I had about two hours left. My heart was pounding in my chest, as if reminding me that time was running out. "Here goes nothing..." I whispered to myself, trying to suppress my fear. I needed to know the truth. And if that meant dissolving into this world, playing by its rules—so be it.

The hot water from the shower burned my skin, but that was exactly what made me feel like it was real. I closed my eyes, letting the water wash away not just the fatigue but also the anxiety. For a moment, I felt... alive.

Stepping out of the shower, I fumbled through the drawer and found an old wooden comb. It was pleasantly cold to the touch. Strands of my dark red hair, like the flames of sunset, slid through the teeth of the comb. Long and heavy, they lay softly on my shoulders in gentle waves. I took a deep breath and opened the wardrobe. A few things that fit me—was it meant to be? Or just a coincidence? Probably not.

A dark red cloak, like drops of dried blood. Two identical dresses—black as the night abyss and white as fragile hope. A voluminous gown with a corset, as though from another century. Two simple blue sweaters, warm and cozy. And one pair of black pants. The choice was limited.

I chose the white dress—fragile, like hope itself—and adjusted it when I was startled by a sudden knock on the door. Freezing for a moment, I slowly opened it.

There stood a woman whose name I didn’t yet know. Her gaze was cold, but not hostile.

— Augustina, — she introduced herself briefly.

I nodded and, swallowing, followed her down the winding staircase into the main hall. As we descended, I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh. Everything around seemed magical: the candlelight casting soft shadows, tall windows letting in moonlight, giving everything a mystical atmosphere, yet through this glow, an almost imperceptible gloom slipped through.

And then I saw him. Luis was standing in a circle with his friends, his smile slightly mischievous, his voice soft but captivating. It felt like he was looking at me. My heart stopped. I slowly raised my hand to wave... But in that instant, he sharply turned away, as if not noticing me. What was that? Strange, but whatever.

In the main hall of the academy, an air of tense silence reigned, only slightly disrupted by the echo of footsteps as people gathered in a circle. Many eyes were focused on Claudia, who stood on a raised platform in the center of the hall. Her figure towered over the gathering, like a symbol of power and wisdom, as if she had always been a part of this grand place. In her eyes glowed a cold but confident fire, one that was well-known to anyone who had ever seen her.

When the silence became almost palpable, she raised her hand, and all eyes immediately turned to her. She began her speech, her voice deep and authoritative, yet with a subtle hint of kindness that added weight to her words.

— The new academic year has arrived, and with it, new opportunities for each of you, — she began. — Today, you newcomers take your first steps on a path that will change your lives. You are not just students of this academy. You are the future of magic and power in this world.

Claudia paused, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the room, before continuing:

— This year, you will undergo three tasks every day. The first is learning magic, where you will master controlling your power and using it in the most difficult situations. The second is herbs, for every mage must understand nature and its secret forces. And finally, the third task is discovering your own destiny. Your power will always depend on how well you understand who you truly are.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Her eyes stopped on the 13 newcomers, including me. We stood together, a little tense, but each of us felt how our excitement shifted to determination.

— These tasks will not be easy. They will require not just knowledge but willpower, and only those who can endure will find their true place in this world, — Claudia concluded, her gaze turning cold as ice.

That moment, when she uttered those words, felt significant. I understood that this was the beginning of my journey, and that path promised to be long and full of challenges.

When Claudia finished her speech, everyone in the hall began to disperse in search of comfortable places to rest. Music played, and the atmosphere quickly filled with merriment. Laughter and conversations merged into a harmonious cacophony, and I finally felt the tension of the day begin to ease.

I stepped into a corner, enjoying the silence, when Darryl appeared next to me. His self-assured smile immediately gave away his intentions. He asked me to dance, but just as I was about to reply, I felt a coldness in the air. Luis. He approached so that his presence felt like a shadow falling over both of us.

His gaze met mine, then, with silent contempt, it turned to Darryl. Everything in his manner was categorical; he said nothing, but his body pushed Darryl out of our circle. Darryl noticed the shift immediately, his face paling, and his breath becoming noticeably sharp.

— Did you... think you were not in the way? — he said, gritting his teeth, trying to regain control of the situation.

Luis looked at him, coldly smirking:

— In the way? I'm just watching, — his voice was ice-cold, as if he were enjoying the moment. — Dancing's not for me, — he added, ignoring Darryl, as if he were just an empty space.

Darryl visibly grimaced, irritation clear in his face. He tensed, clenched his fist, and I felt the air charge with electricity. Luis, savoring the moment, taunted him:

— Are you upset, Darryl? Or is something wrong? — his words were sharp, like a knife, and held such a challenge that Darryl could hardly restrain himself.

I tried to intervene, but Luis interrupted me, his words cold and confident:

— No need to justify yourself, — he said, watching with interest as Darryl lost his composure.

Darryl, boiling with rage, turned abruptly and left, leaving us alone. I decided I had to somehow diffuse the tension. I walked up to Luis, but his gaze immediately made it clear that he wasn't particularly interested in conversation. Still, I decided to speak.

— Could you explain why you acted that way? — I asked, trying to hide my irritation. — If you wanted to invite me, why treat Darryl like that? It didn’t make sense.

Luis remained silent, but his cold gaze said it all. He didn’t want to explain, didn’t intend to justify himself. I felt his indifference press down on me. Suddenly, I remembered I wanted to thank him.

— I should thank you, Luis. You saved me in the forest when I almost drowned in the lake. You... just didn't let me die.

He looked at me with an expression as if my words meant nothing. His response was as cold as his gaze.

— Saved you? — he smirked. — Don’t dramatize. You’re part of the destiny of this world, you would’ve gotten out on your own, but they asked me to help you.

I felt his words wound me. I tried not to show how much it hurt, but I couldn't hide the bitterness in my voice.

— So, you don’t care at all that I almost drowned? You were just following someone’s order?

Luis shook his head with barely concealed contempt and quietly said:

— I’m not interested in you, Elizabeth. Don’t kid yourself. I did it not for you, but because I needed to.

I froze. His words were cruel, and I felt all hope for any shred of compassion in him disappear. He turned away, as though not noticing how much it hurt.

— So, don’t bother apologizing, and don’t think you owe me anything, — he added, not looking at me.

I stood there, feeling his indifference burn.