Her hair shone like a pocket of rubies in a deep, forgotten cave —glowing, wild, untamed — and under siege.
"Aaaaagh! Let go! I have no more bread! "The girl flailed her arms desperately as a murder of crows pecked and tugged at her glorious red strands. "I FED you! Twenty loaves! Twenty, you ungrateful sky-goblins! WHY THE HAIR?!"
She ran in frantic zigzags, swatting the air like a warrior in training… badly. A few feathers caught in her mouth. One crow perched on her head like it had claimed royalty.
Nearby, confused townspeople paused. Some stared. Some snickered. One man offered a single clap of pity.
And from behind a pillar near the edge of the Golden Hall, Xitij peeked out — blinking at the chaos.
"Is this… normal?" he whispered.
Yelena, standing beside him with her arms crossed and an amused smirk, replied dryly, "In Ardovale? Give it an hour — it'll get weirder."
The girl finally collapsed onto a bench, panting. The crows, deciding she'd suffered enough, retreated with loud caws of judgment.
She glared at the sky, fists raised. "I swear, I am done feeding anything with wings. Chickens included."
Then her eyes fell on Xitij and Yelena.
"…You saw all of that, didn't you?" she asked, her voice flat with embarrassment.
Xitij looked around as if unsure whether to nod.
Yelena just grinned. "Every glorious second."
An awkward silence creeps across the city square.
Crows shuffle nervously.
Xitij clears his throat.
Yelena twirls a lock of hair.
The red-haired girl flicks a feather off her shoulder.
...
Narrator (sighs):"So… moving on from that."
Meanwhile, inside the Golden Hall:
A grand chamber of pillars and parchments. A line of hopefuls stretches toward the registration desks. Overhead, domes of glass let sunlight pour in like blessings — yet for one boy, it feels more like a spotlight.
The azure-eyed boy stands frozen, papers clutched in white-knuckled fists. His name tag reads:
Einar.
His legs want to walk forward. His heart is already out the door.
"Come on Einar, you can do it… yes I can… noooooooo I can't!"
He takes one step forward — only to spin back like a clumsy ballerina.
A hall attendant gives him a concerned look.
He tries again. Two steps this time. Then, a whisper from someone nearby:
"Hey, that's the kid who cried when the folder slipped."
Einar's heart sits back down.Hard.
He inhales like a hero. Exhales like a victim. Stares at the registration table like it's a final boss.
A single drop of sweat rolls down his temple.Another round begins in the battle between perseverance( persistence ) and crippling social anxiety.
Narrator (sighs):"So… moving on from that." ,"AGAIN"
Back , at the city square:
The awkward silence is still lingering like fog. No one quite knows what to say after the crow attack.
That is, until the girl with hair like ruby wildfire brushes a feather from her shoulder, sighs dramatically, and straightens her back with pride.
She offers a polite, if slightly frazzled smile.
"I am Rosé. Pleasure to meet you."
Xitij blinks.
Then, without looking, points a finger at Yelena.
Yelena, equally bewildered, points right back at him — both in perfect sync:
"Yelena/Xitij."
A pause.
Then, also in sync — but much less confidently:
"Pleasure to meet you too… I guess?"
The crows scatter.
Somewhere in the distance, a lute plays a confused chord.
Narrator (sighs):
"Yes , that should be enough awkwardness for today"
Night falls and even after such a eventful day ; all the young men and ladies sleep in peace ....... except for the Narrator .
Sunshine strikes. Overhead, domes of glass let sunlight pour in like blessings again —only this time, there are four young fools under the spotlight, not just one.
The azure, brown, red, and green eyes meet.
Epic theme plays.
Xitij enters the GOLDEN HALL!!!
Narrator: ("Sighs , but now with the passion of Ardovale !!")
"Now that is a good closing to the chapter."