Students, women, men, olders - the streets were crowded with these people.
Athenis didn't like being in places like this. She slowly adjusted her messy hair, a bored expression settling on her face.
"Man, this place just sucks."
She let out a heavy sigh while waiting for Lilith, standing near an old bakery. Her eyes drifted to the display—sweet pies and chocolate cream puffs lined up neatly behind the glass.
She barely managed to hold back her excitement at the sight of the chocolate. Just as she was about to step closer, a small, petite kid bumped into her. Athenis immediately reached out, steadying him and making sure he was okay.
"Are you alright?"
The kid nodded quietly, looking up into her observant green eyes. Athenis smiled and offered him a piece of candy she'd gotten the day before. The kid's eyes lit up; he bowed politely before running back to his mother.
Athenis scratched the back of her neck, lost in thought.
"Parents should be more careful to their kids these days, anything could happen."
As soon as she yawned, she felt a nudge on her shoulder.
Of course who could it be?
Standing there was Lilith. Her short orange hair messy, as if she cut it herself or never bothered to tame it. Her deep brown eyes were looking at Athenis. She looked like she just ran a marathon without stopping.
"You seem lost in thoughts? What thinking about your cottage or missed me already?"
Lilith was trying to make her annoyed - it was obvious for Athenis as she smirked mischievously.
"Nah, how can i even miss your face? It is creepy as hell."
Lilith's eyes widened as she ruffled Athenis's already messy hair. But Athenis kept her sharp gaze fixed on the kid she had encountered earlier, counting slowly, as if she already knew what was about to happen.
"One, two, three… here it comes."
The moment she finished speaking, screams broke out and the crowd fell into panic. People pushed and shouted, confusion spreading like a wave. Lilith froze, startled, her heart jumping as she turned to look at Athenis, trying to understand what was happening.
Athenis, however, was staring straight at the kid she had noticed earlier. He now lay on the ground, unconscious. His mother knelt beside him, crying as she clutched him tightly, calling his name and begging him to wake up.
Athenis muttered something under her breath—words too quiet and unclear to understand—as she began moving toward the child, her expression unreadable.
"It isn't fun at all." She thought sighing like a bored person.
She rubbed her neck, slolwy sitting beside the kid looking at him with her sharp eyes.
"Water, he needs water immediately."
She murmured again. When no one responded, her tone hardened.
"He's dehydrated. His skin is dry. Bring water—quickly!"
She shouted, worry clear on her face. People immediately exchanged looks, then nodded and scattered, running toward nearby shops. The boy's mother wiped her tears and looked up at Athenis, hope flickering in her eyes.
"I… is he really going to be okay?" she sobbed.
Athenis answered with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, miss. He's going to be two hundred percent okay. Just don't think too much."
She stood and turned toward Lilith, whose face had gone completely still, her jaw practically hitting the ground. Athenis smirked as she watched people give the boy water, his mother holding him tightly and whispering prayers for him to wake up. Athenis let out a quiet chuckle and began counting again.
"One, two, three… go."
The moment the words left her mouth, the boy's fingers twitched. He shifted slightly, dry lips parting as a weak whisper escaped him.
"…Mama…?"
Everyone's face lit up as they heard those words coming out of kid's lips. Athenis smiled adjusting her messy hair with a slight smile. She looked at Lilith who was standing like a statue, her eyes wide looking at Athenis.
Athenis knew exactly what was going through her friend's head, judging by the shocked look on Lilith's face. Just as she was about to step forward, a strong gust of wind tore through her messy hair, making it even worse.
Her sharp green eyes narrowed as she looked at Lilith—then she realized Lilith wasn't looking at her at all, but at someone standing behind her. The heavy sound of boots echoed through the crowd as a group of young girls and boys rushed past them, heading toward the little kid, who was now smiling weakly at his mother.
A voice, sweet like honey, sliced through the tension.
"Now, now… where are you trying to go? Don't you want to receive your compliments, hero?"
Athenis's ears immediately perked up. She turned around and froze at the sight of long, flowing silver hair and bright golden eyes fixed directly on her. It was Cezanie—the academy's most tricky and powerful mage.
The future fiancée of the first prince, Theoren himself.
Her beauty captured everyone's attention in an instant. A glowing aura surrounded her, so bright that Athenis had to raise a hand to shield her eyes.
Annoyed, Athenis muttered under her breath,
"Ugh… another sparkling princess? Shiny problems."
Of course, she kept it quiet, rolling her eyes before quickly putting on her smile. She had no intention of getting blown up by powerful magic, so the "happy" expression stayed firmly in place.
Cezanie chuckled softly, tilting her head like a curious child lost in a forest.
"A healer, I see? Care to introduce yourself?"
Athenis smirked nervously, swallowing as she met those golden eyes.
"Gotta get outta here."