I hate the light.
This thought crossed Alistaire's mind as his barely opened eyes were dazzled by the sunlight that had snuck through the curtains. He painfully rose from his bed to open the window. As he moved, he stumbled over his overturned desk chair. He reached out to catch himself.
"Kuaaack!"
He let out a groan of pain. The boy was fragile. He had never been robust; from his birth to his 15 years, he had lost count of the times he had fallen ill or broken his arm. He gritted his teeth and stood up, angrily kicking the object of his misfortune—a gesture he immediately regretted as a sharp pain surged through his foot.
"Young master!"
He heard the voice of his servant from the other side of his bedroom door. The sound of her voice eased the pain in his foot. Lilia had served the Chronwell family for many years. Alistair had a particular fondness for her. Unlike the other servants, she didn't pretend to like the head of the house just to please him. She genuinely admired Mr. Chronwell.
"Breakfast is served. Everyone is waiting for you."
"I'm coming!"
Alistair was often the last to get up. He was the quiet type, enjoying late-night outings in the shadowy shops of the crows. They always welcomed him with open arms. He was now part of their community.
He slipped into his school uniform and grabbed his leather satchel. As he opened the door, he jumped, startled to find Lady Lilia waiting for him.
"Ah! What are you doing here?!"
"I just wanted to make sure you'd actually have breakfast with the others. Knowing you, you'd have slipped out the window."
Alistair blushed. That was exactly what he had been planning.
"Nonsense!" He glanced longingly at the slightly open window behind Lady Lilia, which led to the garden.
Now that I think about it, there's still time to try my luck…
He looked up to see Lady Lilia's piercing gaze, shooting him a disapproving look.
He mumbled.
"Well… maybe I did think about it…"
She smiled. The sun's rays had just begun to light the tallest shrubs in the Chronwell garden. In the morning light, Lady Lilia's jet-black hair seemed to shimmer with violet reflections.
They walked down the grand hallway and descended the main staircase to reach the reception hall. Alistair felt the eyes on him as he cracked the door open. Everyone was already seated, eating—his mother, father, and brother. The three representatives of the Chronwell family.
Alistair sat in the chair across from his brother. His mother, Lady Octavia Chronwell, addressed him as soon as he was seated.
"Alistair, it's your first day at the Royal Academy. Try not to disgrace your brother!"
He lowered his eyes to his plate. His toes curled in his shoes.
"Yes, mother."
He now regretted not escaping through the window.
His brother, Sebastian, was the complete opposite of Alistair—brilliant in almost every field. His strong physique and talent in most magical disciplines earned him the admiration of most people. He had made a name for himself at the Academy during his first year by finishing third in the Great Families Tournament.
"This year, your brother will finish first in the tournament. Make sure you don't cause him any trouble!"
Alistair didn't reply. He stood up and left the table. Lady Lilia gave him a sympathetic look from one corner of the room.
He could hear fragments of conversation behind him.
"Calm down, dear."
"What do you mean calm down? Did you see him? That child has no gratitude—it's already a miracle…"
He shut the door behind him.
As he stepped outside, he was greeted by a light breeze, which he inhaled deeply. He walked to the metal gate, placing his right hand on the lock. Closing his eyes, he focused. He felt the Ether gather beneath his feet, rise his legs, and flow into his fingers. The lock clicked softly, and the gate slowly swung open with difficulty. Alistair pushed the heavy metal gate and found himself on the dirt path. Ahead of him, the road stretched on toward the capital, Crownbury.
It took him a good two hours to walk to the Academy. Alistair cherished these moments. While walking, he was alone in the world. Nothing could stop him, no one to tell him what to do. All around him were only the constant chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind in the leaves.
***
After four hours of walking, he reached the city gates. Crownbury, the capital of the Kingdom of Seraphy, was surrounded by high stone walls. Day and night, mages took turns ensuring its safety. In front of the massive gate stood a long line of merchants, chatting merrily.
He joined the long queue and waited. When his turn came, he presented the guard with the Chronwell family crest—a necklace depicting two clock hands, one for the past and one for the future.
The man scowled but signaled the guards to let him pass. He walked through the enormous gate, and the city's constant bustle filled his ears.
As the capital, Crownbury was a vivacious city. Steam carriages never stopped rumbling down the cobbled streets, and bells attached to shop doors rang out with every new customer.
Its architecture always amazed tourists—the large glass domes with their gleaming gold accents, the immense greenhouses in the wealthy quarters filled with exotic plants, the tall singing trees lining the long cobbled avenues, and the candles that came to life in the evening.
Alistair considered stopping by to say hello to the crows, but he held back. It was a precise two-hour journey from his home to the Academy. He wasn't about to start being late now.
As he approached the Academy, spotting students in uniform became more common. They all chatted cheerfully. The scent of freshly cut wooden wands, ink, and ethereal crystals lingered in the air.
"Old grump!"
He smiled at the tinkling, crystalline voice he heard from behind. There was only one person who called him that.
He turned around.
As his eyes landed on her, a deep warmth filled him. Lila smiled at him.
Her black hair had been dyed alba white. The blend of the two colors created violet highlights whenever the sun touched one of her strands. The Academy uniform suited her perfectly. Some of her long, straight hair fell over her black cape, fastened by two small cords.
Her white blouse and fiery red tie were perfectly fitted. Her black skirt, just above the knees, accentuated her slim legs, anchored in her new black leather shoes. Her red eyes, like two lustrous pearls, were framed by thin eyebrows that gave her an impish look.
Alistair blushed. He couldn't help it whenever he saw her in a new outfit.
"G-Good morning, Li-Lila."
She looked worried.
"Did I scare you that much?"
He shook his head to regain his composure.
"No, it's nothing."
She moved closer to him, placing her hand on his forehead. Alistair could now feel her breath on his hair.
What is she doing! What is she doing!
"Are you sure? Well, at least you don't have a fever…"
"Stop that!"
He jumped back, raising a hand in front of him to ward off any further advance from Lila.
"I'm fine! I'm just excited that we might be in the same class."
Lila smiled and resumed walking as if nothing had happened.
"That's true. It would be really nice if we were in the same class."
Alistair decided to change the subject. It had been two months since he'd seen her. He pointed at Lila's hair.
"And, by the way, what happened to your hair?"
She ran a hand through her hair.
"Oh, that? As you know, crows who want to become mages aren't exactly well-regarded… So the nurses suggested I dye it white."
"I see…"
Since Archibald had been overthrown, the situation for the crows had improved greatly—or at least, on the surface. Crows were now legally considered full citizens. However, public opinion hadn't changed much.
Crows often became undertakers, servants, infantry soldiers, or farmers. But if they dared to aspire to be judges, teachers, or mages, they faced societal persecution for the rest of their lives.
Lila quickened her pace as they neared the Academy's entrance. The class lists had been posted on the outer bulletin board and a crowd of students pressed in to read their class assignments.
She leaned in to search for her name and Alistair's.
Alistair watched her from a distance. She blended perfectly with the other students, so much so that only he noticed the violet tints in her hair.
Suddenly, she turned to face him, eyes wide. She waved excitedly, jumping up and down.
In reality, a crow like Lila was doomed to a life of servitude.