The auditorium buzzed with a mix of anticipation and exhaustion as the students settled into their seats. The headmistress, Celestia Arvendell, stood at the podium, her silver hair catching the light as she surveyed the room with her piercing violet eyes. The air was thick with tension, the results of the entrance exam hanging over everyone like a storm cloud.
Kaelith sat slumped in her seat, her golden curls spilling over her shoulders as she leaned heavily against Elara. Her crimson eyes were half-closed, her earlier energy drained after the chaos of the exam. She didn't care about the results or the headmistress's speech. All that mattered was Elara, who sat beside her, her sapphire blue eyes focused on the stage.
"Kae, sit up," Elara whispered, her voice gentle but firm. "You're going to fall over."
Kaelith groaned but obeyed, straightening slightly while still keeping her shoulder pressed against Elara's. "I'm tired," she whined, her voice low and petulant. "Can't we just go home?"
"Soon," Elara replied, her hand resting on Kaelith's arm in a soothing gesture. "We just need to hear the results first."
Kaelith pouted but didn't argue further. She knew Elara wouldn't budge on this, and she didn't have the energy to fight. Instead, she focused on the warmth of Elara's presence, her crimson eyes drifting back to the stage as the headmistress began to speak.
"Congratulations to all of you for completing the entrance exam," Celestia said, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "The results have been tallied, and I am pleased to announce that all of you have passed. However, your performance during the exam will determine your class placements and schedules."
A murmur of relief and excitement rippled through the auditorium. Kaelith, however, remained unimpressed. She crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat, her expression one of mild disinterest. "Big deal," she muttered under her breath. "As long as I'm with Ela, I don't care what class I'm in."
Elara shot her a look, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Kae, be serious. This is important."
Kaelith shrugged but didn't argue. She knew Elara took these things seriously, and she didn't want to upset her. Instead, she focused on the headmistress's next words.
"Your class schedules will be posted in the main hallway," Celestia continued. "You will find your names listed alongside your assigned classes and instructors. I encourage you to review your schedules carefully and prepare for the start of classes tomorrow."
Kaelith perked up slightly at the mention of the hallway. If the schedules were posted there, it meant they could leave soon. She turned to Elara, her crimson eyes bright with anticipation. "Can we go now?"
Elara chuckled, her hand gently squeezing Kaelith's arm. "Not yet. We need to wait until the headmistress is finished."
Kaelith groaned but didn't argue. She slumped back in her seat, her impatience evident as she tapped her foot against the floor. The headmistress's speech seemed to drag on forever, her words blending together in a monotonous drone. Kaelith's attention wandered, her gaze flicking around the room as she searched for something—anything—to distract her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the headmistress concluded her speech. "That is all for now. You are dismissed. Please proceed to the main hallway to review your schedules."
The students began to rise from their seats, their chatter filling the air as they made their way toward the exit. Kaelith was on her feet in an instant, her hand gripping Elara's as she pulled her toward the door. "Come on, Ela. Let's go."
Elara laughed, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement as she allowed Kaelith to drag her along. "Slow down, Kae. We have plenty of time."
Kaelith didn't respond, her focus entirely on getting to the hallway as quickly as possible. She weaved through the crowd with ease, her smaller frame allowing her to slip past the other students. Elara followed close behind, her gentle demeanor a stark contrast to Kaelith's impatience.
As they reached the hallway, Kaelith's eyes scanned the walls, searching for their names. The schedules were posted on large boards, each one filled with rows of names and class assignments. Kaelith's grip on Elara's hand tightened as she pulled her toward the nearest board.
Before they could reach it, a familiar voice called out to them. "Elara, Kaelith."
They turned to see Serenith approaching, her platinum blonde hair shimmering under the light. Her icy blue eyes were calm and calculating, her expression unreadable as always. "I thought we could find our schedules together," she said, her voice smooth and measured. "It would be more efficient."
Elara smiled, her sapphire blue eyes filled with warmth. "That's a great idea. Thank you, Serenith."
Kaelith, however, was less enthusiastic. She crossed her arms and glared at Serenith, her crimson eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Why do you care? We can find our own schedules."
Serenith raised an eyebrow, her expression unchanging. "I'm simply offering to help. There's no need to be hostile."
Kaelith's glare deepened, but before she could respond, Elara placed a hand on her arm. "Kae, be nice. Serenith's just trying to help."
Kaelith pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that made her look more like a sulking child than a fearsome mage. "Fine. But I'm not happy about it."
Elara chuckled, her fingers brushing through Kaelith's golden curls. "You'll survive."
The three of them made their way to the schedule boards, their steps in sync as they searched for their names. Kaelith stayed close to Elara, her hand never leaving her sister's as she scanned the lists. Her crimson eyes lit up when she found their names, her earlier irritation forgotten.
"Look, Ela! We're in the same class," Kaelith said, her voice filled with excitement. "I told you it would be fine."
Elara smiled, her blue eyes filled with relief. "That's great, Kae. I'm glad we'll be together."
As Elara scanned the rest of the list, her smile faltered slightly. She recognized the names of the other heroines—Serenith, Nyxara, Liora, Thalindra—and, of course, Aelara. They were all in the same class. Her heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her. This was it. This was the class where all the game events were centered. The class where the protagonist, the heroines, and the villainess would come together, their fates intertwined.
Elara's mind raced as she tried to process the implications. She had known this day would come, but seeing it laid out so clearly was overwhelming. The memories of her past life—the game's events, the choices she had made—flooded her mind, leaving her momentarily breathless.
Kaelith noticed the change in Elara's demeanor, her crimson eyes narrowing with concern. "Ela? What's wrong?"
Elara shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing, Kae. I'm just… thinking."
Kaelith didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. Instead, she leaned her head on Elara's shoulder, her earlier excitement fading slightly. "Well, as long as we're together, it'll be fine, right?"
Elara's smile softened, her heart swelling with affection for her sister. "Right. As long as we're together."
Serenith, standing a few steps away, found her own name and class assignment. Her icy blue eyes flicked between the twins, her expression unreadable. "It seems we'll all be in the same class," she said, her voice calm but slightly intrigued.
Kaelith's excitement faded slightly at the news, her crimson eyes narrowing as she glanced at Serenith. "Great. Just what I needed."
Elara shot her a look, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Kae, be nice."
Kaelith pouted but didn't argue. She knew Elara wouldn't tolerate her being rude, no matter how much she disliked Serenith. Instead, she focused on the warmth of Elara's hand in hers, her earlier irritation melting away.
As they left the hallway, Elara's thoughts drifted to the upcoming classes. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: this class would be the stage for the game's events to unfold. And as long as she had Kaelith by her side, she would face whatever came their way.