Looks like the academy will be fun

Aria rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised." she muttered to herself and then said aloud, "What do you want?"

Stephen raised an eyebrow, "That was fast."

Aria: "Make it quick. I have rather a busy day ahead of me."

Stephen: "Go on a date with me."

Aria waved her hand in a non-chalant manner, "Rejected. Next request."

Stephen: "....."

Aria: "Come on. Don't you have anything else to ask?"

Stephen thought for a minute and said, "A dance?"

Aria frowned before she said, "What do you mean?"

Stephen: "Isn't it clear? I want you to dance with me."

Aria tilted her head, "I'll accept on one condition."

Stephen stomped his foot, "Now there's a condition."

Aria crossed her arms, "Yeah of course. I'll dance only if there's a valid event. I won't dance anytime you want to."

Stephen: "....." *internally* "Now this is a girl that's hard to get."

Aria said as she turned towards the castle, "I hope you'll keep your end of the bargain. Don't bother Harper anymore. And if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

And before Stephen could react, Aria had walked away and was already out of earshot.

"Looks like the academy will be a lot of fun." Stephen chuckled to himself as he watched Aria disappear around the castle wall.

It was already the end of the month and the day of their exam.

Aria got up and as was her custom, she opened the window and groaned. It was such a gloomy day with lots of dark clouds in the sky. The sun was not showing and looked like would not any time soon.

"What kind of weather is that? I won't be surprised if it starts raining suddenly." Aria whined to herself as she stared getting ready.

Aria wore her uniform, picked up the hairbrush and looked at herself in the mirror.

Aria tilted her head and smiled to herself, she could almost see herself making a frustrated face as Penny fussed around her, styling her hair and commenting on her dress.

Aria looked from the hairbrush to herself in the mirror and tilted her head, she smiled and got busy.

Aria walked out of her room some twenty minutes later and descended the stairs.

She knocked on Joseph's door and said, "Get up. Or we'll leave you behind and you won't be able to take any exam."

Joseph's grumpy face appeared at the door, "How can you be so cheerful so....." His voice trailed off as he stared open mouthed at Aria.

Joseph was undoubtedly in the midst of getting dressed as he had on his shirt, pant and waistcoat, while his coat was in his hand and hair were in a dizzary.

Aria chuckled as she twirled around and asked, "What? You don't like it?"

Joseph sighed and shook his head, "I do. It looks really good. But.....how did you come up with this?" He pointed at Aria's hair, which she had tied in three braids, and then braided them together.

Aria shrugged, "I don't know. I was just feeling rebellious today."

She snapped her fingers in front of Joseph, who was looking at her stupidly and continued, "Anyway, which exams are you taking this month?"

Joseph pulled his gaze away from Aria's hair and replied, "Fire bending."