"You… came from the orphanage?" Ryu asked quietly.
"Yes." Arya kept her eyes on what she was doing. "When they discovered I had magical powers, they sent me here. The children at the orphanage thought I was a freak."
She paused, her voice lowering. "But I don't care anymore."
Ryu studied her, noticing the flicker of pain in her eyes, though she tried to hide it. For once, he didn't make a joke.
"I'm Ryu. You're Arya. Let's try to get along," he said with a faint smile. "I'm not like those kids from your orphanage. I'll treat you well. A prince's word."
Arya stayed silent, her mind echoing with the voice of her own conscience: What's the point of hiding, Arya? We promised ourselves we'd make new friends and enjoy this new life to the fullest. This is a fresh start.
She exhaled softly and turned to him. "Then… we're friends, right?"
"Right." Ryu's grin widened.
"Good. Then that means I can do this." She stood, removing her floppy sun hat and slipping off the oversized glasses that had hidden her face.
Ryu's eyes lingered on her in open astonishment. Without her disguises, she looked like she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale. Her eyes were large and glassy, a dazzling shade of ice-blue that made her seem almost doll-like. Her lips were thin, soft, and a natural rosy red that suited her delicate face. Her platinum-blonde hair spilled like liquid silver down her shoulders, gleaming under the light.
"You look much prettier this way," he admitted without hesitation.
Arya blushed faintly, caught off guard. "T-thanks. You… you're not weirded out by my hair?"
"Huh? No way," Ryu replied instantly. "It's unique. Beautiful. I like it. Hasn't anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?"
She didn't answer, only looked away shyly. Ryu smirked at her flustered expression, but decided not to push further.
"Would you like something to eat?" he asked instead.
"No, I'm fine. I still have this cheeseburger," she said, pulling it from a paper bag.
"Alright then," Ryu said casually. "Oh, by the way—freshers are having a meeting tonight. There's also a welcome ball tomorrow."
Arya sighed, lowering her head.
"What's wrong?" Ryu asked.
"I… can't go to the ball," she murmured, nibbling on her burger.
"And why not?"
"It's all fancy. Fancy clothes, dancing… I don't have any of that. And I don't even know how to dance."
Ryu's smile softened. "Don't worry about dancing. I'll teach you. And as for dresses—the academy mall is full of them. We'll get you one tomorrow."
Her eyes widened. "You'd do that… for me?"
"Of course," he said with a shrug. "What are friends for?"
For the first time since they met, Arya smiled sincerely. "Thank you."
---
Later that evening, Daven and Xavier found Ryu at the gathering.
"So?" Daven asked as soon as he spotted him.
Ryu smirked. "She's not bad. An orphan from the countryside. Seventeen." He tossed Arya's file into their hands just as the headmaster stepped up to give his welcome speech.
"Hey, Ryu—Misha's coming," Xavier whispered.
Ryu's jaw tightened. Misha, the princess of a neighboring kingdom, had been betrothed to him in her own mind for years. Their fathers were allies, but that never stopped her from hounding him at every chance.
"Hi, Ryu. Missed me?" she said sweetly, giving a curtsey. Daven and Xavier bowed in reply, then wisely stepped away.
Ryu's expression was flat. "What do you want, Misha?"
"Just to say hello. Is that such a crime? I've noticed you've been avoiding me lately—"
"I wasn't trying," Ryu cut her off. "I was avoiding you."
Her smile faltered. "Oh. Well, fine, I understand you're busy, so I'll let it—"
"I mean it, Misha. You're pestering me. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find my partner."
He bowed curtly and walked away, leaving her standing speechless in the middle of the hall.
---
Ryu wove through the crowd, drawing stares as he searched. Girls whispered and giggled as he passed, their eyes following his every move. He smirked inwardly—his reputation preceded him.
But where was Arya?
When the headmaster's speech ended and the crowd began to scatter, he slipped outside. The night had fallen, but thanks to his affinity with fire, Ryu could see clearly.
Finally, he spotted her near the tall white fountain carved in the shape of a mermaid. Arya stood with her hands raised, concentration written all over her face. Water lifted into the air at her command, swirling into a shimmering bubble—only to freeze into jagged ice before crashing to the ground in a shower of shards.
She tried again. And again. Each time, the same mistake. Her fists clenched, and finally, she sighed in frustration.
"Don't push yourself too hard," Ryu's voice broke the silence. "Honestly? I'm impressed with your effort."
Arya turned sharply. The moonlight caught his silky white hair, his sapphire-blue eyes, and that infuriatingly perfect smile that could melt any girl's heart. But not mine, she reminded herself.
"Oh—sorry, I didn't see you there." She lowered her hands and walked toward him. "You must have been looking for me. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize," he said with a wink. "You're worth the trouble."
Arya let out a soft laugh despite herself.
"Come on," Ryu said, offering his hand. "Let's head back. You must be tired, and we've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
And together, they walked back toward their quarters.