Six month

Lunch was usually a time of peace and quiet. A time when I could lose myself in the routine of eating, where the only thing that mattered was whether or not I could finish the meal without someone telling me to eat more.

Today, however, the air felt different. Tense, almost buzzing with anticipation, and I couldn't quite place why. My parents were sitting across from me at the grand dining table, both of them looking far too excited for such a mundane meal.

Their smiles were... unnatural, like they were holding something in, ready to burst at any second. It was like they were waiting for the perfect moment to drop some big news.

Something was definitely up.

But instead of jumping into conversation, they remained quiet, exchanging knowing glances with each other while I focused on my plate. For once, nobody was pushing me to eat more, which was... odd.

Usually, I couldn't get through a meal without at least one reminder that I should eat more. Yet today, nothing. It was like they had bigger fish to fry.

Still, I couldn't shake the memory of the previous night. No matter how much I tried to distract myself with the meal, my mind kept circling back to the banquet, the disastrous duel, and the way the princess Xyrahad glared at me with such disdain.

The embarrassment of falling on top of her, the way she had stormed off in anger, vowing never to forget my humiliation, replayed in my head over and over like a never-ending loop. 

The idea of seeing her again, of somehow crossing paths at another event... it made my stomach twist into knots. I poked at my food with my fork, barely tasting anything as my parents' stifled excitement crackled like an undercurrent in the room.

Suddenly, my mother's voice broke through my thoughts, her tone so casual yet carrying the weight of something significant. "Ren, dear," she started, her eyes twinkling with barely-contained excitement, "we have some wonderful news for you."

Oh no. This couldn't be good.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to seem nonchalant even though a pit was forming in my stomach. "News?" I echoed, glancing between my mother and father, who looked like they were about to burst.

"Yes," my father chimed in, sitting straighter, his voice brimming with pride. "It's something we've been planning for a while, and we think it's time you knew."

I stared at them, half-expecting them to tell me they'd arranged some terrible match for me or that I was going to be shipped off to some faraway land. My track record with surprises wasn't great.

"Ren," my mother said, smiling warmly as she leaned forward. "You're going to attend the magic school."

My fork slipped out of my hand, clattering against the plate as I blinked at her. "W-what?"

"The Royal Magic Academy," my father clarified, as if it made everything clearer. "It's an incredible opportunity, Ren. You'll learn magic from the best teachers in the kingdom."

I sat there, stunned, my mind spinning in several directions at once. The Royal Magic Academy was prestigious.

A school where only the most talented or noble children attended and no more hellish training with Elira. I should've been overjoyed.

After all, learning magic had been something I was curious about, something I'd never had the chance to fully explore. But as my parents' words sank in, so did a new wave of anxiety.

The princess.

What if Xyra attended the academy too? What if she was there, her piercing eyes finding me in the corridors, glaring at me every chance she got? I imagined her waiting for the perfect moment to humiliate me all over again. The thought made my stomach churn.

"I... I don't know," I muttered, fiddling with the edge of my napkin, my nerves getting the better of me. "What if... what if the princess is there?"

My mother looked puzzled, her brow furrowing slightly. "The princess? Oh, I'm sure she'll be there from time to time. After all, the royal family is involved with the academy. But, Ren, this is a huge opportunity for you."

My father nodded, clearly pleased with himself. "You'll be able to make friends like you told us before, learn magic, and become someone even more remarkable than you already are."

Friends. Magic. The words floated around in my head, trying to take root. Maybe... maybe this wouldn't be so bad? Maybe I could make friends. Maybe I could get out of the shadow of last night's disaster.

I wouldn't be stuck at home, constantly reminded of the banquet. The academy would be a fresh start, a place to learn magic and escape the suffocating awkwardness I felt every time I thought of the princess.

My heart thudded in my chest, a mixture of excitement and fear swirling together. Yes, the princess might be there, but the academy was big, right?

It wasn't like I'd see her every day... probably. And besides, learning magic was something I had always wanted to do.

There was a real chance to make something of myself, to grow beyond just being the awkward girl who fell on top of the princess.

"I guess…" I started slowly, weighing my words. "I guess it could be good. Learning magic and... meeting people."

My mother's face lit up with pride, her eyes shining as she reached across the table to take my hand. "That's the spirit, darling. We're so proud of you."

I smiled weakly, still feeling the lingering dread in my chest. "When does it start?"

"In six months," my father replied, his tone full of expectation. "You'll have plenty of time to prepare."

Six months. I had six months to learn as much as I could about magic and, more importantly, how to not make a complete fool of myself in front of nobility.

I wasn't exactly well-versed in magical theory, let alone skilled in casting spells, and my reading skills… well, they still needed a lot of work. But six months? Maybe, just maybe, I could pull it off.

"I'll have to practice a lot," I murmured, mostly to myself.

"You'll do wonderfully, dear," my mother said, beaming. "We'll make sure you have everything you need."

I nodded, the weight of the situation settling in. Six months wasn't a long time, not when I had so much to learn. It was going to be hard no, brutal.

But I couldn't afford to mess this up. Not with the prospect of meeting other students, of possibly running into the princess again. If I could at least learn how to stand on my own, maybe I wouldn't be so scared.

Or embarrassed.

Magic school. The words felt both exciting and terrifying. It was a chance to prove myself, to get out of the house and away from the awkward stares of the castle staff who probably already knew about my blunder.

It was a chance to start over, to grow into someone who wasn't just clumsy, anxious Ren. Someone capable of handling whatever the world threw at her princesses included.

I took a deep breath, feeling the tiniest flicker of hope light up inside me. Six months was a daunting timeline, but I'd make it work. I had to. 

"Well," I said, straightening in my seat and giving my parents a small but determined smile, "I guess I'd better start getting ready."

My mother squeezed my hand, her excitement infectious. "That's the spirit!"

As I returned to my meal, the weight of what lay ahead felt a little lighter. I still had a long way to go, and the thought of seeing the princess again sent a cold shiver down my spine. But for the first time in a while, I felt a spark of excitement about the future.

I had six months. And I was going to make them count.