My First Love

Chapter 3: Getting Closer

The morning sun over St. Liora Academy didn’t feel warm anymore.

It felt… watched.

Ariana stood in front of her mirror for a long time that morning, adjusting her uniform more than necessary. Not because it was wrong—but because her thoughts refused to stay still.

Kael Draven.

That name again.

She clicked her tongue. “Why am I even thinking about him this much?”

It annoyed her.

Not just the memory of him—but the way her mind kept going back, as if something unfinished had been left between them.

She grabbed her bag and left the dorm.

🌫️ The School Feels Different Now

The moment she stepped outside, she noticed it immediately.

The whispers were louder today.

Not in volume—but in clarity.

Like the school wasn’t even trying to hide them anymore.

“She’s the one assigned to him…”

“She survived two encounters already…”

“Impossible…”

Ariana stopped walking. “Okay, I’m officially tired of being talked about like a rumor.”

She marched forward anyway.

But something strange happened.

Students didn’t just stare anymore.

They made space.

Not fearfully.

Respectfully… and cautiously.

Like she was now connected to something they didn’t want to disturb.

And that something was Kael Draven.

⚔️ The Assignment Begins

The Arcane Research Project was held in the old tower library again.

Ariana arrived first this time.

Dusty shelves, floating candles that flickered without fire, and books that occasionally turned pages on their own.

“This place gets creepier every time,” she muttered.

Then the door creaked open.

And he walked in.

Kael Draven.

Same expression. Same calm presence. Same annoying aura of control.

But something was different today.

He looked… slightly more aware of her.

Ariana crossed her arms. “You’re late.”

“I’m not,” he replied flatly.

She checked the clock. “…You are literally five minutes late.”

He didn’t respond.

Instead, he walked past her and sat down.

Like she hadn’t spoken at all.

Ariana exhaled sharply. “You are unbelievable.”

“That’s not new information,” he said.

📚 Forced Proximity

The assignment required them to study “shadow anomalies in magical environments.”

Ariana flipped through the book. “This is not a normal school topic.”

Kael didn’t look up. “You’re only noticing that now?”

She shot him a look. “You act like this is everyday knowledge.”

“It is.”

Silence.

Ariana narrowed her eyes. “Okay… I’m going to ignore that.”

She leaned forward slightly. “So what exactly are shadow anomalies?”

Kael finally looked at her.

And this time, he didn’t immediately look away.

“Shadows aren’t just absence of light,” he said slowly. “In some cases… they’re living remnants of emotion.”

Ariana blinked. “That sounds like something out of a fantasy novel.”

“It is,” he said.

She paused. “Wait… you’re serious?”

Kael didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he raised his hand slightly.

The candles in the room flickered.

And the shadows beneath the table moved.

Not randomly.

But toward him.

Ariana froze.

“That’s… not normal.”

“No,” Kael said calmly. “It’s not.”

The shadows curled gently around his fingers before retreating again.

Like they recognized him.

Or obeyed him.

Ariana leaned back slightly. “Okay, I officially believe you now.”

That earned her the faintest reaction from him.

A slight shift in expression.

Almost amusement.

🌑 Something Changes Between Them

For the first time, Kael didn’t feel entirely distant.

Not completely.

He was still cold—but less unreachable.

Ariana noticed it.

And she didn’t know why it bothered her less than it should.

“You always talk like everything is normal,” she said.

“It is to me,” Kael replied.

“That’s the problem,” she muttered.

He glanced at her. “What problem?”

Ariana hesitated.

Then shrugged. “Nothing. Forget it.”

But Kael didn’t.

His eyes lingered on her longer than before.

⚡ Unexpected Teamwork

The assignment required them to perform a joint magic scan on an artifact.

A small black crystal placed on the table.

Ariana stared at it. “So we both have to touch it?”

“Yes,” Kael said.

She sighed. “Of course we do.”

They sat across from each other.

The air between them felt heavier than usual.

