The morning sun filtered through the ivy-draped windows of the Celestars' dorm, casting a warm glow on the rune-etched walls. The brothers stirred from their beds, still buzzing from the excitement of their first week at Elyndor Academy. Lui stretched, his red eyes gleaming with suppressed energy, while Yuuv yawned, still half-awake and clutching his bell wand.
Rick flopped onto his bed, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Today's going to be awesome," he said, twirling his wand. "You guys remember what happened when I tried to water the plants in the courtyard yesterday?"
"Seaweed invasion," Iuro groaned, raking his green hair. "Let's hope the professors don't expect us to repeat that."
"Stars say," Yuuv mumbled, his bell chiming softly, "today will be… peaceful."
"Peaceful?," Lui muttered, grabbing his sword. "Not likely. We've got a full schedule—spellmaking, combat training, and a new team project. Yuuv, focus!"
"Already," Yuuv mumbled, slumping back onto his pillow.
Izumi, his gray eyes sharp as ever, stood by the window, gazing at the distant spires of the academy. "Liora would've loved this view," he said softly, remembering the quiet herb-mage from Gladefen. He pulled a folded parchment from his pocket, the one Liora had given him during their farewell dinner at Gladewind House. Her golden script across the vellum glowed faintly.
He unfolded it, reading her latest letter with a faint smile. She had written about the quiet beauty of Gladefen in autumn, the way the herb fields turned gold and purple, and the stories of her father's childhood adventures at Elyndor Academy. Izumi's eyes softened as he rebtracked the letter, a small herb sachet she had included tucked safely in his pocket.
Meanwhile, Rick and Iuro bounded out of bed, their energy seemingly limitless for the day. "I'll be the water king by lunch!" Rick declared, brandishing his wand. "Spellmaking's gonna be my thing!"
"You're the water king of splashdowns," Iuro teased, pulling on his boots. "Remember to keep the flooding to the courtyard."
They met Professor Myrren at the Spellmaking Studio, where the air buzzed with the scent of crushed herbs and the faint hum of mana. Rick eagerly grabbed a crystal mortar, his violet eyes alight with excitement. "Today's my day to shine," he said, leaning over the table. "Selene's going to see!"
Izumi tilted his head, a small smile forming. "Careful, Rick. You're already glowing."
Their class focused on crafting more complex charms, using herbs and runes to enhance their spells. Rick, ever the showman, attempted a flashy water spiral, only to have it spin wildly out of control. "Too much Re," Professor Myrren chided with a chuckle. "Balance intent with precision."
Selene, seated a few benches away, watched with a smirk. "Nice try," she called out, her black eyes gleaming. "Need to ride the wave, not crash it."
Rick grinned, his cheeks red. "Thanks. I'm learning."
After class, the brothers broke up to tackle their electives. Izumi opted for a quiet afternoon in the academy's vast library, surrounded by ancient tomes and the soft glow of rune-lit candles. He wrote back to Liora, carefully detailing his experiences in Eldoria and the challenges of academy life. "The stars are brighter here," he mused, folding the letter and sending it via a rune-winged hawk.
Meanwhile, Lui and Iuro joined a combat training session led by a fierce instructor. Lui's swordsmanship earned him a few impressed glances from the crowd, while Iuro's nature magic kept the class in awe as summoned vines to practice complex maneuvers.
Rick, ever the socialite, struck up a conversation with Selene at the water pump. "Do you think we'll ever tame the whole academy?" he asked, his violet eyes shining.
"I think you can do it," Selene replied with a knowing smile. "goodluck"
Her voice trailed off, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to pause. Rick felt his heart leap, but before he could respond, the bell for supper rang, scattering the students.
As they gathered in the dorm that evening, the brothers exchanged stories of their day. Yuuv, noticeably more energized, flopped on his bed— until Rick nudged him. "You owe me a victory dance," he said, grinning.
"Dance?" Yuuv mumbled, half-asleep. "Sounds… tiring."
Rick rolled his eyes. "You always dodge my tricks."
"Education's exhausting," Izumi said from his desk, where he was organizing his notes. "Even for the most enthusiastic among us."
The room fell quiet for a moment, save for the soft hum of the mana-powered lantern above. Lui leaned back in his chair, a rare smile on his face. "Tomorrow's gonna be tough," he said. "But we're here. Together."
As they drifted off to sleep, the distant spires of Elyndor glowed, a beacon of possibility in the night sky.
The next morning, the brothers were introduced to their team for the academy's annual group project—an opportunity to collaborate on a magical garden in the academy's herbatory. Their team included the Lilac Thorns, the guild they had encountered during the D-Novice trials in Redvine Town. The reunion was warm, with friendly greetings and shared stories of how they had all grown since their last meeting.
The day was filled with laughter and light-hearted competition as the teams worked together to design and plant their gardens. Lui and the Lilac Thorns' leader, Vielca, bonded over their shared experience of handling silly members, while Izumi and Kael, one of the twins, sparred in the courtyard, their swords clashing in a burst of sparks and cheers.
Rick, of course, managed to drench half the garden before the day was over, but even his professors couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
As the sun dipped low, casting a golden glow over the academy, the brothers gathered around the rune-lit table in their dorm. Izumi unfolded the academy's newsletter, its pages filled with announcements of upcoming events and competitions. "Looks like we're in for an exciting year," he said with a faint smirk.
Rick groaned, flopping onto his bed. "But first, laundry day…"
"Again," Yuuv mumbled, half-asleep. "Stars say… nap."
The room burst into laughter, and for a moment, the weight of the academy and the challenges ahead felt a little lighter.