The Charming prince of Himwarry !

A bright encounter

Vivien stood quietly beneath the sprawling arches of the academy courtyard, its pillars bathed in late morning sun. Her pale hair spilled like frost over her shoulders, the gentle wind teasing loose strands across her elegantly cold features. Around her, students chattered in small groups — laughing, gossiping, eyes darting to her and away again. She had grown used to such attention: the wary deference that came from being the Dean's granddaughter, the hush that fell whenever she passed.

But she hadn't expected someone to break it.

A warm hand suddenly waved in front of her face, startling Vivien out of her distant thoughts. She blinked. There, beaming up at her with sparkling green eyes, was a girl who seemed to radiate sunshine itself.

"Hey there! You kinda spaced out on me!" the girl laughed, her voice light and slightly teasing. "I'm Esmeralda Sklies — call me Esme. Nice to meet ya!"

Vivien's eyes widened, her usually cool expression softening. There was something about this girl — her lively grin, her lack of hesitation — that felt oddly disarming. Without pausing to analyze why, Vivien found her own hand lifting. Their palms touched, and they shook hands. Esme's grip was warm, energetic. Vivien almost… enjoyed it.

An unexpected warmth

Esme leaned in, still clasping Vivien's hand, eyes crinkling mischievously. "You're really beautiful up close, you know that? Like… unfair levels of beautiful."

Vivien let out the faintest breath of amusement — almost a laugh. "Thank you."

It was so strangely easy to stand here with this girl. Perhaps because Esme didn't seem awed or awkward about her status at all. Most students would have bowed stiffly or stumbled through words, afraid of offending the Dean's precious granddaughter. But Esme just smiled, head tilted in curiosity.

"Oh! By the way, you heard what those girls were gossiping about earlier, didn't you? You seemed pretty interested."

Vivien hesitated. She had indeed overheard snatches of excited talk — about the Year 5 Child Of Lights, about a boy who'd built some mechanisms that even withstood chosen ones' attacks for a few moments. Her curiosity had been piqued despite herself.

She gave a small nod.

Esme's grin widened. "Knew it! Sooo, which one are you curious about? The Year 5 Child Of Lights? Or the one who built the mechanisms?"

Vivien answered simply, "The second."

A surprising revelation

"Oh-ho!" Esme clasped her hands dramatically. "Alrighty then, I'll spill it. So, the genius behind those mechanisms — get this — is actually a non-mage named Aether Ryens. People call him the Charming Prince of Himwarry. And…" She paused, enjoying Vivien's intrigued expression. "He's a first-year. Just like us."

Vivien's eyes widened in undisguised shock. "A… first-year?"

It was the first time since she'd arrived here that her careful composure cracked so obviously. A first-year? Her mind reeled back to her conversation with her grandmother. Vivien had confidently guessed it must be a fifth-year or older. And the Dean — she recalled with sudden clarity — had laughed very quietly to herself.

So that was why…

Vivien felt a small, hot embarrassment creep into her cheeks. Her lips parted. "Was it really… a first-year who accomplished that?"

Esme smirked, eyes dancing. "Yup! Why? You interested in him or something?"

A careful clarification

Vivien felt her composure tighten again. She turned her face slightly away, the pink flush on her ears betraying her. "I… do not like to communicate or interact with boys. I simply… want to see who could create something that impressive. It has nothing to do with his so-called title or popularity."

"Hmm…" Esme tapped her chin theatrically. Then she burst into giggles. "You're interesting, you know that? Alright, alright — I'll show him to you. At the right time. It'll be fun!"

Vivien looked at her, and for the first time in a long while, offered a genuine, gentle smile. "Thank you, Esme."

The reaction was instantaneous. Esme squeezed her fists to her cheeks, nearly squealing. "Omg… so cute. Who would've guessed this cold beauty could be this adorable too?!"

An unusual command

Elsewhere in the academy, deep inside a quiet administrative wing, the Dean leaned back in her chair and exhaled. She pressed a small rune on her desk — it glowed, and moments later, a figure in a white robe appeared, his mouth and nose covered by a delicate mask.

