The classes have been cancelled for today. This is to prepare the students for the upcoming Mid-term magical examination that will happened next month.
The rules simple---who ever failed, will have to take remedial glasses.
The examination will be a three (3) different type of test---the first test was the written exams---Second test was the practical exams--and the third and final exam will be another written exam.
They only have less than (30) days before the exams and everyone is already feeling the pressure.
And to top it all---the election is also coming up soon after the exams.
The three of them [Taila] [Maya] and [Clare] ended up back at their usual spot beneath the old tree, the shade cool and familiar.
Maya plopped down first, stretching her arms dramatically.
Maya: "Okay! Emergency meeting!"
Taika blinked.
Taika: "…Emergency?"
Clare sat beside them without much reaction.
Clare: "If this is about screaming, I'm leaving."
Maya ignored that completely.
Maya: "Thirty days. Mid-terms. Council election. Pressure everywhere."
Maya leaned closer to Taika, smiling warmly.
Maya: "So! How's our future genius holding up?"
Taika flinched a little at the word.
Taika: "Ah—u-um… I'm fine."
She looked away, fingers tightening around her notes.
Taika: "Just… thinking about what I should study first."
Clare glanced at her, unimpressed.
Clare: "That pause means you're lying."
Taika froze.
Taika: "…I'm not lying."
Maya giggled.
Maya: "She's overthinking again, isn't she?"
Taika's shoulders slumped slightly.
Taika: "…Maybe a little."
Maya gently bumped her shoulder.
Maya: "Hey. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
Clare added, flat as ever:
Clare: "And if you do, you'll burn out before the exams."
Taika hesitated.
Taika: "B-But… what if I mess up? Everyone's watching now."
Maya's expression softened immediately.
Maya: "Then we mess up together."
Taika looked at her, surprised.
Clare nodded once.
Clare: "That's how teams work."
There was a short silence.
Taika slowly smiled.
Taika: "…When did this become a team?"
Maya grinned proudly.
Maya: "Since lunch became a daily habit!"
Clare sighed.
Clare: "Since you started attracting trouble."
Maya laughed.
Maya: "See? Even Clare admits it!"
Clare looked away.
Clare: "That's not what I said."
Taika let out a small laugh—quiet, but genuine.
For a moment, the pressure faded.
At the back of the tree, a boy was reading books alone.
No one noticed him being there at all.
His dark blue hair was soft and straight like how the school requires it to be. In the academy, proper haircut is a strict rule for make students. The female hair shouldn't be longer than the length of the person's back.
Dresscode is also a strict rule.
Students must wear school uniform when going outside their dormitories---Only wear casual clothes inside the dormitory --No shirtless for males---No bright colors and no to wearing inappropriate revealing clothes for females.
He was Alwin Schmidt.
First year just like Taika.
He also received the scholarship from the academy, but he had his own story.
Alwin Schmidt was a young boy who was born in the Azalea village from the North lands. His family abandoned him for having a "Curse magic".
In this world---having a curse magic is considered a threat when they reach the age of (3)-(10) years old.
Alwin grew up without anyone to take care of him. He steals from people to buy himself food. He hides from bounty hunters who's finding him---and he loves at the back of a bakery.
Until one day----
The owner of the bakery noticed him [Alwin] and decided to make him as their new "cleaner boy".
Because of this, he learned how to bake and how to make cakes and pastries.
Then one afternoon, there was no customers, until an old-man holding a scroll entered their bakery.
Alwin still remembered the days when it all happened.
Now he's here, at the academy who invited him to become a part of.
Alwin slowly closed the book resting on his knees.
The pages trembled slightly—not from the wind, but from habit.
He leaned his back against the tree trunk, eyes lifting just enough to watch the three girls in the distance. He wasn't staring. He never did. Watching too closely always brought trouble.
They looked… normal.
Laughing. Talking. Existing without fear.
Alwin looked back down at his hands.
Curse magic.
That word had followed him his entire life like a shadow that never disappeared.
In Azalea village, whispers were louder than kindness.
They said children like him never grew up right.
They said curse users would destroy homes without knowing.
They said it was better to abandon them early.
So they did.
He survived because he learned how to disappear.
Stealing bread when no one looked.
Sleeping behind warm brick walls.
Running when footsteps sounded wrong.
The bakery was the first place that didn't chase him away.
The owner never asked about his magic.
Never asked about his past.
"Just clean," the man said.
"Earn your meal."
That was enough.
Alwin learned the rhythm of dough, the patience of ovens, the quiet joy of warm bread early in the morning. For the first time, he felt… useful.
Then came that afternoon.
