The gymnasium shimmered like a galaxy, vast and alive. Bright yellow and white orbs floated at every height, their glow spilling across the enchanted blue walls like stars stitched into the night sky. Firefly-like creatures drifted through the air, their wings humming a soft, hypnotic tune that wrapped around the crowd like a lullaby.
The scent of freesia lingered in the air, sweet and intoxicating. Chast inhaled deeply, the fragrance tugging at something buried in his chest. A smile flickered on his lips before he could stop it.
Mom's favorite scent.
For a heartbeat, he almost forgot that he was a walking disaster since he walked into the academy and the magic around him. All he wanted in that moment was the comfort of her hug.
After savoring the freesia-scented air, Chast glanced around for his dorm mates. The gymnasium was filling quickly, students gasping and chattering about the star-like orbs floating overhead.
He spotted Luke a few cushions away, stroking his seat as if it were a beloved pet. Then Luke leaned forward and wrapped his arms around it with a dreamy sigh.
Chast shook his head. He's really crazy.
When he turned to search for Ronnie, a figure landed gracefully beside him. A girl.
Her ash-blonde curls spilled over her back, catching the glow of the orbs as she sat. Calm, collected, her almond-brown eyes fixed on the professors at the front as if nothing else in the world mattered.
But then, she noticed him. Her gaze flicked sideways, and when her eyes locked on Chast's, something in her composure cracked. She froze. Her lips parted like she meant to say something sharp, but instead she shut them again, swallowing hard.
Chast frowned. What's her problem? Don't tell me she's already stunned by my pretty face.
"A star without light still waits to burn... but when it does, the world will tremble." The girl's eyes turned black as she said those words.
Chast was stunned. Did she really fall for me at first sight? Am I a star to her now? He shook his head and chuckled.
The girl inhaled deeply as if she were catching her breath, then said, "The strongest flame is the one that sleeps, unseen until it devours the dark... and when shadows gather, the forgotten spark will blaze brighter than suns." The girl breathed normally after saying those mysterious phrases. Her eyes turned back to brown and returned her gaze to the professors at the front as if nothing had happened.
While Chast was dumbfounded, his eyes were wide open, and he couldn't utter a word. Those words gave him goosebumps. What the hell was that? Now she's creeping me out. Chast shook his head, letting go of his scary thoughts in his mind.
As all the students arrived in the mystical gymnasium, all the cushions suddenly bounced, making most of the students scream in shock, and others laughed, thinking it was entertaining. Each cushion glowed, each glow shifting to royal blue, crimson, white, and gold.
The cushions bounced once again, then slid and floated to line up by colors. The cushions are made in four rows by color. Everyone gasped, and their faces filled with happiness.
Except for Chast. Chast's cushion didn't move, not even an inch. He was silent and confused like everyone else.
The room fell quiet for a moment. Too quiet. The students' faces were filled with confusion and questions.
"No magic?" A girl from afar said in a low voice enough for everyone to hear.
"Maybe his cushion broke?" Another girl whispered with a sharp tone.
"That's embarrassing! If that was me, I'd rather run away." A boy with a baritone voice exclaimed, then everyone snickered.
"If that was me, I'd run back to mummy!" A boy said, mocking a toddler's voice. Everybody roared in laughter, making the floating orbs shake and flicker, and the firefly-like creatures giggled with them.
Lovely. Exactly what I needed—free entertainment for everyone at my expense. Keep staring, keep laughing, maybe I'll just collapse dramatically and give you a finale. Or better—portal, please? Swallow me whole right now.
Chast rubbed his cushion and wished, Please, cushion—show me a miracle. Anything. A twitch, a glow, a fart of magic. Because right now their stares feel like daggers, and I'm the idiot pinned to the board.
Then the cushion suddenly glowed faintly, then faded. Great. Mine's defective. Perfect. I get the one magical cushion in this academy with a warranty issue.
"Pathetic." A burst of laughter broke the whispers. Now, all the students found him a laughingstock. Their gazes were filled with disappointment and disgrace.
Yeah, I'm pathetic. And you—congratulations—you're uglier than a troll in a tutu. At least my failure doesn't need a paper bag. Chast lowered his head, avoiding everyone's gazes.
Luke gripped his hands intensely... he wanted to go to Chast's side and defend him in front of everyone, but he couldn't. He thought there was no point in defending him if everyone was already his enemy. He would lose. They both would lose. So, he pretended to laugh with them. If you can't beat them, join them.
The professors exchanged nervous looks and then gathered in the corner. This was the first time such a thing had happened in Valvrynth Academy. They needed to fix the problem before a commotion started.
"What should we do?" A mid-forty gentleman asked his colleagues as soon as they all gathered. He combed his long beard obsessively, strands glinting under the glowing orbs.
"Should we let the president know what's going on?" A young man in his early thirties, wearing a green suit with a matching crimson bow tie, spoke while adjusting his uneven glasses.
