Suffering

Eydis traced the patterns on the dusty windowpane, her mind lost in contemplation. The vibrant chatter of students drifted in from the library's central hall, each word a spark igniting thoughts on the unfairness of a world defined by magic's inheritance. She saw the cage that trapped commoners, their potential shackled by a lack of power, and pitied them. Yet, the nobles, burdened by their own magical prowess, seemed blissfully unaware of their own limited choices, dancing within the gilded bars of their lineage. Or perhaps they did, and it was Eydis who was blinded by her own journey to notice.

A gruff voice, as unexpected as a rogue pebble in a still pond, shattered her reverie. "You're thinking way too loudly!"

Eydis blinked, startled, to find her roommate, a whirlwind of silver hair and rebellious spirit, peering out from behind a towering bookshelf.

"And you're eavesdropping," Eydis countered, a playful smile dancing on her lips. Months ago, her roommate had been a ghost in the dorms, unseen and unheard. Now, it seemed they were destined to collide at every turn. Perhaps, she had always been there, invisible to Eydis' preoccupied gaze.

The silver-haired girl, unfazed by the accusation, emerged from her hiding place, her white skirts a stark contrast to the library's dark wood. A defiant glint lit her eyes. "I was here first, before you barged in with your firework-loud thoughts."

Eydis chuckled, her amusement piqued by the unusual comparison. "I'll admit, I love your simile. But hey, doesn't everyone enjoy a good light show?"

Eydis' ears perked up, finding the simile rather amusing. "I agreed with that, but hey, doesn't everyone love a good fire show?"

Her roommate's frown intensified, disliking how unflappable Eydis remained. She wordlessly stood up, dusting off her white skirts. Not only did she violate the dorm's rules, but her dress code also failed to comply. How flexible could this academy be?

The girl's frown deepened, a silent challenge simmering beneath the surface. "Not if the show itself is a bore."

Eydis' smile faltered, her eyes losing their playful glimmer. The accusation carried a sting of truth. Her observations, while insightful, felt hollow, lacking any genuine substance.

"Just a boring observation of the way things are," she mumbled, deflating slightly.

Her roommate, sensing her vulnerability, offered a smirk, sharp as a diamond's edge. "No, I find your musings strangely…amusing."

The unexpected response caught Eydis off guard. Before she could process it, the silver-haired girl was gone, swallowed by the library's shadows. Yet, her parting words echoed in the silence.

"It was a useless thought. So you realised the nobles are just as trapped as you? What now? Do you offer them a handkerchief for their tears? Or perhaps a rebellious shoulder to cry on? Separating yourself from them, isn't that just another form of elitism?"

Eydis stood alone, the library's silence a suffocating embrace. Why, she wondered, did she even care? Her life had been fleeting thrills and adrenaline rushes. Knowledge, once her solace, now felt like a burning ember in her palm, the revelation of magic throwing her world into chaos.

Her steps faltered as she turned to leave. But then, a voice from the past whispered, a soft echo from a dusty land of Texas. A child's voice, Amelia's, wide-eyed with wonder as she gazed at the starry nights, her heart brimming with a naive desire to change the world. But the years had been unkind to that starry night. Skyscrapers had clawed at the heavens, their city lights a hungry swarm devouring the constellations. Amelia's dreams, once bright as burning stars, had faded with each dimming twilit sky.

A spark flickered inside Eydis. Maybe her roommate was right. Maybe her musings were, as she'd said, "useless thoughts." But what if they weren't? What if even the tiniest spark, even a whisper born from a star-dusted dream, could hold the power to ignite a revolution in the gilded cages of the world?

**

A colossal figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes glowing with an ethereal light. "It seems there is an anomaly."

"An anomaly? Have the witches returned?" A guttural voice, laced with fear, echoed through the obsidian chamber.

A ripple of unease passed through the figure's form. "The witches... yes, their eradication must be swift. But this anomaly…is different, yet familiar."

"Something else? Can't you perceive it?"

"I cannot."

"H-how, Omnipotent One? Is it a threat?"

"I do not know yet. But I need you to expedite our plan."

"Omnipotent One, we mustn't rush into it; the witches have not been annihilated yet!"

The figure's voice echoed with an icy finality. "You need not worry, my son, for I have a plan."

With that, the figure dissolved into the darkness.

**

"Hold up, Eydis!" 

Natalia's breathless plea echoed through the airy corridors of the floating academy. But Eydis, legs powered by adrenaline, ignored the call. The academy oasis provided few hiding places; the dean's office was off-limits after her recent break-in, and the library was under Astra's control, that elusive roommate whose name she's learnt from stolen dorm map.

So she ran, until fate, or perhaps clumsiness, intervened. She collided with a figure as delicate as a willow branch. Instinctively, Eydis caught the slender girl to prevent a tumble.