The bell rang.
No customers.
Just an old man with tired eyes and a scroll sealed with blue wax.
The man looked at him once.
Just once.
And smiled.
Alwin's fingers tightened unconsciously.
That same scroll.
That same invitation.
Galdur Academy.
A place where magic was taught—not feared.
Now here he was.
Sitting behind a tree.
In uniform.
Alive.
Still unwanted… or so he thought.
A breeze passed.
Alwin glanced up again, briefly.
Taika laughed softly at something Maya said.
Clare crossed her arms, unimpressed as usual.
"…Must be nice," he murmured under his breath.
He stood up quietly, brushing dirt from his uniform.
No one noticed.
Just like always.
But somewhere deep inside him, a thought lingered—
one he didn't dare say aloud.
What if… this place really is different?
Alwin entered the library first.
The familiar scent of old pages and polished wood calmed him. It was quiet—his kind of place. He chose a table near the shelves, far from the center, and sat down with a small stack of books. He kept his posture proper, eyes low, presence thin.
Then footsteps followed.
Taika, Maya, and Clare walked in together, still talking about exams and schedules. They didn't notice him. Not even a glance.
They sat at the same long table.
Just a few seats away.
Alwin froze for a brief moment.
…Same table.
He slowly exhaled and opened his book, pretending to read. His eyes skimmed the same line again and again, not really absorbing anything.
Maya dropped her bag.
Maya: [Ughh~, I swear, if the written exam has more theory about mana compression, I'll explode.]
Clare: [You say that every time.]
Taika chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
Taika: [Still… it is kind of hard.]
Their voices were normal. Warm. Comfortable.
Alwin listened without meaning to.
Maya leaned forward, whispering dramatically.
Maya: [Taika, you're improving way too fast. At this rate, you'll leave us behind.]
Taika shook her head quickly.
Taika: [N-No, that's not true. I still don't understand a lot of things…]
Clare: [You underestimate yourself.]
Alwin's fingers tightened around the page.
They talk like equals, he thought.
No fear. No distance.
A book slipped from Taika's pile and slid across the table—stopping right in front of Alwin.
Everyone paused.
Taika blinked.
Taika: [… Oh--- I'm sorry.]
Their eyes met for the first time.
Alwin stiffened.
Alwin: [… It's fine.]
His voice was quiet, almost careful.
Maya tilted her head.
Maya: [Oh? You were here the whole time?]
Clare glanced at him once, then looked away.
Clare: [Didn't notice.]
Taika reached for the book, hesitating.
Taika: [Um… thank you.]
Alwin nodded slightly and pushed the book back to her.
Alwin: [You dropped it.]
Silence followed.
Not awkward.
Just… unfamiliar.
Maya smiled first.
Maya: [We're Taika, Maya, and Clare. Class A-10.]
Alwin hesitated, then spoke.
Alwin: [… Alwin. Alwin Schmidt.]
Taika smiled shyly.
Taika: [Nice to meet you, Alwin.]
Something inside him loosened.
Just a little.
For the first time since arriving at the academy---
He felt seen.
Alwin nodded slightly, adjusting the book in front of him.
Alwin: […Yeah. MTM isn't just one class. They split us based on evaluation results.]
Maya leaned closer, curiosity lighting up her face.
Maya: [So that means you're A-11?]
Alwin hesitated for a second, then nodded.
Alwin: [Yes. Class A-11.]
Taika tilted her head.
Taika: [I didn't know there was another section…]
Clare: [A-11 is mostly theory-focused. More calculations, less field exposure.]
Alwin glanced at Clare, a little surprised.
Alwin: […That's accurate.]
Maya crossed her arms dramatically.
Maya: [No wonder I heard rumors that A-11 barely goes outside. That sounds painful.]
Alwin gave a small, awkward smile.
Alwin: [It's… manageable.]
Taika looked at his books.
Taika: [You're studying already? For the midterms?]
Alwin nodded.
Alwin: [I don't want to fall behind.]
There was something careful in his tone.
Maya noticed it and softened her voice.
Maya: [Hey, you don't have to be so tense. We're all first years too.]
Taika smiled shyly.
Taika: [Y-Yeah… it's nice studying together.]
Alwin's fingers relaxed slightly.
Alwin: […Thank you.]
Clare closed her book.
Clare: [You're welcome to stay here, if you want.]
Alwin looked up.
Alwin: […Really?]
Maya grinned.
Maya: [Of course! One more study buddy won't hurt.]
Taika nodded.
Taika: [Mhm.]
For the first time..
Alwin didn't feel like he needed to hide behind his book anymore.