The Arrival of The Spring

Adeline and Silvermist hurried down to the cafeteria, their footsteps echoing against the grand marble floors. As they stepped inside, the sight before them was nothing short of breathtaking.

The cafeteria was vast and elegant, resembling a seven-star restaurant with chandeliers floating midair, their golden glow casting warm light across the polished tables. The walls shimmered with enchanted murals that shifted like living paintings, displaying serene landscapes one moment and celestial constellations the next.

At a long table near the center, Mila, Matilda, Candace, and Gail were already seated, engaged in quiet conversation. Trays of food before them seemed almost unreal—plates of shimmering pastries that emitted a faint golden glow, steaming soups that sparkled like liquid stardust, and fruit so vibrant they looked as though they had been plucked from an enchanted grove.

Floating goblets poured themselves with what appeared to be moonlit nectar, its silver hue swirling like liquid light. Even the bread rolls had an ethereal sheen, their aroma carrying the scent of warmth and home.

Silvermist's stomach rumbled at the sight, but just as she and Adeline stepped into the line for breakfast, something—or rather, someone—caught her attention.

Sebastian.

He strode across the cafeteria with his usual regal air, his presence commanding without effort. His white-blond hair caught the light, making him look even more untouchable. She expected him to join the line, but instead, he walked right past her, not sparing a glance.

Frowning, Silvermist called after him before he could disappear completely.

"Sebastian? Did you see Ezekiel somewhere?"

Sebastian paused but did not turn fully. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, his heterochromatic eyes as unreadable as ever.

"No," he muttered simply, his tone as distant as the winter wind, before continuing on his way.

"Ahh, that arrogant man again," Adeline groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"Again?" Silvermist raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Adeline crossed her arms, huffing. "Yeah. He asked me whose apprentice I was, then had the audacity to say my very presence struck a nerve in him." She shot Silvermist a deadpan look. "Like, why should I care? But when I told him I was the Time Apprentice, he just nodded and walked away. No reaction, nothing. What kind of person does that?"

Silvermist listened, her mind wandering back to their conversation from yesterday. A thought formed, something nagging at the edges of her mind.

"Perhaps..." she muttered, glancing at Adeline. "How did you know I was Frost's apprentice? Could you... foresee the future?"

Adeline gave a small, knowing smile. "You could say that. But not exactly." She tapped a finger against her temple, her voice playful. "Let's just say the universe likes whispering things to me."

She giggled, then nudged Silvermist forward as the line moved.

Their conversation shifted as they approached the food counter. The grand dining hall bustled with students, the scent of freshly baked bread and warm stew filling the air. Silvermist grabbed a bowl of hearty vegetable soup and a slice of bread, while Adeline piled her tray with an assortment of sweets—honeyed pastries, candied nuts, and what looked like a glowing blue fruit.

"You're seriously just eating that?" Silvermist gave her a pointed look.

Adeline shrugged, biting into a sugary treat. "Gotta keep my energy up."

Shaking her head, Silvermist followed as they weaved through the crowded hall toward Mila and the others.

At one of the long wooden tables, Mila sat chatting animatedly with West and Sebastian, while Ezekiel picked at his food, clearly lost in thought. The moment Mila spotted them, she waved enthusiastically.

"Over here!" she called, making space.

As they sat down, Silvermist could feel the air around them shifted.

She hesitated, her spoon hovering over her soup. "How are they even here already?" she whispered to Adeline, confused.

But without waiting for an answer, she moved forward and sat beside Candace. Across the table, Adeline slid into a seat beside Mila, who was already beaming with excitement.

"So, Kiel," Mila started, her tone light but teasing, "I heard Frost's apprentice is already here."

Silvermist barely managed to swallow her soup without choking. Every pair of eyes at the table turned to her, except for West, who remained impassive as always.

"How do you even know these things?" Ezekiel chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Did you call us here just to confirm that rumor?"

Mila shrugged, taking a bite of a shimmering fruit Silvermist couldn't even name. "Kinda. I also wanted my folks to hear it from you. You're the boss here," she gestured to Ezekiel with an exaggerated flourish. "You have credibility."

Sebastian scoffed, leaning back. "And what exactly did you hear?"

Mila smirked, but instead of answering directly, she tilted her head toward the surrounding students. Their murmurs wove through the air like whispers carried by the wind.

Frost's apprentice… irreversible damage… the balance of Earth… a mistake too great to fix…

Silvermist felt a chill settle in her chest.

"As you can hear," Mila continued, gesturing subtly to the restless students around them, "they all whisper the same thing—that Frost's apprentice did something irreversible—about breaking something sacred—something that has already started affecting the Earth's balance."

Silvermist gripped her spoon tighter.

"They make it sound like a catastrophe," Candace muttered, stirring her drink.

Ezekiel exhaled through his nose, setting down his fork. "And what do you think?" he asked Mila, his tone unreadable.

Mila smiled, but there was something sharp behind it. "Oh, I don't know, Kiel," she mused. "But I'd really like to hear your thoughts on it."

All eyes flickered between Ezekiel and Silvermist who is still choking.

The tension at the table was thick enough to cut with a blade. The murmurs of nearby students felt distant, drowned out by the weight of unspoken accusations.

"By the sound of that," Ezekiel mused, his crimson eyes glinting with mischief as he glanced at Silvermist, "I believe you'll base your treatment of Frost's apprentice entirely on what I say."

Silvermist tensed. She wasn't sure what kind of answer she wanted.

Unintentionally, her gaze drifted toward West.

