The sun rose gently over the academy grounds, its first rays spilling through the windows and casting a warm glow across the stone corridors. Isaki, with Lian, Rael, and Ray walking alongside him, made his way toward the classroom. Today, they had another class with Professor Jurg, whose previous teachings on Aura had left them all intrigued, sparking questions and theories they were eager to explore further.

Upon entering the classroom, the familiar sight of Professor Jurg greeted them. He nodded at each of them with a welcoming smile, the same kind that always seemed to hint at secrets just waiting to be discovered. Once the class settled in, Jurg cleared his throat and began.

"Today's lesson will be particularly interesting," he began, his voice filled with a sense of anticipation. "Yesterday, we discussed the concept of Aura—a life force shared by all beings with a soul. Every living creature, be it a human, animal, or even certain plants, possesses an Aura." He paused to let this sink in, his gaze moving across the room. "Today, we'll shift our focus to animals and the unique ways in which Aura manifests within them."

Professor Jurg explained that, unlike humans, animals were born with a fixed amount of Aura; they didn't accumulate or train to grow stronger. While humans could increase their Aura through meditation, discipline, and rigorous practice, animals were simply born with an innate level of strength. This was a startling contrast, as Jurg noted, that set animals and humans apart. "For animals," he continued, "there is no concept of training or meditation. Their Aura is set from birth—an animal is either strong or weak, and it remains that way."

The students leaned forward, captivated by this new perspective. Each word seemed to open a new door of understanding, with Isaki listening intently, his focus unbroken. Ray, as usual, was scribbling down notes, making sure to capture every detail.

"But there's a fascinating exception to this," Jurg continued, his voice lowering as if sharing a hidden truth. "Certain animals possess something beyond just Aura. They carry a powerful spirit, an elevated part of the soul capable of bonding deeply with humans. These are known as spirit animals."

At this, the class collectively held its breath, sensing they were on the brink of understanding something truly profound. Professor Jurg went on to explain the delicate distinction between the soul and spirit. "The spirit is the noblest part of the soul," he said. "It holds a unique strength, a capacity to rise above the finite, reaching toward what is eternal. Animals that possess such a spirit can forge a soul-bound connection with a human, creating a link between their Auras that strengthens both."

As he explained, the room fell silent, every student hanging on his words. "Through this bond, the spirit animal grows as the human grows, feeding off the shared strength between their intertwined souls. But," he added gravely, "if the human were to perish, the spirit animal, too, would disappear. Their fates are bound, an eternal contract that joins their lives."

Isaki listened closely, captivated, while Ray was meticulously jotting down every detail. Professor Jurg's words painted a vivid image of a world where animals and humans could share not only a connection but also their very essence, transcending the usual limits of nature.

The professor continued, "Spirit animals aren't like typical animals with Aura. They're far more intelligent, capable of understanding the person to whom they are bonded. They can sense emotions, intentions, and even communicate in their own subtle ways. This bond is rare, and spirit animals often seek out the right person themselves, as if driven by a purpose that resonates with the person they are meant to find."

Rael nudged Lian, his eyes wide with excitement. "Can you imagine having a spirit animal?" he whispered, his tone filled with wonder. "A creature that powerful, bound to you?"

"It's incredible," Lian replied, his gaze fixed on Professor Jurg. "To have something like that by your side… it's almost like having a piece of magic that's alive, connected to you."

Jurg smiled slightly at their reaction, and then he continued. "Here in Moirai, spirit animals are so rare that you could count those who possess them on one hand. One of these rare individuals is none other than Headmistress Celya. She shares a bond with a formidable spirit animal—a majestic eagle as powerful as she is."

This revelation sparked an audible ripple of surprise among the students, and Rael's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I wonder what that eagle looks like," he whispered to Lian.

"Can you imagine how strong it must be?" Lian replied, his voice filled with awe. "If it matches her strength… it must be a sight to behold."

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Jurg allowed the students a moment to absorb the information, watching with a slight smile as murmurs of excitement spread through the room. The thought of meeting a spirit animal—or even one day bonding with one—was captivating. Isaki, Rael, and Lian exchanged eager glances, each silently imagining what it might be like to encounter such a creature.

After hours of enthralling discussion, Jurg concluded the lesson. The students filed out of the room, still caught up in the wonder of it all. For the rest of the day, they would carry with them a newfound fascination with the mysteries of spirit animals, each of them hoping, perhaps, that someday they might be chosen to share such a remarkable bond.

