The sunlight poured through the large windows of the Magic Theory classroom, casting long shadows on the polished wooden floors. The classroom was filled with the quiet hum of students settling into their seats, their conversations a soft murmur in the background. The excitement from the previous day's duels had begun to settle, replaced by the tension of academic expectations.
I took a seat at one of the desks near the back of the room, glancing around for my partner. As expected, Seraphina sat at the front of the class, her posture rigid and unyielding, her silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of moonlight. She didn't acknowledge anyone around her, her focus already on the notes she was writing—evidently preparing for the lesson without a hint of interest in the students around her.
"Caelum, you'll be working with Seraphina today," Professor Aldric's voice rang out, breaking through my thoughts. I looked up to see him standing at the front of the room with a list of names in his hand, his expression calm and professional.
I swallowed, nerves bubbling in my stomach. Of course, I'd been paired with her—the second-ranked student, known for her cold demeanor and perfectionist nature. I could feel the eyes of my classmates shift toward me, some curious, others envious, but all of them aware of the significance of this pairing.
With a quick breath, I stood up and made my way to her desk. When I arrived, she didn't even look up. Her silver eyes were focused entirely on the parchment before her, where she was already scribbling down complex symbols. The air around her was thick with indifference. It was as if I was invisible.
I stood there for a few moments, unsure how to proceed. I had expected her to at least acknowledge me, but she was completely absorbed in her work. Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat. "Uh, Seraphina? It seems like we're partners today."
She didn't respond at first. Her hand moved fluidly across the parchment, adding more runes to the symbols. Only after several seconds did she glance up at me, her violet eyes cool and distant. "I know," she said simply, her voice flat, devoid of any interest. She returned to her work without another word, leaving me standing there, feeling like an intruder in her space.
I tried to shake off the awkwardness, though it lingered in the air like a weight. I wasn't about to let her brush me off completely. "Well, we're supposed to create a magical construct together. I was thinking we could start with something simple, like a basic barrier."
Seraphina's only response was a quiet hum, barely a sound, as she adjusted her parchment. Her eyes remained focused on the task at hand, not meeting mine again. I waited for some sign of acknowledgement, but it never came. It was as if she was so immersed in her own world that I didn't even exist.
After a long, uncomfortable pause, I sat down beside her, trying to gather my thoughts. I had always been one to dive into things headfirst, but with Seraphina, it felt like I had to tiptoe around her, as if any wrong move would be met with scorn or indifference.
I focused on my part of the task, gathering the materials for the construct—a few crystals, some enchanted parchment, and a few other supplies that the professor had set aside for us. I worked quietly, but after a while, I couldn't help but glance at Seraphina. She was still absorbed in her runes, completely ignoring me.
I felt a little sting of frustration. I wasn't asking for friendship, but a little cooperation would have been nice.
As I began tracing my own runes onto the crystals, I tried to take my mind off her coldness. I knew she was talented—second in rank for a reason—but the silence between us was deafening. How was I supposed to work with someone who was so disinterested in me?
"Seraphina," I said again, this time trying to be more direct. "Should we focus more on stability or strength for the barrier?"
She didn't answer at first, and I could feel my patience wearing thin. Finally, she gave a small, barely perceptible shrug, her voice still detached. "Stability. Strength can come later. Magic is about control, not brute force."
I felt a flicker of irritation. It wasn't her words that bothered me—there was wisdom in them—but the way she had so easily dismissed my input. It was as if she was only willing to engage with the task, not with me. I sighed inwardly, deciding to focus on what I could control—my own work.
As the class continued, Seraphina's disregard for me grew clearer. While I focused on assembling the core structure for the magical barrier, she had already completed a detailed set of runes that would strengthen and stabilize the construct. There was no collaboration, no exchange of ideas—she simply expected me to follow her lead.
When we finally combined our work, the barrier shimmered into existence. It wasn't as impressive as I'd hoped, but it held its shape, glowing faintly with magical energy. Professor Aldric passed by and nodded approvingly. "Solid work," he commented, his gaze flicking between us. "You've done well."
But Seraphina didn't acknowledge the praise. She simply packed up her things, ignoring me as though the entire exercise had been a mere formality to her. It was clear that, to her, this partnership was nothing more than a task to get through.
As the class dismissed, I gathered my things, looking over at Seraphina once more. She was already moving to the door, her expression as cold and detached as it had been at the beginning of the class.
I had worked with her, but in the end, I had learned little more about her than I already knew: Seraphina was a force to be reckoned with, but she was also distant, uninterested in anyone who couldn't match her cold ambition.
I watched her leave, knowing that this partnership wouldn't be the start of any friendship. But I had to admit, part of me respected her for that. She wasn't here to make friends—she was here to prove herself. And that made her dangerous.
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