The smell of eggs.

The smell of maple syrup and hot sauce.

The sound of clinking trays and cutlery.

The squeak of rubber soles against tiled floors.

All of it was amplified as I ducked and wove through the massive, buzzing maw of the dining hall.

I grinned, trying to keep my nerves from getting the better of me as I balanced a loaded tray of eggs, bacon, fruit and toast.

I wasn't normally a big breakfast person, but I figured if I was going to fix my problem with erm, physicality, I needed fuel.

The academy had a small gym and exercise center, but I didn't know what I was doing. I planned on taking advantage of it in the evenings or during the 'open mat' training blocks that the Magical Knight program seemed to have plenty of.

I pushed open the swinging doors that lead into the cafeteria with my back, peeking out of the corner of my eye as I scanned the room for Al.

He'd texted me telling me he'd come down here for breakfast, but he was nowhere to be seen.

I looked around the bustling, clamoring madness of the dining hall as I dug my free hand into my pocket, pulling out my Nexus.

Sienna: Where are you?

I waited for a few seconds, frowning as he didn't respond.

Shrugging, I decided to sit at an empty booth near the windows, where a cool breeze and a view of the campus gardens filled the air with a soft, ambient white noise.

Still, he didn't respond as I stabbed into a forkful of eggs, and I blinked, feeling a trickle of anxiety running down my spine.

Something was up.

I picked up my toast and shoveled a sausage and a fried egg on top of it, then drenched it with hot sauce and ketchup.

"Sienna? Oh hey!" a shrill voice called from behind me, and I cringed.

Slowly, I turned around to see Madison with a group of three other girls walking down the aisle.

The blonde bombshell was wearing a mint green chic dress with a pair of polished black heels and a thick gold necklace. Her honey-colored hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her lips were painted a soft pink.

She waved at me, practically floating towards me as I waved back politely. She seemed eager to talk, and there was nothing I wanted more than to enjoy my breakfast without being interrupted.

She folded her hands in front of her as she approached, flashing me a brilliant, glowing smile.

"It's good to see you, Sienna! Prepping for a marathon? We've actually got some light jogging scheduled for the term ahead, if you're interested. Just in the morning. We're actually going to like, go for one soon," She tilted her head to the side, giving me a playful, mischievous grin.

I blinked, taking a bite out of my toast and fried egg as I looked up at her. Why did she thi—

Oh.

I looked down at my sweat pants and my simple, bland black tank top. My hair was tied up in a lazy ponytail and my beat-up, old sneakers were just visible poking out from under the table.

I couldn't tell if she was sincere or just making fun of me. And frankly, I didn't care that much.

"Uhhh, maybe! I'm pretty sore from working out yesterday, though," I replied awkwardly.

One of the girls standing next to her snickered, and Madison's expression faltered a bit as she looked down at her manicured, slender fingers.

Then she rallied, her grin returning to her face as she looked over her shoulder at her friends. "Well, I think it's great that you're taking care of yourself like that. It's so important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You know me though. Gotta keep the goods in working order!"

I sighed, looking down at my eggs.

Now that she mentioned it, Madison did give the impression that she embodied that urban health and image-obsessed aesthetic.

She was confident and attractive, with a contagious, easygoing sort of energy that would be endearing if it wasn't so damn draining to be around.

Still, I hadn't talked to her much. She was just a bit of an acquaintance so far.

One that seemed a little too eager to start telling me what to do and how I should act.

It wasn't like her condescension was a secret. It was obvious. Especially with her friends around her now, who kept sizing me up with their eyes.

And frankly, I found it annoying.

Al was the one I wanted to just kick back and hang out with right now, and well... he wasn't responding.

"Excuse me," a melodic, slightly lyrical voice interrupted, and I looked up from my phone to see a strikingly pretty, well-proportioned girl approaching. She had piercing, inquisitive hazel eyes and a tangle of dark, thick hair that flowed down her back in waves.

