“Can you stop screaming already?” the same brunette asked, standing right in front of me and maintaining a protective barrier.
I suddenly felt so embarrassed, as if he hadn’t just saved me from the hound but had caught me in my underwear. I jumped up quickly, brushed myself off, and checked for any tears or rips in my clothes. Surprisingly, there wasn’t even a scratch on me.
“When did you get here?”
“Now’s not the best time for chit-chat.”
“Gabriella. My name’s Gabriella.”
“I didn’t ask for your name.”
“And I didn’t ask for your help.”
“Should I leave, then?”
“No!”
I couldn’t see through his back, but for some reason, I felt like he was smirking. How embarrassing…
“Kiaran Dane,” the upperclassman finally relented.
How strange. Hearing that somehow lifted my bad mood to nothing. I even started forgetting about the fire hound’s presence.
“I’m going to drop the barrier now and push the monster back. After that, I’ll use a few combat spells. Meanwhile, you’ll head back to the academy and call for help. I can handle one demon, but I can’t deal with all the guests from the rift. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Kiaran did as he said, lowering the barrier and sending a shockwave toward my unwanted suitor. I bolted for the doors immediately, while he launched his first combat spell at the hound.
As I ran, I nearly got hit three times, but I made it inside unscathed. My lungs burned from the exertion, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. First, I needed to find someone to help.
I looked around, hoping to spot anyone, but the corridors weren’t patrolled in case of rifts in other parts of the academy. Some experienced mages they are! Though, to be fair, I’d never heard of rifts opening so close to each other before. I searched the entire castle grounds and found no one combat-ready. Heading to the main entrance wasn’t an option—distracting others during a fight was a terrible idea. I decided to try the auditorium. Maybe, just maybe, I’d stumble upon someone who could fight alongside Kiaran.
“Is there anyone who can help? Another rift has opened in the back courtyard!”
I shouted as loud as I could, but it didn’t seem like anyone heard me. I had to try again.
“Listen to me!”
Everyone kept yelling and talking over each other. What’s the point of being a descendant of heroes if I can’t even get people to hear me? Right now, they had no interest in me, so they paid no attention, even though a real battle with demons was happening just outside the window. Usually, mage parents don’t bring their kids to battles during home training. My family was an exception, but they never left me alone and were always by my side. Even though I was in the middle of combat zones, there was never any real danger to me.
Fine, if they won’t listen willingly, I’ll do what my mother taught me. She’s not the type to mince words or explain herself if people ignore her.
I took a deep breath, calmed my racing heart, and summoned fire across the entire room. And it worked—every single person noticed me standing by the entrance doors.
“If you don’t want to die at the claws of demons, follow me,” I commanded calmly and quietly before turning around.
With quick strides, I led a whole crowd of first-years like myself to help the person who had just saved me. It wasn’t just Kiaran’s and my lives on the line now, so they had to listen. Though we lacked real combat experience and were practically powerless, it was far better than doing nothing. Maybe our combined strength would hold until more experienced mages arrived. But if I thought about it, we didn’t have much of a choice: it was either this or death.
When they saw where I’d led them, the first-years were outraged. I could clearly hear phrases from the crowd like, “She’s trying to get us killed,” “She’s crazy,” and “Show-off. If you want to die, do it alone.” I couldn’t blame them, and there was no time for arguments. Kiaran was badly injured and barely standing on his feet.
“Who can use water magic or combat spells?”
There were no volunteers. My classmates weren’t quick to trust me, but couldn’t they see that something had to be done? Did they think this wouldn’t affect them?
“Why are you just standing there? Our lives are in your hands right now. I can only use fire magic, which is useless against the hound.”
By the way, it was odd that no reinforcements for the demon had arrived during my absence… Ugh, I jinxed it.
“It’s a demonic wolverine!” a girl screamed, as if we couldn’t see it for ourselves.
“A terra badger!”
“A caribou!”
“A zebu!”
“I’m thrilled you all know so much about demonic species,” I couldn’t help but snap, “but don’t you think it’s time we got to work?”
They all looked at me with uncertainty and surprise until the same demonic wolverine tried to attack us. Kiaran didn’t have eyes in the back of his head, so it wasn’t surprising that he missed it, especially since the fire hound was completely focused on him.
The creature nearly pounced on the girl who had identified it, but a guy who had recognized the zebu managed to put up a protective barrier in front of us all. The girl lifted her wide, frightened eyes to her savior.
“Honika,” she introduced herself, still carefully studying every detail of the guy’s face.
“Savilian,” he replied, offering the hand that wasn’t busy maintaining the barrier.
Honika slowly took his hand and gave it a light shake, then looked back at his face. Savilian smiled, clearly amused by her reaction.