"Oh, Eydis," a voice like summer wind chimed, "I thought you'd vanished into the clouds." Princess Athena, a walking embodiment of sunshine in her golden braid and cherry blossom perfume, stood before her, jewels glinting in the filtered sunlight.

"That's because I was avoiding you, Your Highness," replied Eydis matter-of-factly.

The princess let out a soft chuckle. "Avoiding me? How scandalous! And thank you for the compliment, the cherry blossoms are indeed delightful."

"My honesty is born of necessity, and of course of my curse, Princess," Eydis countered, steadying the princess with a hand on her arm. "Lying to royalty would be, well, rude, wouldn't it?"

Their exchange was cut short by Natalia's desperate panting. Athena, quick as a sparrow, chirped, "You have two choices, Eydis: hide in my chambers, or face Natalia Robin. Which wolf do you choose?"

Wolf? More like a lioness and a… lioness. Eydis sighed, but a secret smile played on her lips. She found herself swept away by the whirlwind princess, a cascade of laughter and silk, ascending towards the third floor of Bloomingdale, leaving Natalia's frustrated roar to echo in the wake.

Stepping into Princess Athena's private room was like entering a sunlit haven of privilege. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the vast expanse of the afternoon sky, transforming the room into an observatory perched atop the dorms. Unlike her own cosy, cluttered twins bedroom, Athena's abode boasted a mini-kitchen and bathroom, every comfort catered to within these opulent walls. Yet, despite the extravagance, a curious loneliness pulsed beneath the polished surface, reflected in the way the room echoed with the silence of the boundless sky beyond.

"You seem different," Princess Athena observed, her voice a melody against the hushed backdrop. Eydis, still cataloging the room's treasures, blinked in surprise.

"How so, Your Highness?" she returned, curiosity piqued.

A smile blossomed on Athena's face, as delicate as the rose blossoms adorning her teacup. "Firstly, call me Athena. We're both students here, after all."

Eydis hesitated, momentarily caught off guard. "That might not be wise, Your Highness."

Athena," she corrected, her voice firm yet gentle. "You seem more...uncertain than last time we met. Did you perhaps discover something unsettling?"

A silent grumble escaped Eydis' lips. Everyone seemed strangely invested in cracking her mental vault. "I'm still finding my footing here, Your—Athena," Eydis corrected, under the princess' stare.

Ever perceptive, Athena leaned in, her gaze unwavering. "You were brimming with confidence, defiance. Now, a shadow plays at the corners of your eyes. Did you learn something unpleasant about our kind?"

Eydis sighed, the weight of her newfound understanding settling upon her. "Maybe people aren't so easily categorised , nobles versus non-nobles. Maybe we're all just two sides of the same coin, heads and tails on the same spinning platter."

She flipped a gold coin in the air, catching it palm down, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Heads or tails, Athena? Choose wisely."

A slow smile played on Athena's lips. "Are you playing games, Eydis?"

"The option's yours, Athena," Eydis shrugged, her own smile mirroring the princess's.

Athena pondered for a moment, then declared, "Heads."

Eydis revealed her palm, displaying a defiant tail. "Looks like I lose. What's your punishment, then?"

A mischievous glint sparked in Eydis' eyes as she revealed a secret grin. "You actually won, Athena. I peeked at the coin while you weren't looking, then flipped it just before showing you."

Athena's brow arched in surprise, a flicker of admiration dancing in her eyes. "And why tell me you cheated? Didn't you say lying to royalty is rude?"

"That's before we're on a first-name basis;" Eydis smirked, her confident masked back in its rightful place," I was moved by your speech of equality. What I just showed you is that the house always wins, heads and tails forever separated by the coin's edge. Only the game master can choose which side is the right side."

The Princess' laughter echoed through the room, a melody that chased away the shadows of loneliness. "Your spirit is back, Eydis. I'd love for you to stay. 

Eydis raised an eyebrow, a playful wariness in her eyes. "No midnight fortune-telling session, Your Highness?"

"I can't read you anyway," Athena assured her, but the hint of a wink betrayed her words.

"That's not a resounding no," Eydis countered, her voice laced with playful suspicion.

The Princess leaned forward, her eyes twinkling. "It all depends on the game master, doesn't it?"

Eydis, caught off guard by the unexpected wit, found herself oddly impressed. The Princess, seemingly a delicate flower, held within her a surprising depth and a sharp mind. The prospect of a late-night conversation, perhaps even a game of chess, was far more appealing than the cacophony of her own dorm.

She smiled, a genuine one this time. "Perhaps. But we'll see. And no touching me with your magical golden light."

Athena chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Magic is strictly forbidden within these walls, my dear Eydis. Only your wit and charm are allowed to shine."

"Offensive magic, Your Highness. I'm sure your divine power is absolutely allowed." Eydis countered.

"Very perceptive. Well, how about a game of chess?"