Lyra woke up feeling strange.
She sat slowly on the bed, her hair messy and her eyes blinking like she was trying to remember something important… but nothing came. Her head felt heavy, like she had forgotten a dream she wasn't supposed to forget.
She rubbed her forehead softly.
"Why do I feel like something happened last night?" she whispered to herself.
No matter how hard she tried, her mind was blank.
She got down from the bed, her feet touching the cold floor. She took a deep breath and tried to relax because she remembered what her instructor said yesterday.
"By tomorrow, every single one of you must be able to bring out your wings."
Lyra bit her lip nervously and closed her eyes. She held her hands together like the instructor taught them.
Focus on yourself.
Imagine your wings.
Feel it.
See it.
Let them come out.
She kept repeating the words silently in her head.
She imagined glittery wings, big and bright.
She imagined everyone clapping for her.
She imagined not being the only one in class without wings.
But nothing happened.
Not even a tiny glow.
Lyra sighed, already feeling like crying a little.
"You don't have to stress yourself too much," Echo said suddenly, walking out of the bathroom while drying her hair.
Lyra turned quickly, hugging her hands to her chest. "You should have seen the way the whole class was looking at me yesterday… like I'm the strangest fairy in the whole world."
Echo nodded softly. "I understand. It's really strange to see a fairy who can't bring out wings because that is like the easiest thing to do." She gave her a little smile. "But you just have to keep trying. You'll get it someday."
Lyra looked down sadly. "What if I don't?"
Echo sighed. "Don't think like that. Just get ready, your instructor hates lateness. I have to go now before I get into trouble."
She hurried out, leaving Lyra alone in the quiet room.
Lyra stood in front of the small mirror and looked at herself.
She didn't look like someone who belonged in a magical school.
She looked… normal. Too normal.
Maybe that was the problem.
She forced a small smile and quickly got dressed. Her stomach kept twisting nervously as she walked to class, hugging her books tightly like they could protect her from embarrassment.
When she stepped into the classroom, everyone turned immediately.
Some whispered.
Some raised their brows.
Some even looked curious, like they wanted to see if she had finally done it.
Her instructor, a tall fairy man with long blue hair, didn't waste time.
"Lyra," he said straight away, his voice echoing in the room. "Can you bring out your wings now?"
Lyra froze.
Her heart skipped.
Her throat suddenly felt dry.
"I… I can't," she answered quietly, staring at the floor so she wouldn't have to look at their faces.
A loud gasp echoed in the whole class.
Some students covered their mouths.
Some exchanged shocked glances.
One girl even whispered, "Impossible…"
The instructor looked genuinely surprised. "You still can't? Even after all the practice?"
"I tried… but nothing is happening," Lyra whispered.
The instructor sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Then you will have to keep trying until you do. You cannot go to the next spell without bringing your wings out first."
Lyra nodded, feeling her face burning.
She went to sit down quietly. Her chair felt colder than usual, and she pressed her books against her lap, trying to hide how embarrassed she was.
All around her, the room was filled with bright lights and little sparkles as the other fairies brought out their wings easily. Some had butterfly wings, some had glowing crystal wings, some had wings that sparkled like stars.
They started practicing spells, floating gently above the ground and laughing, moving around the classroom like it was nothing.
Lyra sat alone at the corner.
Her hands remained on her lap.
Her back felt heavy.
Her heart felt heavier.
She tried again secretly, closing her eyes tightly and imagining wings behind her.
But still… nothing.
Not even a tiny sparkle.
She looked down sadly, wondering why she was so different.
Why she couldn't do the simplest fairy thing.
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Sirena walked slowly and seductively into Kael's room, The entire room was quiet, the curtains half-drawn, giving the place a cold feeling. Kael was on the bed, laying on his back, one hand behind his head while the other rested on his stomach. His eyes were open, staring blankly at the ceiling like he had been awake for hours.
Sirena smiled softly the moment she saw him. She always smiled whenever she entered his room because she felt like this was the only place she could have him all to herself. She slipped closer, her hips moving with slow confidence, and gently lay beside him on the wide black bed. She wrapped her hand around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
But Kael didn't move. He didn't even blink. It was almost as if she wasn't there.
She hated that coldness. But she also loved that she was the only woman allowed near him at all. The others didn't dare come close.
"Your wolf must have exhausted you so much," she whispered, her fingers slowly tracing circles on his chest. "I hate that side of you…but I could always help in the only way I can."
Her voice was soft, sweet, almost like she was trying to hypnotize him. Kael didn't respond. His breathing remained steady, calm, like he was somewhere far from her touch.
Sirena's eyes dropped to his lips, and her heart fluttered with excitement. She swallowed slowly as if her throat was suddenly dry. She wanted to taste those lips so badly. For years she had touched him, slept beside him, healed him, supported him… yet he had never kissed her. Not even once.
