The courtyard of Angel Academy had been transformed. Colorful banners fluttered from every tower, magical lanterns hovered in the air, and stalls lined the walkways, offering enchanted sweets, trinkets, and games that glowed with faint mana.
Today was the Festival of the Skies, a tradition celebrating the floating islands' protection wards and the academy's founding. Classes competed in games, magic trials, and dueling exhibitions—but the atmosphere was far from serious.
Casian immediately gravitated toward a target-strike challenge, flames flicking from his fingertips as he tried to hit the highest-scoring targets. "Watch and learn," he boasted, smirking as fireballs arced through the air.
Lyra approached a precision duel course, tossing short spells at moving dummies with calculated accuracy. Every strike was controlled, elegant, perfect.
Mira drifted between the games, offering gentle encouragement to younger students and keeping a careful eye on everyone. Her staff glowed softly as she stabilized small mishaps, making the day safer without dampening the fun.
I wandered the stalls, quietly observing. Students were laughing, teasing, and showing sides I didn't normally see in class. Even Casian, for all his bluster, was playful with a younger student he was showing how to control sparks. Lyra's eyes softened briefly when a small misfire went awry and she corrected it with a flick of her wand.
A game caught my attention: a floating obstacle course that required teamwork and quick thinking, with magical currents pushing participants in different directions. Mira turned to me, a small smile on her lips. "Want to team up?"
I nodded. Casian rolled his eyes but followed, Lyra joining reluctantly, arms crossed, and a few other students—Joren and Kaito—chose us last, claiming they were the "wildcards."
The course was chaos. Magical currents threw students off balance, traps triggered spells that were harmless but startling, and the scoring orbs darted unpredictably.
Casian barreled forward recklessly, flames sparking, while Lyra carefully guided our path. Mira stabilized the floating orbs that threatened to spin off course. I moved in the background, subtly redirecting currents and shielding teammates from minor mishaps.
By the end, our "team" had survived intact—more through improvisation and cooperation than skill alone. Casian huffed, Lyra shot me a look that wasn't entirely unfriendly, and Mira floated beside me, smiling faintly.
As the festival continued, laughter and magic filled the air. For a brief moment, Class A was just students—competitors, yes, but also classmates enjoying the rare chance to let their guard down.
Walking past the stalls, Haru couldn't help but notice the glances still following him. His status as a Council observer hadn't gone unnoticed, but for once, it felt… less dangerous.
Half angel. Half demon. Dangerous. Unstable.
But even he could enjoy the skies for a day.