The snow crunched pleasantly under their boots as the group made their way toward the Academy gate. The towering spires shimmered with frost, wreaths of winter vines wrapped around the railings, and tiny enchanted lanterns glowed like soft stars.
But what caught their attention immediately was the hustle and bustle—students carrying bags, hugging each other goodbye, teachers handing out scrolls, and excited chatter filling the air.
Thalanir blinked. "It's like a migration."
Renkai raised an eyebrow. "A noisy one."
Serelyth, still brushing snow off her silver-scaled hair from their earlier snow fight, stood puzzled as she watched a group of students tying ribbons onto gift boxes.
"What… exactly are they doing?" she asked slowly. "Why is everyone acting like the world is ending? I was frozen in stone a long time, but I don't remember winter causing this kind of chaos."
Lira smiled softly. "It's Christmas time."
