The morning sun spilled across the academy grounds like liquid gold, washing over towers of pale stone and spires etched with silver runes that shimmered faintly in the light. The front gates of Celestara. The Astorian Academy of Arcane Arts stood open—two colossal archways framed by carved dragons whose eyes glowed with gentle azure fire. Beyond them, the grand courtyard stretched in sweeping symmetry: marble fountains whispered softly, and banners of crimson and blue rippled in the early breeze, bearing the sigil of the empire—a phoenix encircling a crown of stars.
Students hurried past in neat uniforms, their chatter echoing against the stone. The air thrummed faintly with mana, the faint hum of wards and enchantments interwoven through the very walls.
Talia stood near the main doors, arms crossed, her uniform cloak draped over one shoulder. Her posture was relaxed, but her sharp eyes tracked every movement—ever the soldier even when off the battlefield. Beside her, Elara leaned casually against a marble column, the morning light catching the red-gold strands of her hair and the faint warmth that always seemed to radiate from her presence.
Elara yawned. "Remind me why we're here before dawn again?"
Talia exhaled, glancing toward the doors. "Headmaster's orders. Said we were to escort the new student around the academy. No name. No details."
Elara arched a brow. "Mysterious. Probably another noble snob who thinks their bloodline makes them special."
Talia's mouth twitched in amusement. "You do realize you're a princess, right?"
Elara grinned, her eyes sparking with mischief. "Exactly why I know how awful they can be."
Before Talia could retort, the sound of footsteps echoed from the courtyard beyond—the measured pace of the headmaster approaching, and beside him… another figure, smaller, almost familiar.
The rhythmic click of boots on marble drew closer until the tall, silver-haired figure of Headmaster Elric Fenmere emerged from the courtyard archway. His long indigo robes trailed behind him, embroidered with gold sigils that pulsed faintly with authority. At his side walked a much smaller figure—her soft pink hair half-tamed in a braid that bounced with every step, her uniform cloak slightly askew as though she'd wrestled with it all morning.
"Please tell me that's not—" Elara began, squinting.
Before she could finish, the girl beside the headmaster broke into a grin that could outshine the morning sun.
"TALIA! ELARA!"
Anna took off running, nearly tripping over her own boots in her excitement. Her voice carried through the courtyard, earning more than a few curious looks from passing students.
Elric sighed softly, adjusting his spectacles as she bolted ahead. "She was supposed to make a composed first impression," he murmured.
"Supposed to?" Talia echoed, just as Anna collided into her with an enthusiastic hug.
"Talia! Elara! I can't believe you're both here!" she said, beaming up at them.
Elara blinked, momentarily speechless. "Wait—you're the new student?"
Anna nodded proudly, her eyes shining. "Mm-hmm! Headmaster Fenmere said I'm officially enrolled!"
Talia rubbed her temples, though the faintest smile curved her lips. "Of course you are."
The moment Anna's voice echoed through the courtyard, conversations faltered. Students crossing the polished flagstones slowed, eyes flicking curiously toward the scene unfolding before the grand gates.
A few whispered behind cupped hands.
"Did she just hug Lady Talia?" "She called them by name—no titles, no formality." "Who is she?"
By the time Anna released Talia from her grip, the air hummed with murmurs. The royal sisters of Astoria—storm and flame incarnate—were the academy's brightest stars, admired and feared in equal measure. For a stranger, especially one so bright-eyed and unassuming, to rush up to them so familiarly was… unheard of.
Elara arched an eyebrow, clearly aware of the attention they were drawing. "You've just made yourself the talk of the entire campus," she muttered under her breath.
Anna blinked, oblivious. "Really? Why?"
Talia sighed, glancing at the growing crowd. "Because no one else would dare do what you just did."
Elric finally caught up, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, I did warn the council she wouldn't exactly blend in."
Elara crossed her arms. "Understatement of the century."
Elric's chuckle lingered in the crisp morning air as he stopped before the gates, turning to face the three princesses. The early sunlight caught the silver filigree in his robes, making him look more like an ancient sage than the headmaster of the most prestigious academy in Astoria.
"Well," he said, voice warm and commanding, "I believe introductions are in order—though it seems one of you has already taken the initiative."
