Chapter 6: Friendship and Divergence

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the intricately carved glass windows of Moonspire Tower, the favored café of noble-born university students. The rich aroma of elven blossom tea and freshly baked bread filled the air. I savored a bite of wild berry cake drizzled with velvety cream sauce, while my best friend, Lyra, absentmindedly poked at her lemon pie with a fork, lost in thought.

"Lyra," I called, breaking the silence. "You've been sulking since yesterday. What's wrong? Still struggling to decide on a dress for the gala?" I kept my tone lighthearted, hoping to pull her from her reverie.

She lifted her gaze, her muted green eyes clouded with concern. "No, Seraphina… it's not that. I've just been thinking about something else."

"What now? The alchemy experiment that nearly blew up our cauldron this morning? Or perhaps…" I leaned forward, lowering my voice teasingly, "…you've been sneaking peeks at the latest news about that Stonehand heir again?"

A faint blush crept onto Lyra's cheeks. "It's not like that! I just… I just don't feel right about what happened."

"You mean the land dispute?" I leaned back against the plush velvet chair. "Yes, it's unfortunate—an old noble family losing their estate like that—but you heard what our professor said in social studies. Sometimes, the state has to intervene for the greater good, especially when the previous owners fail to manage their affairs properly or have internal conflicts." I vaguely recalled reading that the Stonehand family had disputes long before the government stepped in.

"But… it doesn't feel fair, Seraphina," Lyra murmured. "And what about the development project near the Whispering Forest? I heard it might harm the ecosystem there. That forest is incredibly fragile."

I sighed softly. Lyra was always like this—worrying about trivial things.

"Oh, Lyra, are you listening too much to those eccentric scholars again? Lord Thorn made it clear—this project is meant to advance the kingdom, create jobs, and bring prosperity. If some landscaping adjustments are needed for progress, isn't that reasonable? You shouldn't believe rumors or those radicals who oppose the government so blindly." I thought of that odd woman Lyra had mentioned before—Elara something—who apparently spent most of her time wandering the forest alone.

"But Elara seems knowledgeable…" Lyra muttered.

"Knowledgeable about plants, maybe, but not about governance," I dismissed with a wave of my hand. "You should focus on more important things—like preparing for finals or finding a proper escort for the gala. Speaking of which, did you hear that Lord Calliste will be attending this year? He just returned from his magical studies on Dragon Isle!"

Lyra gave me a small, forced smile, showing none of the excitement I had expected. Instead, she stared down at her half-eaten pie again. "I just feel like… something isn't right."

A flicker of irritation stirred within me. Why did Lyra always insist on playing the saint, worrying over problems that weren't hers to solve? Sure, the Stonehands' downfall was unfortunate, but how could one family's troubles outweigh the progress of an entire kingdom?

"Alright, alright," I relented. "If you're really that troubled, why don't you check a reliable source—like the royal archives or official statements from the Prime Minister's office? Don't rely on hearsay from commoners or street scholars."

In truth, I considered looking into Caelen Stonehand myself. As someone from a noble background, I might understand his situation better than Lyra did.

"Let's change the subject," I said, clapping my hands lightly. "So, what color dress are you wearing to the gala? If you don't decide soon, all the best ones will be taken!"

Lyra lifted her gaze to mine, her expression distant before she nodded slowly. "Alright… I suppose I should decide soon."

I beamed, pleased to have finally redirected her attention to something important. The griffin meat pie from the cafeteria yesterday had been delicious, sure, but choosing the perfect gala attire was far more pressing. I launched into a lively discussion about the latest fashion trends in Arcane Vogue, unaware of the tiny fractures beginning to form in our friendship—hidden beneath our differences in perspective, our separate worlds, and the truths we chose to see.