Two Weeks

The two weeks that Elyonari stayed in Vastarael's apartment were, to say the least, unexpected.

While Elyonari had initially thought it would be a brief arrangement, she quickly found herself enjoying the time spent with Vastarael more than she had anticipated. His calm demeanor and subtle quirks were surprisingly comforting and the freedom of the Seventh Enlightenment Students' privileges meant they didn't have to follow the same rigid structure as other students.

The apartment itself was spacious and modern, a far cry from the cramped dorms of the lower-ranked students. Vastarael's place, part of a high-end residential building for upper-tier students, had an open, airy feel.

During the first week of her stay, Elyonari focused on settling in. Her clothes, books and various items from her home in Mintheris were neatly organized in the guest room, which she had completely rearranged to her liking.

It was now a cozy, vibrant space full of the same natural wood tones and earthy colors she loved so much. The room had large windows that overlooked the city, giving her the perfect view of Minafallen as the sun dipped below the horizon.

As for Vastarael, he didn't seem to mind her being there at all. He spent much of his time reading, training or working on various personal projects, though he always made sure to spend some time with Elyonari.

Despite his earlier reluctance, he found himself enjoying her company. They would often explore the city together, taking leisurely walks through the bustling streets, discovering new restaurants, cafes, and hidden corners of Minafallen. Elyonari, for all her refined and noble upbringing, loved the simple pleasures of the city. She would drag him along on spontaneous food hunts, sometimes indulging in the most exotic, strange dishes she could find.

They even explored parts of the academy when the admissions process was ongoing. Vastarael knew the layout of the Academy like the back of his hand, thanks to his photographic memory.

But Elyonari was still discovering new nooks and crannies and she loved to pull him along on these little adventures. There was something exhilarating about the freedom of it all, not having to worry about deadlines or schedules.

They'd visit the library, which was enormous, with bookshelves that stretched up into the sky, or wander the grounds, taking in the carefully cultivated gardens and the magnificent statues that dotted the campus.

The orientation sessions, which started on the second week, were entirely redundant for them. They had memorized everything long before so they mostly used the time to relax, knowing that they could always revisit the material later if they wanted.

One of the most enjoyable parts of their days was the food.

Elyonari loved to try to cook. While Vastarael was perfectly capable in the kitchen, she often found herself trying out new recipes, eager to be taught. Some days, they'd prepare something together.

Chopping vegetables, stirring the pot, laughing as they accidentally splashed sauce everywhere. Other days, Vastarael would handle the cooking and Elyonari would take over setting the table and doing all the little finishing touches. Even though they were both busy with their own thoughts and responsibilities, they found comfort in these moments.

By the end of the second week, their routine began to settle. The academy's orientation was almost over, but neither of them attended. Vastarael was much too familiar with the Academy's expectations and structure and Elyonari, though she wasn't as well-versed in all the politics and logistics of an Academy, had no interest in sitting through long-winded lectures and presentations.

The visits from Iona and Chainless were a welcome distraction during this time. Iona, Vastarael's maid, came by a few times, often bringing Chainless along. Chainless, who had become Iona's student in recent days, was thriving.

She was nervous and timid but now, under Iona's guidance, she was starting to find herself. Her transformation from a shy, withdrawn person to someone who could engage in casual conversation with ease was a sight to behold.

Well, she couldn't speak but she could write runes and speak voicelessly and Vastarael could understand her.

Elyonari was especially taken by her. After Vastarael told her about the hardships she'd endured, the two became fast friends. Chainless was naturally friendly and had a talent for putting people at ease, making her a welcome addition to the apartment on the days she visited with Iona.

In the evenings, after their visitors had left, Elyonari and Vastarael would often sit down to eat together, talk about their day and enjoy the quiet companionship that had developed between them.

Sometimes, Vastarael would play a vialex, —which was actually a violin in Vastarael's eyes—a skill he'd picked up as a child. Elyonari, though not much of a musician herself, always found it soothing. The sound would echo softly throughout the apartment, mixing with the distant hum of the city beyond their windows.

Despite their very different personalities and backgrounds, they coexisted harmoniously. Elyonari respected Vastarael's need for space and quiet and he, in turn, had grown fond of her presence.

The apartment became a place where they could both unwind, recharge, and simply exist without the pressures of their responsibilities outside.

It wasn't perfect, but it was the closest to perfect they had ever known. Their time felt like a peaceful interlude in the midst of their otherwise chaotic lives. And, for the first time in a while, both of them had begun to feel a sense of belonging.