“Orpheus, didn’t you just brag about being an experienced combat mage? Come on, don’t just stand there—look at all these targets to prove yourself,” Savilian called out to a friend, still holding the barrier.
The guy standing near me groaned, clutching his head.
“Man, you’re killing me!” Then, turning to me, he said, “Let me through.”
Orpheus stepped to the edge of the field and activated offensive spells. He hurled them while circling the wolverine. Soon, the beast shifted its target and began attacking the mage.
In theory, fire magic should harm a wolverine, so I could try to draw its attention to myself, giving the guy a chance to keep up his attacks.
“Hey, badger, over here!” I shouted, trying to divert its focus to me.
“That’s not a badger!” a girl behind the barrier corrected me.
Alright, Gabi, stay calm. She just doesn’t get sarcasm, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The important thing is that the creature backed off from Orpheus, who could now continue his series of attacks. To avoid becoming this beast’s next meal, I formed an offensive fiery orb and launched it at the wolverine. What followed was pure instinct: I attacked, dodged, advanced, retreated, crawled, rolled, ran, and jumped. I don’t even know how I ended up next to Kiaran.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as we stood shoulder to shoulder. “Are those… first-years?”
“Everyone’s busy with the rift at the main entrance. I couldn’t find anyone more experienced.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“They said the same thing. See, it’s not dangerous to hang around you—it’s dangerous to hang around me.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Who’s laughing? Focus on the enemies instead of scolding me,” I pointed out as one of the demonic creatures lunged at him. What would he do without me here? He’d be completely lost, poor thing!
“Thanks,” he said as the burning carcass fell at his feet.
“Anything for your precious nerves.”
“Is that how a hero’s descendant is supposed to talk?”
“I thought you just liked me, but turns out you knew who I was all along.”
“Watch out!” Kiaran shouted, casting a combat spell at a demon that had taken a liking to my side. Ironically, it was a terra wolf. “Hey, maybe I should call you Little Red Riding Hood?”
“Don’t you dare!”
“Talking to me?”
“No, to that donkey over there.”
“Man, your family must have it rough with you…”
“I wouldn’t know, no one’s complained. Anyway, don’t get distracted.”
“That goes for you too.”
“Can you two stop flirting, lovebirds?” Orpheus interrupted. “There are plenty of things here that need your attention.”
As if to prove his point, a water lynx growled. Ugh! And I was just getting started. They won’t even let me have a proper conversation.
We kept fighting the demons. Everyone did what they could: some raised shields when others couldn’t defend themselves, some attacked and took down the intruders, and others healed wounds. But no healer dared approach Kiaran yet.
At times, I moved away from him to help others, and at times, I returned to support him in any way I could. While the others helped each other, they still kept their distance from him, though he always stepped in to assist whenever he had the chance.
I had no idea how long this went on, but it was clear everyone was exhausted. Let’s be honest—even Kiaran looked like he was about to collapse. Like a ray of hope amid our ordeal, a familiar light appeared, though it didn’t bode well for me. If he was here, he’d soon find out about my stunt.
“What’s going on here?” the rector’s stern voice echoed across the area.
The man looked around, quickly realizing things hadn’t been quiet here for the past few hours. Mr. Lorian unleashed a shockwave, pushing the demons as far away from us as possible, and erected a protective barrier. Naturally, it was ten times larger than any a first-year could create.
“Whose idea was this?”
Yeah, I wouldn’t go on a covert mission with my classmates—they’d sell me out to the enemy in a heartbeat. Was this their revenge for dragging them here? Still, pointing at me so blatantly… Huh? Even Kiaran?
“Of course, who else? Miss Arkan, to my office. The rest of you, back to your rooms. The professors and upperclassmen will be here soon to finish the cleanup.”
Maybe I could still make a run for it? I’ll just slip along the wall, sneak through the main exit, and walk all the way home…
“And where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
“To your office,” I replied with an irritated, sheepish smile, realizing my plan was doomed.
To ensure I wouldn’t escape, my late father’s old friend walked behind me, keeping a strict eye on me. I felt like some kind of criminal—all I was missing was a prison uniform and handcuffs. Though my conscience was clear… How often do prisoners get to shower, anyway? Interesting question.
When I stopped at the door, Lorian Kaysley tensed up. I even noticed him forming a spell.
“Please open the door.”
“Ah! Right!” The man quickly pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door to his office. “Come in, Arkan.”
I smiled and entered the room, which, about a thousand years ago, had been the office of my ancestor and Ariadna’s beloved. To my great surprise, I remembered almost every detail of her life, while I sometimes couldn’t recall what I had for breakfast in my own.
