The first class.

The next day Mirielle hurriedly prepared for her first class.

As she got up and quietly prepared, Rishi, who had just woken up, sleepily asked, "Where are you going early this morning?"

"Class," Mirielle replied.

Rishi sat up urgently, turning toward the clock. "Gosh, Mirielle, there is half an hour left! Why are you going this early?"

Mirielle just awkwardly smiled at her before leaving.

Mirielle knew that people found this habit of hers really strange but she couldn't help it, if she couldn't make it to the right place at the right time her heart would beat crazily and she would almost crash due to anxiety.

Instead of heading straight to class, Mirielle made a detour to her twin brother Arian's dorm. Unlike her, Arian was never punctual. He always needed to be dragged out of bed, and Mirielle had taken it upon herself to ensure he wasn't late for his first day.

Reaching his dorm, she knocked lightly at first. When there was no response, she knocked again, firmer this time.

"Arian." Her voice was soft but firm.

Still nothing.

She sighed, stepping back slightly and debating whether she should leave and let him deal with the consequences. But she knew better, he would sleep through anything if left alone.

Instead of knocking a third time, she called his name a little louder. This time, she heard a groggy grumble from inside, followed by muffled shuffling.

A moment later, the door cracked open, revealing Arian, half-asleep, his dark curls an absolute mess. His blue eyes, hazy with sleep, squinted at her. "Miri?" His voice was hoarse. "What are you doing here?"

"You'll be late," she said.

Arian groaned, leaning against the doorframe. "Miri, it's the first day. No one cares if I'm a little late."

"You will care when you're rushing across campus, half-dressed, with everyone staring at you."

One of his roommates, still in bed, groaned. "Just listen to her and let us sleep, Arian."

Arian sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, fine. I'm up."

Mirielle gave a small nod, stepping back. "I'll wait downstairs."

As she turned, she heard him mutter, "You were born thirty seconds after me. Shouldn't you respect your elder?"

She shook her head slightly, a faint smile crossing her lips. The same argument, every time.

Their parents had left them when they were ten. The memory of that day was still clear in her mind, the final farewell, the empty home they had to return to. They had never explained why, only that it was for their fate.

Their grandparents raised them with kindness and warmth. Even so, their parents' absence left an unspoken ache between them. They never talked about it, but it was always there.

Growing up, Arian had always been her shield, even when she didn't need one. He would glare at anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way. He made sure she never felt alone, filling every silence with his voice.

Without waiting for Arian, Mirielle quietly made her way to her first class, History of Serenith.

She preferred arriving early anyway, not only to familiarise herself with the layout of the university but also to avoid the rush of students scrambling in at the last minute.

The corridors were mostly empty at this hour, save for a few early risers like herself. The towering pillars and intricate carvings of the university made her feel a bit intimidated, but Mirielle barely spared them a glance.

She was more focused on the weight on the quietness, the way her footsteps echoed softly against the polished marble floors.

When she reached the lecture hall, she found it mostly empty, just as she had hoped. The space was grand, with rows of seats ascending in an arc and a massive window allowing the morning sunlight to pour in. The air smelled faintly of parchment and ink.

Choosing a seat near the window, Mirielle settled in, placing her notebook and pen on the desk in front of her. She gazed outside for a moment, watching the movement of students down below, before lowering her gaze to her lap.

This was it. The first official day.

She exhaled slowly, bracing herself for the day ahead.

More students began to trickle into the lecture hall, filling the previously quiet space with low murmurs and the shuffling of books and chairs. Mirielle kept her gaze lowered, focused on the notes she hadn't even started writing yet.

She could hear snippets of conversation around her—excitement, nervousness, and the occasional groan about how early this class was. 

Just as the seats around her began to fill, a familiar voice rang out from the entrance. 

"Excuse me—yeah, no, that seat's taken—thanks!" 

Mirielle glanced up just in time to see Arian weaving his way through the rows of students, his curls still slightly dishevelled from his rushed morning.

He had clearly sprinted here, judging by the way he was slightly out of breath. As he reached her side, he immediately shooed off a student who had been about to take the seat next to her. 

"Sorry, my sister sits here," he said, flashing a polite but firm smile. 

The student blinked in surprise before moving to another spot without argument. Arian dropped into the seat beside her, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. 

"There," he said, finally looking at her. "I made it before the professor, which means I wasn't late." 

Mirielle simply gave him a look, unimpressed. 

Arian grinned. "You didn't wait for me," he accused lightly. "I had to figure out the way here all on my own. Abandoned by my own blood." 

Mirielle didn't respond, only turning back to her blank notebook. 

Arian nudged her lightly. "You could've at least left me a map." 

"You would've lost it," she finally murmured. 

Arian gasped in mock offence. "That is—okay, fair. But still, not the point." 

Before he could continue his chatter, the heavy wooden doors at the front of the hall creaked open, and the murmurs around them quieted. The professor had arrived.