She was tall and athletic, and her movements were deliberate and graceful. On top of that, she exuded a natural, unspoken confidence that even Madison and her squad didn't seem capable of matching.

She was wearing a pink, well-fitted blouse and a pair of flowing, layered white skirts that flowed with her body and a matching burgundy purse. She wasn't flashy, but I could see that everything was tailor-made to fit and compliment her figure.

She looked like a high-class socialite, or the daughter of a well-known politician or business magnate.

But I recognized her immediately as the girl the school had been gawking over a couple of days ago.

The Sovereign's daughter.

And of all the people she could have been with...

My eyes widened as Albert jogged closely after her, his face slightly flushed and slightly out of breath.

"Al? Hey there! Where have you been?" I grinned, playing it casual.

"Sorry. I uh. It's been a bit of a crazy morning," he offered apologetically as he wiped his forehead.

The dark-haired girl acknowledged Madison, bowing slightly as the girls around her swooned and cooed at her presence.

"So... you're the new local celebrity!" Madison grinned, tilting her head at her. "Nice to meet you. I'm Madison and I dorm up the hall from Sienna here."

The girl simply inclined her head politely, giving Madison a serene smile.

"My name is Stella. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Madison. I must say, your outfit is quite stunning," She nodded, gesturing at her dress.

Madison visibly blushed, pulling her hair back over her shoulder with her fingertips as she giggled.

As charismatic as she was, it was amusing to see her completely overwhelmed by Stella.

Albert took a seat across from me, leaning on his elbow as he flashed me a knowing grin.

"Hey Sienna," He greeted me quietly, shifting his weight as he turned to Stella and Madison.

I furrowed my brow in concern, noticing the telltale signs of a plan in motion.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Al was always surprisingly quick on his feet and resourceful in a pinch, but his 'plans' weren't always well thought out.

Even when they were, there were always variables that you couldn't control.

He had a good batting record, though. A damn good one.

Stella chuckled softly, but I caught a sharp look in her eyes as she quickly looked between me and Madison.

I didn't know what conclusion she came to, but I knew the contrast in visible status between Albert and me and Madison's group was jarring.

"Anyway, I must be off," Madison announced, taking a step back as she kept her eyes on Stella. "It was nice meeting you, Stella! Let's circle back around?"

"Of course," Stella agreed, dipping her head with a small smile.

Madison ducked her head and walked off, with her girls in tow as they scurried after her.

Albert looked over, staring at me intently, and I shrugged.

He didn't need to ask.

Stella waited for a moment, watching as the small crowd of girls moved out of earshot, before turning to us with a nod.

"Uh, hi?" I waved, suddenly feeling a bit nervous as I studied her. I moved to stand up, but she plopped down in the chair between Albert and me.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Is this okay? Please excuse me. I thought it might be nice to sit with you. I won't intrude for long, I promise," She whispered, inclining her head politely.

Albert grinned. "No problem, Stella! And don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just here for a quick bite to eat. It's good to see you again this morning."

I blinked.

Again?

"Of course. It's wonderful to see you both, as well. I don't want to interfere with your... day," She chuckled, folding her hands neatly in front of her.

It was like she was aware of the attention she'd attracted. Eyes all over the dining hall seemed to be on her and our table, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her.

She certainly seemed to be taking it in stride, though. She didn't seem to be bothered at all.

She looked like the kind of person who was used to attention and notoriety, and she seemed confident enough not to let it bother her.

Her eyes darted over me and my messy sweat pants and old sneakers again, and she smiled, flashing me a subtle nod.

It wasn't demeaning, but there was a brief flicker of amusement or maybe pity there that made me wince internally.

She wasn't looking down on me or anything, but it was apparent she knew we were worlds apart.

Still, it wasn't her fault. It was just the way it was.

I had my reasons for looking... less than glamorous.

Albert ribbed me gently as I took a bite out of my toast, and Stella cleared her throat politely.

