Spring finally hit the academy.
And by "hit," I mean it slapped the entire campus awake with warm sunlight, drifting petals, and way too many students suddenly acting like they were allergic to responsibility.
Winter had been a slog—training, stress, exams, aura control, Kai yelling in my face for testing me again, Aldred lecturing me, Varein silently supporting me, Seraphyne being… Seraphyne but slightly less chaotic, and Theon being loud.
So when the first years decided we were hosting a "Spring Festival," I thought:
Oh. Nice. Something normal.
I was wrong.
The entire student council—and by extension Class 1-S—got dragged into helping run it.
I should've known things were doomed when I walked into the planning meeting and saw Seraphyne holding a massive clipboard like she was about to declare war.
"Alright, everyone!" she said, voice surprisingly serious… yet somehow still silly. "We have two weeks to prepare a full festival. Games, food stalls, performances, a lantern ceremony, and—" she squinted at the paper, "—a 'mysterious surprise' that I didn't write. Who added that?!"
Kazen whistled innocently.
Varein sighed. "Kazen… did you volunteer us for something again?"
"Maybe," Kazen said, shrugging like a criminal who'd commit the same crime again.
I took a seat in the corner before someone could assign me something complicated.
Too late.
"Rain, you'll help with setup," Seraphyne said immediately. "You're strong."
"…I knew it."
"And you never complain," she added.
"I complain all the time," I said.
"No you don't," everyone replied at once.
Wow. Betrayal.
The next week was a blur of chaos disguised as "preparation."
Varein worked on booth layouts, quietly fixing everyone's mistakes.
Kazen engineered a mist-powered banner system that nearly decapitated a student when it spun too fast.
Theon hammered wooden boards, yelling motivational phrases that nobody asked for.
Liraeth tested carnival games, accidentally shattering three targets with her mace.
Aelira decorated elegant stalls, slicing ribbons with perfect grace like it was a battlefield.
Liam and Kai argued for an hour over which color lanterns looked more "knightly."
Seraphyne tried balancing all this while simultaneously planning the event.
I mostly carried heavy things.
Very heavy things.
"Rain, can you lift that wooden frame?"
"Rain, can you move those crates?"
"Rain, can you hold this entire tent by yourself? We just need to tighten the ropes."
At this point I'm convinced I'm Class 1-S's designated pack mule.
Finally, the day arrived.
Warm spring winds brushed through the courtyard. Flower petals drifted lazily across the sky. Music played from some box Kazen rigged up. I have no idea how it worked but I'm scared to ask.
Colorful stalls lined the field, lanterns hung from strings, and the aroma of food filled the air.
For the first time all year… everyone looked happy.
Even I felt my shoulders relax a little.
"Rain!" Seraphyne jogged over, dual daggers strapped to her waist because she apparently couldn't separate work from war. "Everything's ready. Let's open the gates."
She flashed me a grin—soft, not hyper.
I nodded. "Let's start."
The gates opened.
And the flood began.
First years poured in, cheering, laughing, running toward games and stalls—energy everywhere.
We got split into shifts.
Varein and I ran a spear-throwing booth.
"Rain," he murmured, "your job is to encourage them."
I stared at the student attempting the throw.
"…Good luck."
The student missed by a mile.
"I tried," I said.
Varein almost smiled. "That counts."
Kazen ran an archery demonstration that turned into a crowd-pleaser. He hit balloon after balloon with casual grace.
Theon ran a strength test. People kept flying backward because he shouted "SWING WITH YOUR HEART!" every time someone stepped up.
Seraphyne supervised the food stalls, threatening anyone who tried to skip the line with her daggers.
Aelira hosted a fencing lesson. She taught five girls who left blushing. I do not understand why.
Liam and Kai ran a "cut the falling fruit" game. They took it way too seriously. The fruit did not survive.
Liraeth ran a shield-bashing challenge. Everyone lost.
Everyone.
By evening, lanterns were distributed to every first year.
The courtyard dimmed as the sun dipped behind the academy walls, leaving the sky painted in soft purples and golds.
We stood together—Class 1-S, student council, first years—each holding our lantern.
Seraphyne raised hers.
"With this," she said softly, "we welcome the start of spring… and the start of new paths."
She released it.
One by one, lanterns floated upward.
Hundreds of soft golden lights drifted into the night sky like little hopes set free.
I exhaled—slow, quiet.
For once, things felt… peaceful.
Warm.
Almost unreal.
The lanterns rose higher, higher—
And then—
FWOOM—
A deep pulse of mana trembled through the air.
"What now," I muttered.
Kazen grinned. "Heh. Surprise."
A streak of teal light shot upward, split into spiraling trails, then burst into an explosion of shimmering colors that twisted like blooming flowers.
Magic traced intricate shapes in the air—spirals, swords, animals, glowing sigils—each fading like stardust.
Then another fired.
And another.
A cascade of multicolored fire spiraled across the sky, dancing in patterns no normal fireworks could create.
The crowd gasped.
Even Seraphyne was speechless.
Even Kai stopped looking smug.
Even Theon said, "WOAH—" at a normal volume.
The fireworks painted the sky in vibrant swirls, shimmering arcs, and glowing feathers of mana.
Light reflected in everyone's eyes.
And for the first time in a long time…
I felt something loosen in my chest.
A slow smile tugged at my lips—real, unforced.
"…Beautiful," I whispered without thinking.
Petals drifted in the wind.
Lanterns rose.
Magic bloomed across the sky.
And—for a moment—I forgot about rankings, trials, expectations, pressure…
I just watched the sky burn bright with color.
Warm.
Alive.
Hopeful.