New Beginnings and Old Shadows

Aurion—the name of Calaria's ruling family—carries immense weight, signifying power, influence, and a legacy that has shaped the kingdom for generations. The current king, known for his wisdom and strength, has four wives, each hailing from noble bloodlines, and together, they have woven a complex, storied lineage. But what truly throws Kaelen off isn't the revered surname.

'Seraphina...'

Kaelen's thoughts spin as he grapples with the revelation. He never would have guessed that the girl he met when he first came into this world would be attending the same academy with him, let alone in the same year.

Kaelen remembered his conversation with Serephira, where she'd opened up about the fact that she and her siblings didn't always see eye to eye—especially now, with the Ascension looming. The pressure of the upcoming competition for the throne had only made things worse, with each sibling fighting for their own future in the kingdom. But with her twin sister, it had to be different, right? Twins usually share a bond that's stronger than most. There couldn't possibly be any bad blood between Serephira and Seraphina... or could there? The thought lingers in his mind, casting doubt where there should have been reassurance.

As the hall falls silent, with Seraphina stepping forward to address the assembly, Kaelen's mind races. The connection between Serephira and Seraphina adds yet another layer to the already complex journey he's on, leaving him with the uneasy feeling that his path has just taken an unexpected turn.

Seraphina approaches the podium calmly, showing no sign of emotion on her face with an air of calm, almost bordering on indifference. Her eyes briefly managed to sweep over the crowd, steady and detached, as though the significance of the moment barely registers with her. In a cool, measured voice, she delivers a few brief words of welcome, it sounded clear and precise, but no warmth or enthusiasm can be felt from it. It feels more like she's checking a box than truly engaging with her audience.

The hall began to fall into an expectant silent, the crowd waiting for more, but the girl doesn't linger. She offers nothing beyond what's necessary. With the same composed demeanor, she turns and walks back to her seat with her expression that are still unchanged, leaving the audience with the sense that she's already moved on, as if the moment already forgotten in her mind. 

'Are they really twins?'

***

After the opening ceremony which ended awkwardly, students are informed to head to their designated courses. Kaelen sat in a classroom, he glanced around at the other students as they began to settle into their seats.

The academy has its own unique but simple system. Here, every student had a set limit of course credits that they could take each semester. The curriculum was divided into compulsory courses and non-compulsory courses, with the former being essential for a student progression and the latter allowing some flexibility based on individual interests.

Yesterday, Kaelen discovered that Master Cronos had taken the liberty of selecting most of his courses without his knowledge, which annoyed him a little. It wasn't that he didn't trust the old man's decision, but he would've preferred that they can at least talked about it first, or for him to make those decisions himself. Now, with most of the courses already locked in, he found himself with just enough credits left to pick one more course.

'More importantly...'

As Kaelen pondered, he couldn't help but think back to when he was all alone in his old school, with no one that he can call a friend or simply someone to talk to. Lost in these thoughts, he barely noticed the buzz of acivity around him.

'Damn! I can't be seen as a loner who can't make any friends.'

Then, a familliar figure entered the room, drawing the attention of everyone present. The room momentarily fell silent, continued by whispers that ripple through the students. It was Serephira, its as if her presence commanded attention effortlessly.

Kaelen's eyes widened as she scanned the room, and when their gazes met, he saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes. Without hesitation, Serephira made her way over and slid into the seat next to him. The whispers around them continued, but Kaelen barely registered them as he turned to face her, a mix of surprise and relief washing over him.

With a warm and soft voice, she greets Kaelen

"Hey, didn't expect to see you here."

Kaelen managed a small smile.

"Yeah, didn't think i'd run into you soon."

A calm demeanor, but he was actually relief on the inside due to the fact that someone he knew of is actually here beside him.

'Well, at least i won't be alone for a while.

Serephira leaned slightly towards Kaelen, she asked him in a low voice

"I didn't know you were interested in world navigation and survival skills."

Kaelen glanced at her with a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"It's not really my choice... the old man picked most of my courses without telling me. I guess he thought this is important"

A smirk is forming on Serephira

"Ah, i see. Well, he does have a knack of making decisions for others

"Yeah, but i suppose it make sense. I'm still getting used to everything here."

Serephira nodded in uderstanding.

"Well, at least you've got a good guide in him, even if he is a bit... overbearing."

The two shared a brief, knowing look, the momentary exchange offering Kaelen a small but genuine sense of camaraderie amidst the bustle of their new environment.

After a moment, Serephira whispered to Kaelen again

"Hey, do you still have enough credits left to pick another course?

"Yeah, i should have enough. Why?"

A hint of shyness crept into serephira, as she hesitated for a moment before speaking

"Well, um..., i heard about a certain course, its supposed to be really beneficial, and i kinda want to take a look at it. Plus, it could be fun."

Hearing Serephira's remark, Kaelen thought that it was probably an important course that can benefit the both of them, which makes him curious

"Really? What's it about?"

Serephira hesitated for a moment, she then finally said

"It's... a cooking course."

Kaelen blinked, momentarily taken aback

'co...cooking?'