The day dawned clear and crisp, sunlight spilling across the courtyards and glinting on the dew-soaked stone. Lira moved through the academy with a quiet purpose, carrying her satchel snugly on her belt, Fluffy behind her legs. Today, she had decided, she would see all her classes, observe her fellow students, and get a sense of the full rhythm of her second year.
Her first stop was Arcane History, taught by Professor Ken. The classroom smelled faintly of old parchment and polished wood, tapestries lining the walls depicting legendary mages and their duels. Lira slid into a seat near the back, letting her eyes roam over the other students. First-years fidgeted nervously, casting wide-eyed glances at the tapestries and whispering to one another, while second-years moved with confident ease. Lira realized she felt calmer than she ever had before on the first day, less self-conscious, more present, more in control.
