The academy gates buzzed with the evening crowd, disciples spilling into the town in clusters. At the side road, a horse buggy stood waiting, reins in Albus's hands. He waved the others over with a grin.
"Hop in, everyone! The marketplace won't enjoy itself without us."
The seven squeezed into the buggy, the wooden frame creaking under their weight. Shoulders brushed, but for once the air wasn't heavy with hostility.
Jasper leaned back, smirking. "Feels weird, doesn't it? Us all riding together. Who would've thought?"
Sabastian chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Definitely not me…" Yet his lips curved into a genuine smile.
Blaise nudged Shaun. "What about you, farmer boy? Ever ridden a buggy that wasn't hauling hay?"
Shaun gave him a flat look. "Plenty of times. Hay or people—it's all the same if the horse is steady."
Cedric barked a laugh. "Still sounds like a farmer's answer."
Natasha folded her arms, eyes narrowing. "Better than sounding like a fool."
The nobles snickered—but this time without cruelty. The tension eased, replaced by Jasper's story about their disastrous attempt at brewing potion-ale last semester. Even Sabastian laughed, his earlier stiffness loosening as the buggy rattled along the dirt road.
For a brief stretch, it almost felt normal. Almost like friends. Lanterns flickered alive as they rolled into Silver Heaven Town. The smell of roasted meats and spice-laden stews drifted from food stalls, tavern songs spilling across the streets. The buggy halted near the busy square.
Albus hopped down first, stretching. "Alright. Sabastian, you're with us—we'll hit the tavern. Shaun, Natasha, you check your dorm."
He clapped Shaun's shoulder. "Once you're done, meet us at the park by the square. We'll celebrate properly there."
"Promise," Jasper added with a grin.
"Deal," Shaun said with a nod. Natasha only gave the nobles a cool glance before turning down the side road.
The group split—laughter pulling Sabastian one way, duty guiding Shaun and Natasha the other.
The streets of Silver Heaven Town glowed alive as Shaun and Natasha walked through. Lanterns lit overhead, drifting on faint strings of magic. Vendors shouted from their stalls—"Spiced skewers! Fresh herbs! Charms for good luck!"—while the scent of roasted meat and sweet buns filled the air.
Children ran past chasing enchanted paper animals, their laughter echoing against stone walls. Natasha caught Shaun slowing near a vendor's cart stacked with golden dumplings.
"You're staring," she teased, arching a brow.
Shaun coughed, looking away. "I was just… making note of the prices."
"Mm-hm. Sure you were." Natasha's faint smirk lingered as they left the marketplace behind, turning toward the quieter lane where Naomi's Dormitory awaited.
"So… this Naomi's Dormitory. What kind of place is it? You sound like you already know about it."
Shaun nodded. "One of my father's old friends told him about it. He said it isn't very large, but it's well-reputed. The manager, Lady Naomi, is known for being strict but fair. Supposedly, no one under her roof goes hungry—or undisciplined. Father thought it would be the best place for me."
Natasha tilted her head, considering. "Strict but fair, huh? Sounds like you're going to be watched very closely."
Shaun chuckled softly. "Probably. But that might be good for me. Keeps me on track."
Natasha's lips curved faintly. "Then let's see if your father's friend was right."
Shaun smiled—but before he could reply— Slow. The world slowed. A breeze brushed past him, carrying with it the faintest scent of flowers. From the corner of his vision, a girl drifted by—her hair a vivid pink, shimmering like moonlight spun into silk.
She passed so close their shoulders nearly touched. Her lips parted, her voice soft as a whisper carried on the wind.
"Sabastian… is in trouble."
Shaun's eyes widened. He turned sharply— but the street was empty. Only the rustle of lantern-lit banners stirred the air.
Natasha frowned. "Shaun? What is it?"
Shaun's chest tightened. "I… I heard a voice. She said Sabastian's in trouble."
Without hesitation, he broke into a run, boots striking the cobblestone.
As Shaun sprinted ahead after the pink-haired girl's warning, Natasha cursed under her breath, her braid whipping behind her.
