The afternoon sun filtered through the high-arched windows of Mystic Academy, casting golden hues across the long table where Aranea, Zann, Beau, Elenea, Leonel, and Aleck gathered for a late study break.
Books were scattered around them, enchanted ink glowing faintly on open pages. Cups of tea steamed gently beside untouched homework. Darenn and Irving were together, already working with the professors, of course.
Aranea let out a dramatic groan, burying her face into the folds of her alchemy textbook. "Why is alchemy so unnecessarily complicated? I'm starting to think the potions hate me."
Zann leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers. "Maybe because you keep trying to substitute bluecap mushrooms with random berries you think 'look friendlier'."
"They do look friendlier!" Aranea shot back, lifting her head. "And I didn't hear you complaining when I healed your burnt hand with that experimental ointment I made."