The midday sun hung high in the sky as students shuffled out of the dining hall, the buzz of conversation still revolving around the dramatic duel that had taken place just before lunch.
Aiden followed Adrian and Sevan as they made their way across campus to the expansive outdoor fields, where their next class, Creature Care, was set to begin.
Adrian stretched his arms behind his head, his face alight with amusement. "So, do we think Shiloh's still fuming, or has he managed to bury his bruised ego under that mountain of pride?"
"If I had to guess, he's not done simmering. Did you see the way he stormed off after Emmeranne beat him? The guy's probably already plotting his revenge." Sevan replied.
"Still can't believe she didn't even break a sweat," Aiden added, shaking his head. "It's no wonder she's top of the year."
At the center of the group stood their professor.
Or at least, Aiden hoped it wasn't their professor.
She leaned on her crutch with a steady grip, her figure tall and wiry. Her right eye was hidden behind a swath of bandages, as were her fingers, wrapped tightly as if they had seen countless battles.
Aiden wished it was from a fight or duel, because a professor that looked this... beaten up teach Creature Care...
Aiden shuddered at the thought that he might look like that as well.
"Whatssamatter?" Adrian asked, seeing the color wash out from Aiden's face.
"Is that our professor?"
"Yeah, I guess so... In the time table, her name is Professor Pipa." Sevan said.
"All right, listen up," Professor Pippa called out, her voice cutting through the din. The students quieted immediately.
"Welcome to Creature Care. This is not a course for the faint-hearted. You are not simply here to study magical creatures; you are here to learn how to coexist with them. These creatures are not our pets—they are our allies, and sometimes, they are our teachers."
Her words hung in the air for a moment before she continued. "Today, you will be assigned a partner. Together, you will care for a Divata, a highly sensitive and intelligent creature. You had your class with Professor Ylang-Ylang, is that correct?"
The class nodded.
"Then you are familiar with Divatas already. If you cannot build trust with your Divata, you will fail this course. Divatas are the easiest to care. And let me be clear: failing this course means you are unfit to work with creatures in any capacity. So take this seriously."
The students exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and apprehension flickering across their faces.
Sevan straightened up, his curiosity piqued. Divatas were legendary for their bond-building abilities, often seen as a test of one's patience and emotional awareness.
Pippa began calling out names. "Emmeranne and Aiden."
Aiden blinked, caught off guard. He glanced at Emmeranne, who gave him a brief, cool nod.
"Sevan Wasterfall and Morrigan Wilder," Pippa called next.
A blonde girl with short, choppy hair practically bounded over to Sevan, her almond-brown eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"Hi!" she chirped. "You're Sevan, right? I'm Morrigan, I'm also from the Top 10. This is going to be so much fun!"
Sevan gave her a small smile, clearly bracing himself for the energy she exuded.
"Adrian Caleena," Pippa continued, her sharp gaze landing on him, "with Ivara."
Adrian grinned as Ivara approached. She didn't bother to greet him, simply standing beside him with her arms crossed.
Professor Pipa paired the rest of the class. Jarek with Hanako, Rupert with Peter, and finally...
"Finally, Shiloh Spadille and Amihan," Pippa concluded.
Aiden's attention shifted to the pale girl with snow-like hair and amethyst purple eyes as she hesitated before sitting beside Shiloh. She exuded a quiet calm, a stark contrast to Shiloh's agitated presence.
Shiloh let out an audible sigh of exasperation, shooting a pointed look at Amihan. "Fantastic," he muttered under his breath.
Amihan's lips parted as if to respond, but she quickly closed them, her gaze dropping to the ground.
Pippa didn't miss the interaction. "Mr. Spadille," she said, her tone sharp, "I suggest you adjust your attitude. Your partner deserves your respect, and your creature will sense your negativity."
Shiloh's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply, his gaze fixed stubbornly on the grass.
Professor Pippa clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "Now, let me introduce you to your partners."