Tonight she felt daring.
She lifted her head a little and leaned closer to his face. Her breath touched his lips and her eyes half-closed as she moved in slowly, praying he wouldn't stop her—
Suddenly the door opened.
Both she and Kael turned instantly.
Sirena froze in shock, but that shock changed into disgusted anger when she saw the fairy girl standing at the door. Lyra stood there hugging her cleaning cloth to her chest, her eyes blinking like she was confused about what she had walked into.
"What are you doing here?" Sirena snapped, her voice sharp and filled with irritation.
"I was told to clean this room. I didn't know anyone is inside… sorry," Lyra said quietly.
That simple apology made Sirena even more furious. Her jaw clenched tightly and she stood up immediately. Before Lyra could even move, Sirena sped toward her in one second, rage burning in her eyes. She lifted her hand, ready to slap Lyra hard across the face—
"Let her be."
Kael's voice came out low and calm, but the command carried quiet authority that stopped Sirena instantly. She turned back to him, completely shocked.
"She didn't know her place," Sirena said angrily. "How dare she enter your room and even stand there looking at you—"
"Sirena… leave."
His voice was colder this time, and it went straight through her.
Her anger rose again, her face turning red. She glared at Lyra with pure hatred, as if Lyra had committed the worst offense possible. But Lyra only stared back quietly, confused and innocent, not even knowing what she did wrong.
Sirena scoffed and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
The room went silent again.
Kael slowly stood up from the bed, his eyes dark, his expression unreadable. But inside him, his wolf was restless. She is here… her scent… she is here. The voice whispered in excitement inside him.
Kael didn't show any emotion. He walked closer to Lyra, his tall figure casting a shadow over her.
"The more you stay far away from me, the better for you," he said coldly.
Then without waiting for her response, he walked out of the room and disappeared down the hallway.
Lyra released a quiet breath she didn't know she was holding. She looked around the huge, dark room and slowly began cleaning, her heart still beating fast, not understanding why the prince's eyes looked different when he stared at her.
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Juniper stood alone in the training ground, the morning sun gently touching her skin. She was in the archery section, her favorite place in the whole academy. Her eyes were closed, yet her posture was steady like a hunter born with a bow in her hand. She raised her arm slowly, holding not just one arrow but three at once. Her breathing was calm, steady, almost too calm for someone aiming blind.
She released.
The three arrows shot through the air at the same time, slicing through the wind and hitting the bull's-eye with a sharp, clean sound. Perfect. Again.
Juniper didn't even smile. This was normal for her.
She bent down and picked another set of arrows. She closed her eyes again and shot, and just like before, every arrow hit the perfect center like it was nothing. She flicked her hair back and reached for more when suddenly she heard a slow clapping sound coming from behind her.
She didn't need to turn. She already knew who it was.
She rolled her eyes. "Why are you always everywhere?"
"That was really good," Damon said as he walked closer, his smile wide and playful. He looked like someone who had never taken anything seriously in his entire life.
Juniper picked another arrow without looking at him. "When last did you train?"
Damon shrugged dramatically. "I don't know. What is the fun in that?"
She didn't answer. She simply aimed at the next target and released the arrow. Bull's-eye again.
"It's lunch time," Damon continued. "Let's eat with the others today. Not separately like we always do."
"You can go without me. I'm not in the mood," Juniper said, pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.
Damon gasped softly like she had stabbed him. "Please now. You know I can't do without you."
Juniper scoffed. "You are dramatic."
Before Damon could continue talking, Hunter walked into the training field. He was carrying a large pot of water, the type used to serve those training. His head was slightly bowed as he moved from person to person. The other students didn't treat him well they never did. Someone took a cup of water from the pot, drank it, and then poured the remaining on Hunter's face. They all laughed loudly as the water dripped from his chin.
Hunter said nothing. He wiped his face quietly with the back of his sleeve and continued working. Juniper watched him for a second, her eyes narrowing just a little. She knew he was trying so hard not to react because reacting would only make things worse for him.
She turned away when Damon spoke again.
"Do you like the fairy boy?" Damon said suddenly, his tone unserious but curious enough.
Juniper blinked out of her thoughts. "What nonsense."
Damon grinned. "But the way you stare at him sometimes… it's amazing because I have never seen you stare at anyone that way."
"You are blind then," she said immediately. "Because I wasn't even staring at him."
She shot her last arrow, then started leaving the archery section. Damon followed her like a shadow, still smiling and teasing her quietly.
But as she walked away, Juniper glanced one last time at Hunter. He was still being bullied by some students who found him an easy target. He kept his head down, silently carrying the pot of water, pretending the insults didn't touch him.
Juniper didn't show any emotion. Not even a frown.
She simply turned away and walked out of the training ground, her steps steady, her face blank, leaving Damon trailing behind her with a knowing smile.