Anna grinned sheepishly, her hands clasped behind her back. "Sorry, Headmaster… I just got excited."
Elric's expression softened. "No apology necessary, Princess. Excitement is the sign of a curious mind—and that's exactly what we nurture here." His gaze shifted to Talia and Elara, his tone turning just a shade more formal. "I'm entrusting her to you two today. Show her around the grounds, the dormitories, and the primary halls. She may be family, but here she's also a student—and she'll earn her place like anyone else."
Talia straightened and gave a crisp nod. "Understood, Headmaster."
Elara smirked. "We'll make sure she survives the first day."
Elric chuckled. "That's all I ask. Try not to frighten her before orientation." He offered Anna a reassuring smile. "You'll do fine, Princess. Remember—every great mage begins with a single spark."
With that, he turned and strode back down the marble path, his robes whispering softly in the morning breeze.
For a moment, the three sisters stood together at the gate as the chatter of the academy swelled around them. Then Talia exhaled and smiled at Anna. "Alright, little sister. Ready to see what real magic looks like?"
Anna's eyes lit up. "I've been ready!"
Elara groaned softly, though a smile tugged at her lips. "She's going to outshine half the first-years before lunch, I can feel it."
The moment Elric's footsteps faded beyond the gate, a new sound rose to take their place—soft, rippling whispers.
"Did she say little sister?" someone hissed from a passing group of students.
"No way—she can't mean Princess Anna," another murmured. "I thought the youngest was kept in the capital."
"I didn't even know there was a third one," someone else whispered, awe mingled with disbelief. "She looks so… normal."
Talia's expression didn't waver, though a faint smirk tugged at one corner of her mouth. Elara, on the other hand, rolled her eyes so hard it was practically audible.
"Let them talk," she muttered under her breath. "They'll find something else to gossip about by lunch."
Anna, oblivious to most of it, stared wide-eyed at everything around her—the soaring spires of crystal and stone, the shimmer of levitating lanterns that glowed even in daylight, the sigil-lined walkways that pulsed faintly underfoot with every step. Students streamed past in a rainbow of uniforms, their mana auras flickering in the air like candle flames.
Talia reached over, resting a reassuring hand on Anna's shoulder. "Don't mind them. The academy's full of sharp minds—and sharper tongues. Just keep your chin up."
Anna nodded, though her voice came out small. "I wasn't… I mean, I don't mind. I just didn't know everyone would stare so much."
Elara gave a soft, teasing scoff. "Welcome to being a Crestwood. It's part of the package."
That earned a quiet laugh from Anna, easing some of the tension in her posture. The three of them continued toward the grand steps leading to the main hall, sunlight breaking through the clouds to gild the marble paths in gold.
The vast doors of the academy opened with a low, resonant hum, revealing a grand atrium bathed in prismatic light. Floating runes drifted lazily through the air like motes of dust, refracting sunlight into shifting patterns across the marble floor. Mana conduits ran through the walls like glowing vines, their light ebbing and flowing with the rhythm of the leyline beneath the school.
Elara swept a hand toward the heart of the chamber. "Welcome to Celestara. The Astorian Academy of Arcane Arts," she said with mock grandeur. "Home of the Empire's brightest minds, most inflated egos, and a cafeteria that somehow burns soup."
Anna giggled, spinning slightly to take everything in. "It's so much bigger than I imagined!"
Talia smiled fondly. "It's easy to get lost your first week. We'll take you through the main halls—training grounds, lecture wings, dormitories—"
But Anna wasn't listening. Her attention darted from one wonder to the next—the shimmering banners overhead, the sound of spellwork crackling faintly from a distant corridor, the faint scent of ozone in the air. She took a few distracted steps forward—
—and bumped hard into someone coming around the corner.
Books and papers scattered across the polished floor.
"Oh—sorry!" Anna blurted, dropping to her knees to help gather them.
"No, no—it's my fault," came a familiar voice, equally flustered.
They both froze mid-reach, eyes meeting.
"...Kaelan?" Anna breathed.
"Princess Anna," he said, a faint, surprised smile tugging at his lips. "Didn't think I'd see you again outside the entrance ceremony."