As they stepped out of the classroom, the group quickly regrouped with Sophia and Arya. Together, they strolled through the academy corridors, still buzzing about Professor Jurg's lesson. Their voices mingled in animated conversation, discussing the fascinating notion of spirit animals, while they headed toward the cafeteria for lunch. Meeting like this felt natural now, as though it had become a ritual to gather after class, dissecting what they had learned, laughing, and making plans for the days ahead.

Once they settled at a table in the cafeteria, plates filled and chatter resumed. They discussed the various courses each department offered, and Sophia mentioned with excitement, "Tomorrow is the day we have lessons with our individual departments!" Her eyes sparkled, and a wave of eagerness rippled across the table.

"Right! Lian, Rael, Arya, and I have Professor Delia from the Magic Department," Sophia continued, her voice light with enthusiasm. Rael and Lian leaned in, nodding in agreement.

"I've heard Delia is phenomenal," Rael said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Rumor has it she knows spells that can control elements! I can't wait to learn from her." Lian agreed, adding, "Yeah, maybe she'll even teach us some of her secrets. Imagine what we could do after that!"

Isaki, meanwhile, gave a knowing grin to Ray. "Ray and I are with Professor Jessica tomorrow," he said, referring to the Deputy Headmistress they had already met. "If Jessica's already earned the rank of Deputy Headmistress, she must be seriously strong, her lessons must be something special. I can't wait to see what she's capable of."

Lian and Rael immediately perked up at this, casting Isaki and Ray envious looks. "Oh, so you get to train with Jessica, huh?" Lian remarked, feigning a pout. "Lucky you! Spending time with such a beautiful, talented teacher."

"Exactly!" Rael chimed in, nudging Isaki with a teasing grin. "Not fair—you get to learn from someone as strong and as gorgeous as Jessica. The magic department can't compete with that!"

Sophia rolled her eyes at their antics, casting an unamused look their way. "Honestly, I don't get what all the fuss is about. She's not that pretty," she retorted, crossing her arms with a slight huff. Her expression dared Rael and Lian to argue, but they only snickered in response.

"Oh, come on, Sophia. You've got to admit she has a certain charm," Lian teased, winking as Sophia shot him an icy glare.

Rael chimed in, unable to resist stirring the pot. "Sophia, don't worry—you're the real beauty here." He grinned, adding, "But seriously, Jessica's something else." The banter continued, with Sophia casting sharp retorts, while Lian and Rael found every excuse to make playful jabs, trying to get a rise out of her. Arya and Ray sat quietly at the other end of the table, eating their meals in silence, observing the lively back-and-forth with amused glances.

Once they finished lunch, they exited the cafeteria, their laughter still echoing as they made their way toward the academy gates. Just as they were about to leave, Isaki noticed a figure standing near the exit, handing out small stacks of paper to students as they passed. It was a young woman, her long blonde hair spilling out from under a stylish beret perched on her head. Dressed comfortably in a button-down shirt, jacket, and trousers, she looked approachable and professional at once.

Noticing their curiosity, the girl turned her gaze toward them and smiled, introducing herself with a slight bow. "Hello! My name's Maya—I'm a second-year student here," she said, handing each of them a paper. "I'm here on behalf of the academy newspaper."

Isaki glanced down at the flyer she'd handed him. It was a recruitment notice for the academy's student newspaper. "Two of our members recently left the academy," Maya explained, a note of reluctance in her voice. "They decided to withdraw, so we're looking for replacements."

Maya looked at each of them, as though measuring their interest. "I know classes and training can be exhausting," she continued, "and asking students to commit to something outside of their usual schedule isn't easy. But the newspaper has been part of the academy's traditions for years, and we're really hoping to keep it going. Of course," she added with a light smile, "it's not without perks. Writers receive a small stipend—not much, but a little extra pocket money never hurts."

The group glanced at each other, exchanging looks. They were all interested but uncertain about the extra responsibility. Isaki, ever polite, smiled as he accepted the paper. "Thanks for letting us know. We'll definitely think about it," he said.

Maya's smile widened, though it was clear she could sense their hesitation. "I appreciate it," she said warmly. "Even if you're not able to join, I'm grateful you took the time to listen." With a slight bow, she excused herself, turning to speak to another group of passing students.

As they left the academy grounds, the group chatted about the possibility of joining the newspaper, though most of them were fairly certain they wouldn't have the time. They walked in comfortable silence, each one reflecting on the day's lessons, the conversation with Maya, and the promise of another day filled with discoveries and challenges.