festive filler

It had been two weeks since the arena incident, and so far, everything had settled back into a somewhat normal routine. Well, as normal as it could be in a magical academy full of overpowered heroines and lingering plot twists.

"Say, ahh," Camille cooed, holding a spoon of food dangerously close to my face, her icy-blue eyes sparkling with playful determination.

I leaned back in my chair, groaning. "It's been two weeks! I'm fine. I can eat by myself, thank you very much."

"Exactly," Lillian chimed in from my left, her voice as smooth and composed as ever. "She's perfectly fine, Camille. Which is why I should be the one feeding her." She lifted her own spoon, a serene smile gracing her face. "Now, Sera, open wide for me."

I gawked at her, completely dumbfounded. "You're doing the exact same thing!" I protested, throwing my hands in the air. "Am I some kind of doll to you people?"

"Of course not," Camille replied, her tone scandalized in the most dramatic way possible. "You're not a doll—you're our precious patient who still hasn't fully recovered. And as the self-appointed caretaker—"

"No one appointed you anything," I cut in, exasperated.

"—it's my responsibility to ensure you're well-fed and pampered," Camille finished, ignoring me entirely.

Lillian chuckled softly, setting her spoon down for a moment. "Camille does have a point. Recovery takes time. And with how stubborn you are, it's better we keep an eye on you."

"I am not stubborn!" I shot back, crossing my arms like a perfect example of stubbornness.

"See?" Camille teased, wagging the spoon like it was a magic wand. "Classic Sera behavior. Now, come on. Say, 'ahh,' and let me take care of you."

"No!" I groaned, slumping in my seat. "I don't need taking care of. I've been taking care of myself just fine for—"

"—for exactly two weeks since the arena incident where you nearly obliterated me and passed out in front of the entire school," Lillian interjected, her voice light but her words cutting.

I winced, a sheepish smile creeping onto my face. "Okay, maybe I needed help then, but I'm fine now! Really."

Lillian gave me one of her trademark elegant smiles, the kind that felt supportive and slightly intimidating all at once. "And yet, here you are, letting us fuss over you."

"Not willingly!" I muttered under my breath.

Camille leaned closer, her voice dropping into a teasing whisper. "Admit it, Sera. You like the attention."

I flushed instantly. "I do not!"

"Sure," Camille said, her grin widening. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Lillian gave an amused shake of her head. "Camille, let's not overwhelm her."

"Oh, I would never," Camille replied, her tone mock-innocent. "But I will get her to eat at least one bite from my spoon."

I buried my face in my hands. "Why is this my life?"

They both laughed, and despite myself, I couldn't help but smile a little too. Maybe this was my new normal—chaotic, embarrassing, and filled with relentless teasing. And maybe… just maybe, I didn't mind it all that much.

As we continued eating our food in the cafeteria, a loud crackle from the enchanted announcement system echoed across the academy, silencing the chatter. The principal's voice, warm and booming, filled the air.

"Attention, everyone! After such an intense and exhilarating event, I believe it's only fair that we balance things out with something a bit more relaxing."

The room collectively perked up, students pausing mid-bite to listen. Even Camille, who had been plotting how to feed me another spoonful of soup, tilted her head in curiosity.

"That's why I'm thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting a festival!" the principal continued, their voice brimming with enthusiasm. "This event, aptly named the Festival of Laze, is all about celebrating joy, relaxation, and creativity. Expect food stalls, clothes vendors, magical games, and all kinds of festive activities! Each classroom will have the opportunity to contribute by designing their own stall or attraction. It's your chance to show off your creativity and let loose!"

The cafeteria erupted in excited murmurs, the atmosphere instantly shifting to one of eager anticipation. Students leaned over their trays, whispering ideas to one another about what their classrooms could do.

"A festival, huh?" Camille mused, twirling a spoon thoughtfully. "I could already think of a dozen ideas for our class. What do you think, Sera? A theatrical booth with costumes, maybe?"

