Fire and Ice - Day two

The morning sun in Solaria City wasn't exactly merciful. It stabbed through the curtains of my dorm window like it had a personal vendetta against me. I groaned, dragging the blanket over my head.

Another day in the capital. Another day of pretending to care.

I rolled out of bed, managing to avoid the ever-graceful act of tripping over my own boots. Progress.

Today was the official orientation day. The real one. The one where all the fresh meat got paraded in front of the professors, and we had to act like we weren't scared out of our minds. Or in my case, annoyed out of mine.

After the standard routine—aka forcing my hair into some semblance of order and making myself look vaguely human—I made my way to the main hall.

The plaza was already buzzing. Students milled about in crisp uniforms, nervously chatting or gawking at the grandeur of the Academy's inner grounds. Pillars etched with elemental sigils loomed over us, casting long shadows in the morning light.

And then she appeared again.

Akari.

Red hair like a wildfire caught in a breeze. Eyes that burned with something halfway between pride and unspoken challenge.

She hadn't noticed me yet. Good.

I slipped into the back of the plaza, hoping to avoid attention. That lasted for all of ten seconds.

"Hey, Frostbrain," came a voice that sounded like sarcasm had taken physical form.

I turned, barely suppressing a sigh. It was Renji, another first-year. Tall, smug, and with a face that screamed "I've never been punched hard enough."

"Renji," I nodded. "Still overcompensating for your lack of a personality, I see."

He grinned, clearly taking it as a compliment. "At least I don't look like I bathe in disappointment."

We might have kept going, but the Headmaster finally appeared. The crowd fell silent. A tall figure in flowing robes that shimmered with starlight, Headmaster Kaelen had an aura that screamed, Try me. I dare you.

"Welcome, aspiring Magi," Kaelen began. "Today marks the beginning of your journey through the Arcanum Academy. Here, your affinity will be tested, your minds sharpened, and your limits shattered."

So far, so cliché.

He gestured to the elemental obelisks around the plaza. "Each of you will now proceed to the Affinity Stones. Step forward when your name is called."

Names echoed across the courtyard. Sparks of fire, gusts of wind, tremors, and rippling water signaled each student's affinity.

Then came mine.

"Yoru Mikazuki."

I stepped forward, ignoring the whispers. My name was...known. Mostly because people liked to gossip about my family. Or the lack thereof.

The moment my hand touched the stone, a cold wind swept through the plaza. The Ice Obelisk flared, not with a glow—but with crystalline frost climbing its surface like ivy.

A murmur ran through the crowd.

"Ice affinity," Kaelen confirmed. But before I could step back, something else happened.

A flicker of starlight rippled across the stone.

A double affinity? No, not quite. Not fully. Just a trace. A whisper of something…else.

The Headmaster's eyes narrowed. "Interesting."

I stepped back into the crowd as Renji was called forward, loudly showing off his Fire affinity. Typical.

As I returned to the sidelines, someone fell in step beside me.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

I turned. Akari.

Her gaze met mine, sharp and curious.

"I try to keep the world on its toes," I said.

She chuckled. "Then maybe keep them away from mine next time."

Oof. A callback to our bump-in. Points for style.

"You know, for someone with fire in their veins, you've got a pretty icy attitude."

"And for someone with an Ice affinity," she smirked, "you talk a lot of heat."

We were interrupted by one of the professors calling us to our dorm assignments.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of rules, expectations, and a particularly enthusiastic orientation speaker who may or may not have been possessed by the spirit of caffeine.

That evening, as I walked back to the dorms, the moonlight painted the Academy in silver.

I found myself thinking about Akari.

Not in a romantic way, obviously. Just… curious. That was all. She was interesting. And unpredictable. Dangerous combo.

As I stepped into my room, something flickered at the edge of my senses.

Faint. Cold. Ancient.

Not again.

I shook it off. Just nerves. First-day jitters or something equally unimpressive.

But I knew better.

Something was stirring.

And for better or worse…

This was just the beginning.