And he was already looking at her.

Unlike Ezekiel's playful expression, West's glare was sharp, piercing through her like frostbitten steel. He made no attempt to mask his disdain.

She knew why.

Breaking Frost's staff had thrown the seasons into turmoil. She had jeopardized the delicate balance that governed their world. She had endangered lives.

Of course he hated her.

"Greed."

West finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. He broke eye contact, looking elsewhere as if she weren't worth his attention. "That's the only reason I know that would make someone do something so cruel."

Cruel?

Mila, seated beside him, suddenly leaned forward in interest. "Cruel?" she echoed, tilting her head.

The sudden movement made Gail, who sat between them, nearly tumble off the bench. She let out an annoyed grunt, straightening herself.

West didn't waver. His shoulders remained stiff, his silver eyes cold and unwavering. "The destruction of something sacred, knowing it would bring suffering to others," he continued, his tone laced with quiet fury. "What else do you call that?"

Mila pursed her lips, seemingly intrigued rather than offended. "Hmm. So that's what you think, huh?"

Silvermist swallowed. Is that what they all thought?

"That's a bold claim," Ezekiel interjected, smirking as he leaned on his elbows. "But you don't actually know why Frost's staff was broken, do you?"

West's eyes darkened.

Silvermist clenched her hands under the table. If West was already this hostile toward her, she couldn't imagine how the others would react if they learned the full story.

"That's not the point," West said. "The result is the same. And I doubt anyone with good intentions would have let it happen."

Silvermist's nails dug into her palms. You don't know anything.

Mila hummed thoughtfully, then turned to Silvermist with a curious glint in her eye. "What do you think?" she asked, watching her carefully.

Silvermist's heart pounded. Every eye at the table was now fixed on her, waiting. Judging.

She had two choices. She could stay silent and let them believe what they wanted.

Or she could speak.

She inhaled sharply, gathering what little courage she had left.

"If you want to believe it was greed, go ahead," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "But you should know this—not everything is as simple as it seems."

The table fell silent.

West narrowed his eyes, but he said nothing.

Mila's lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "Well," she said, leaning back, "now that sounds like a story worth hearing."

Before their conversation could dig further, the deep chime of the academy bell resonated across the campus—its sound like the toll of an ancient force calling them to order.

"Oh! We better head to the auditorium now," Ezekiel clapped and the three of them: him, Sebastian, and West, left without saying a word, leaving everyone in daze.

"Wow such gentlemen they are," Mila said, grimacing. Candace and Matilda nodded to agree.

Silvermist watched as students all around them murmured in excitement. The auditorium was larger than any of them had anticipated—vast, imposing, with a ceiling so high it seemed to brush against the heavens themselves. The walls shimmered with an ethereal glow, shifting between deep indigo and starlit silver, as if they stood inside a morning sky brought to life.

Gasps echoed throughout the hall as students took in the mesmerizing sight. But Silvermist remained unmoved, her focus elsewhere.

"Don't let them get to you."

A soft nudge on her arm pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Adeline, smiling gently.

"Not everything is as simple as it seems," Adeline murmured, repeating Silvermist's own words from earlier. Her smile didn't falter. "I know how that feels."

Silvermist blinked at her in surprise.

There was something in Adeline's voice—something deeper than reassurance. A familiarity. A quiet understanding.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Silvermist allowed herself a small smile. Without thinking, she reached up and tucked a loose strand of Adeline's silver-white hair behind her ear.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Before Adeline could respond, a flicker of red light caught their attention.

Tiny, ember-like wisps danced around them, weaving between students with a playful yet commanding presence. They flared and pulsed, as if whispering silent instructions directly into their minds. Head inside.

Silvermist shivered as one of the wisps brushed past her wrist, leaving a fleeting warmth in its wake.

Ezekiel hadn't spoken. He didn't need to.

The wisps carried his message across the sea of students, guiding them toward the entrance of the auditorium with an undeniable force. It wasn't just a spell—it was a demonstration of his power.

The Fire Guardian's apprentice wasn't one to waste words. Silvermist didn't really know why Ezekiel and those two idiots stayed quiet regarding her identity.

She's certain they hated her, but why still protect her?

One by one, the students moved in sync, their bodies obeying the silent command. The air was thick with anticipation as they passed through the towering onyx archway that led inside.

And as the last of them entered, the great doors behind them sealed shut with a soft, resonant thrum, locking them into the heart of Moonstone Academy's most sacred hall.

As the students settled into their seats, a strange yet soothing sensation filled the auditorium. The chairs, woven from pure magic, adjusted perfectly to their occupants, conforming to their every movement like living entities.

Then, the air shifted.

A light breeze swirled through the hall, carrying with it a sweet, intoxicating fragrance—jasmine. The scent curled around them like an invisible thread, weaving a spell of tranquility.

Silvermist inhaled sharply. The aroma wasn't just pleasant; it was deliberate.

Before she could ponder further, the stage erupted in motion. A whirlwind of jasmine petals materialized out of thin air, swirling in an intricate dance of gold and ivory.

The petals spiraled upward, forming the outline of a figure—a man stepping through the storm of blossoms as though he had always belonged there.

The moment his form solidified, Silvermist's breath caught in her throat.

That face. That presence.

"…East," she whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the hush that had fallen over the auditorium.

Beside her, Adeline turned, catching the name Silvermist had muttered. Her violet eyes glimmered with curiosity.

"You know him?" she murmured back.

Silvermist didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied the figure standing center stage.

East—the Guardian of Spring.