I groaned, shooting her a half-hearted glare. "Didn't you get enough of drama club already?"

"Not even close," Camille said with a wink. "Besides, the whole school deserves to see my brilliance."

Lillian, ever the voice of reason, interjected with her signature soft chuckle. "Camille, maybe we should focus on something everyone can enjoy. A peaceful tea garden, perhaps? Something simple and elegant."

"Elegant, sure," Camille shot back, "but exciting is what'll draw the crowd. Right, Sera?"

"Why are you dragging me into this?" I muttered, trying to focus on my meal as if that would make me invisible.

"Oh, you're definitely getting involved," Camille teased, her smile widening. "We can't pull this off without our secret weapon."

"Secret weapon?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "Is that code for free labor?"

"Exactly," she said, her grin cheeky.

Before I could protest, Lillian leaned toward me, her gentle presence oddly soothing. "You'd enjoy it, Sera. Festivals are wonderful for bringing people together, and it'll give us all a chance to unwind after everything that's happened."

"Fine," I sighed, resigned. "But if you two start bickering over stall themes, I'm out."

Camille placed a hand over her heart, feigning mock offense. "Who, me? Bicker? Never!"

Lillian smiled knowingly, shaking her head. "We'll keep it civilized, Sera. You have my word."

"Seems like you guys are having a bit of fun over here."

I turned toward the voice and saw Diana approaching, her elegant stride as composed as ever. Behind her, Claire bounded up with her usual uncontainable energy, and Tessa followed, her smile softer and more genuine than I'd seen in a long time.

"Hello!" Claire chirped, practically beaming.

I glanced at Tessa, who gave me a quick nod and a small, friendly smile. Ever since our heart-to-heart (and her almost murderous misunderstanding), things between us had smoothed out. It felt... nice. Weird, but nice.

"So," Tessa began, crossing her arms casually, "what do you think about this festival announcement?"

"It's going to be amazing, obviously," Camille said without missing a beat, flipping her hair over her shoulder dramatically. "Anything I participate in is destined to be unforgettable."

I groaned inwardly, but Lillian chuckled. "Confident as always, Camille."

"I'm serious! Festivals are about flair, excitement, and charm," Camille continued. "And who better to bring all of that to life than me?"

Claire leaned in, her violet eyes practically sparkling. "Then let's make it even better by working together! I bet if we all team up, our class can create something incredible! Maybe a performance stall, or a game station, or—oh! What if we did a maze with magical traps?"

"Knowing you, Claire, that maze would end up being a hazard," Diana said dryly, though there was a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"Safety hazard or not, it'd be fun!" Claire quipped, grinning.

"Why don't we enjoy it together?" Lillian's voice cut through the chatter, calm but inviting. She looked at each of us, her serene green eyes full of warmth. "The six of us could work on something as a group. It'd be a great way to relax and bond after everything we've been through."

The table went quiet for a beat as everyone processed her suggestion.

"Together?" Diana asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean, as a team?"

"Why not?" Lillian replied with an easy smile. "We all have different strengths. It could be fun."

Tessa tilted her head, considering. "It'd certainly be... an experience," she said, a sly edge to her voice.

Camille clapped her hands together. "I love it! Imagine all of us combining our talents—pure magic."

"More like pure chaos," I muttered, though I couldn't stop the faint smile forming on my lips.

Claire was already bouncing on the balls of her feet, her enthusiasm infectious. "This is going to be so great! We'll make the best stall at the festival—no, the best thing at the festival!"

"I can already feel the headache," Diana murmured, though her tone lacked any real bite.

"Well, it's settled then," Lillian said, her voice as calm and certain as ever. "We'll plan something together. It'll be a chance to unwind and enjoy ourselves."

I leaned back in my chair, watching as the group began tossing around ideas, their energy swirling together like a whirlwind of possibilities. Even Diana and Tessa, usually the most reserved, were chiming in.

As for me? I couldn't help but think this was either going to be an absolute disaster… or one of the best memories I'd make in this world. And for now, I was willing to take that chance.