Warm light spilled across the room in streaks of gold and amber, filtering through the delicate stained glass panels above the window. As her eyes fluttered open, Lira blinked against the brilliance of the sunrise. For a brief moment, she didn't know where she was. Her breath caught, and she sat up suddenly, heart racing.
But then it came back to her—like a gentle wave lapping at her memory. The grandmaster. The temple. The warm water. The green dress with golden leaves. She was here now, in a place that felt impossibly far from the world she'd known.
She rubbed her eyes and slipped from the bed, bare feet padding softly across the smooth floor. The air still held a trace of lavender and something earthy. In the small bathroom, she splashed cool water on her face, the shock of it waking her fully. The mirror reflected someone she hardly recognized: calm, clean, dressed in something soft and elegant.
Just as she reached for a towel, a soft chime rang through the space. Cin cin. A sound like a bell, clear and melodic.
She froze.
A knock came, and a gentle voice followed.
"Hello? I came to guide you to the Grandmaster. Are you awake?"
Lira hesitated, heart thumping. "…Yes," she replied.
"May I come in?"
There was something comforting in the voice, and so she nodded, though the speaker couldn't see her. "Yes," she said again, this time more clearly.
The door creaked open, and a small girl stepped inside. Reddish curls bounced behind her with each movement, and her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. Her dress, similar in design to Lira's but dyed in vibrant red, swayed as she moved. It looked almost too large for her tiny frame.
"Waaaw! What a lovely room! You must be a beautiful person!" the girl exclaimed, her words bubbling out like a brook in spring.
Lira blinked, startled by the sheer energy that filled the room. The girl's warm smile was infectious, and despite her confusion, Lira couldn't help but smile back. For a moment, all her worry dissolved.
The girl darted from one corner of the room to the next, commenting on everything from the window to the way the dress shimmered on Lira. Her excitement was a whirlwind, and Lira could hardly keep up—but it was a welcome one.
Then, as suddenly as she had started, the girl stopped. "Oh no! We need to go! If we're late, the Grandmaster will give me that look. Hurry, hurry!" she chirped.
She was already halfway through the door before Lira could speak.
"Don't worry about locking your room!" the girl called back cheerfully. "Only you can enter it—it's yours now. That's the rule! Come, quick!"
With no time to hesitate, Lira followed, the soft hem of her dress trailing behind her as they made their way through the stone halls. Somewhere deep inside her, something stirred—curiosity, anticipation, and maybe even joy.
A new chapter of her life had truly begun.
They hurried through the twisting hallways, the little red-dressed girl practically floating with excitement. Lira struggled to keep pace, her eyes darting left and right as she tried to take in the marvels surrounding her.
The halls were alive with color and light. Doors of various shapes and carvings lined the walls, some open to reveal classes full of children—some younger, some older, none quite like her. Bright murals danced along the stone, and stained-glass windows spilled colored light onto the floors. She caught fleeting glimpses of strange and wonderful things: a pair of children balancing glowing stones midair, another laughing as flames curled harmlessly from her fingertips. Water floated in mid-air like it had a will of its own.
Lira wanted to stop, to breathe it all in, to ask a thousand questions—but the girl before her didn't slow. She hadn't even said her name.
They reached a spiraling staircase that curved and twisted upwards like a ribbon of stone, and up they climbed, Lira's breath quickening with the ascent. Then, they arrived at a round platform inlaid with unfamiliar symbols. As soon as they stepped on it, the stone beneath their feet began to rise with a soft hum, lifting them smoothly through the tower.
They stopped in front of an imposing door of deep brown wood, its surface carved with two dragons circling each other, eyes set with glinting green stones. Before she could marvel further, the door creaked open.
The room beyond was vast and quiet, its walls lined with books and tall windows that let in shafts of golden morning light. A great round table sat in the center, and at it—the Grandmaster.
He looked much younger than she had expected, his features sharp and ageless, eyes dark and thoughtful. Long raven-black hair fell down his back in a silky cascade, framing his face with a quiet strength. He wore robes of deep blue, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered like moonlight on water. Though he sat still, a feather pen hovered in the air beside him, writing with purpose on a long parchment. As they entered, the pen froze mid-stroke.
He raised his eyes to them. There was no surprise, no impatience. Only a quiet focus.
"Well, there you are," he said, his voice calm and resonant. "Come closer."
As she looked at him, something inside her stilled. His gaze, though powerful, held no judgment—only understanding. She felt, instinctively, that she could trust him. Quietly, she stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the table.
The Grandmaster's voice was calm and clear. "Now, officially, welcome to the Sanctum of the Elements."
He gestured to a crystal orb resting on a small pedestal. "Come, place your hands upon this and let us see your resonance."
Lira reached out and gently touched the orb. A radiant glow burst from within—deep, rich green like the heart of the forest, alive and pulsing. It cast shifting patterns on the stone floor and reflected in her eyes.
The Grandmaster gave a small, satisfied nod as she returned the orb to its resting place.
"You bear the gift of Earth," he said. "A grounding element. Not all have more than one, and there is no need to. Earth alone is strength, growth, patience. You will learn its depth."
He lifted his hand, and with a soft shimmer, a set of books and a quill pen materialized before her. Perched atop them was a small, iridescent bird with feathers of every hue—a living prism of color.
"This is your guardian familiar. It will assist you with communication and learning. Since you have come under my guidance, I have already linked it to my own."
He turned slightly, and with a flick of his fingers, a magnificent red-gold bird glided down from the rafters. It landed beside him with grace, its long, shimmering tail trailing like ribbons of sunlight. Feathers crowned its head like a small crest, and its eyes glowed with ancient wisdom. It let out a melodic screech, curious and watchful.
Lira's books floated toward her, and the tiny rainbow bird fluttered lightly onto her shoulder, nestling close.
"Good luck, young one," the Grandmaster said with a faint smile.
He turned his gaze to the red-haired girl, who had stood respectfully off to the side but now beamed with excitement.
"Maelin," he said, "take her to the Classical Class and show her around."
Maelin gave a proud little salute. "Yes, Grandmaster!"
She turned to Lira with a grin. "You heard him! Come on! You're going to love the gardens, and maybe, if we're fast, we'll catch the end of the levitation games!"
And just like that, the two girls turned to go, one glowing with curiosity, the other bubbling with joy—and above them, the tiny guardian bird gave a soft trill, as if it, too, was eager for what lay ahead.