My eyes fell upon her, my hands shaking.
"We're roommates?"
"We are," she said.
I looked at her, dumbfounded.
I'm roommates with an Arclight...
"You are."
"I keep forgetting that you can do that..."
"I know," she responded with a smile.
We said goodbye to the boys before we left, making our way through the crowd and heading toward the girls' dormitories. We walked a little slower, letting Celestine familiarize herself with the path. Ava and Ersa spent most of the time bickering, but now and then Ersa would look back and glare at me.
"Her thoughts are very... judgmental," Celestine said aloud.
"I can tell... And I can't even read her mind."
As we walked, I looked out across the campus. Massive coliseum-like buildings lined the horizon. To our right stood what looked like one of the main school buildings, with pristine benches scattered throughout an enormous outdoor common area. Open hallways connected the courtyard to the interior, gleaming beneath the sun as light reflected from polished stone and elaborate decorations. The building towered above us, at least six stories tall, its exterior lined with countless windows and balconies.
In the courtyard, a few people who seemed older than us talked while eating; otherwise, it was very empty.
Ava, looking back, followed my gaze.
"Those are upper-level students; some choose to stay on campus during breaks instead of returning home."
I nodded slightly.
"I don't recognize any of them; they are probably low-ranking nobles... I'm surprised they even got in," Ersa added.
"That's so mean; they are still our upperclassmen!" Ava yelled at her.
"Hmph... I don't care."
"You little-"
The two started going at it again, but a student caught my attention. A boy, maybe a year above. He held an apple in his hand, tossing it up. I watched as it floated high into the sky, as if gravity had abandoned it. Then, with a sudden jolt, the apple slammed down into the ground, flattening against the grass.
Wow... That wasn't wind magic; it was something else.
Slowing down, I looked at the boy. As I stopped, so did Celestine. Walking past her, I stepped off the path and onto the grass, entering the courtyard. Ersa and Ava still walked a few meters, caught in their bickering, before realizing what I had done.
"Luna! What are you doing?" Ava called out.
"She's so annoying, another reason why I don't like her," Ersa said aloud.
"I just want to ask him about his magic!" I called back already halfway across the courtyard.
Ava sighed before following me. Celestine sat on a bench along the path. Ersa looked between Ava and Celestine, her arms crossed.
"Ugh... I guess it doesn't hurt to ask," she mumbled while following behind Ava.
As I approached, I got a better look at him. He wore a purple suit and had neatly kept black hair, standing nearly two heads taller than me. A monocle rested over his left eye, its thin golden chain looping behind his ear.
He held another apple in his hand; next to him on a small table was a bag of such apples.
"Excuse me!" I yelled at him.
His head turned, his eyebrow raised slightly.
"Yes? Do I know you?"
"I'm Luna! A new candidate, nice to meet you."
"Oh, nice to meet you... Luna." His eyes traced across me. "I am Ivan Wigher. Nice to meet you as well."
I nodded. "What magic were you using!?" I asked abruptly.
"Um... Why?" he stammered.
"Luna, you can't just ask a question like that!" Ava appeared behind my back and scolded me.
"But you told me your affinity..." I said.
"Most people already know my affinity; same with Ersa. Big houses aren't exactly known for staying private."
I looked at her.
Oh...
Turning to Ivan, I bowed. "Sorry! You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
He looked at me and then at the two girls standing behind me. His eyes fell upon their crests, and as they did, he paled slightly.
"Um, no. It's okay!"
My eyes shot up and shone. He held out the apple, which started to float.
"I have gravity magic; it allows me to control gravity within a certain distance of me."
He pointed at a nearby squirrel that was running across the courtyard. Suddenly, its body sank toward the ground, its tiny paws pressing deep into the grass as if an invisible weight had settled over it. A second later, the pressure vanished. The squirrel looked around in confusion before scrambling up the nearest tree.
"Right now, my power isn't the greatest, and it's much harder to use on living creatures than on inanimate objects," he said, scratching the back of his head.
