Homecoming
659 Words
Arcadia.
The sky was no longer orange.
The smoke had cleared.
The academy still stood — cracked towers, broken windows, scorched stone… but standing.
A portal opened at the courtyard entrance.
Headmistress Seraphine stepped through first, followed by Elowen, Instructor Kai, Valerina, Sarah, Tedros, Seylah…
And finally—
Ariella.
Behind her—
Alexa.
Students nearby froze.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
“She’s back…”
“Is that really Alexa?”
“She’s glowing—”
Alexa paused at the entrance, staring at Arcadia.
Her voice was soft.
“I almost destroyed this place…”
Ariella nudged her shoulder lightly.
“But you didn’t.”
Seraphine turned, raising her voice so everyone could hear.
“Students of Arcadia!”
The courtyard quieted.
“The threat is gone.”
Cheers erupted instantly.
Students rushed forward.
Sarah hugged Ariella tightly.
“You scared us!”
Tedros crossed his arms, pretending to be serious.
“You owe us three months of peace.”
Alexa looked unsure.
Valerina stepped forward slowly.
“We fought for you,” she said gently. “That means you’re still one of us.”
Alexa swallowed.
“Even after everything?”
Kai stepped closer.
“Especially after everything.”
A moment of silence.
Then—
Mary’s voice echoed faintly from the portal behind them.
“Don’t you dare party without me next time!”
They all laughed.
Ariella looked back toward the portal — Mary, Mr Richardson, Mrs Richardson, Tyler, and Kira remained behind to recover and handle containment matters.
Mary waved dramatically before the portal closed.
“Bring me cake!” she shouted before disappearing.
—
Later that evening.
Arcadia’s courtyard was transformed.
Floating lanterns filled the sky.
Golden lights wrapped around cracked pillars.
Music echoed through the halls.
Students had repaired the courtyard enough to celebrate.
Kai stood near the fountain, arms crossed but smiling faintly.
“I suppose… they earned this.”
Elowen adjusted her staff.
“Hope is stronger than fear. They proved that.”
Seraphine approached Ariella and Alexa.
“You two,” she said warmly, “nearly tore apart the fabric of magic itself.”
Alexa winced slightly.
Seraphine smiled.
“And then stitched it back together.”
Ariella laughed softly.
“Does that mean we’re not expelled?”
Kai nearly choked.
“Expelled? After saving the academy?”
Sarah ran up, grabbing Alexa’s hand.
“Come on! You’re dancing.”
Alexa blinked.
“I don’t dance.”
Tedros appeared behind her.
“You do now.”
Music swelled louder.
Students cheered as Alexa hesitated — then allowed herself to be pulled into the center.
At first, she moved awkwardly.
Then Sarah spun her.
Valerina joined.
Even Seylah.
Soon—
Alexa was laughing.
Actually laughing.
Ariella watched from the side.
Soft smile.
Kai walked up beside her.
“She fought well.”
Ariella nodded.
“She chose herself.”
Kai looked at her dragon mark glowing faintly.
“You two really are extraordinary twins.”
Ariella smirked.
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
—
Across the courtyard—
A small group of first-years approached Alexa nervously.
“Is it true,” one asked, “that you defeated the ITE in your own mind?”
Alexa looked at them thoughtfully.
Then smiled.
“No.”
They looked confused.
She pointed toward Ariella.
“We did.”
Ariella rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Oh please.”
The students laughed.
—
Later that night.
Fireworks of pure magic exploded in the sky — red, gold, silver.
Arcadia glowed alive again.
Seraphine raised a glass.
“To unity.”
Elowen lifted hers.
“To resilience.”
Kai nodded.
“To strength.”
Ariella looked at Alexa.
“To sisters.”
Alexa’s eyes softened.
“To home.”
They clinked glasses.
Music echoed louder.
Students danced.
Laughed.
Celebrated survival.
Arcadia stood proud beneath the stars.
And for the first time in a long while—
There was no orange in the sky.
Only light.
Only hope.
The End.
- Writer
