While Orion and Sofia were lost to their passion elsewhere, the academy itself was alive with celebration.
A dinner party was held to welcome the newly arrived Hero Candidates. The large hall was crowded with teachers and nobles, their chatter filling the air beneath the bright chandeliers.
"Thank you for this wonderful welcome, Headmistress," said a bubbly young woman with bright blue hair, her eyes sparkling. She was one of the Hero candidates.
"Oh, don't mention it," Headmistress Evelyn replied warmly. "It is an honor that you all chose to be at our academy."
The blue-haired girl giggled. "You don't have to flatter us, Miss Evelyn." Then her excitement bubbled over. "I have to say—I'm a huge fan of yours, Queen Evelyn. Your work on magic formulas completely changed how I view spell construction."
Evelyn blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Thank you, Josephine. And please—no 'queen' inside the academy. Just call me Miss Evelyn."