"Thank you again, Albert. You've helped me out tremendously over the past week. I hope I can return the favor in some way," She beamed, tapping her chin with a delicate finger. "Oh, and you too, Sienna. It's nice meeting you. I'm still new to the area and haven't gotten a chance to explore it much yet."

I blinked again. She was already talking to us like we'd known each other for years, and she was practically apologizing for bothering us.

"You're welcome. Umm, how do you two know each other?" I asked, trying to come up with something to say.

Stella smiled politely as she inclined her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked me over again. "Well, we do live here now. And since we're all first years, it only makes sense to make friends, wouldn't you agree?"

She gave me an awkward pat on the shoulder, and I leaned back, raising my eyebrows in surprise as she put on the worst poker face I'd ever seen.

Albert snickered. "Well, let's just say I stumbled on Stella here while wandering around the school during orientation week. Turns out we have some hobbies in common. More than a few, really."

Stella burst out laughing, her eyes creasing at the corners as she looked back and forth between me and Albert.

She smiled politely, but a sliver of mischief seemed to snake its way into her eyes.

"He has quite the imagination. But I suppose it's hard to keep a secret around here," She sighed, shaking her head at the ceiling with a rueful smile.

My curiosity was officially piqued.

"What are you guys planning?" I looked back and forth between them as they gave each other a secretive look.

"Say. How about we head back to my room after breakfast?" Al offered, leaning back in his chair. "It wouldn't be as awkward with well, you with us Sienna. A boy and a girl just walking around campus is probably gonna garner a lot of attention."

"Please stop trying to scheme with me in public. You're only digging a bigger hole for both of us," Stella grumbled, her lips curling as she stared off into the distance.

Wait... what was going on?

"So, you two really just met?" I smirked, leaning my chin on my palm as I looked at them.

It was a curious situation. I'd never seen Albert get so chummy with anyone before.

He shrugged, taking a bite out of his scrambled eggs as Stella shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Well, I kinda dropped my bag. Albert helped me pick everything up. It was silly and embarrassing, really. Nothing worth getting worked up over. Right, Albert?" She sighed, tilting her head forward.

There was a sort of weariness in her eyes that she tried to cover up with a charming smile.

She was putting on an act, and it was surprisingly convincing.

"Right. There's no reason to let gossip spiral and get everyone worried or carried away. Just a natural thing that happened, that's all." Albert smirked.

Stella and Albert traded glances and I furrowed my brow in confusion.

What were they even saying?

I blinked, turning back to my plate of breakfast food, frowning in disbelief.

Not only had they not explained anything, but they didn't even get food yet.

"Have you guys finished? I can help you grab something, if you're still hungry," I offered awkwardly, waving at the rows of hot, steamy buffet trays lined up behind us.

"It's alright. I don't usually eat much in the morning. Thank you, though, Sienna. It's very kind of you," Stella smiled, leaning back in her chair.

She took in a deep breath, crossing her arms as her expression grew serious.

Albert shifted uncomfortably, mulling over something in his head as Stella seemed to take a moment to collect herself.

Then, her grin returned, and she lowered her eyes as she sat up straight.

"Alright. I'll go get some food. Is there anything you guys need?" Albert offered as he slowly rose from his seat, darting his eyes nervously between us.

We looked at him, and he shrugged, gesturing to the buffet with a frustrated expression.

"Toilet paper. Lunchmeat. Whatever," He huffed, walking away.

I giggled, still slightly confused as I shook my head at Stella.

She was too poised to let anything get under her skin, and for a moment, we were left alone at the table.

She blinked, looking around as she flexed her fingers.

"Hmph. I don't usually bother with breakfast, but I figured I'd try it out since I'm still getting used to being here. The food's actually not bad," She confessed, leaning forward on her elbows.

She seemed... earnest. I could feel for her, with all these eyes on her. She'd had a rough start, but I couldn't say I understood how she'd managed to win over my best friend in the world so quickly. Or was it the other way around?

This was such a weird way to start my morning and weekend.

"Here's hoping it stays that way," I smiled, watching as she seemed to shift from one foot to the other.