From the far side of the garden, a group of Divatas emerged, their luminous forms shimmering in the sunlight. The fairy-like creatures had delicate, translucent wings and glowed softly in various hues. Their laughter was like the chime of distant bells as they flitted around the students, observing them with curious eyes.
"They choose us?" Adrian asked.
"Correct," Pippa replied. "Divatas are highly attuned to your energy. They will sense your intentions, your emotions, and your sincerity. If they deem you unworthy, they will not bond with you. If that happens…" She left the warning hanging, but her pointed look was enough to make a few students gulp.
The Divatas began choosing their pairs, hovering around the students with curiosity. Aiden's Divata was a soft golden hue, its wings shimmering as it chirped at him and Emmeranne. Adrian's Divata, a deep indigo, circled him playfully, while Sevan's Divata—a bright green—seemed drawn to Morrigan's boundless energy.
Shiloh's Divata, pale silver, approached him and Amihan hesitantly, its glow flickering slightly.
"Great," Shiloh muttered. "A flying glowstick."
Aiden rolled his eyes. "Does he ever stop complaining?"
Amihan glanced at him, her soft voice breaking the tension. "It's beautiful."
Shiloh scoffed but said nothing, his mood as sour as ever. His irritability didn't go unnoticed by the others.
Morrigan, who was the least likely to get angry, shot him a pointed look. "Maybe if you weren't so grumpy, your Divata wouldn't look like it's about to fly away."
"Mind your own business," Shiloh snapped, his tone sharp.
"Maybe I would if you weren't making everyone else miserable," Morrigan hissed at him.
Before the argument could escalate, Professor Pippa's voice cut through the air. "That's enough. You're here to bond with your Divatas, not bicker like children."
Shiloh muttered something under his breath, but the class moved on. Professor Pippa began teaching the basics of Divata care, emphasizing the importance of trust and respect. She spoke about how Divatas could sense their caretaker's emotions and would only thrive if treated with kindness.
"Caring for a Divata isn't just about feeding it or keeping it safe," she explained. "It's about understanding its needs and forming a connection. The bond you create with your Divata will reflect who you are as a person."
Aiden found himself surprisingly absorbed in the lesson. His golden Divata chirped happily as he and Emmeranne fed it a piece of enchanted fruit, its glow brightening with each bite. Beside him, Emmeranne worked in silence.
Across the garden, Shiloh's mood continued to sour. Amihan did her best to keep their Divata engaged, but it was clear that Shiloh's negativity was affecting the creature.
Aiden couldn't help but feel sorry for her- she seemed like the kind of person who would thrive in this class, but Shiloh's attitude was dragging her down.
As the class progressed, Aiden glanced around at his friends. Adrian was clearly enjoying himself, his Divata darting around him and Ivara playfully.
By the time the class wrapped up, Professor Pippa hobbled over with her crutch, her eyes scanning the students as the Divatas flitted back into their magical enclosure to rest.
She gave a nod of approval.
"Good work today, everyone. Remember, caring for magical creatures is not just about keeping them alive but building trust and understanding. Dismissed."
The students began to disperse, conversations buzzing about their Divatas. Aiden, Sevan, and Adrian exchanged a few words about their own Divatas before heading toward the clearing to gather their things.
As they walked, Aiden noticed Amihan sitting by herself beneath a tree at the edge of the clearing.
Her white hair was almost luminescent in the afternoon light, but what caught his attention was the way her shoulders trembled slightly. She was facing away from the other students, her face turned down as if she didn't want anyone to notice her.
"Is she... crying?" Aiden asked, stopping in his tracks.
Sevan glanced at her and sighed. "Shiloh probably said a lot of mean things to her."
Adrian wasn't listening. "Hold this," he said, shoving his notebook into Sevan's hands and marching toward Amihan with zero hesitation.
Aiden groaned but followed him, nudging Sevan to join. "We can't just leave her there," he muttered.
The three boys approached carefully, their steps soft against the grass. Amihan didn't seem to notice until Adrian crouched in front of her.
"Hey, Amihan. Are you okay?"