Lara and I sprawled across the plush rug in her bedroom, hands smudged with ink and faces sticky from her latest concoction. She had sworn up and down that this gooey, lavender-scented face mask, borderline slimy and suspiciously homemade, would give us the perfect glow for our first day back at school.
"It works wonders," she insisted, adjusting the towel turban on her head as she meticulously painted her nails a bright, electric pink. "We have to start our last year of high school right, Athena. We're seniors now."
I hummed absentmindedly, only half-listening. Instead, my fingers traced the edges of the small, dented tin box beside me. This was our tradition. Since our first year of high school, we had made predictions about the year ahead, scribbled them down on scraps of paper, stacked them in this tin box, and buried them under the massive birch tree in the backyard. It was something that tied us together, a sisterhood ritual that had become sacred with time.
This year would be no different.
Lara twirled her pen between her fingers before scribbling something down with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Done!" she declared, holding up her folded note like a trophy. "Let's hope I actually stick to this one. Your turn."
I hesitated, my pen hovering over the blank slip of paper. I've written the same prediction for three years now: I will find the missing pieces of my past. This year, I wrote it again, the ink drying on the page like an unfulfilled promise.
The only thing I had of my past was the note pinned to my baby blanket when Myrren, Lara's mom, found me on her doorstep: She must never be found.
That was it. No name, no history - just a warning.
I wondered, not for the first time, why I was left on her doorstep. The possibilities were endless, but none of them brought me any closer to the truth. I once worked up the nerve to ask Myrren about it. Her response was curt: There's no use reading too much into it.
That was the end of the conversation. I had pleaded, pushed, demanded anything she could tell me, but she shut me down with a quiet finality. I knew then that she would never tell me the truth.
Myrren and I had a cordial relationship, at best. She raised me, and for that, I was grateful. Raising two girls on her own after losing her husband in the war couldn't have been easy. But no matter how much time passed, our conversations were always short, rarely stretching beyond a sentence.
Lara glanced over curiously. "What did you write?" she asked, tilting her head as if she could read my mind.
"Nice try," I said, flipping the paper face-down. "You know the rules, no peeking."
She raised her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine, you mysterious diva."
I snatched another blank slip of paper, tapping my pen against my leg as I thought about my second prediction. Then, before I could second-guess myself, I wrote: I will fall in love.
Lara would have a field day if she saw that.
I'd never truly committed to a relationship before. Sure, I had been on a few dates, but nothing ever felt right. Lara, on the other hand, had her fair share of heartbreaks, and had broken her fair share of hearts too. We were worlds apart in that way. She thrived in social circles, always at the center of every party, while I preferred the sidelines. Observing. Listening. Writing my unspoken thoughts into lyrics in my journal.
"Done?" Lara asked, grinning.
"Done."
We padded outside to the backyard, where the towering birch tree stood like a silent witness to our tradition. The cool evening air carried a faint scent of lavender and rain. Above us, Elarion's red sun sank lower on the horizon, its crimson glow bleeding into streaks of violet and gold. It was one of those moments where the world seemed suspended, caught between the magic of dusk and the oncoming night.
Lara handed me the trowel, and we dug a small hole beneath the tree. I slipped the tin box into the earth, tucking our predictions safely inside before covering it again. Lara wiped her hands on her shorts and looked up at me with a determined smile. "It's going to be a great year, Athena. I can feel it."
I wanted to believe her.
But the truth was, I didn't fit here. Not in the way she did.
Elarion was a world of sharp divides. To outsiders, it seemed like a land of endless wonder and enchantment, a place where magic flowed freely and destinies were shaped by power. But beneath the beauty lay unspoken rules, hierarchies that determined who thrived and who merely survived.
Lysoria was the glittering heart of the elite. A city of towering ivory spires and gold-lit streets, home to those born into power: pure-blooded supernatural elites, scholars, politicians, and warriors who carried centuries of legacy in their veins.
Then there was Lowmere. A sprawling, chaotic expanse of mixed-bloods, those with weaker abilities, and the ones who simply didn't belong anywhere else. It was a city of resilience, where magic was raw, imperfect, but still thrived in its own way.
