Surprisingly, I slept better than I thought I would.
Considering I was in a completely new environment, I had expected to spend half the night staring at the ceiling.
Instead, I was awakened by the six o’clock magic bells.
With a groan, I stretched my arms over my head before looking across the room.
Rowan was sprawled across his bed like a corpse.
Honestly, he looked one movement away from falling onto the floor.
I got up and walked over to him.
“Rowan, it’s time to wake up. The morning bell already rang.”
“Mhmm… five more minutes…”
After that, no matter what I said, he refused to wake up.
I’ll just get ready then.
I grabbed my neatly prepared uniform and headed into the bathroom.
Thank you, Maya.
Soon I had finished bathing and getting ready.
First came the gray academy pants.
Then the white long-sleeved shirt.
After that, the maroon tie.
Finally, I slipped on the gray academy jacket with the Ash-Fall crest embroidered on the chest.
Three maroon stripes decorated the cuffs of the sleeves.
As I left the bathroom, I walked over to the dresser and picked up my class badge.
The silver pin with the crimson S.
I stared at it for a moment before pinning it onto my blazer.
Just then, a loud yawn echoed through the room.
I turned around.
Rowan was finally awake.
“Ahhhh… what time is it?”
I pointed toward the clock between our beds.
“Six forty-five.”
His eyes widened.
“AH! I’m going to miss breakfast!”
Before I could reply, he sprinted into the bathroom.
I stared at the closed door.
Wow.
He sure is carefree.
Shaking my head, I grabbed my bag and headed out.
……..
As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted two familiar faces.
“Hey. Sorry if I’m late.”
“Nope!” Imara replied.
“You’re right on time.”
I glanced toward Simon.
He looked half asleep.
His hair was slightly messy and he appeared personally offended by the existence of mornings.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Don’t mind the big baby,” Imara said.
Then she immediately started pinching Simon’s cheeks.
“He just isn’t used to waking up this early.”
Simon swatted her hand away.
“I hate both of you.”
“Actually,” Imara continued, ignoring him completely, “we were talking about getting breakfast from the academy café.”
“Café?” I repeated.
Simon suddenly threw an arm around my shoulders.
“Yes, little prince. Since it’s still early, we figured it’d be less crowded than the cafeteria.”
“This school has a café?”
“Welcome to Ash-Fall,” Simon said dramatically.
Imara nodded.
“The only downside is that you have to pay.”
I froze.
“…My money is still in my room.”
Simon immediately waved dismissively.
“No need to worry.”
He placed a hand against his chest.
“Number One Rule of Panta Rhei.”
“Always carry money.”
Imara’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh Simon, my walking wallet.”
“You only love me for my money.”
“Correct.”
I nodded seriously.
Simon looked betrayed.
“Little prince! Not you too!”
“Guys,” Imara interrupted, checking the time.
“It’s six fifty-six. Classes start at eight-thirty. Let’s hurry before all the good seats disappear.”
The academy café was beautiful.
Flowering vines decorated the walls while paintings from all four kingdoms hung between the windows.
The smell of fresh bread, coffee, pastries, and tropical fruits filled the air.
Students quietly chatted at tables while sunlight streamed through the glass windows.
Honestly…
This place felt more like a fancy restaurant than a school café.
Soon we joined the line.
“No way,” Simon said.
“I am not buying all of that.”
“Come on,” Imara pleaded.
“I need energy.”
“You don’t need six pastries.”
“I absolutely do.”
“You frighten me.”
Eventually Simon gave up.
As expected.
After getting our food, we found an empty table.
The moment Imara sat down, she immediately grabbed one of her pastries.
Simon stared at her tray.
Then stared at her.
Then back at the tray.
“Imara.”
“What?”
“Are you feeding an army?”
She took a bite.
“No.”
“Then explain this.”
He gestured dramatically toward the pile of food.
Imara swallowed.
“I was hungry.”
“That’s not an explanation.”
“It is if you stop asking questions.”
I laughed.
“Does she always eat this much?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Simon said.
Imara pointed her fork at him.
“And yet you’re still paying.”
Simon placed a hand over his heart.
“The abuse I suffer every day.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“I learned from the best.”
That earned him a napkin thrown directly at his face.
As time passed, people came and went throughout the café.
More students arrived, seats gradually filled, and a constant murmur spread through the room.
There were students from every year chatting with one another, some discussing classes while others laughed with friends.
At one table, a couple sat across from each other, openly flirting as they shared breakfast.
The lively atmosphere made the café feel less like part of an academy and more like a gathering place where everyone could relax before the day began.
Then, suddenly, the entire café fell silent.
I looked up from my sandwich.
Two figures had just entered.
One of them immediately caught Imara’s attention.
“Ogun!”
The young man turned.
A huge smile spread across his face.
He and the person beside him began walking toward us.
“Imara! What are you doing here?”
She stared at him.
“…Eating breakfast.”
“Ah.”
“Groundbreaking discovery, I know.”
“Whatever you say, big head.”
He reached over and patted her hair.
“HEY!”
Dark skin.
Golden eyes.
Tall build.
Long curly hair tied into a half-up style.
The resemblance was impossible to miss.
“Anyway,” Imara said, fixing her hair.
“Brother, these are the friends I told you about yesterday.”
She pointed.
“Simon.”
Then me.
“Li Qiang.”
Ogun immediately shook our hands.
“Nice to meet you both.”
“You too.”
Only then did my attention shift to the person standing quietly beside him.
Aleksandr Ivanov.
The Crown Prince of Eiskalt.
The second-year representative.
He simply stood there observing everything.
Silent.
Calm.
Unreadable.
“Ogun,” Imara continued, “aren’t you going to introduce your friend?”
Ogun snapped his fingers.
“Right.”
He gestured beside him.
“Aleksandr. This is my sister and her friends.”
The three of us greeted him.
Aleksandr gave a small nod.
His red eyes briefly met mine.
Only for a second.
Then—
“We’re late.”
Aleksandr looked directly at Ogun.
“We’re only late because you woke up late and insisted you were starving.”
Ogun immediately looked offended.
“Food is important.”
“You said that yesterday too.”
“And I was right yesterday too.”
Simon immediately burst out laughing.
A few moments later, the two of them headed toward the ordering line.
Once they were gone, we returned to eating.
Eventually, Imara checked the time.
“Guys.”
“What?”
“It’s eight-twelve.”
The three of us froze.
Then immediately stood up.
After throwing away our trash, we hurried toward our classroom.
Students filled the hallways, all heading toward their first lessons.
Eventually, we reached the classroom door.
Imara stopped.
A huge grin spread across her face.
“Today we officially become students.”
Simon blinked.
“We became students yesterday.”
“You know what I mean.”
I shook my head.
“Well…”
I looked at the classroom.
Then at my friends.
“Now or never.”
“There’s never a never,” Simon said.
Imara immediately groaned.
“Okay, smart mouth.”
Rolling my eyes, I pushed open the classroom door.
And stepped inside.