The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows across the academy grounds. Dahlia's boots crunched softly against the gravel as she walked briskly toward the towering gates. Her eyes stayed fixed on them—her only chance to leave this place before she got tangled in something she couldn't escape. The gates seemed to glow faintly in the golden light, beckoning her forward. Just a few more steps and she'd be free.
"Almost there…" she muttered under her breath, clutching the strap of her bag tightly.
"Dahlia! There you are!" A voice rang out behind her, startling her.
She froze, her shoulders stiffening. Slowly, she turned, her heart sinking when she saw Yuri bounding toward her with a grin that could rival the sun.
"Oh no," Dahlia whispered to herself. She glanced back at the gate, then at Yuri, who was already too close to ignore.
"Hey!" Yuri skidded to a stop in front of her, slightly out of breath but still smiling. "I've been looking all over for you. What are you doing here? Were you about to leave?"
"Uh…" Dahlia hesitated, her mind racing for an excuse. "I was just… getting some fresh air."
"Near the gate?" Yuri raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You weren't thinking of running off, were you?"
"What? No, of course not!" Dahlia forced a nervous laugh, waving her hands dismissively. "I just—"
"Good! Because you can't leave on an empty stomach." Yuri grabbed her arm with surprising strength. "Come on, let's get some food. You've gotta try the cafeteria."
"Wait, I—"
"Nope, no arguments!" Yuri started dragging her back toward the main building. Dahlia glanced over her shoulder, watching the gates shrink farther and farther away. Her stomach twisted in frustration, but Yuri's grip was firm, and her cheerfulness left no room for protest.
As they entered the cafeteria, the late afternoon light spilled through tall windows, casting a warm glow over the bustling space. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted vegetables filled the air, and the chatter of students created a lively hum. Dahlia tried to ignore the stares as heads turned her way. She knew her outsider's clothing made her stand out, and she could hear whispers trailing behind her.
"Who is she?"
"Isn't that the girl Yuri brought in earlier?"
"She doesn't look like she belongs here…"
Yuri, oblivious to the murmurs, waved to a group of students at a nearby table. "Hey, guys! I'm back! And I brought Dahlia with me!"
The group greeted Yuri warmly, their curiosity quickly shifting to Dahlia. One of them, a boy with messy brown hair and a mischievous grin, leaned forward. "So, you're the new girl, huh? Where are you from?"
"Uh…" Dahlia hesitated, feeling the weight of their stares. "Far away."
"Far away?" another girl with bright red hair repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's vague."
"She's probably just shy," Yuri interjected, plopping down in a chair and gesturing for Dahlia to sit beside her. "Give her a break, guys. She's had a rough day."
Reluctantly, Dahlia sat, still hyper-aware of the eyes on her. Yuri handed her a plate of food, and she picked at it absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting back to the gates and how close she'd been to leaving.
"So," Yuri began, breaking the silence, "Dahlia, have you heard about the peak acknowledgements?"
Dahlia blinked, pulled out of her thoughts. "The what?"
"Peak acknowledgements," Yuri said, her eyes lighting up. "They're these medals the academy gives to students who excel in their fields. If you earn five, you become a Noble Star."
"And what's so great about that?" Dahlia asked, trying to sound indifferent, though her curiosity was piqued.
"You're kidding, right?" the boy with the messy hair cut in, laughing. "Becoming a Noble Star is the dream. You get to meet the Enchantress, the most powerful mage in the realm, and—"
"And," Yuri interrupted, leaning closer to Dahlia, "you gain access to the Archives."
"The Archives?" Dahlia repeated, her brows furrowing.
"It's this massive library," Yuri explained, her voice dropping as if she were sharing a secret. "It holds the secrets of the world—ancient spells, forbidden magics, all kinds of powerful stuff. Only Noble Stars are allowed inside."
"Even the Celestial Book?" Dahlia asked before she could stop herself. Her heart pounded as the words left her lips.
Yuri tilted her head, surprised by the question. "The Celestial Book? Yeah, some rumors say it's in there. But who knows if that's true?"
The others exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by Dahlia's sudden interest. The boy with messy hair smirked. "Why? You planning to go for it?"
Dahlia quickly shook her head, trying to cover her slip. "No, I was just curious."
"Right…" the red-haired girl said, narrowing her eyes. "Well, good luck. You'd need to enroll first, and I doubt they're taking new students right now."
"Actually," Yuri said, cutting in again, "I think there's a way."
Everyone turned to her, including Dahlia. "What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.
"Well," Yuri said, tapping her chin, "it's rare, but sometimes the headmaster makes exceptions. If someone shows enough potential, they can get in, even mid-year."
Dahlia's mind raced. Enrolling in the academy hadn't been part of her plan, but now… now it seemed like the perfect way to get closer to the Celestial Book. If the Archives really held the book, this was her best shot at finding it. And as long as she played her cards right, no one would suspect her true identity as a dark magic wielder from the Dark Kingdom.
"How would I prove I have potential?" she asked, keeping her tone casual.
"Easy," Yuri said with a grin. "Show them what you've got. A magical demonstration or something. You've got magic, right?"
Dahlia hesitated. She couldn't exactly show them her light magic—it would raise too many questions. But maybe she could fake something more neutral. "I… might."
"Might?" the boy laughed. "You either do or you don't, new girl."
"She does," Yuri said confidently, shooting Dahlia a wink. "And I'll help her figure out how to prove it. Right, Dahlia?"
Dahlia forced a smile, though her mind was already racing with possibilities. "Right."
The group eventually moved on to other topics, but Dahlia remained quiet, formulating her plan. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the cafeteria in a warm twilight glow, she had made up her mind.
This academy would be her ticket to the Celestial Book. All she had to do was convince them she belonged.
And she was ready to do whatever it took.