The courtyard of the Academy was alive with motion. Students streamed in every direction—robes swishing, familiars trailing behind, enchanted luggage rolling on their own. The hum of magic buzzed faintly in the air, almost like the whole place was breathing.
Zane's eyes darted everywhere like a kid let loose in a candy shop.
"Look, Mira! That guy has a bird made of fire! Wait—nope, nope, it's on his shoulder. Why isn't his cloak burning?!"
"It's called a phoenix familiar," Mira muttered, tugging his sleeve before he tripped over someone's trunk.
"Oh. Right. Of course. Totally knew that. Definitely wasn't about to scream 'arson!' in front of everyone."
Mira groaned and picked up the pace, but Zane's head turned again, his jaw dropping at a group of upperclassmen casually dueling in midair, hurling glowing projectiles while floating on discs of light.
"Are… are you seeing this?! That guy just did a triple backflip while launching lightning bolts! And I can't even get my shadow to stop chewing bread—this is unfair."
A few students passing by snickered, whispering behind their hands.
"Is that him? The boy with no crest?"
"He looks clueless."
"Poor girl. She has to babysit him already."
Mira's jaw tightened. She straightened her posture, dragging Zane faster by the wrist. "Ignore them. Keep walking."
"Oh, I'm ignoring them. I'm just memorizing faces for when my shadow gets hungry again," Zane said cheerily, waving at one of the whispering students. "Hi! Yes, I can hear you! Lovely gossip, by the way—very crisp pronunciation!"
Gasps. A few laughs. A couple of scowls. Mira hissed, yanking harder. "Would you stop drawing attention to us?"
"I didn't draw attention," Zane said, perfectly serious. "I painted it. With words. Very artistic."
Mira nearly tripped, her grip tightening. "You are infuriating."
"Why thank you," he replied with a grin.
They finally reached a grand archway leading into the main hall. Dozens of new students were gathered there, queuing up at long desks where robed officials checked names against glowing ledgers.
Zane whistled low, tilting his head at the towering pillars etched with runes. "This place is ridiculous. If I sneeze too loud, will the whole building explode?"
Mira ignored him this time, standing on her toes to see the line. But even as she tried to focus, she could hear the whispers growing louder behind them.
"Who is he?"
"No family crest, no escort. Suspicious."
"He was walking with Mira though…"
"She looked annoyed, but—wait, was she smiling?"
Mira stiffened, cheeks heating. She shot a glare over her shoulder, which silenced them instantly.
Meanwhile, Zane leaned close to her and whispered, "Uh… Mira? Why does it feel like I'm already famous? We literally just got here."
"Because you won't stop talking," she hissed.
Zane beamed. "So… I'm a star."
Mira pinched the bridge of her nose. Again.