"Trouble? Don't tell me this is those nobles' doing again…" Her fists tightened as she chased him, worry and suspicion tangled in her chest.
"Shaun—!" Natasha's breath caught, frustration and worry flashing in her eyes. Always rushing headfirst… She cursed under her breath but pushed forward, her braid whipping behind her. Together, they sprinted back toward the marketplace—toward Sabastian.
**********
The laughter of the tavern still echoed faintly in Sabastian's ears as he followed Albus, Cedric, Jasper, and Blaise into the quiet park at the edge of the square. Albus and the others traded stories. Lanterns glowed faintly among the trees, casting long shadows across the grass.
For the first time since he'd joined the academy, Sabastian didn't feel like an outsider. His chest felt warm, his smile unforced. Maybe… maybe this is what it's like to have friends. Maybe I really do belong here.
Albus smiled warmly, clapping Sabastian's shoulder. "You've been good company tonight, Sabastian. Better than we deserved after how we treated you."
Cedric nodded, his voice sincere. "We were fools. And you… you've got more strength than we ever gave you credit for."
Sabastian's throat tightened, tears threatening. "Thank you. Really… thank you."
The thought of acceptance filled him with a fragile but glowing hope—right up until Jasper pulled something from his coat.
A small, ornate bottle of glass, shimmering faintly in the lantern light. Its fragrance already teased the air, sweet and alluring. He held it out with a grin. "Here. A token of friendship. Consider it our way of making things right."
Sabastian's hands trembled as he accepted the gift. His chest swelled with warmth, his vision blurring. "I… I don't know what to say…"
But before he could finish, a sharp gust cut the air. A hand snatched the bottle from his grasp. Shaumin stood before them, his black eyes glinting with disdain, the perfume bottle twirling casually in his fingers. His voice was low, cutting like a blade.
"A commoner with something like this? Don't make me laugh. You don't deserve it."
Sabastian gasped. "Give it back!"
Albus stepped forward, anger flashing across his face. "That bottle was a gift. Hand it over, Shaumin."
Shaumin tilted his head, mocking. "Gift, was it? Funny how protective you suddenly are. Yesterday, you were calling him filth. And now you're his guardians?"
"Enough!" Cedric barked, fists clenched. "We made a mistake yesterday. Today we stand with him."
Shaumin smirked, tossing the bottle lightly into the air and catching it again. The glass glinted dangerously in the lamplight. "Stand with him, huh? Careful. One slip—" He let it wobble precariously between his fingers before clutching it again. "And it shatters."
"Stop it!" Sabastian cried, panic rising in his chest.
The four nobles moved at once, circling Shaumin, trying to snatch the bottle from his hand. But he danced between them effortlessly, slipping past their grabs, spinning the bottle from palm to palm. His movements were taunting, his smile cruel.
"Look at you all," Shaumin sneered. "So desperate to protect your little trinket. How noble."
Jasper lunged again, only for Shaumin to twist aside. The bottle nearly slipped, his fingers catching it at the last instant. He chuckled darkly. "Oops. Almost dropped it."
To Sabastian, it was breath-taking—seeing these nobles fight so fiercely to keep his gift safe. His heart pounded with gratitude. They really do care…
"Don't worry, Sabastian," Cedric said, never taking his eyes off Shaumin. "We won't let him humiliate you again."
Shaumin's smirk widened. "How touching. Noble heroes defending their little commoner friend. Pathetic."
Before he could taunt further—
"Shaumin!" The voice cracked like thunder across the park.
Shaun and Natasha sprinted into view, their eyes locking on the bottle in Shaumin's hand.
Lightning sparked across Shaun's fists as his voice rang with fury. "Hand it back! That was a gift from his friends. You have no right to take it!"
Natasha's eyes narrowed—not just at Shaumin, but at the nobles hovering nearby. Something about all of this felt wrong, and the knot in her chest tightened.
Shaumin lifted the bottle mockingly high, wind beginning to stir around him. His smirk sharpened into a challenge.
"Then come and take it, Thunderhawk. Let's finish what we started yesterday."
The air trembled, lightning and gale colliding once more—Shaun versus Shaumin, round two.
**********