The gentleman with the long beard grabbed the young man's hair and tugged it slightly. "It's just a simple matter. We can't let the president fix this. Why so stupid, Professor Archora?"
They all nodded and agreed.
"So, what should we do?" A short, older lady with glowing red lips asked, rubbing her temple.
They fell into silence, all thinking.
Someone cleared her throat, catching everyone's attention. She smiled. "Let's just draw straws. Whoever gets the shortest straw will take him into their class. Let's finish this. The sun is setting soon, and we still have activities to do."
"But Kate... Professor Sylverynth—" A few wanted to protest at her ridiculous idea.
Before they could, Professor Sylverynth stopped them. "That's our only choice. What do you want? Send him back to his parents because his cushion didn't move or glow? We promised all the parents that we would discover and refine their children's magic. Always remember that."
They couldn't argue. She was right—and she was one of the High Celestials. Her word carried weight.
"Umyaka si—four different sizes of straws!" Professor Sylverynth chanted. Four straws appeared in her hand, their ends covered. "Now, each team's leader teacher will draw. Please step forward, Professors Vale, Thorne, Draven, and Morrwynn."
Chast slumped in his cushion as the professors stepped forward. His stomach twisted into knots. So now I'm a problem to be passed around like trash no one wants. Fantastic. The entire academy gets to watch me auctioned off to the unlucky winner. My mom would be proud—first day and I'm already defective merchandise.
Professor Morrwynn stepped forward first, a lady in her late thirties, visibly pregnant. She walked gracefully, her dress swaying as she moved, one hand resting on her belly. She didn't care who would end up with Chast—all she wanted was to get this finished and meet her own students. To her, students needed to be taught kindness, not cruelty.
Then Professor Draven followed, the same age as Morrwynn but still without a celestial partner. Her dark eyes gave away nothing.
Professors Thorne and Vale sighed and exchanged glances. The two gentlemen had no choice but to follow Professor Sylverynth's ridiculous idea.
"Okay, then. Are you ready?" Professor Sylverynth asked them brightly.
The four professors nodded in unison and drew the straws.
"Yes!" Professor Thorne exclaimed, punching the air with a mischievous grin. He held up a long straw.
"Oh, god..." Professor Thorne muttered as his excitement drained. His eyes closed, hands shaking as cold sweat slipped down his forehead.
"Tsk." Professor Draven rolled her eyes and plucked the straw from his hand. She raised her own. It was a short one—only four inches.
Thorne sagged with relief. Professor Vale clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Luck's behind you, friend!" His dimple deepened with the smile.
Now, only Draven and Morrwynn were left. The gymnasium murmured with tension, students leaning forward to see who had drawn what.
"It has to be Professor Morrwynn. She loves challenges," Professor Archora whispered. "Right, Professor Whumzy?" He glanced at the older man with the beard.
Professor Whumzy combed his beard slowly, then nodded.
"I don't think so..." A tall man with messy hair, carrying a boy in his arms, disagreed.
"Why? Because you don't want to stress your pregnant wife, Professor Valyrianth?" Professor Vale teased with a wink.
Professor Valyrianth's glare turned the air icy, making everyone shiver. Very disrespectful. Do not mistake her title for a crutch. She has never used it, nor needed to.
The child sneezed and buried himself against his father's chest.
Professor Valyrianth's expression softened. He hugged the boy tighter. "I'm sorry, love," he whispered before glancing at his wife. Professor Morrwynn gave him a faint smile, and the warmth of her presence melted the chill. The child sighed, comforted.
Professor Sylverynth snapped her fingers sharply to regain order. "Professor Morrwynn and Draven, please show us your straws."
Draven immediately opened her palm, her face unreadable. A medium straw gleamed in her hand.
Everyone's eyes turned to Morrwynn. She still hadn't revealed hers. Silence stretched, anticipation thick as smoke.
Finally, she uncurled her fingers. The shortest straw lay across her palm.
The gymnasium erupted with gasps and murmurs.
Chast's breath caught in his throat. So that's it. I'm hers now—the prize no one wanted. Congratulations, Professor Morrwynn, enjoy your defective student. Guess I'm stuck with you.
He laughed silently, bitter in his chest. Relief mingled with dread. He wasn't being thrown out, but he was marked. Branded. The boy with no magic. The boy who broke the system. The boy shoved onto Morrwynn by straws.
Fine, he thought, bowing his head. If this is how it starts, then let them watch. I'll survive this stupid academy—even if it kills me first.
Professor Morrwynn's gaze swept briefly over the crowd of students—then lingered on Chast. Her eyes softened for the barest moment, unreadable, before she turned away as though nothing had happened.
A chill ran down Chast's spine. Why did she look at me like that?
"Woah! They say being pregnant is lucky. Now, look at you, Professor Nyxira Morrwynn." Professor Vale grinned.
Professor Morrwynn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and always remember that being pregnant is lucky." Let's see who has the last laugh.