Chapter 13: Studying

The two-week leave following the Celestia Incident had come to an end, and the academy grounds were once again alive with activity. The first-year students returned to their classes, their faces a mix of determination and lingering unease. The attack had left its mark on everyone, but life at Celestia Academy had to go on.

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the campus as students filed into the lecture halls. Luciel, Aria, and Arthuria walked together, their bond stronger than ever after the events of the past weeks. Luciel's golden eyes still drew curious glances from their classmates, but he paid them no mind. His focus was on the path ahead.

As they entered the classroom, Professor Jadestar stood at the front, her crimson eyes scanning the room with her usual calculating gaze. The chatter died down as she cleared her throat, her voice carrying a note of authority.

"Welcome back," she began, her tone firm but not unkind. "I know the past weeks have been difficult for all of you, but it's time to refocus. The world doesn't stop for tragedy, and neither can we."

The students nodded, their expressions serious. They had all lost something—friends, classmates, a sense of security—but they were determined to move forward.

Professor Jadestar's next words sent a ripple of tension through the room. "In one and a half weeks, midterm exams will begin. These exams are not just a test of your knowledge and skills—they're a test of your resilience. The world we live in is unforgiving, and you must be prepared for anything."

A murmur of unease spread through the class. Midterms were always a stressful time, but this year, the stakes felt higher than ever. The attack had shaken their confidence, and the thought of being tested so soon was daunting.

Aria leaned over to Luciel, her voice low. "Midterms already? Feels like we just got back."

Luciel nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Well, there's nothing we can about it. Life has to move forward ."

Arthuria, sitting on his other side, added, "We'll manage, probably."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity. Classes were more intense than ever, with professors pushing the students to their limits. Practical training sessions were grueling, and theoretical lessons were packed with complex concepts and strategies.

Luciel threw himself into his studies with the same determination he had shown in his training. But this time, he wasn't alone. Aria and Arthuria were by his side, the three of them working together to prepare for the exams.

Luciel sat in the front row of the lecture hall, his golden eyes focused on Professor Jadestar as she explained the intricacies of mana manipulation. He took meticulous notes, his mind racing to absorb every detail. Aria sat beside him, her brow furrowed in concentration, while Arthuria's silver hair shimmered as she nodded along, her expression calm but attentive.

During a break, Aria groaned, stretching her arms. "I swear, if I hear the word 'mana resonance' one more time, I'm going to lose it."

Luciel smirked, a rare hint of amusement in his eyes. "You'll be fine. Just think of it as a music, just find the correct melody."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you know anything about music, and also your metaphor sucks. I can't understand any concepts you try to explain to me; after all, a genius like you thinks differently."

"I don't," Luciel admitted. " And my explanations aren't bad, right, Arthuria?"

Arthuria chuckled softly, the sound light and melodic. "They are kinda bad."

...

The library was quiet, the soft hum of mana lamps casting a warm glow over the rows of books. Luciel, Aria, and Arthuria sat at a table, their notes spread out before them. They had been studying for hours, but the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.

Aria leaned back in her chair, her green eyes scanning a page on advanced mana theory. "Okay, I give up. What's the difference between mana channels and mana circuits again?"

Arthuria sighed, but there was no annoyance in her voice. "Mana channels are the pathways through which mana flows in the body. Mana circuits are the networks that connect those channels. Think of it like a river and its tributaries."

After awakening the so-called angelic body, my mana channels have seemed to vanish, as my whole body seems to flow with mana, and not just the channels, Luciel thought to himself while reading the book in front of him.

Aria nodded slowly. "Okay, that makes sense. Thanks, Arthuria."

Luciel, who had been quietly reading, looked up. "We should take a break. We've been at this for hours."

Aria's eyes lit up. "Finally! I thought you'd never say it."

The trio left the library and headed to the academy's courtyard. The night air was cool, and the stars shone brightly overhead. They found a quiet spot under a large oak tree, its branches swaying gently in the breeze.

Aria flopped onto the grass, her arms spread wide. "This is so much better than studying."

Arthuria sat down gracefully, her silver hair catching the moonlight. "It's important to take breaks. We can't be effective if we're exhausted."

Luciel leaned against the tree, his golden eyes reflecting the starlight. "You're right. I've been so focused on training and studying that I forgot how to relax."

Aria propped herself up on her elbows, grinning. "Well, lucky for you, you've got us to remind you. So, what should we do? Stargazing? Storytelling? Truth or dare?"

Arthuria raised an eyebrow. "Truth or dare? Really?"

Aria shrugged. "Why not? It's fun. Come on, Luciel, you're up first. Truth or dare?"

