"Talent weaves an intricate tapestry of connection, binding souls who share its threads in an everlasting embrace." - Arcane Artist Veronica Kytax

Kyson's heart raced as the blonde girl turned to face him, her deep blue eyes locking onto his. He stood frozen, unsure of how to salvage the awkwardness of his greeting. His mind scrambled for a response, and his throat felt dry as if the words he needed were lodged somewhere he couldn’t reach.

"Uh, yeah... I was just, um... wondering if you could help me?" Kyson blurted out, immediately regretting the uncertainty in his voice. Help with what? His brain screamed, but it was too late to take it back.

The girl arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow, her expression softening into mild curiosity. "Help you? With what exactly?" she asked, her tone more amused than annoyed, much to Kyson's relief.

"Right... uh, I’m Kyson, and I’m new here, so I was wondering if you knew where the library is?" He quickly made up the excuse, hoping it sounded plausible. A library was a reasonable place to go, right?

The girl smiled, and Kyson swore it felt like the sun had just peeked through a cloud. "Oh, the library? Yeah, I know where it is. It’s actually not far from here. I can point you in the right direction if you'd like," she offered kindly.

Kyson breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could respond, the girl’s friend stepped forward, her black cat perched comfortably on her shoulder. She adjusted her wide-brimmed witch’s hat, her hazel eyes studying him carefully. The familiar stared at him with those unnervingly large yellow eyes.

"Are you a first-year too?" the witch-like girl asked, her tone more direct and serious than her friend’s.

"Yeah, just arrived today," Kyson answered, forcing himself to look away from the cat’s unsettling gaze. "I was trying to explore the campus before orientation."

"Well, you’ve come to the right place," the blonde girl said, stepping closer to him. "I’m Lyra, by the way," she introduced herself, extending a hand with an easy confidence that momentarily threw Kyson off guard.

"Nice to meet you, Lyra," he replied, shaking her hand. "And you too," he added, glancing at the girl with the familiar. She seemed less enthusiastic about introductions.

"I’m Elara," the witch-like girl said, though her eyes never left Kyson’s face, as if she were trying to figure him out. The black cat meowed softly, still eyeing Kyson as if he were more interesting than any other student they'd met.

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"Novus University is pretty big, but you’ll get used to it. And don’t worry about finding the library—it's not far from the main colosseum, where orientation will be held. We’re headed that way now, so you can join us if you want," Lyra suggested, her tone warm and inviting.

Kyson blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected this—an invitation to walk with them, the girl he was almost too afraid to talk to. His initial nerves gave way to a sense of excitement. Maybe this was the fresh start he was hoping for. "Sure, I’d love to join you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

As they began walking down the cobblestone path that led deeper into the heart of the university, Lyra asked, "So, what kind of magic do you specialize in, Kyson?"

Kyson hesitated. How could he explain his healing fire in a way that didn’t sound… well, weird? "I’m a healer type," he said simply, keeping it vague for now.

Lyra seemed impressed. "That’s a valuable skill. Healers are always in high demand, especially in dangerous fields like combat and magical protection. You could end up working with top-tier wizards if you play your cards right."

Elara remained silent, but the black cat shifted on her shoulder, its tail flicking back and forth as if it understood more than Kyson would have liked. He caught the creature's gaze once more and, for a split second, he could have sworn it narrowed its eyes as though it had heard something important. Shaking off the odd feeling, he focused back on the conversation.

"So, what about you?" Kyson asked, curious about the girls’ abilities.

"I’m an elemental water-type," Lyra said, her fingers lightly flicking toward the ground as if summoning the element with ease. "I grew up near the ocean, so it’s kind of in my blood. Water’s versatile, and I like being able to control the flow of things."

"That’s amazing," Kyson replied, genuinely impressed.

"And Elara?" he asked, turning toward her. She glanced at him from under her hat, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

"I specialize in familiars," Elara said, stroking the black cat's back. "Summoning, binding, and enhancing magical creatures. This little guy is Nebula," she gestured to the cat, who meowed softly. "And yes, before you ask, he’s not just a pet. He’s a magical conduit. More powerful than he looks."

Nebula locked eyes with Kyson again, and this time the sensation was unmistakable—there was intelligence behind that gaze, something deeper than a mere familiar. It was as if the cat was silently observing him, as if sizing him up.

Before Kyson could think too much about it, they reached the massive colosseum. The towering structure gleamed under the morning sun, and students were already filing in for orientation.

"Looks like we made it just in time," Lyra said, stopping to look up at the colossal building. She turned to Kyson, her smile warm and welcoming. "It was nice meeting you, Kyson. Maybe we’ll run into each other again soon."

"Yeah, thanks for the company," Kyson replied, trying to keep his cool. He felt more relaxed now, glad he had taken the chance to introduce himself. As Lyra and Elara walked toward the entrance, Kyson found himself standing there, watching them go.

Before stepping through the colosseum's entrance, Elara glanced back at him, her hazel eyes glinting. "Be careful, little healer. Not everything at Novus is as it seems," she said cryptically.

And with that, they disappeared into the crowd, leaving Kyson with a sense of both intrigue and unease. Novus University was full of mysteries, and somehow, he had the feeling this was only the beginning.