🌘 CHAPTER 1: Late for the Beginning

1025 Words

Fire. Something was burning— A crown— A voice— --- Shanti shot upright. Her breath came out sharp, uneven. “…what was that…” Her heart was still racing, like she had just run from something she couldn’t see. The dream slipped away too fast. Only fragments stayed— Fire. A whisper. Something important— Gone. --- “Shanti!” --- She flinched. Her head turned toward the door just as it burst open. --- “ARE YOU DEAD OR JUST IGNORING REALITY AGAIN?!” --- “…Hilga?” --- Hilga stood there, hands on her hips, already looking like she regretted knowing her. --- “You said you were taking a short nap,” Hilga said slowly. “I did…” Hilga pointed dramatically at the window. “Then explain why the sun is already halfway judging your life choices.” --- Shanti turned. Sunlight hit her face. Bright. Very bright. Too bright. --- “…what time is it?” --- Hilga didn’t answer. She just lifted her phone. --- 9:18 AM --- Silence. --- “…class starts at nine.” --- They stared at each other. --- “RUN.” --- “WAIT—!” --- Shanti jumped out of bed, immediately tripping on her blanket and almost face-planting. “I’M LATE—WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?!” “I TRIED! You threatened to drop out if I didn’t let you sleep!” “…I say things I don’t mean when I’m tired!” “You say them when you’re awake too!” --- Shanti rushed to her closet, grabbing her uniform. “Why today… why of all days…” --- Hilga leaned against the wall. “Because you have terrible life timing.” “Wow. Thank you. Very helpful.” --- Shanti pulled her uniform on—slightly wrong, slightly rushed. Good enough. --- She grabbed her bag and started stuffing things inside. Notebook. Pen. Something random. Something probably useless. --- Then— She paused. --- “…wait.” --- Hilga groaned loudly. “NO. We are NOT doing this right now.” --- Shanti slowly turned her head. Toward her bedside table. --- A letter. --- “…did you bring that?” Shanti asked. Hilga blinked. “Bring what?” “That. The letter.” “What letter?” --- Shanti stared. “…okay that’s not funny.” “I’m not joking!” --- The letter just sat there. Quiet. Unmoving. --- “…I don’t remember that being there.” --- Hilga grabbed her arm. “YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO REMEMBER ANYTHING. MOVE.” --- “…right.” --- Shanti didn’t even think. She grabbed the letter— Stuffed it into her bag— Didn’t look at it. Didn’t open it. --- “Problem for later.” --- They ran. --- Out the door. Down the hallway. Almost slipping twice. --- “FASTER!” Hilga shouted. “I AM FAST—THIS IS MY FAST!” “THIS IS NOT FAST, THIS IS EMBARRASSING!” --- They burst outside. The academy grounds stretched wide in front of them. Tall buildings. Students already inside. Classes already starting. --- “We’re dead,” Shanti muttered. “We’re not dead,” Hilga said. “We’re just going to be publicly humiliated.” “That’s worse.” --- They sprinted through the gates. Up the steps. Into the main hall. --- “LEFT—!” Hilga shouted. “I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING—!” “You ran into a wall yesterday.” “THAT WAS ONE TIME!” --- They split at the corridor. --- “Your class!” Hilga pointed. “Yours too!” --- Hilga shook her head. “Nope. Different class. Good luck surviving.” “YOU TOO!” --- And just like that— They separated. --- Shanti didn’t slow down. Not even when she reached the door. --- She pushed it open. --- The entire class turned. --- Silence. --- “…hi.” --- The instructor stared at her. Long. Unblinking. --- “You’re late.” --- “…yes.” --- Another pause. --- “…very late.” --- “…yes.” --- A sigh. --- “Sit.” --- She didn’t argue. Didn’t explain. Just nodded quickly and rushed to the nearest empty seat. --- Her heart was still racing. Not from fear. From running. --- “…I made it,” she whispered to herself. --- The class resumed. --- “Now,” the instructor said, turning to the board, “as I was explaining—this is the Arcane Class.” --- Shanti blinked. --- Right. --- Classes. --- At Cardania Academy, students weren’t placed randomly. They were tested. Measured. Sorted. --- Each student belonged to one of the five disciplines: Dominion – leadership and command Arcane – magic and spellcasting Blade – combat and swordsmanship Beast – creatures and bonds Verdant – plants and life --- And Shanti— --- “…Arcane,” she muttered softly. --- Magic. Of course. --- The instructor continued. “In this class, you will learn how to control mana, cast spells, and—hopefully—not destroy the academy in the process.” --- A few students laughed. --- Shanti leaned back slightly. Trying to catch her breath. --- Her hand brushed against her bag. --- The letter inside— Still there. --- Unopened. --- For a second— Just a second— She hesitated. --- “…later,” she whispered. --- Not now. --- Not when she just survived being late. --- Not when class just started. --- From across the room, someone glanced at her. Curious. Observing. --- But Shanti didn’t notice. --- She just stared at the front. Trying to focus. Trying to ignore the strange feeling still sitting in her chest. --- Trying to act like everything was normal. --- But it wasn’t. --- Because inside her bag— The letter waited. --- Quiet. --- Patient. --- And somehow— Still warm. --- “…this isn’t good…” She muttered under her breath. --- But this time— No one heard her. --- End of Chapter 1 🌘

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