Karim Arkan’s fiancée never got to live here, but during the construction, she often visited the future Lily Castle. My ancestor had to oversee the creation of their shared home, but he couldn’t neglect his duties either.
On one such day, she ran through the corridor to give him a gift. Joy overflowed within her, her body felt incredibly light, and her hair trailed behind her like a veil. Bursting through the door, she entered the office with a mischievous glint in her eye, looking at her future husband.
“Guess what I have for you.”
The man set down the paper he was holding and gazed at his beloved with tenderness. Every time their eyes met, Ariadna saw immense love and affection for her in his gaze.
“Is something wrong?” the rector’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“No, everything’s fine,” I said, lightly shaking my head and moving forward to sit in the chair across from his desk.
“Have you been here before?”
“What?”
“Have you already been to the academy? How do you know where my office is?”
“Oh!.. Well, Kiaran told me how to get to your office.”
Yes, that was a complete lie, but I couldn’t exactly say I was heading to Karim’s office or that I had Ariadna’s memories.
“Strange, he’s usually not very talkative.”
“I don’t know, he talked quite a bit with me, even teased me.”
“In any case, try not to cross paths with him. He’s from the Dane family, and they have a strong inclination toward forbidden magic.”
“Forbidden magic?”
“Hah, right, you probably haven’t heard of them. I don’t know how, but it’s like clockwork—every thirty years or so, someone in their family dabbles in dark magic.”
“How?”
“If only I knew. Their estate and every resident’s belongings have been searched countless times for forbidden texts or artifacts. Here’s the odd part: no one has ever found anything suspicious.”
“So, I should get close to him and search their estate myself,” I mused aloud.
“No, Gabriella, it means you shouldn’t interact with him at all—that’s it. Did you hear me?”
“Fine, what about my punishment?”
“For your recklessness? I only said that to have a chance to talk with you. It’s been a while since we last saw each other.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, if you insist, I’ll assign you a punishment in the form of extra lessons.”
“What? Extra lessons?”
“Yes. Every day at five in the evening on the training grounds.”
“Why do I need them?”
“So you don’t have to ask for help from the likes of Kiaran.”
Okay, uncle, slow down. I’m not the heroine of some steamy or romantic novel with a “rector and student” trope. The longer we talk, the more your actions creep me out.
“And… who will be conducting these lessons for me?”
“Who else? Me, of course.”
“You do realize you’re like a second father to me, Mr. Kaysley.”
Okay, I didn’t actually see him as a father. I didn’t even consider him family! But I had to hint somehow that I didn’t see the rector in a romantic light.
“Of course, which is why I want to better prepare you for encounters with demons.”
“What about the other students? Do I seem that far behind?”
“You’re very talented, and your potential needs to be nurtured.”
“Could someone else conduct these lessons instead?”
“Why?”
“I already get enough attention because of my lineage. I don’t want to be at the center of rumors about an affair with the rector. Did you not consider that?”
“Nonsense.”
“Maybe to us, but to others, it’s a juicy opportunity for gossip.”
Lorian fell into thought but didn’t say anything. I sat frozen, hoping he’d back down. On the other hand, today’s events might come back to haunt me in the form of mockery and taunts. I just hoped there wouldn’t be any grudges, since everyone made it out alive and unharmed.
“Fine, I’ll assign a different teacher for each day of the week to train you in various techniques, but on Saturdays and Sundays, I’ll be the one teaching you.”
“Huh? Saturdays and Sundays? Those are weekends! How am I supposed to manage going home and attending lessons?”
“If it were easy, it wouldn’t be considered a punishment.”
“But Mr. Kaysley!..”
“This isn’t up for discussion. You may go now. And be careful, Miss Arkan.”
I took a deep breath and held it in frustration. No, I wasn’t leaving until he softened this punishment.
“Go, student. You’re not a child anymore, so spare me these childish antics. And don’t be late for your first class. You know where your classroom is, don’t you?”
I exhaled, crossed my arms over my chest, and silently left the office. Damn this rector! There’s a reason I never liked him.
Muttering curses under my breath, I walked down the corridor, trying to remember what was first on my schedule, but my mind was blank on the subject. What to do? I figured I should start by recalling my group name. What was it again? I think it’s E-11, for elementalists, first year, first group.
If memory serves, the first two weeks of classes are shared among all first-years. Mondays are supposed to be math and ancient magic, and Tuesdays are history of magic. If only I knew where to find the history of magic classroom…
Slowly but surely, I started to worry, as I hadn’t encountered anyone in the corridor to ask for directions. I even began scolding myself for letting pride get in the way and refusing help. Just in time, I spotted Kiaran. He was asleep on a windowsill in a half-sitting position, one leg dangling over the edge.