I scratched my chin. "So can you make things weigh nothing?"
"Only certain things right now, like this apple. The heavier the object and the greater the effect, the more mana it costs."
He sighed. "So for now, I'm mostly stuck making small objects and food float."
I looked at him. "That's still super cool, so keep on getting stronger!"
He smiled. "Thank you... Luna, right?" he asked, his hand extending.
"Yep!" I grabbed it and shook it. He held on tighter, for a few seconds longer than I thought was necessary.
"Well, if you ever wanna come over to my dorm-"
His eyes fell upon Ava, who crossed her arms; next to her, Ersa glared.
"I mean, if you and your friends ever want to come over to my dorm, I'm in Solcrest Hall, room B-09."
I nodded excitedly.
After we said our goodbyes, we walked back toward Celestine.
Ava leaned in towards me. "You know he was hitting on you, right?"
I looked at her, my eyebrow raising.
"Definitely hitting on you," Ersa commented. "A noble interested in a commoner... Shameful."
"Ersa! He didn't know! And even if Luna is a commoner, you have to admit she is very pretty!"
My head snapped between the two as they fought.
"I have no idea what you two are talking about."
They both stared at me.
"What!" Ava's eyes locked with mine. "Um... ugh, never mind," she sighed.
"Clueless," Ersa said.
Walking up to Celestine, she smiled.
"He liked you."
"That's what we said!" the two girls yelled out.
I sighed. "I don't know what any of that means, but gravity magic is so cool!"
"I gathered," Celestine replied.
I looked at her. "Were you listening the whole time?"
"Yes, your thoughts are very enthusiastic..."
"It was definitely interesting," Ava said.
"For a low noble, I'll give him that at least..." Ersa added.
"We should visit him before the assessment. Room B-09 in Solcrest Hall!" I yelled out.
"You sure were quick to want to go to his room~" Ava said, her voice slightly raised, teasing me.
"Well, he has gravity magic, so of course."
"That's not why he gave it to you..."
"Then why?"
Ersa groaned.
I looked at her, my eyebrow raised. Ava pulled me forward.
"Forget it!"
As we continued walking, I watched multiple groups of candidates pass us since we were going a little slower than usual. They chatted among themselves as they passed, though several couldn't help staring at us. Far to the west, beyond a massive hilly forest, I noticed a faint barrier pulsing against the sky. Within it, an enormous ice storm churned endlessly.
"The artificial Frostreach!" Ersa blurted out, taking a few quick steps forward. "Um... I mean, it's the artificial Frostreach," she said, slowing down, her face slightly red.
"Awesome!" I said.
Stepping forward, I tried to get a better look.
"It's so far away..."
Ava smiled. "Well, the environments in Crownspire are said to be as large as small cities, so be glad that you're able to see the barrier of just one of them!"
My shoulders slumped slightly. "I wanna go see it though!"
"Well, if we get lucky, we'll face a dungeon in the artificial Frostreach for our assessment, and even if we don't, if you are accepted, then you'll definitely go there eventually."
My eyes brightened. "Well then, I guess I'll just get accepted then!"
"Ha! me too!" Ava responded.
Ersa tilted her head, her eyes fixated on the Frostreach. "I will as well! I mean, I will too."
"I will as well," Celestine added.
I laughed, continuing along the path. Looking down for a second, I watched my feet as they pressed down against the ground.
I will pass... Every step forward is for everyone, for my siblings... For the commander.
Celestine's head tilted slightly.
Not noticing that I moved forward, my eyes wandered the campus. Looking forward, a massive building stood tall—high towers, large balconies, and intricate carvings. The front entrance was grand, a massive arch with a golden door. Atop the door and against the wall made of jewels were massive letters.
"Asteria Hall..."
Speeding up slightly, we reached the entrance. I stood within the arch, candidates passing by me constantly. Walking in, my eyes shone. Inside was a grand hall. Massive spiralling stairs led to the higher floors, paintings lined the walls, and fantastic sculptures were encased on pedestals. The roof was lined with multiple giant chandeliers that glowed with runes, and as I looked up, the sight reminded me of looking at the stars in the night sky. Jewels were etched into the walls, and gold lined every piece of furniture.