And then, the two week holiday was over. Their lessons were beginning early in the morning and... they were not ready.

°°°°°°°°

The calm mornings of exploration, training, and cooking were over, replaced with the rush of a new semester. The reality of early classes hit them hard.

The soft glow of their holographic timetables flickered to life as they both groggily looked at their screens, eyes still half-lidded from the exhaustion of late-night magecraft training.

Elyonari, sitting on the edge of the couch in a long-sleeve shirt as she buttoned it. She groaned and rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the mental fog.

"I can't believe we overslept," she muttered, scrolling through the holographic timetable with a frown. "We're going to be late for the first lesson of the semester! I knew we should've prepared yesterday."

Vastarael stood by the kitchen counter as he peered at the timetable projected from his wrist. His voice, though still laced with sleep, carried the same calm indifference.

"I don't miss this feeling. I really don't." He barely took a second glance at the timetable as if it didn't matter when he arrived. "Maybe it's just the uniform."

Sleeves of their tailored white shirts were pressed and perfectly aligned. For Elyonari, she wore a black skirt while Vastarael wore black uniform pants and a blue blazer.

He did not miss school back in his previous life. He was sponsored to go to a private school and he had to wear uniforms too. He envied his orphanage friends who had to go with normal outfits in public schools.

The two had trained until late into the night, pushing their mental reserves to the limit with magecraft and now, their minds were foggy, their bodies slow to respond.

Elyonari was the first to spring into action, her eyes snapping wide open.

"We need to go now! We're going to be late. The first class is one I can't miss, not today!"

Her hand flew to her silver hair as she tied it back into a messy bun, fingers fumbling slightly from the exhaustion.

Vastarael raised an eyebrow, unbothered as he fixed his sleeves.

"If we use our Tethers, we'll get there on time," he said with an almost nonchalant air. He glanced over at his mask on the table and reached for it.

The deep black faceless mask slid over his face effortlessly, the ever-present veil he wore to control the unintended allure of his Boon. 

Elyonari shot him a look as she summoned her staff, her mind already shifting into action.

"Well, aren't we a bundle of energy this morning?" She retorted, clearly not impressed by his calm demeanor. "We're already behind. Let's go. We'll buy breakfast in the cafeteria."

She opened the balcony doors, the gust of fresh air coming in as she walked toward the edge. The staff glowed and in the next moment, a shimmering aura enveloped her and Vastarael, the air itself lifting and swirling with power.

"You know, if you wanted to stop at the cafeteria, I wouldn't mind a quick bite," she said over her shoulder as she made the final adjustments to the aura around her staff. "But we'll need to go fast. You're not going to complain about my flying, are you?"

Vastarael, his face still hidden behind the mask, glanced up at the balcony's height with a mild, unamused expression.

"I'm not complaining. I just thought you'd be more considerate of my breakfast needs."

Elyonari turned to him, her staff now glowing with intense blue energy, ready to send them soaring.

"We're getting breakfast later. Now sit on the staff and hold on tight."

Vastarael raised an eyebrow at the suddenness of her request but without saying another word, he sat on the staff behind her and held her waist for support. Elyonari sighed lightly as the staff's glow intensified, the rush of wind picking up around them.

With a slight hum of power, Elyonari took off, shooting up the side of the spire.

The speed of their ascent was dizzying but Vastarael, despite the wild rush of the wind in his face, sat calmly, his posture never once faltering. He adjusted his grip on Elyonari's waist as they shot past balconies and spires. The sensation of weightlessness was like being carried by the wind itself. Despite his usual lack of enthusiasm for such exertion, he couldn't help but feel a sense of.... freedom.

"Well," he said after a while, the wind whipping his words away. "If we do this every morning, maybe I'll get used to it!"

Elyonari looked over her shoulder, her loose hair from her messy bun trailing behind her like a streak of deep silver.

"Of course we will!" She replied with a grin. "It's the fastest way to the academy and I wouldn't miss it!"

Within moments, they reached the top of the academy, the massive gates visible just ahead. Elyonari slowed their ascent, gently guiding them toward the entrance to the school grounds.

As they descended towards the academy grounds, the students milling about the gates couldn't help but stare in awe. Elyonari and Vastarael, effortlessly soaring through the air with the wind whipping around them, left a trail of displaced air in their wake. Heads turned but neither of them paid any attention.

They were already focused on the academy ahead, their speed unmatched as they cut through the air, leaving a trail of astonished onlookers behind. They could only hear a happy shout coming form the lips of a very beautiful voice.

"Three minutes! We made it!"