snapped, turning his glare on Matthew. "Aiden has a bit more of a chance with that Novate than you do with the chosen one's sister."
Matthew's face fell, the amusement vanishing, replaced by a shadow of something deeper.
I don't think any of us will ever get the girls we like. "You guys heard what Father did?" I finally asked when Jason's words sank in. 'More of a chance...'—implication: 0.000005% of a chance more. Jason looked guilty, avoiding my eyes, but that was the only acknowledgment he offered.
Matt, on the other hand, had a lot more to say. "We were asked what we thought about Ms. Greenwich," he began, his voice carrying a bitter edge. "Don't worry, we shut it down immediately. We knew someone with more money than brains wouldn't be a good fit for an arranged marriage." He shook his head, the frustration clear. "Your father wasn't pleased. 'Yes, Aiden is only fourteen,' he said, 'but we need to get this arranged bride business out of the way.'" Matthew mimicked his tone, eyes dark with resentment. "Then he dropped the bomb: 'Next time, I won't be asking what you think about the girl.'"
I clenched my fists, the familiar anger rising. Another decision made without me. "Sorry, we couldn't help more, Lan," Matthew added softly, using the shortened version of my middle name, the one he only used when he felt guilty or knew I was hurting.
"Thanks," I muttered, my voice tight. "And don't worry about it. It's not your fault."
The air between us grew heavy with unspoken words—shared frustrations, the invisible chains of expectation. We all knew our fates weren't really ours to control. No matter how hard we fought, our futures had already been decided.
"Hey, Jase, I'm not mad," I assured him, catching the way he averted his eyes after I said thank you. It was a subtle movement, but I noticed. I knew he had gone back to speak with Father—under pressure, no doubt. "I know you went back," I continued, my voice soft but firm. "I heard you. And I'm not angry about it. I didn't fully understand what you were saying at the time, but I get it now. Jase, none of us are in control of our futures. You might not be my blood brothers, but you're my brothers."
Jason finally looked at me, guilt and something else—something heavier—written on his face. "We might need to start thinking of a new plan," I added, my voice dropping to a near whisper. "To get Annabelle and Nova out from under both of them." As I said her name, I locked eyes with him, watching the flash of emotion in his eyes, something raw and unguarded. "Together, Jase. Please," I nearly begged, pleading with him not to hide anything from us anymore.
We walked in silence to Arcane Fundamentals, the weight of unspoken promises hanging between us. When we reached the classroom, I noticed the arranged seating immediately. There was a desk waiting for me—no surprise. But what caught my attention was the scent that surrounded it: wild, red, and unmistakably feminine. It smelled like libraries, new books, and strawberries—like her. Arranged marriage, arranged seating…
If Father or the Dark Lord ever found out about Professor Stokes' little seating arrangement, they would kill her. Yet, in that moment, I felt an unexpected surge of gratitude toward her. Maybe even affection.
Someone approached the desk beside me, the pull of their presence feeling both familiar and right. I turned, anticipation swirling in my chest, and saw her—the girl with the wild red curls and piercing eyes.
Evan
We walked into Arcane Fundamentals, each of us drifting towards our assigned desks. George and I ended up next to each other, which wasn't surprising. What did surprise me, though, was where Ophelia and Jaime went. I'd expected them to stick together like they usually did, but instead, they found themselves sitting next to two very unexpected people.
Ophelia settled beside Aiden—yes, that was his name. The boy with the dark hair and the intense, silvery-green eyes. Jaime, on the other hand, took her seat next to either Matthew or Jason. I wasn't entirely sure which one, but the boy's expression made it clear—he was more than happy to have her as his neighbour. His excitement was almost palpable, his gaze flicking towards Jaime with a mix of curiosity and delight.
My attention wandered around the classroom, finally landing on the blackboard. Written in neat, authoritative script were the words: Professor Jane Stokes. The next thing that struck me was something odd—a subtle hue hovering around Ophelia's table. It shimmered in a soft blend of blue and red, just faint enough to be almost overlooked. Intrigued, I glanced over at Jaime's desk. There it was again, but in different shades: violet and silver. The colours seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't quite place, clinging to their desks like invisible threads of fate.
I scanned the rest of the room, wondering if anyone else noticed the strange, spectral auras that wrapped around certain tables. What did they mean? Why were they only around some desks? It felt like a secret waiting to be unraveled, and I had a nagging feeling that it wasn't something coincidental.
Professor Stokes entered the room, radiating an air of warmth and quiet authority. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she scanned the class, her movements graceful yet deliberate. She wore a simple, flowing robe of deep blue, edged with shimmering golden symbols. They caught the light, hinting at some deeper significance Evan couldn't quite place. They gave her an air of authority and mystery.
