Eirene kept tossing in her bed, her thoughts circling around the boy in the next bed—Aeron. What an egoistic, ill-mannered boy, she thought. Doesn't even answer when spoken to.
Her eyelids grew heavier, and soon, without realizing it, she drifted off to sleep.
After a long while, when Aeron no longer heard her voice, curiosity got the better of him. He turned his head toward her. She was fast asleep, her breathing slow and steady. Quietly, he swung his legs off his bed, padded across the floor, and gently pulled her blanket up over her shoulders.
Without a word, he returned to his own bed. His eyes slowly closed, and soon he too was lost in sleep.
The next morning, sunlight was already spilling into the ward by the time Dr. Maeron's cheerful voice broke the silence.
"Good morning, both of you! Come on now, wake up. I need to do your check-ups."
Aeron's eyes opened first, and he sat up without protest. But Eirene stayed stubbornly still, her face buried in her pillow.
"I know you're awake, young lady," Dr. Maeron said with a smirk. "Stop pretending. Get up so we can start."
No response.
Aeron frowned slightly. He didn't know why, but he felt a small stir of concern for the girl.
Dr. Maeron sighed and muttered half to himself, "If she wakes up now, she won't have to drink my bitter herbs. But if she stays like this, I'll have to use an injection to wake her."
The effect was immediate. Eirene shot upright in bed. "No, no, Doctor! I'm awake—please, no injection!"
Aeron stared at her, surprised. This girl was full of tricks. The situation made both him and Dr. Maeron smile.
After a quick check-up for both, Dr. Maeron found everything normal.
"You're both fine. Head to the school hostel now—your new semester starts shortly," he said, handing each of them a candy. "And take care of yourselves."
Eirene smiled and nodded. She was just about to leave when she heard something that made her pause mid-step.
"Thank you, Doctor," Aeron said quietly.
It was the first time she had heard his voice. Even Dr. Maeron looked surprised—and pleased.
"Well, well," the doctor said with mock relief. "So you can speak! And thanking me, too. You could learn something from your new friend, Eirene. He's thanking me, and I've looked after you even more, yet you haven't said a single thank you."
A flicker of guilt passed over Eirene's face. She quickly turned and said, "I'm sorry, Doctor. And… thank you."
But in her mind, her annoyance toward Aeron only grew. Oh, so now he's acting well-mannered just to look good in front of the doctor? Last night he wouldn't say a word to me, and now he's making me look bad.
She lifted her chin slightly. Fine. The year is long. I'll show him that I'm not just charming—I'm the smartest and most talented student here. I'll be every teacher's favorite, not him.
Aeron, walking silently behind her, had no idea about the storm of thoughts swirling in Eirene's mind. He was simply following because he didn't know the way to the hostel hall.
And so, the two walked together—one quietly curious, the other quietly plotting—toward the beginning of their first semester at Grimswald College of Witchcraft.
Technically, this was Eirene's first official year at Grimswald College of Witchcraft. But in truth, the place had been her home for the last eight years.
When her parents died, Eirene had been only a toddler. They were close friends of Dr. Maeron, and in their last moments, they entrusted their little daughter to him. That was all Eirene ever knew about her past. Since then, she had lived in the college walls, growing up among books, spells, and enchanted hallways.
Every holiday, when other children packed their bags and rushed back to their families, Eirene would stand at the gate, watching them leave. She would smile, but deep inside, she longed for a place to call home too.
This morning, as she walked beside Aeron toward the main hall, she tried to shake that feeling off. Today was supposed to be special. Academic House divisions always came with bright banners, candles floating in midair, and the air filled with the aroma of sweetcakes.
But today, the hall looked grim. No decorations. No glowing lanterns. No cheerful chatter. Just silence, broken only by hushed whispers.
Eirene frowned. Why is everything so… strange?
Aeron, new to the college, noticed nothing unusual. He simply followed her lead and stood with the line of first-years.
It was then the whispers around them grew clearer.
"Did you read The Arcane Gazette this morning?" one boy said in a trembling voice. "It's right on the front page. King Theron killed the King and Queen of Calestra yesterday evening."
Another girl gasped. "Not just them—the Crowned Prince too! It's written in The Mystic Herald. They said he even killed his own wife."
Gasps and murmurs spread across the hall.
Eirene's heart skipped a beat. Her mind flashed back to the previous evening—three red streaks of lightning splitting the sky. The sight had struck her down with a sudden fever. Now she understood why. Those flashes marked the deaths. The deadly curse.
Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, So that was… the Crimson Eclipse Curse. A forbidden magic, known to burn the very soul out of its victims.
Beside her, Aeron's body stiffened. His eyes darkened as if shadows had passed over them. In his mind, the memory of the fourth red flash returned—the moment he lost his mother. His chest ached, his vision blurred with tears he dared not show. He bit his lip hard, trying to stay composed, but every heartbeat screamed with grief.
Before he could break, a thunderous voice rolled through the hall.
"Silence, please. Everyone, silence!"
The sound belonged to none other than Headmaster Aurelius Dreymark. Instantly, the great hall fell quiet—so quiet that even the floating candles flickered less brightly.
Nine teachers trailed behind him, their robes sweeping the floor, their faces solemn.
Aurelius stood tall at the center, his silver hair glowing faintly under the enchanted ceiling. His piercing eyes scanned the hall, pausing on Aeron and Eirene for just a heartbeat longer than the others. Then he began to speak.
"As you already know," he said gravely, "yesterday we suffered a great loss. Four souls taken by treachery and dark magic. In their memory, there will be no celebration today."