Chương 36: Cyan Dawn

Stella looked out of her rooms window as night fell over the city. She shared her room with three others. Beth, and human-born elf that she grew up with and two bearskin who would be graduating this year. She'd almost been here for a month, and hod gotten use to the Academy's daily goings on, but today had shattered that normalcy. And the event could be summed up in one word: Lyra. She had grown up an orphan in a city even poorer than Stella's own.

Yet today, she had shown up with a personal maid, paid almost thirteen gold, thirteen! for books and other supplied she could have simply obtained from the school. And then, she had dragged Beth and her into the noble's section of the dining hall. Oh no. Not the noble section. The royal section! Where the second prince was celebrating her sister's recovery with his friends. The worst part was that Lyra acted like everything that was happening was normal.

Stella shook her head and tilted her head back to enjoy the cool breeze that momentarily banished the stuffiness of four people occupying the same room. The others were already asleep, but by consensus the sole window in the room was kept open. That would change with the seasons, Stella was sure. But for now, she could enjoy it. Her mind drifted before returning to point of her restless night. Lyra. Is she really so clueless? Or is it some type of prank? Stella couldn't see Lyra doing something like that.

She was nothing but genuine in the weeks they were traveling together. Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! How much do I really know her? The question came unbidden, and I had to frown. Beth, I knew. I grew up with her. And though it rankled to have her manage to cast a spell before her, she could be happy for her. Even if she thought Beth's decision to leave the village was a poor one. But Lyra? The maid. The money. The royal table.

How did someone from Hindor start living like this? The sun dipped below the horizon and Stella sighed into the night. Only to gasp when the darkness was banished with a cyan light.

"What's happening?" Stella asked loud enough that she heard her room mates stir.

"Keep it down."

"What's going on?" And a wordless groan all came from various pillows. But Stella couldn't answer. She was to stunned. Shortly two of her room-mates joined her at the window wordlessly. The other, simply covered her head with her pillow, determined to shut out the world and get her sleep.

"What is this?" Pam asked reaching out the window. It didn't take much for her hand to become bathed in the light. She leaned out looking around.

"It looks like it's coming from the third floor." She said as Beth and Stella looked at each other. A certain cyan-eyed girl came to mind. Stella sighed at the same time as Beth. Each knowing exactly what the other was thinking. Or at least, who they were thinking it of.

"I have a theory…" Beth ventured.

"What theory?" Pam asked. Stella kept her mouth shut. It couldn't be more obvious from her perspective. Beth sighed and straightened her night gown.

"I don't want it to be true. But, I guess someone's casting a spell." She ventured before turning away from the window and walking back to her bed.

"Someone living on the third floor."

"What spell? And why?" Pam asked. Stella moved over to the window and peeked out. The light was defiantly coming from a window on the third floor.

"We should close our window tonight. Or we won't get any sleep." Stella said moving back, and pulling Pam with her.

"That doesn't answer anything." Pam complained.

"The third floor is the royal floor." Beth said climbing under her covers.

"Do you want to go up there and ask what's going on?" Pam blanched.

"I didn't know any royals were staying here."

"Apparently one is now." Stella said. She closed the window and climbed into her bed as Pam started pacing about the room muttering to herself as she debated theories about what was going on. Lyra, what are you doing? Sleep didn't take long to claim Stella. There was only so much craziness she could take before shutting down.