Talia arched a brow, crossing her arms. "You two know each other?"
"Barely," Anna said quickly, cheeks pink as she handed him a book. "We just… talked for a minute during the ceremony."
Kaelan nodded, his tone humble, eyes lowering briefly. " Princess Anna helped me out during the entrance ceremony."
Anna blinked, surprised. "Oh—well, I just—"
Before she could finish, Elara cut in, her voice sharp with recognition. "Wait. You're the one who nearly crushed half the candidates with that unstable obelisk?"
Kaelan froze mid-step, color rising to his cheeks. "...I—uh—yes, that was me," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "A miscalculation with the stabilizing runes. I didn't expect the ley current to react that strongly."
Elara folded her arms, unimpressed. "Lucky for you, Anna reacted when she did. Otherwise, that 'miscalculation' could've killed someone."
The words hung in the air, blunt and cutting. Kaelan's embarrassment deepened, his shoulders stiffening under the weight of her tone.
Talia shot her sister a warning look and placed a gentle hand on her arm. "That's enough, Elara."
Elara huffed but didn't argue, glancing away.
Talia turned to Kaelan with a measured nod. "Accidents happen. What matters is that you learned from it."
Kaelan nodded gratefully, his voice quieter now. "I did. Believe me, I won't forget it."
Anna smiled softly at him. "I'm just glad no one got hurt."
He met her gaze for a fleeting moment, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "Me too."
They stood there for a moment—neither speaking, the world narrowing to that small, awkward silence between them. Anna's bright green eyes met Kaelan's, and for an instant, the hum of the academy faded away.
Elara cleared her throat pointedly.
The sound snapped them both back to reality. Kaelan flinched slightly, then straightened so fast he almost dropped the book in his hand. "Right—uh, I should probably go. Don't want to be late for my next class."
Anna tilted her head, suppressing a smile. "Of course. Wouldn't want another obelisk incident."
Kaelan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, one near-death experience per semester seems like enough."
Talia gave him a small, polite nod as he stepped aside, clearly eager to make his exit. "Good luck, Stagwood."
He returned the gesture with a faint grin, then hurried off down the corridor—though not before glancing back once at Anna.
Anna caught the look, warmth creeping into her cheeks before she quickly turned back toward her sisters.
Elara raised an eyebrow. "You really do attract trouble, don't you?"
Anna only smiled, her heart still fluttering as they continued the tour.
The sound of clashing steel and crackling magic grew louder as the sisters led Anna through a broad archway that opened into the academy's sprawling training grounds.
The space was alive with motion—circles of students sparring across terraced platforms of polished stone, streams of elemental light streaking through the air. A trio of mages practiced levitation sigils over the dueling pits, while a group of battle scholars measured mana output through hovering crystal lenses. The scent of ozone and scorched dust hung thick, mingling with the distant chorus of commands barked by instructors.
Anna's eyes widened, the sheer scale of it dazzling her. "It's so… alive," she breathed.
Talia smiled faintly. "That's one way to put it. This is where the best train to become even better."
Elara folded her arms, watching a pair of students exchange fiery blows across a warded ring. "Or where overconfident fools set their hair on fire," she muttered.
Anna giggled, only for her laughter to fade as a burst of magic detonated nearby—sending a plume of dust into the air. When it cleared, a boy groaned from the dueling ring while his opponent offered him a sheepish hand up.
"Combat training," Talia explained. "Third-year class. They focus on refining control under pressure." She shot Anna a sidelong look. "You'll get there eventually. Hopefully with less chaos."
Elara smirked. "No promises."
Anna grinned but couldn't look away from the students, mesmerized by the rhythm of movement and power—the way magic and will seemed to dance together. Somewhere deep inside, the faint hum of the egg's resonance stirred in answer to the energy around her, subtle but present.
Talia noticed the flicker of light in Anna's eyes. "You feel that, don't you?" she asked quietly.
Anna hesitated. "It's like… the air is singing."
Talia nodded, expression soft. "That's Celestara's heartbeat. You'll get used to it."
As Anna lingered near the edge of the sparring field, her gaze tracing the arcs of magic through the air, a commanding voice cut across the training grounds.
"Careful standing that close, Princess."