"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice smooth and clear. "My name is Professor Jane Stokes. You may call me Professor Jane." She paused, letting her words settle, then smiled broadly, her genuine warmth filling the room. "Welcome to Arcane Fundamentals. This class will lay the groundwork for everything you need to know about harnessing and manipulating magic. We'll be covering both theoretical and practical aspects, so expect a balanced mix of study and hands-on practice."
She glanced around the room, her smile widening. "I see the seating arrangement has worked out well for most of you. If you feel like you're in the wrong spot, please move now. However," she continued, her gaze sharpening slightly, "if there's a hue around your table, stay seated. You'll be in that spot for the rest of the year, and you won't be able to move, so please don't try. Thank you."
A murmur of curiosity swept through the room. Evan frowned slightly, glancing at George beside him. "What did she mean by 'hue'?" he whispered, leaning in closer. "I didn't notice anything weird."
George shrugged, his brow furrowed. "I don't know, mate. I didn't see anything either. Maybe it's some kind of enchantment?"
Professor Jane continued, gesturing to the blackboard where arcane symbols began to appear, shimmering faintly. "This semester, we will be delving into the core principles of arcane manipulation. Our first topic: elemental convergence. By the end of this term, you should be able to channel and balance the four fundamental elements—earth, air, fire, and water—through basic conduits like wands, staves, or even your bare hands, depending on your skill level."
A ripple of excitement passed through the class. Channeling elements was advanced magic—something many students had only read about. Professor Jane's eyes twinkled as she saw their reactions. "But before we get ahead of ourselves," she continued, "we need to establish a foundation. Today, we'll focus on attunement exercises. These will help you sense and connect with the magical currents around you. Once you've attuned yourself to the elements, manipulation becomes much easier."
She moved to the centre of the room, raising one hand. With a soft word, a flickering flame appeared in her palm, dancing gently above her skin. "Each element has a distinct energy signature," she explained. "Fire is passionate and volatile. Water is fluid and adaptable. Earth is stable and enduring. Air is free and elusive. Learning to sense these energies is the first step towards mastering them."
As she spoke, the flame in her hand shifted, transforming into a sphere of water, then a floating pebble, and finally a gust of wind that ruffled the students' hair. The class watched in awe, captivated by her effortless control.
Evan leaned closer to George, whispering, "This is amazing. I didn't expect we'd get to this level of magic so quickly."
George nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. "I thought we'd be stuck reading theory for weeks. This is going to be brilliant."
Evan's eyes drifted towards Ophelia, who sat a few rows away. She seemed completely absorbed in the lesson, her wild red hair catching the light as she scribbled notes. Jaime, seated next to one of the older boys—Matthew or Jason, Evan still wasn't sure—was also paying close attention.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke the quiet focus. Jaime was laughing at something the boy beside her had said, her face lighting up with amusement. The sound drew both Evan and George's attention immediately.
"What's going on over there?" George muttered, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Why's she laughing with him like that?"
Evan smirked. "Jealous, are we?"
George rolled his eyes. "No. Just... curious." He tried to sound nonchalant, but Evan wasn't convinced.
Their conversation was cut short as Professor Jane clapped her hands, drawing everyone's focus back to her. "Right, let's get started. For the first exercise, I want each of you to close your eyes and focus on the air around you. Try to feel the energy flowing through it. Magic isn't just something you cast—it's something you connect with."
The students obeyed, closing their eyes. Professor Jane's voice guided them through the process. "Breathe deeply. Inhale... exhale. Focus on the space around you. Feel the currents of energy, the subtle hum of magic. It's always there, waiting for you to tap into it."
Evan tried to concentrate, his mind quieting as he followed her instructions. He could almost sense it—a faint, tingling presence just beyond his awareness. He opened one eye to peek at George, who was frowning in concentration.
After a few minutes, Professor Jane spoke again. "Now, open your eyes. That was your first step towards attunement. Some of you may have felt something; others might need more time. That's perfectly normal. Magic is a journey, not a race."
She smiled, her eyes softening. "By the end of this semester, you'll be able to sense and manipulate these energies with confidence. Remember, understanding the elements isn't just about power—it's about respect and balance. Misusing or misunderstanding these forces can have... unintended consequences."
Her expression grew serious for a moment, and the room fell silent. Then, she brightened again. "Alright! Let's partner up for the next exercise. You'll help each other stay focused and share what you experienced."
Evan turned to George. "Partners?"
George grinned. "Obviously."
As they began the next set of exercises, Evan's thoughts drifted back to the seating arrangements. What had Professor Jane meant about the hues? And why hadn't he noticed anything unusual? He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this class—and these desks—than met the eye.