"Good morning, everyone," the dwarven girl announced, rising from her seat with an almost military snap, her small but sturdy frame radiating a surprising confidence. Her voice was bright and clear, cutting through the lingering murmurs of the classroom. "My name is Iris Fothergil. I'm fifteen years old—though that's sixty-six in dwarven years, if you're counting—and a proud daughter of the Imperial Commonwealth of Veridia, located deep in the southern hemisphere."
There was an almost visible swell of pride in her chest, a feeling as potent and warm as a furnace bellows—though it did nothing to inflate her modest figure, it certainly inflated her ego. Her bronze skin, ruddy and strong, seemed to shimmer like polished caramel beneath the gaslamp glow, and she beamed, a wide, infectious smile, as she spoke.
"My affinity is Earth, and I look forward to learning and growing alongside you all."
A few murmurs fluttered across the room, whispers of curiosity and admiration, as she took her seat, pride still etched across her face like ancient runes on a hammerhead. The dwarves of Veridia rarely meddled in foreign squabbles, their mighty empire standing alone, a stoic monolith of stone and iron beneath distant southern stars. They were revered throughout the continent for their constructive genius, forging unmatched weapons and armor, their underground cities marvels of engineering. Their architecture, even above ground, embraced the Gothic Revival—soaring verticality, intricate stonework, and a grandeur found not in delicate beauty, but in raw, unyielding strength. Where others built with air and illusion, the dwarves built with iron and resolute will.
"Alright," Lux said, giving Iris a calm, approving nod as the dwarven girl settled, a small smile playing on her lips. "Who's next? Misses, if you please." Her eyes flicked almost imperceptibly to the two elven girls, who exchanged a silent glance before rising.
"My name is Lily," the fair-skinned elf said, her voice a soft, melodic whisper, rising with quiet grace like a sapling reaching for the sun, her golden hair catching the light. "And this is my twin sister, Ivy." She gestured to the darker-skinned elf beside her.
That caused an audible stir—whispers grew louder, and eyes widened in fascination. One was clearly a Sun Elf, radiating an almost tangible warmth, the other a Moon Elf, her presence cool and shadowed. The contrast was striking.
Lux raised a hand, her motion firm but unhurried. "Settle, class. A little heredity lesson for you all: When a Moon Elf and Sun Elf… well, mingle," she paused, a slight, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, "their children can indeed take after one lineage or the other, regardless of which parent carries which. So yes, twins like Lily and Ivy happen, and yes, they can be related. Look closely, you'll see the resemblance, subtle as it may be, in their bone structure and the curve of their ears."
The murmuring calmed, replaced by curious, more focused stares. Lily continued, her voice gaining a touch more confidence. "We're both 150 years old in elven time, but we appear 15 by human reckoning. Our affinity is Nature."
The elves hailed from the Verdant Dominion, a vast, western empire famed for its lush cultivation, where magic and nature were inextricably entwined. Their architecture, Lux knew, followed the delicate principles of the Aesthetic Movement—refined beauty entwined with flowing, organic forms found in nature, all designed to soothe the soul. Their magically enhanced grains and fruits fed half the known world, a testament to their mastery of the earth's bounty.
Lux nodded, already turning her attention to the next student. "Next."
A girl stood without hesitation, her movement precise, devoid of youthful awkwardness. "I am Agnellus Xenia," she stated, her voice clear but flat, betraying no emotion. "Age fifteen. Affinity: Darkness." She sat before anyone could comment, her pale, porcelain face unreadable, her crimson eyes holding ancient secrets.
"Good morning," said the next voice—measured, resonant, and unmistakably princely. A boy rose with the polished ease of someone born to command attention. "My name is Habsburg Austin, Second Prince of the Astraean Empire. I look forward to our shared growth and academic pursuits. My affinity is Fire." He gave a small, formal bow to the class.
Another noble followed, rising with a less regal but equally confident air. "I am Windsor Robert, son of Baron Windsor," the black-haired boy said, his brown eyes warm and intelligent. "Fifteen years old. My affinities are Fire and Light." He smiled faintly, a hint of genuine kindness in his expression.
A broad-shouldered girl with shaggy brown fur and large, curious blue eyes then raised her hand. "I'm Vincent Britney, a bear beastkin from the Silverblood Confederation," she announced, her voice surprisingly soft. "My dad's a textile magnate. I'm fifteen. Affinity: Water." She gave a slight, shy wave.
Then the classroom fell silent, a sudden, almost palpable hush, as Lux's gaze met a pair of unnervingly glowing red eyes. The girl who possessed them held herself with an eerie stillness, her presence almost chilling.
"My name is Kaira Roxana," the girl said softly, her voice holding no discernible fear, only a chilling, almost unsettling distance. "Fifteen. Affinity: Blood Magic." Her obsidian hair spilled over her shoulder like a velvet curtain, utterly unmoving, as she settled back into her seat, her gaze unwavering.
Last came a gentle voice, pure and clear as morning bell chimes, radiating an almost visible warmth. "I'm Clare, a Saintess from the Church of the Mother Goddess. I'm fifteen, with a Light affinity." Her presence was a comforting counterpoint to Kaira's intensity.
Lux looked over the class, now quiet and attentive, a fascinating tapestry of power, lineage, and hidden dangers. The faint smile returned to her lips, this time a touch more genuine, a spark of professional curiosity.
"Alright, introductions are over," she said, her voice a calm, steady anchor in the room. "Now that we know each other, at least by name and… inclination." Her eyes flickered subtly to Kaira, then to Xenia. "Let's begin."