Despite living in Lysoria, I didn't attend Arcanis Academy, the prestigious school for the city's elite. Instead, I went to Brightforge High in the northern part of Lowmere, right on the city's border. Myrren claimed it was for my own safety, though she never explained what she meant. Most days, I wondered if she was just ashamed of me.
Lara, on the other hand, belonged to Arcanis Academy. She was a Lumina Manipulator, able to harness and control light, a power both rare and revered. It made her a rising star, someone with a future woven into the very fabric of Elarion's ruling class.
I wasn't jealous of her though. I was proud. But I also knew I would never belong in her world.
Still, I had Brightforge. And I had Ezzy and Jade, my best friends, my family.
I sighed, staring out at the horizon. Maybe Lara was right. Maybe this year would be different.
The morning of the first day of school arrived faster than I liked.
I barely got any sleep, thanks to a late-night call with Jade and Ezzy. We had talked about everything: our classes, the festival, and the latest rumors already circulating through Brightforge. If this year was going to be unforgettable, we were determined to be at the center of it.
I smiled, thinking about them as I brushed my teeth. Downstairs, Lara was already rushing around, her usual whirlwind self.
"Come on, Athena! Hurry your perky ass up!" Lara called from the hallway, her voice muffled as she stomped around, probably trying on yet another pair of shoes.
When I made it downstairs, Lara was already dressed to conquer the world. Her uniform was perfectly tailored, her straight blond hair clipped at the sides with a sparkling hair clip. Black pumps on her feet and an expensive purse on her arm completed the look.
"Ready to slay the day?" Lara grinned, doing a quick twirl to show off her look.
Before I could reply, a car honked outside. Lara stumbled slightly on her heels and let out a small laugh, regaining her balance. "Crap! I'm late," she muttered, turning to rush out the door, barely managing to snatch an apple from the kitchen counter on her way out.
"Bye, bitch! Don't forget, we're going to own this year, Athens!" she called over her shoulder, laughing as she sprinted toward the sleek black car where Myrren was waiting.
The car hummed away down the street, taking her to Arcanis Academy and then the Council Court, where Myrren did...well, whatever council members do.
Shortly after, the familiar honk of Ezzy's car brought a smile to my lips. I grabbed my bag and ran outside, to see her leaning out the window of her old, beat-up car, grinning wide.
"Hey, gorgeous!" she cat-called, her caramel skin glowing under the soft morning light. With her thick curls tied in a high bun and her golden hoops glinting, she looked effortlessly radiant.
I laughed, hugging her across the console as I slid in. "Look who's talking. You're practically glowing."
Ezzy scoffed, waving me off. "Please, I barely tried today. But you? This outfit? This hair? Let me guess, Lara picked this, didn't she?"
I rolled my eyes playfully. "You know she did."
I glanced down at the outfit Lara had insisted I wear: a worn gray lace-up t-shirt, black skinny jeans, and matching laced-up boots. Naturally, she'd gone the extra mile, adding mascara and lip gloss to the mix. "Let your hair down," she'd practically begged. So here I was, my wild, dark curls cascading past my shoulders, nearly reaching mid-back to complete the "badass girl" look, exactly how Lara envisioned it.
"Well, you look hot," Ezzy declared, turning up the volume on the radio.
A catchy beat filled the car as we sped off, singing and laughing all the way to school. By the time we pulled into Brightforge High's parking lot, the place was already buzzing with life. Students passed by, calling out greetings to each other, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of excitement.
Ezzy pulled into a spot near the entrance and killed the engine. "Alright, Athens. Moment of truth, are we walking in with quiet dignity, or making a dramatic entrance?"
I smirked. "You and Jax are the dramatic ones. I'm just here for the ride."
Ezzy snorted. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
As we stepped out, I scanned the lot, immediately spotting Jade and Zion near the entrance, already lost in their own little world.
Jade, as always, looked like she was born to be in the center of attention. Her sleek raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the morning light in a way that made her emerald eyes stand out even more. She wore her signature leather jacket over her short checkered skirt, exuding confidence with every movement.
