Lumierre Academy
1105 Words
Chapter 3
The morning sun rose slowly over Greenfield Lumierre.
Golden light filtered through giant leaves while glowing birds flew peacefully between the towering trees. The rivers shimmered beneath hanging bridges, and the scent of flowers drifted through the cool morning air.
But inside Evelyne’s house, peace did not exist.
Aretha stood near the window with her arms crossed tightly.
“You lied to me my whole life.”
Selene remained silent at the wooden table.
Evelyne quietly poured tea into three carved cups while tension filled the room.
“You said we had no family,” Aretha continued. “You said Lumierre was dangerous and that we could never come here.”
Selene finally looked up.
“It is dangerous.”
“Then why bring me now?”
The question hung heavily in the air.
Selene’s expression slowly weakened.
“Because I’m running out of time.”
Aretha frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Before Selene could answer, Evelyne spoke softly.
“The curse is spreading faster.”
Aretha turned sharply.
“The curse?”
Selene immediately stood.
“That’s enough.”
But Aretha had already noticed it.
The black veins beneath her mother’s wrist.
They moved slightly beneath her skin like living shadows.
Fear crept into Aretha’s chest.
“Mom…”
Selene quickly pulled her sleeve down.
“It’s nothing.”
“That doesn’t look like nothing.”
Evelyne sighed quietly.
“Dark magic is never simple.”
Silence filled the room again.
Then suddenly—
A loud knock echoed through the house.
Three knocks.
Firm.
Confident.
Evelyne’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“They’re early.”
Selene looked irritated already.
“Of course they are.”
Evelyne moved toward the door slowly before opening it.
Standing outside was Liam Wolfson.
And behind him stood three other students.
A girl with metallic silver wings folded neatly behind her back.
A tall boy with dark blue hair and glowing aqua markings beneath his eyes.
And another boy wearing purple robes while silver mist swirled gently around his fingers.
Liam’s golden eyes immediately found Aretha.
For some reason, her heartbeat skipped.
“You’re coming with us,” he said calmly.
Aretha blinked.
“To where?”
“The academy.”
---
Lumierre Academy stood at the highest point of the city.
Half of the structure was built from glowing crystal and silver stone.
The other half was alive.
Massive trees wrapped around towers while vines connected floating bridges suspended in the air. Waterfalls poured beneath the academy into rivers flowing throughout Greenfield Lumierre.
Students filled the enormous campus grounds.
Some practiced magic openly.
Others flew through the skies.
A group of Geokai students lifted giant stone pillars with their hands while nearby Fairies trained with metallic wings sharp enough to cut through trees.
Aretha stared in disbelief as they walked through the entrance gates.
“This place is insane…”
The fairy girl beside Liam smirked.
“You sound human.”
Liam gave her a warning look.
“What?”
She shrugged casually before extending her hand toward Aretha.
“I’m Nyra Fairwing.”
Her silver wings opened slightly behind her, reflecting sunlight beautifully.
“Future captain of Lumierre’s fairy guard.”
The blue-haired boy smiled next.
“Caspian Aquarion.”
Water floated gently above his palm before forming into tiny glowing fish.
The quiet boy in purple robes nodded politely.
“Elias Vision.”
Unlike the others, Elias looked nervous around Aretha.
Almost afraid.
She noticed immediately.
Before she could ask why, a loud bell echoed across the academy.
Students instantly began moving faster through the campus.
Liam sighed.
“Great. We’re late.”
Nyra smirked.
“You’re always late.”
They entered the main academy building together.
The inside looked even larger than the outside.
Floating chandeliers hovered above massive hallways while magical paintings moved along the walls. Ancient statues of the ten families stood proudly around the academy entrance.
Aretha slowed down near one statue.
The Dark Witches.
Unlike the others, their statue had been cracked across the center.
Someone had tried destroying it long ago.
“You shouldn’t stare at that one too long.”
Aretha looked up.
An older Vampire student leaned against the nearby wall.
Tall.
Pale.
Sharp crimson eyes.
“You’re the new girl everyone’s talking about.”
Liam stepped slightly in front of Aretha.
“Move, Darius.”
The vampire smirked.
“Relax, Wolfson. I’m only curious.”
His eyes drifted toward Aretha.
Then suddenly—
His expression changed.
The smirk disappeared instantly.
Fear flashed across his face.
Because for one brief second…
Aretha’s silver eyes glowed completely black.
Nobody else noticed.
Except him.
Darius stepped backward slowly.
“What are you…?”
A loud voice interrupted from above.
“All students report to the grand hall immediately!”
The academy headmaster’s voice echoed through every corridor magically.
Students rushed toward the center hall.
Whispers followed Aretha everywhere she walked.
“That’s her?”
“The girl from the tree?”
“I heard the roots moved around her.”
“She feels strange…”
Aretha lowered her gaze uncomfortably.
Liam noticed.
“Ignore them.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
Before he could respond, they entered the grand hall.
And Aretha froze.
Thousands of students filled the enormous chamber.
Floating lights illuminated banners representing every magical family while professors stood along the elevated platform ahead.
At the center stood Headmaster Orion Wolfson.
Liam’s father.
The leader of the Wolf family.
The room slowly fell silent.
The headmaster’s silver-and-black robes flowed behind him as his sharp golden eyes scanned the crowd.
Then his gaze landed directly on Aretha.
The silence deepened.
Orion’s expression darkened almost invisibly.
He recognized her immediately.
Not just her face.
Her energy.
Impossible…
After all these years…
Selene’s child had finally returned.
“Students,” Orion announced calmly, “this year marks a new beginning for Lumierre Academy.”
His voice carried naturally across the massive hall.
“But darkness beyond our borders continues to grow.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Everyone knew what he meant.
The Dark Lord City.
“The peace between realms grows fragile,” Orion continued. “Which is why every student here must master both discipline and control.”
As he spoke, Elias suddenly stiffened beside Aretha.
A painful vision slammed into his mind.
Blood.
Fire.
The Tree of Life burning beneath a black sky.
And standing at the center of it all—
Aretha.
Her silver eyes glowing with darkness.
Elias gasped sharply.
Nyra grabbed his arm.
“Elias?”
He stared at Aretha in horror.
Because in the vision…
Everyone around her was dead.
- Writer
