The six Initiates needed air — and silence after the intense Resonance class.The Academy gardens were always peaceful, but at dusk they became something else entirely. Lanterns floated like fireflies, the scent of white lilacs drifted through the air, and the soft hum of magic lingered beneath every leaf.
Draven was the first to step off the stone path, glancing back at Lyra, Eira, Seren, Riven, and Nyra.
"Come on," he said with a faint grin. "If we're going to pretend nothing weird happened last night, we might as well do it somewhere nice."
They followed him through a small archway wrapped in glowing ivy. Beyond it lay the Old Aurora Garden — a hidden glade that most students didn't even know existed.In the center, a fountain shimmered with pale-blue light, its water rising and falling as if it breathed.
"This place feels… ancient," Eira whispered, brushing her fingers through the glowing mist.
They sat by the fountain, the sound of running water soft around them. For a while, no one spoke. Then Lyra broke the silence.
"That color," she said quietly. "Amber. Calden acted like he'd seen a ghost.""Maybe he did," Nyra murmured. "Or maybe we just unlocked something we weren't supposed to."
Riven smiled faintly. "Either way, we're not ordinary students anymore."
As they laughed softly, something rustled in the bushes behind them. A small, round creature tumbled out — a fluffy ball of silver and teal fur, with eyes too big for its tiny face.
It blinked. Then squeaked.
"What… is that?" Lyra crouched."It's adorable!" Nyra whispered, immediately scooping it up.
The creature tilted its head and chirped — a sound that shimmered faintly in the air, like a musical note. Tiny sparks of light trailed from its fur, fading into motes that danced around the students.
"Wait," Lyra said, leaning closer. "That glow… it's reacting to our colors."
Indeed, the creature's fur shimmered differently near each of them — gold near Lyra, crimson near Draven, silver-blue near Eira, violet near Nyra. When it reached Lyra, it purred softly, its teal light brightening.
Draven frowned thoughtfully. "It's… drawn to you."Lyra blinked. "Me?"
The creature hopped onto her lap and nuzzled her hand. Its tail flickered like liquid light — and for a second, they all felt a pulse of gentle magic. The fountain behind them glowed in response, its waters briefly forming a reflection of seven silhouettes — six human, one small and glowing.
"Did you see that?" Eira breathed."Yeah," Draven said quietly. "Seven…"
They exchanged uneasy looks, but before anyone could speak, the Academy bells chimed — echoing across the valley.
"Curfew," Nyra said quickly. "We should go."
They rose reluctantly. The little creature followed, bounding after them until they reached the Academy gates.
Seren knelt down, patting its soft head. "Sorry, little one. No animals allowed inside," he whispered.
The creature made a soft, sad chirp and looked up at him with eyes that shimmered faintly blue. Then it darted into the shadows — leaving behind a single glowing feather that drifted into Lyra's hand.
She tucked it into her cloak, feeling its warmth pulse once, like a heartbeat.
From one of the upper balconies, Headmistress Veyra watched silently, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight.
"So it begins," she murmured. "The first familiar has chosen."
Far behind her, in the Hall of Mirrors, two new figures entered — both wearing long, ornate robes, faces hidden by masks shaped like fractured glass.
"Headmistress," one of them said in a low, echoing voice, "the Council has sent us. It's time the students learned the true purpose of this Academy."
Veyra turned, her expression unreadable.
"Then let the next lesson begin."