Zion stood next to her, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He was as composed as ever, broad-shouldered, golden-brown skin glowing under the sun, dark eyes focused entirely on whatever Jade was saying. He watched her with a look that was way too fond for two people who refused to admit they were basically a couple.
I nudged Ezzy. "They're still doing this dance?"
Ezzy sighed. "One of them just needs to say it already."
"Zion? Expressing emotions? Yeah, no."
We started toward them, but before we even got there, Jax entered the scene like a hurricane.
"My beloved people!" Jax spread his arms wide, as if he were some long-lost ruler returning to his kingdom. "At last, we are reunited! The agony of our separation has been unbearable!"
He clutched his chest dramatically as he approached, his golden-brown hair slightly tousled, like he'd just rolled out of bed.
Ezzy let out an exaggerated groan. "Jax, we literally saw each other yesterday."
"Ah, but the hours without you feels like an eternity, my love." He replied, wrapping his arms around Ezzy from behind, placing a dramatic kiss on her lips.
Ezzy groaned but melted into it anyway.
Meanwhile, Jade and Zion had fully entered their couple-but-not-a-couple routine. Zion said something teasing, Jade smacked his arm, and they both exchanged a look filled with way too much tension.
I took a step back, crossing my arms. "Right. I guess that's my cue. Fifth wheeling is not exactly a bucket-list experience. So, I'll just—"
As I turned to make my grand escape, I slammed straight into something solid.
No, someone.
A firm grip caught my arms before I could stumble, steadying me like it was effortless.
For a split second, all I registered was warmth. Strong hands. The faint scent of something woodsy and electric—like thunderstorms rolling over a forest.
Then I looked up.
And, oh.
Storm-gray eyes.
Cool. Unreadable. The kind of gaze that saw right through me.
My stomach flipped.
The guy - tall, lean, built in a way that suggested he was more dangerous than he let on, arched an eyebrow at me. His dark, tousled hair fell over his forehead, slightly damp from the morning mist, and there was something about him, something contained, like he was holding back more than he was showing.
A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're always this graceful?"
Oh, great. A comedian.
I flashed a sarcastic smile. "Flawless execution, wasn't it? I give it a solid 10/10."
Jade snorted.
Meanwhile, Jax leaned in slightly, grinning. "Oh, please, do continue. I love where this is going."
Zion, ever the responsible one, decided to step in before Jax could make things worse. "Athena, Ezzy - this is Riven. He just transferred. He's staying with me for now."
Riven.
The name settled in my mind, unfamiliar, but… important.
Riven's gaze flickered over me briefly before shifting back to Zion. "You didn't mention your friends were this entertaining."
Jade, always ready to embrace the chaos, smirked. "So, Riven. Are you mysterious on purpose, or is it just natural talent?"
A hint of amusement crossed his face. "Wouldn't be much of a mystery if I told you, would it?"
Jade clapped her hands together. "Oh, I like him."
Ezzy elbowed me. "Athens, you good?"
I blinked, forcing myself to focus. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She smirked. "No reason. Just that you've been staring a little too long."
I scoffed. "I was not staring."
Riven tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "You sure about that?"
I turned to him, arching a brow. "Oh, do you make a habit of assuming people are staring at you, or is that just wishful thinking?"
His lips twitched like he was holding back a smirk. "I'd say it's an observation."
My breath hitched slightly at the way his voice curled around the word, calm, assured, teasing, like he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin.
I huffed, crossing my arms. "Well, your observation skills could use some work, new guy."
"Noted," he mused, as if he was filing the information away for later. His gaze flickered down, just briefly, before returning to mine with a glint of something unreadable.
Jax, absolutely thriving on the energy, let out a low whistle. "Damn. Should we leave you two alone, or…?"
"Not happening," I said at the same time Riven simply shrugged.
Zion sighed, ever the responsible one. "Alright, let's move before we actually are late."
As everyone turned toward the entrance, Riven lingered for just a second longer. Then, with an easy stride, he walked ahead, seamlessly falling into step beside Zion.
I exhaled, willing my heartbeat back to normal.
What was that?
Ezzy's knowing grin told me she wasn't about to let this go anytime soon.