Luciel hesitated, then sighed. "Truth."

Aria's grin widened. "Okay, truth: If you could go on a date with anyone in the world, who would it be?"

Luciel blinked, caught off guard by the question. "A date? I don't really... I mean, I don't think about that kind of thing."

Aria rolled her eyes. "Come on, Luciel. Everyone thinks about it. Even you, Mr. Stoic."

Luciel thought for a moment, then reluctantly admitted, "Fine. Maybe... someone who understands what it's like to fight for something bigger than themselves."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's not a person, that's a description."

Arthuria chuckled. "I think what Luciel means is that he values someone who shares his sense of purpose."

Luciel nodded, grateful for Arthuria's interpretation. "Exactly."

Aria sighed. "You're impossible. Okay, your turn, Arthuria. Truth or dare?"

Arthuria chose truth, and Aria didn't waste any time. "Okay, Arthuria, what's your ideal first date?"

Arthuria's composed expression faltered for a moment. "I suppose... a quiet evening under the stars, maybe by a lake. Somewhere peaceful, where we could talk and get to know each other."

Aria grinned. "That sounds romantic. Who knew you had such a soft side?"

Arthuria's cheeks turned pink, but she smiled. "There's more to me than ice magic, you know."

Aria was next. She chose dare, and Luciel didn't hesitate. "I dare you to call someone random from your contacts and sing them a song."

Aria's eyes widened. "What? No way! That's so embarrassing!"

Arthuria smirked. "That's the point of a dare, isn't it?"

Aria groaned but pulled out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts, muttering under her breath, before finally selecting someone. She took a deep breath and hit call.

"Hello? Oh, hi, Professor Jadestar! Uh, no, nothing's wrong. I just... wanted to sing you a song. Yeah, I know it's weird, but... here goes nothing."

Aria launched into a horribly off-key rendition of a popular love song, her face turning red with every note. Luciel and Arthuria tried to stifle their laughter, but it was no use. By the time Aria finished, she was mortified.

Professor Jadestar: ...Thank you, Aria. That was... unique. I'll be sure to mention this during your next evaluation.

Aria groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I'm never going to live this down."

Arthuria and Luciel laughed, the sound light and carefree.

As the laughter died down, Arthuria turned to Aria with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Alright, Aria. Truth or dare?"

Aria, still recovering from her embarrassment, groaned. "Truth. I'm not risking another dare."

Arthuria smiled, her tone playful but probing. "Okay, truth: Have you ever had a crush on someone at the academy?"

Aria's eyes widened, and she glanced at Luciel before quickly looking away. "Uh, well... maybe. But it's not a big deal or anything."

Arthuria raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who is it?"

Aria's face turned red, and she stammered, "I—I don't know! It's not like I've thought about it much."

Luciel, who had been quietly observing, tilted his head. "You're acting strange, Aria. Is there someone you like?"

Aria groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Why did I agree to this game? Fine, yes, there's someone. But I'm not telling you who!"

Arthuria chuckled. "Fair enough. But you'll have to tell us eventually."

Aria peeked through her fingers, her cheeks still flushed. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just move on before I die of embarrassment."

As the night deepened, the trio began to feel the weight of exhaustion settling in. The stars above twinkled brightly, but their eyelids grew heavy, and the laughter began to fade into yawns.

Aria stretched her arms and let out a long sigh. "Okay, I hate to admit it, but I'm beat. We've got another long day of studying tomorrow, and if I don't get some sleep, I'm going to pass out in class."

Arthuria nodded, her silver hair catching the moonlight as she stood. "You're right. We've pushed ourselves hard today, and rest is just as important as training."

Luciel, who had been leaning against the tree, straightened up and glanced at the two of them. "I'll walk you back to the dorms."

Aria grinned, though her eyes were half-closed. "Always the gentleman, huh, Luciel?"

He shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Someone has to make sure you two don't fall asleep on the way."

The trio made their way back to the dormitories, the academy grounds quiet and peaceful under the night sky. As they walked, Aria leaned heavily on Arthuria's shoulder, her energy completely spent. Arthuria, ever composed, supported her without complaint, though even she seemed to be fighting back yawns.

When they reached the dorms, Aria turned to Luciel, her grin returning despite her exhaustion. "Thanks for tonight. I needed that."

Arthuria nodded in agreement. "It was... fun. We should do it again sometime."

Luciel's golden eyes softened, and he gave a small nod. "We will. But for now, get some rest."

Aria saluted lazily. "Yes, sir. Goodnight, Luciel. Goodnight, Arthuria."

Arthuria smiled faintly. "Goodnight, Aria. Goodnight, Luciel."