“Like a cat,” I couldn’t help but smile.
“I can hear you,” he snapped, opening his eyes and giving me a serious look. “Did they punish you harshly?”
“Extra assignments and no weekends.”
“Tough, but it could’ve been worse.”
“Why aren’t you in class?”
“All classes were canceled because of the demon attack, dummy. What were you listening to?”
“Then why are you here?”
“I sleep wherever I want.”
“Were you worried about me?”
“Don’t make things up.”
We fell silent. I lowered my gaze and noticed something familiar on him—something he shouldn’t have!
“Where did you get that bracelet?”
“Bracelet?” He raised his hand with the accessory that Ariadna had once given to Karim. “Oh, I found it back when I was a first-year.”
I found that hard to believe, since when the hero’s fiancée got upset with her beloved, she hid the bracelet securely and said she’d only give it back after their wedding.
“Where did you find it?”
“Why do you care? Want to go looking for more…?” He stopped, realizing he’d said too much. “…Listen, forget this nonsense. I’m not interested in you, or matching trinkets, or any of that rubbish.”
“You think too highly of yourself. Not everything revolves around you. I just liked the craftsmanship of whoever made this piece of art.”
“Hah, don’t get your hopes up. They’ve been dead for ages.”
“And how do you know that?”
I’m just imagining things, right? There’s no way Kiaran could be Karim—they look nothing alike, and even if the late hero were alive after a millennium, he’d look like an old man.
“You can tell by the design that it’s ancient. Logically, at least five hundred years have passed since it was made, and humans don’t live that long. Even mages rarely reach that age.”
That makes sense, but why do his arguments feel off to me? No, I just need to rest and stop overthinking. I’m not Ariadna, and Kiaran isn’t Karim.
“Alright,” I changed the subject, “see you later, then.”
“Do you know where the dormitory is?”
“Behind the academy, obviously.”
“Then go.”
“And you’re not even going to end with your usual ‘stay away from me’ line?”
“I have someone I love. You don’t stand a chance.”
“Oh, really? Well, I’ll disappoint you: I wasn’t exactly interested. But you know what? I’m not planning to avoid you. You might become a mage who masters forbidden magic, so I need to stick around to prevent that. So don’t get any funny ideas.”
Turning my back to him, I walked straight ahead, waving goodbye. Sure, it wasn’t the most graceful farewell, but he hasn’t exactly been polite to me either. It’s like he thinks I’m some lovesick puppy trailing after him with teary eyes, begging for affection. If I ever like someone, I’m not going to chase them around pleading for love. My mother taught me differently: if you like someone, you grab a rope, tie them up nice and tight, drag them to the courthouse, and the rest is just formalities—pay a bribe, sign the papers, and boom, they’re yours.
Despite Brigina Arkan promoting the image of a strong, independent woman, she and my father got married when she was three months pregnant with me. According to my grandfather, my mother was too shy to tell my father she loved him for a long time, and then she didn’t even mention me. My dad was kind and quick-witted, figured it out fast, did something to convince her, and got her to marry him.
“She straight-up said, ‘We barely know each other, and I’m not sure about my feelings,’” the head of the Arkan family once recounted.
“And what did he say?”
“‘I love you, and we’re going to have a child soon.’”
“And she agreed after that?”
Grandfather burst into loud laughter and took a while to calm down, but when he finally did, he answered:
“No, of course not. What happened next and how he convinced her, only your mother knows.”
Yeah, life at home is lively, and I’m lucky with my family. They accept me for who I am, worry about me, raise me, and care for me. Though I’ve never told them directly, I love them.
And just like that, I found myself near the dormitory, but things weren’t as simple as I’d hoped. From around the corner, I spotted a group of girls, and they looked pretty aggressive. A normal person would’ve just walked past, but unfortunately, I’m not that kind of person. I quietly approached them to see what was going on.
“Didn’t I tell you that if we crossed paths again, you wouldn’t get away so easily?” the leader of the group sneered maliciously. “You stole my guy, and I’m going to ruin your life.”
“I-I didn’t steal him.”
“Oh, really? Then who was flaunting themselves in front of him?”
The aggressive girl’s friends just stood there silently, watching the scene unfold. They were likely acting as a barrier, ensuring the poor cornered girl couldn’t escape. Their victim, by the way, was none other than Honika, the girl who had identified the demonic wolverine earlier that morning.
“I don’t even like him.”
“But that didn’t stop you from trying to seduce him, did it?”
“And what’s going on here?” I asked the aggressor, casually resting my elbow on her shoulder.
“Who the hell are you?!” the bully shouted, shoving me away and almost instantly casting a spell at me.
“Your worst nightmare,” I introduced myself, dodging her attack with ease.