“On three,” Kael said.

Ariana nodded. “One… two…”

Their hands touched the crystal at the same time.

And everything shattered.

Not physically.

But spiritually.

The room darkened instantly.

The candles extinguished.

And the shadows exploded outward.

Ariana gasped as a wave of cold energy rushed through her.

“What—what is happening?!” she shouted.

Kael’s eyes widened slightly.

“…That shouldn’t happen.”

The shadows around them began to form shapes.

Not random.

Memories.

Fragments.

Ariana saw flashes—

A dark sky.

A figure standing alone.

Chains of shadow wrapping around someone’s wrists.

A voice whispering:

“Do not trust the boy of shadows…”

She pulled her hand back instantly. “Stop! Stop it!”

The room snapped back to normal.

Ariana stumbled back, breathing heavily.

Kael stood up immediately.

“…You saw it,” he said quietly.

Ariana looked at him sharply. “Saw what?”

But he didn’t answer.

Not fully.

Just enough.

“Nothing you should worry about,” he said.

That made her angrier.

“Everything about this school is something I should worry about!”

For a moment, Kael didn’t respond.

Then—

“You’re reacting differently than others.”

Ariana blinked. “What does that mean?”

Kael looked at her more directly now.

“You didn’t faint.”

Silence.

“That’s your observation?” she asked.

“It’s important,” he said.

A pause.

Then, softer:

“…Most people can’t handle being near me for long.”

Ariana crossed her arms. “Well, I’m not ‘most people.’”

Something flickered in his eyes again.

That same reaction from before.

Interest.

But deeper this time.

🌫️ First Moment of Understanding

After the incident, they worked in silence.

But it wasn’t uncomfortable anymore.

It was different.

Ariana noticed Kael occasionally glancing at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.

And Kael noticed Ariana didn’t back away anymore when shadows moved.

At one point, she even reached for a book on the top shelf.

Too high.

Kael moved without thinking.

He lifted it down for her.

Ariana blinked. “You can help people?”

Kael stared at her.

“…Don’t make it sound like a miracle.”

She smiled slightly. “Feels like one.”

He turned away quickly. “Focus on the work.”

But his ears were slightly red.

Ariana noticed.

And for some reason, she smiled again.

🌙 Jealous Eyes

Later that afternoon, when they left the tower library, Ariana was approached by another student.

A boy from her class.

“Ariana, right?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yeah?”

“I heard you’re paired with Kael Draven…”

Ariana sighed. “Unfortunately.”

The boy glanced toward Kael, who was standing a few meters away.

Watching.

Silent.

“I’d be careful,” the boy said. “People who get close to him tend to… disappear from normal life.”

Ariana frowned. “That sounds dramatic.”

“I’m serious.”

Before she could respond, Kael stepped forward.

The temperature around them dropped slightly.

“Leave,” Kael said simply.

The boy froze. “I— I was just—”

Kael didn’t raise his voice.

He didn’t need to.

“Now.”

The boy left quickly.

Ariana watched him go. “You didn’t have to scare him like that.”

Kael didn’t look at her. “You don’t need distractions.”

Ariana tilted her head. “Distractions?”

Silence.

Then Kael said quietly:

“…From me.”

That made her pause.

🌌 Ending Scene

That night, Ariana couldn’t sleep again.

But this time, it wasn’t confusion.

It was curiosity.

And something else she refused to name.

Outside her dorm window, shadows moved unnaturally across the courtyard.

She stepped closer.

And saw him.

Kael stood alone under the moonlight.

But this time—

The shadows around him weren’t stable.

They were reacting.

Shifting wildly.

Like they were trying to escape him.

Ariana whispered, “What are you…?”

As if sensing her gaze, Kael looked up.

Their eyes met again.

But this time—

He looked slightly troubled.

For the first time.

And softly, so low she couldn’t hear it fully—

Kael whispered:

“…You shouldn’t be getting closer.”

But Ariana didn’t step away.