"So, how long have you two known each other?" Stella asked softly, tilting her head as she studied me.

"Oh! Uh, well, we go way back," I replied, feeling a bit lost. "We've been close friends since... well, as long as I can remember, really. I mean all the way back to playing in sandboxes. And he's the reason I'm even here."

"That long, huh? He's certainly been looking out for you," Stella smiled, a sparkle in her eye as she looked at me.

"Yeah. He's a total goof, but he's the closest thing to a brother I've got," I admitted, shrugging.

She nodded, taking a moment to pull a deep breath as she looked down at her nails.

"I envy that, actually," She confessed, her gaze drifting towards the windows.

She had a faraway look in her eye for a moment, and I watched as a gentle breeze tousled her hair.

Then, she cleared her throat, giving me an apologetic look as Albert returned with two heaping tray of eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit and toast.

He slid a tray over to Stella. Then, he took his seat next to her.

I noticed a tiny, glittering earring dangling from her earlobe as she thanked him.

It was a sparkling diamond in the shape of a teardrop, and it caught the light as she moved her head.

She sure did seem like she came from a well-off family, but The Sovereign did have a reputation. She was a strict, master martial arts master, and came from an old samurai family. The Sovereign even claimed to be a direct descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Even on her deathbed, she was seen as a powerful and formidable kingmaker who commanded respect and allegiance throughout the world. She'd passed away suddenly, leaving a gaping power vacuum and a potential political mess waiting to happen.

This Stella girl was undeniably beautiful and her mannerisms seemed to be carefully constructed to reflect the impression she wanted to project, but I didn't have enough context to make any final judgments.

Still, I could tell that she was hiding something. It was in the subtle nuances of her movements and her expressions.

And there was something in the way Albert looked at her, like he knew what she was going through or going to face.

She seemed guarded, maybe a little unsure of herself, but not unfriendly.

Just... cautious.

It was something I understood very, very well.

As they started to dig into their meals, I felt the conversation dying down, and Stella and Albert were exchanging furtive glances and nervous looks.

Even with all of her composure, it was clear that she was bothered by something.

Whatever it was, it had to do with more than her new surroundings and the attention that was on her.

And I'd have to do some digging.

After all, if she was going to get close to Albert, I needed to keep a close eye on her.

He had a knack for finding trouble, and the last thing I wanted was to get caught up in some crazy conspiracy or nasty rumors.

"So. What's the plan for today? What's with all the hush-hush?" I asked, stretching as I leaned back in my chair.

They traded glances, and Albert looked down at Stella, silently pleading with her.

She hesitated for a moment, then sighed, reaching into a purse by her side.

"Alright, Sienna. I'll let you know, but you can't tell anyone."

And then, she moved the purse beneath the table, and subtly pulled out a book.

A book I definitely recognized as a first print, signed edition of the first volume of 'Magical Girl: Raging Angels.'

It was very niche but award-winning, critically acclaimed, stylized graphic novel series about a group of girls on a secret quest to take down a secret cabal of evil nazi vampires and other supernatural creatures that were bent on destroying the world. It was a high-octane coming of age story that blended action, adventure, and romance, with characters that were over-the-top with one-liners to say the least.

It was a guilty pleasure. It was geeky. But Magical Knight watchers were obsessed with the series. It was a series Al and I both knew all too well.

"You're a..." I squeaked, feeling a shiver run down my spine as I stared at the book.

Stella gave Albert a pointed look and sighed.

No way.

My image of her had shattered instantly.

And then she pulled out a finely crafted figurine of the main character to show beneath the table. She was sporting a sleek black costume with a flowing, detachable flaming cloak behind her.

And then another. The masked love interest of the series, with a tangle of fluffy white hair and a fluttering white scarf.

And finally, a chibi figure of the series mascot, an adorable orange cat with oversized eyes, a green cape, and a white bow-tie.

"Oh my god," I whispered. "Y-you're a."

She sighed, blushing deeply as she slipped her 'collection' back into her purse.

"Yup."