Beautiful red couches and chairs were arranged evenly throughout the hall, creating several smaller common areas. Massive pillars stood at each corner of the grand hall, each one containing a detailed, exquisite statue. But the main sight was at the center of the room: a giant statue that nearly touched the chandeliers. In her left hand was a miniature star that gleamed a bright white; in her right, she held a sword that gleamed the same white.
Her statue was engraved with overwhelming detail; she wore white-gold armour with a massive star crest engraved at the center of the chest piece. Where her eyes were, purple gems were embedded. My eyes followed the length of her sword toward the ceiling, where its tip met a massive white sun that glowed brilliantly over the hall.
As I walked toward the statue, a large pedestal stood at its base. Tracing my fingers along the words that were engraved in it, I smiled—a name carved in elegant letters.
ASTERIA — THE WANDERING STAR
Walking up behind me, Ava stood, looking up at the statue.
"Asteria was one of Crownspire Academy's five founders... A commoner who rose through hardship."
I looked at her.
"Or that's what the stories say, at least... It was said that she could control the power of the stars."
She paused, looking at her hands and then pointing at the sword.
"Her sword could cut through space itself, said to have felled an elder dragon in one strike."
She pointed at the four smaller statues.
"Her four apprentices. Or also known as the Four Stars of Asteria."
"Seraphine Aurevale, The Radiant Star."
"Darius Varnholt, The Molten Star."
"Lyssara Evershade, The Veiled Star."
"Cassian Valecross, The Unbound Star."
"Each of them eventually left Crownspire and built a legacy of their own," Ava finished.
I've never heard any of those names before...
"You will," Celestine said, walking closer to us. "These names rival houses of our calibre."
"Of your calibre..." I looked at Asteria's statue.
A commoner who rose through hardship... Asteria, you were amazing...
I looked at the statue's purple eyes, my face reflecting in the gems. I smiled before turning around.
"Let's go see our rooms!"
"Finally!" Ersa sneered, rolling her eyes.
Making our way up the stairs, we made it to floor W. There were four hallways, each extending quite a distance. Each hallway contained twenty-five rooms, and W-99 and W-100 were at the end of the fourth hallway. When we reached the rooms, Ava and Ersa said goodbye and entered first. After a few seconds, Celestine chuckled.
"They're already arguing."
I chuckled.
"I guess these rooms are soundproof! What are they fighting about?"
"About who gets what side of the room..."
I burst out laughing.
"Of course..." I looked at our room. "Should we enter?"
"Lead the way."
Taking my key, I stuck it into the lock and twisted it open with a satisfying click. As I walked in, my eyes sparkled; the room was radiant but simple, with beautiful paintings and soft furniture. It was large, with two grand beds in the main part; on the right when you walked in was an elegant bathroom with gold-plated everything.
A toilet... sink... even a shower!
I ran over and turned on the shower. Hot water splashed my palm.
"There's hot water!"
Celestine laughed slightly.
Turning the shower off, I ran out and opened a door opposite the washroom. Inside was a massive walk-in closet; one side was completely bare, while the other side was filled with luxurious clothes, amazing shoes, training uniforms, hats, everything!
I looked at Celestine and then at the clothes.
"Are these yours?"
"I bet my family had it stocked once they learned which room I'd been assigned. They are quite connected to this school."
I don't have any clothes...
She smiled. Moving on, I went onto the balcony. The sight amazed me. We were facing south, and we were so high up that I could see over the massive forest. On the other side was a volcanic wasteland; massive mountains spewed lava, and giant molten rocks fell from the sky. Ash seemed to cloud the air within the barrier.
Looking at the view and then at the beds, I yelled.
"I call the bed closest to the balcony!"
"I don't mind," Celestine responded.
Wait... she can't even see the view.
"I heard that."
"Oops, sorry!"