The classroom was silent as the morning sun streamed through the enormous glass windows, creating a warm, golden glow. There was something almost mystical about the space as dust motes swirled in the light beams, like thousands of miniscule stars floating about. The curtains waved quietly in elegance, as sunlight breezed past through them. Cozy, and inviting would be the words that perfectly describe that serene, silent room. On the blackboard, colorful sketches of children's paintings told stories of imagination and wonder, there were still traces of the last class's lesson. The walls were adorned with vibrant handprints, each a unique splash of color, and heartfelt poems penned in wobbly, clumsy handwriting. The room held the echoes of laughter and learning, even in its stillness, it still sang loud.

A bell rang, and suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang, shattering the silence. A flood of children poured into the room, their energy palpable. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they scattered to their seats, some rubbing their eyes and yawning, still shaking off the remnants of slumber, while others were already animated and lively, their excitement for the day ahead evident. They ran to their desks, setting their things down onto the table, some ran around the class, playing tag with the other.

In the midst of the bustling crowd, a little girl caught the eye. She moved more slowly, carefully navigating her way through the chaos. Her backpack, almost as big as she was, seemed to weigh her down. Unlike her exuberant classmates, she appeared delicate, almost fragile, she had hair, as white as the clouds a sky above, her skin was unnaturally pale, as she made her way to her chair. Despite her small stature and gentle demeanor, her eyes shone with quiet determination and a hint of joy.

Struggling under the weight of her oversized bag, Rayne faltered, her steps unsteady as she navigated the bustling classroom. The lively energy around her created a whirlwind of activity, and in a moment of unfortunate timing, a child accidentally collided with her, sending her sprawling to the floor and scattering her books in a chaotic mess. For a brief, mortifying instant, everything seemed to move in slow motion, and she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, she closed her eyes and braced for the impact.

But before she could feel anything, she felt something soft under her, something that cushioned her fall before her face met the floor under, it was a backpack. Before she could fully gather her thoughts, a concerned boy hurried over to her side, his brow furrowed with genuine worry. With an outstretched hand, he offered his assistance, his voice warm and filled with sincere concern as he asked,

"Are you okay?"

Looking up, Rayne met his gaze and was immediately struck by the kindness reflected in his eyes. Offering a tentative smile, she nodded in silent gratitude and reached out to accept his hand. His grip was firm and reassuring as he helped her to her feet, displaying a surprising strength for someone his age. She attempted to get back on her feet again, but she nearly collapsed, stumbling before the boy grabbed her hand again.

"Thank you,"

Rayne murmured softly, still feeling the lingering flush of embarrassment from a moment ago. She watched with a mix of appreciation and relief as the boy swiftly bent down, carefully gathering her scattered books and placing them neatly back on her desk, his actions precise and considerate.

"No problem, that should be all of your books, right?"

He asked, his smile radiating warmth and friendliness.

"I'm Mikhail, what's your name?" he introduced himself, his tone inviting and open.

Rayne found herself momentarily captivated by his easy demeanor and genuine kindness. Her crimson eyes, a rare and striking feature, sparkled with curiosity as she gently shook his hand.

"Rayne," she said softly, her voice steady despite the residual nerves from her fall.

Before the both of them could converse more, a figure entered the classroom. Adorned with coat, she silently and elegantly glided across the floor, the children were still playing around in the class,

A sigh left from her mouth, before she stood in front of the class, and she raised her hands, a loud clap snatched the attention of everyone in the class, and the children running around froze in their place.

"Hello children, I'm 'Heathrine' but you can call me "Miss Hearth", I'll be your homeroom teacher for this semester."

Her voice seemed to have echoed across the noisy room, and everyone noticed her presence. As everyone took their seats, Mikhail turned his gaze back to Rayne,

"The class is starting already, guess we'll talk later!", he waved goodbye to Rayne, quickly going back to take a seat at his desk.

Rayne took a seat, although the class has already started, her attention was only on the boy who saved her on that particular morning,

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"Mikhail... huh? What a nice name." a thought sounded in her head.

Miss Heathrine glided towards the shelf in the corner of the room, she ran her hands through the neatly organized books, before something met her eyes. She chuckled, and with a smile on her lips, she pulled out a dusty book, then blew the dust off, "Fields of Life, Dasayamas", written on the cover. She glided back to the chalkboard in the middle of the class.