"You summoned me, Dean?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "I have a critical task. The Familiar Choosing Ceremony will take place in one month. I want you to prepare at least forty-five mana beasts — strong ones. Not just the common variants. This time, the King, the Queen, and all major houses are attending. We must display our academy's strength and ensure our chosen ones receive worthy partners."

The attendant bowed deeply. "Understood. I will begin preparations immediately."

"Be cautious," the Dean added. "And thorough. The reputation of our entire legion rests on this."

The weight of prestige

Mana beasts of such caliber were never easy to acquire. Outside, they could cost absurd fortunes, and even then came with risks of rampaging or fleeing. The academy's special grounds — an enclosed wilderness teeming with mana beasts — were an invaluable privilege granted only to this institution. But capturing and taming the right ones was still a dangerous, delicate process.

The attendant's eyes gleamed faintly beneath his hood. "I will not fail."

"See that you don't," the Dean murmured, leaning back again after he departed. Her mind drifted. And for the demonstration after the ceremony… we'll need mechanisms that can register and reveal each mana beast's mana levels. I suppose… I'll have to call on that boy again. Why am I relying so much on him lately?

She shook her head. "Maybe… maybe there's something I'm hoping to see."

Her thoughts strayed once more to Vivien. How is she doing on her first day? Please, let her find a friend. Just one.

A bright cafeteria (and a bright-haired friend)

"Hey, Vivien! Come on, hurry up or all the good stuff will be gone!"

Vivien found herself being tugged along by Esme — who seemed to have no concept of personal space — into the bustling academy cafeteria. Long wooden tables stretched across the hall, students clustered in noisy groups, laughter and the clatter of trays echoing off high stone ceilings.

Vivien's usual instinct was to stay aloof, but Esme's infectious energy pulled her along like a tide.

Esme shot her a quick sideways glance. "Sooo… you know how everything works around here, right?"

Vivien nodded slightly. "More or less."

"Thought so. But just in case — remember, points are everything here. Want a bigger dorm room? Better meals? Extra library access? Even training slots with certain instructors? All costs points."

Vivien tilted her head. "And how does one earn them?"

Esme's eyes sparkled. "Lots of ways! Missions, helping teachers, duels… I'll fill you in later. For now, let's eat."

Vivien gave a small, grateful nod. "Thank you, Esme."

A friend so bright, a world so wide

They found a quiet spot by a window. Esme chattered on about little things — how the bread was always slightly burnt on Tuesdays, how there was a rumor one dorm was haunted, how she accidentally dropped a mana crystal on her toe last week. Vivien listened more than she spoke, but her responses were soft, genuine. A warmth began to glow in her chest.

So this… is what it's like. Having someone sit across from you just to share a meal. Laugh about silly things. Be pulled along by someone else's cheerful impatience. It was foreign, fragile. But it was nice.

Esme watched her new friend's subtle smiles and thought to herself, I'll make sure she laughs properly one day. I swear it.

Esmeralda Sklies, in bright color

Name: Esmeralda Sklies

Age: 15

Appearance: Eyes the rich green of summer leaves, bright and sparkling with mischief. Short-cropped hair a rebellious tomato red, tousled and lively, matching her tomboy grin. Around 163 cm tall, light on her feet, her playful energy somehow making her seem taller than she was.

Personality: Funny, bold, easily flustered by cute things, a little nosy but wholeheartedly kind. The sort who jumps into someone's life like a sunbeam crashing through a window.

Meanwhile, in the Dean's shadowed office

The Dean sat once more alone, quill scratching across papers. Her thoughts ran circles: the upcoming ceremony, the daunting guest list, the fragile hope tied to her granddaughter's first true taste of life.

And that boy, Aether. That non-mage who somehow keeps proving his worth again and again. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why… am I giving him so many chances? Is it only convenience — or am I also searching for something…?"

With a sigh, she shoved those thoughts aside. Her granddaughter's laughter might be echoing somewhere on the grounds right now. That was enough for this evening.

Outside, the moon was beginning its climb again, silvering the towers and flagstones. Tomorrow would be another day of unexpected meetings, subtle hopes, and the relentless march toward destinies none of them could yet foresee.