Chapter 11: Wings in the Night

Mira lay in her new room, feeling a mix of excitement and restlessness. The silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, making her feel isolated. The energy from the inner court buzzed in her veins, but exhaustion was creeping in, tempting her to sleep. Just as she was about to close her eyes, strange noises broke the stillness—rustling sounds followed by whispers that sent a shiver down her spine.

Curious, she swung her legs over the bed and quietly moved to the window. Pulling back the curtain, she peeked outside. To her surprise, Rhyshe and Celvia were on the balcony, looking rushed as they spoke in hushed tones, their faces lit by the moonlight.

Mira's heart raced. What are they up to? She felt a mix of admiration and worry. Before she could call out, they jumped from the balcony, and she watched in awe as their wings unfurled, shimmering like stars against the dark sky.

They soared into the garden, gliding effortlessly, leaving Mira feeling both envious and worried. She wanted to shout for them to wait, but the words wouldn't come. They were gone in an instant, and disappointment washed over her like cold water. Why did they leave so quickly? What were they doing?

Suddenly, she remembered the nighttime curfew. No student was allowed outside after dark. Panic bubbled inside her. What if they were in danger? Mira felt a strong urge to follow them, to uncover their secrets.

She turned back to her desk, where her spellbooks were scattered. Frantically, she searched through them, her fingers trembling with urgency. She needed to find the teleportation spell—her only chance to get outside without getting caught. Each page felt heavy with her desperation.

Finally, she found it: Reinatels Servia. The words glowed on the page, promising escape. With determination, she memorized the incantation, her heart racing with the thought of following Rhyshe and Celvia.

Taking a deep breath, she focused her energy. She could feel it building inside her, like a spring ready to release. With the spell clear in her mind, she spoke the words, feeling magic pulse around her.

In an instant, a shimmering portal opened before her, glowing with light. Without hesitation, she stepped through, the world blurring around her. She emerged in the backyard, the cool night air hitting her like a splash of water.

Mira's heart soared with joy. She felt free, the weight of rules lifted from her shoulders. But now she had to cast the flying spell to catch up with her friends.

With a determined smile, she focused again, recalling the incantation: Placium Tha Urnowill. As she spoke the words, she felt the magic wrap around her, lifting her off the ground. It was exhilarating—she was flying!

But soon, the excitement turned into fear. She realized she was going too fast, the magic spiraling out of control. Panic rose in her chest as the ground rushed toward her. No, no! Focus! She tried to steady herself, but it was like trying to hold back a wild river.

Just as she felt she might crash, she spotted the grand fountain below, its waters shimmering under the moonlight. Near it stood a familiar figure—the boy from her class. He was tall and lean, with tousled dark hair that framed his face. His sharp jawline and high cheekbones gave him a striking appearance, but it was his eyes that drew her in—deep green, almost like emeralds, sparkling with disdain.

As he turned from his spot by the fountain, his expression shifted from confusion to smug amusement when he saw her plummeting. "Well, well, if it isn't the clumsy newcomer," he sneered. "Are you trying to make a splash or just embarrass yourself?"

"Shut up! I can't control myself!" Mira shouted back, her voice shaking with both fear and anger. Just as she fell, she braced for impact.

Before she could react, she landed right in the fountain with a loud splash, cold water engulfing her.

Gasping, she broke the surface, water streaming down her face. She looked up to see the boy staring at her, a smirk plastered across his face. "Nice dive. Do you always make such a fool of yourself?" he taunted, crossing his arms and leaning against the fountain with an air of arrogance.

Mira felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and fury. "I was trying to follow my friends! What's your problem?"

"Maybe you should think before you leap," he replied dismissively, rolling his eyes. "Or are you just too busy trying to impress everyone with your pathetic magic skills?"

Mira clenched her fists, feeling a rush of anger. "You don't know anything about me! You think you're so much better, don't you?"

He chuckled mockingly, the sound grating on her nerves. "I don't need to know you. Your failures speak for themselves."

"Stop acting like you're better than everyone else!" Mira shot back, her voice rising. "You're just a jerk hiding behind a pretty face!"

"Jerk? That's rich coming from you," he retorted, stepping closer, his arrogance radiating off him. "What have you done that's so impressive? Falling into a fountain?"

Mira's heart pounded with indignation. "At least I'm trying! Unlike you, who just stands there judging everyone."

He raised an eyebrow, a challenging look in his eyes. "Oh, I'm not judging. I'm just observing. And it's clear you have a lot to learn."

As they stood face to face, the tension crackled in the air. Mira felt her emotions swirling—anger, frustration, and a strange urge to prove him wrong.

"Maybe I'll show you how it's done," she spat, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

"Please, spare me the theatrics," he replied, rolling his eyes again. "You're not worth my time."

Mira's fists tightened at her sides. "You know what? I don't need your approval! I'll make my own way, even if it means flying into a fountain!"

He smirked, clearly enjoying their confrontation. "Good luck with that. I'll be watching your next disaster from a safe distance."

As he stepped back, the moonlight illuminated his features, revealing a mix of arrogance and confidence that made Mira want to scream. What was it about him that got under her skin? She couldn't understand why his words affected her so much.

Just then, the door to the white house swung open, and Akira, Rhyshe, and Celvia stepped out, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern.

"What's going on here?" Akira called, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife. His eyes darted between Mira and the boy, clearly taken aback by their argument.

Rhyshe's playful demeanor faded as she approached, her wings flickering nervously in the moonlight. "Mira! What happened? You look… soaked," she said, glancing at the fountain, then back at the boy.

"Yeah, she just decided to take a swim!" the boy interjected, a hint of sarcasm still in his tone.

Celvia stepped forward, her calm presence a stark contrast to the chaos. "This isn't a good idea. We need to calm down," she urged, her eyes scanning the group. "Both of you."

"Why don't you tell her to stop acting like a fool?" the boy snapped, glaring at Mira.

Mira glared at him, her voice low but steady. "I'm not wrong for standing up for myself. I refuse to let you push me around!"

Akira moved closer, crossing his arms as he took in the situation. "Seriously, what's with all the shouting? This isn't a playground," he said, trying to defuse the tension.

"She just can't handle a little criticism!" the boy shot back, glaring at Mira.

"Better than being a know-it-all who thinks he's the best at everything!" Mira yelled, not backing down.

Rhyshe and Celvia exchanged worried glances as the argument escalated, the air thick with animosity.

"Enough!" Akira's voice rose above the din, demanding attention. "This isn't how we handle things. You both need to stop acting like children."

Mira felt a mix of satisfaction and irritation as they all stood there, the night heavy with unspoken words.

"Maybe I'll show you how it's done!" she spat, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

"Fine! I don't need this," the boy said, turning away, his arrogance unfazed.

Mira felt a spark of determination ignite within her. She would show him—and herself—that she was capable of so much more.

As Akira stepped between them, trying to mediate, Rhyshe chimed in, "Look, we can all talk about this. Just—let's take a breath."

"Or you could just admit that you're wrong," the boy taunted, his arrogance palpable.

With a frustrated sigh, Celvia interjected, "How about we all just go back inside? This isn't going anywhere."