"Ahum!", she cleared her throat.

"Okay children, pay attention, this is your first day in my class and you wouldn't want to get a bad impression on your first day here, would you? Anyways... today, we'll be exploring the fields of 'Dasayama,' located in the southern region of the Tourne-Myrout continent, where we currently reside. These fields have a rich history, having been cultivated for decades. Our ancestors, like your grandmas, grandpas devoted themselves to this land, raising crops and harvesting the bountiful fruits of their labor, to feed us, to nurture us into strong, resilient folk when we grow up. The legacy they left behind is one of hard work and perseverance-"

A couple of hours passed with Miss Heathrine's voice droning on, lecturing the students about the intricacies of cultivation of Dasayama fields. The classroom, filled with the soft rustle of papers and the occasional stifled yawn, saw some students succumb to the monotony and drift into a light slumber. However, Miss Heathrine, ever vigilant, snapped her fingers sharply, and the sound jolted the sleepy children back to attention.

In contrast to her classmates, Rayne was diligently taking notes, her pencil moving swiftly yet carefully across the pages of her notebook. She was entirely absorbed in the lesson, her brow furrowed in concentration as she meticulously recorded every detail of Miss Heathrine's lecture. The intensity of her focus was evident, and she seemed to be in a world of her own. Time slipped away unnoticed until the sudden, clear sound of bells rang through the air, cutting through the classroom's subdued atmosphere. The bells signaled the beginning of recess, bringing a wave of relief and excitement among the students. Rayne closed her notebook with a quiet snap, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her first day at school, filled with new experiences and challenges, was finally transitioning into a more relaxed phase, as her stomach grumbled.

Although she seemed excited, eager for recess, yet she seemed slightly anxious about making new friends. Across the classroom, Mikhail's laughter resonated, filling the space with a sense of camaraderie and ease. He effortlessly mingled with his classmates, his charm and friendliness making him a fast favorite among them.

Rayne stole a glance at Mikhail, admiring his confident and easy demeanor. The sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted his animated expression, making the scene almost picturesque. Feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment at her own boldness, she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. Despite her shyness, a small part of her hoped that, perhaps, she too could find her place among her peers as effortlessly as Mikhail did. Mikhail seemed to have notice her gaze, their eyes met briefly, and Rayne's heart skipped a beat. Embarrassed, she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. Mikhail, having noticed her gaze, offered a friendly smile, but Rayne was already turning back to her desk, her mind racing with a mix of emotions.

She stepped out from the classroom, and she suddenly gets overwhelmed by the amount of other kids in the hall. She sighed, and starts walking, as she made her way through the bustling halls, Rayne couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that seemed to surround her. The other students chatted and laughed, their voices blending into a harmonious melody that echoed in her ears.

Arriving at the cafeteria, Rayne received a tray of food from the cafeteria server—a selection of bread, Ham, and a bottle of milk. The server noticed her pale complexion,

"Hey kid, you good? You look as pale as a phantom!" she laughed.

Rayne offered a gentle smile,

"I'm fine... I just look like this normally..." she whispered back.

The server chuckled at her reply and wished her a nice day, before continuing with her work.

Rayne found an empty bench and carefully sat down, her gaze falling on the bread before her. She observed it for a moment before taking a tentative bite, savoring its soft texture. Another bite, and a smile graced her lips, the simple pleasure of the bread bringing her a sense of comfort. Before she could finish her bread, someone took a seat in front of her.

"Looks like you're enjoying the bread pretty well, huh?" a voice remarked.

Rayne looked up to see a girl about her age, her hair adorned with a delicate rose pin and glasses perched on her nose. She seemed studious, like a bookworm. Rayne awkwardly nodded, avoiding eye contact.

"C'mon! Why're you not looking at me while I'm speaking to you, it's rude you know?" the girl laughed, encouraging Rayne to look up.

Rayne obliged, meeting her gaze was like an abyss staring at her, devoid of light in her eyes, cold and piercing; unlike Mikhail whose eyes gave her warmth and a feeling of reassurance.

"Do you really like bread?" she asked, curiosity twinkling in her eyes.