(Vega POV)
"To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever."
Oh, the dramatic weight of those words. My mother's voice echoed in my mind as though the universe itself had decided to play a little sad violin music in the background.
I could almost hear her saying it, her words lingering like an overzealous perfume. It was nice, in a poetic, "I'm about to do something very rebellious" kind of way. But that's just how my life worked—always tangled up in a weird blend of nostalgia and chaos.
Alya's blue eyes sparkled across the table, that infamous glint of mischief practically oozing from her. She sat there, plotting something, no doubt.
"Well, Vega, I've got a simple dare for you," Alya purred, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise in anticipation.
Simple? Sweetheart, simple and Alya should never be in the same sentence unless you're trying to test how fast someone can say "I'm screwed."
"Simple dare?" I shot her a look, my eyebrow arching so high it almost hit my hairline. "Alya, darling, you should know better than to ever trust the word 'simple' coming out of your mouth. What's the real catch? Spells gone wrong? An impromptu duel with a dragon?"
Alya's smile stretched wider, like she had just found a treasure chest. "Nope, nothing so boring. I want you to sing a song about our glorious school... on top of the table. Extra dramatic flair, of course."
I let the words sink in.
Alya.
A table.
A song.
My life just had to be this entertaining, didn't it?
"You know what, Alya? If you think I'm scared, you've got another thing coming. But—" I threw her a look that could freeze water, "—only if you join in. Fair warning—if you want drama, you're going to get it. And that means you have to sing, too."
Her grin grew. It was so wide, I thought her face might crack. She practically skipped to the edge of her seat. "Fine. I'll take that bet. Show me what you've got."
I waved my hand dismissively, already setting the stage for my performance. There was no turning back now.
I shoved my plate aside—not because I didn't appreciate good food, but because standing on a table deserved my undivided attention.
My feet were placed carefully on the edge of the bench. The entire room grew still.
Perfect.
Dramatic tension—check.
With a flick of my wrist, my guitar appeared, hovering in mid-air like I was some sort of magical rockstar. No wand needed, just the sheer power of my fabulousness.
The room went silent. You could practically feel the anticipation hang in the air like the scent of freshly baked bread. Professor Aurilea's ice-cold stare instantly locked on me, her gaze colder than Siberian winter.
"It's quite disrespectful to stand on the table, dear," she said, her voice icily polite. Like, hello? Was she going for the "I'm-a-frosty-snow-queen" vibe?
I smiled sweetly, channeling every ounce of charm I could muster. "I know, Miss Headmistress, but it's the end of the year. Thought I'd give the students a special treat. Permission granted?"
Alya bit her lip, trying to hide her laughter as she watched the showdown unfold. I could practically hear her mentally betting on whether I'd actually survive this encounter.
Professor Aurilea's glare softened just slightly, like someone who's just about to regret a bad decision. "Do whatever you want. Just don't make a mess."
"Thanks, Auri! You're the best!" I chirped, not missing the opportunity to throw in a little sarcasm. She muttered something under her breath as I confidently took my place.
I strummed the first chord of my guitar, and without missing a beat, launched into song.
Koldovstoretz, a haven so grand,
Four houses united, we take a stand.
Azure for leaders, brave and true,
Red for the bold, with vision anew.
Black for the wise, with minds so keen,
Grey for the daring, unseen but serene.
Alya, of course, jumped in with the chorus. We were a mess, but an entertaining one, like a circus that had been granted its own theme song.
Chorus (Alya & others):
Sing it loud, sing it proud, from every floor,
At Koldovstoretz, magic's what we adore!
House of Aristov, Voronin, Grigoriev, Romanov,
We rise, we shine, we stand, and we talk!
The room was alive. Teachers were tapping their feet (I saw you, Professor Aurilea, don't even pretend you didn't enjoy it). Even the stone walls seemed to reverberate with the energy we'd summoned.
I grinned like I had just conquered the world. "Koldovstoretz, let me tell you what's up!" I rapped the second verse with the kind of enthusiasm that could probably melt icebergs.
Koldovstoretz, let me tell you what's up,
A school so grand, where the magic's tough,
Four houses rise, each with their own flair,
Get ready to hear, if you dare to care!
The final chord rang out, and I landed gracefully back on the floor, shaking out my hair like some rockstar straight out of a magical music video.
The room burst into a final chorus, their voices filling the halls like a magical wave of sound. It was pure chaos—but the best kind of chaos.
Even Professor Aurilea, whose icy demeanor was almost legendary, gave the faintest, and I mean faintest, smile. It was like winning a tiny victory against the coldest person on the planet.
I winked at Alya, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Guess I win this round."
"Oh, you think so?" she said with that glint in her eyes. "This is far from over, Vega."
"Oh, I'm sure," I replied, rolling my eyes in mock boredom. "Bring it on. I'm always up for the challenge."
After my bow (because, of course, I had to), I hopped down from the table, strolling through the crowd like I hadn't just performed a show that would go down in school history. Before I could take a breath, Alya and Anastasia were practically suffocating me with hugs.
"That was epic, Vega!" Anastasia Rose gushed, her eyes practically twinkling.
"Epic, huh?" I smirked, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Rose."
Alya's expression softened just a little, and I could see the question in her eyes. "So, you're really leaving, huh? Do you have to?"
I sighed, trying not to get sentimental. It was hard to be all "goodbye" when your heart was doing flips. "Look, girls," I said lightly, "I'll miss you, but tomorrow? I've got a battle to win. Don't go getting all mopey on me now. I'm not going anywhere in spirit."
Anastasia sighed like a teacher giving a life lesson. "You've got a big day ahead of you. Get some rest, Vega."
"Ugh, fine," I groaned, collapsing into my bed. "Way to kill the vibe, Rose."
"Goodnight, Vega," she said sweetly, before rolling over into her own bed.
"Yeah, yeah. Night," I muttered, already half-asleep. Alya, however, was still right there, like a little shadow.
"Goodnight, Zeta," she chimed in, her voice softer than usual.
"Goodnight, Alya," I replied with a smile I couldn't fully hide, rolling onto my side. We were the weird duo, but it worked.
And just like that, the day was done. Tomorrow would come with all its chaos, but hey, life was never going to be a dull one for me.
In case you're wondering, let me properly introduce myself.
The name's Zeta Lyrae Malfoy—Vega, or Zeta if you're lucky. And I don't play by anyone's rules except my own.
TO BE CONTINUED...