My name is Shio. And currently I am staring at a strange man. Everyone says he is the hero of the stars. I did not believe it at first. I thought only elves could be a hero of the stars. I stared quietly, forming my name out of Ice to introduce myself. I was home yesterday, I felt a wave of influence wash over the city and feared an attack, so I rushed to the college. The top floor was blocked by Marble under fear of submitting the rest of the tower to the bulk of the pressure that this single man exudes.

It stopped. I walked up to the top floor. And I saw Headmaster’s niece, the one born out of wedlock, carrying a Cat-kin that I have never seen before. He was handsome in a way. Wore strange leather chest piece over the purple robe but the image fit him. Reminded me of part of the night sky that comes during winter.

I walked in, saw the two in line for the throne shaking in fear. Mable turned and grabbed my hand, “Shio. Do not trust that Cat-kin. He is evil. He stared at me like I was less than an ant!” She is panicked. Something to do with the Cat-kin? Who is the Cat-kin? He must be a talented magician, he is not nobility or a hero’s descendant. Where is the rest of the class? It is strange for them not to be in the study.

I walk into the study to look for the headmaster. I find him sitting in his chair behind his desk with a far away look. I tap on the desk to get his attention.

He looks to me and smiles, that little fake smile that he puts on for everyone, “Hello there Shio. Did you see your new classmate?” I ease my influence out of my body, just enough for me to hold out my hand and make a ice statue of the Cat-kin being held by Syliva, “Yes that one. His name is Ivan Mercer. Hero of Fata Stele. I think he is the most talented magic user that I have ever met. You felt that influence didn't you? It was his.” My eyes go wide.

“Yes, the Light family found him on the side of the road. Playing with his tail. He is a quiet, even tempered Cat-kin. He made these balls of fire that puts Catherine’s flames to shame. I had to help Marble contain the heat so he would not set the library on fire. Than… He did something. He ripped the ball to pieces an made the night sky with it. I want you to get along with him.” I nod than bow to the headmaster as is proper.

The winter prides itself on proper and beauty...It is why I am here and not practicing my magic with them. I am not proper because I can not speak. My family made sure I knew it well…

I go to my room on the top floor, where only the Headmaster’s students are allowed a room to rest. The room’s here are more beautiful than my home back...Not home. The place I live.

Once I arrived in my room I pulled books from the bookcase in it and read while practicing the fine control of ice. Both rigid and flexible. Can be crafted in any shape to fit almost any need. A wall thick, to defend. A blade sharper than steel to attack. Something for my imagination to run wild with. Form statues with so much detail that one would not be surprised if they started moving and speaking.

I make on the size of the Cat-kin than think of what he looked like. Tall, broad shoulders but a slim body. The odd chest plate of stars. The purple robes waving in the air as Sylvia walked by. Hair on the edge of becoming long, but it looks like it is missing something. The ears! I form them on top of his head, two triangles standing alert. He is… handsome.

Made of ice I let a fantasy live itself out. He walks up and takes my hand in his. The ice is cold, but I have felt colder… He starts to dance with my hand in his. His arm around my waist as we dance. The light dances off the ice, making him sparkle. Like countless, tiny stars. I let out a small sob.

I don't deserve such happy thoughts. A useless girl of Winter who could not grasp ice deep enough. So it took my voice. It scared my throat and body. Only leaving my face untouched. I punch the ice.

I punch it again and again while crying as the ice stops moving, simply taking the hits and cracking. Slowly melting like my hopes for life. For happiness. I withdraw my influence and lay down in the soft and wonderful bed. The warm and welcoming bed. I dig my fingers into the bed and let out a sob. Why did I have to be born into the house of winter? Cursed with practicing this damnable and cold magic..

I fell asleep crying again.

I woke up to a wave of terrifying pressure, cries of pain, and the feeling of dread you only have when fearing for your life.

Ivan… Poor Ivan. Your mana withdraw must be so terrofying and painful.

I close my eyes and try to tune it out.

The pressure dies quickly with the feeling of fear. Utter fear. I fall asleep crying for Cat-kin that I have never meet. What they told me was lesser than any other enlightened race. Part beast. Rare magic caster, they have to have the instincts for it. Like magical beast...I hope I see him tomorrow. He might be someone to take my mind off everything…

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The Elf is too proper, the royals are upstuck and spiteful, the scion of Flame… I envy…

I fall asleep clutching a pillow, enjoying the warmth I am denied almost every moment in life.

~~~

I open my eyes to the rising of the sun and sigh. I let go of the drool coated pillow and get up, changing into a different robe. I tap on the ground three times in quick succession, “Breakfast, Miss Shio Winter?” I tap the floor twice to say yes.

A few minutes later the door opens and Sylvia walks in with a smile on her face, the ever present smile, “Morning Shio! I am glad you are actually eating this morning.” She steps in the remains of the ice, “I’ll get a towel.” Her smile stays on her face. Daughter of a womanizer and a high class maid. Exiled in hatred for her blood, only taken in by her grandfather to help mages practice their usage of mana. And form what I have seen, teach her as well...Anyone with nobel blood should make great mages or knights, same for anyone with Hero blood.

“So, I had the pleasure of meeting our new little mage.” I turn my head to look at her. Apparently quick enough to cause her to giggle, “He is an odd one. Grandpa keeps calling what he does balls of fire, but I think those are what stars are. Maybe just in his world but imagine if they are just these odd balls of fire.” I nod, they sound wonderful.

They sounds warm…

I stand up out of my chair, putting the empty plate on desk for Syliva to carry down to the kitchen.

I check myself in the mirror, waving to Syliva as she picks up the plate and starts for the short walk down the staircase to the nearest kitchen a few floors down.

I walk to the classroom, or study as headmaster calls it.

I sit down and flare my influence just inches from my body and practice forming ice, watching it form, and improving.

“Everyone, since Ivan was so occupied with his mage craft and could no meet you all. I would like you to introduce yourself to him.”

I withdraw my influence with practiced ease. I stand up and turn around to look at this hero.

First thing that draws my attention is that he is tall. Taller than most nobels. His shoulders are wide, wide enough that it looks like I could sit on them comfortably. My eyes draw to his face and...Awake he is tense. But handsome...Not in the way of nobels with sharp features but a softness to his face. Something that looks kind. I look into his eyes and feel a shiver run down my back.

The color is brown, a beautiful, rich, earthy brown. Something of healthy soil, but they look empty. Like a hole so deep that you are terrified of being near knowing you can, and will, fall to your death. But you are drawn to it out of instinct that begs you to jump. Those are not the eyes of a hero, no they are the heros of a demon...A demon filled with temptation that you can not help but agreeing to sell your soul. I feel my heart thump in my chest.

His arms are by his sides letting the purple robes flow with each and every movement he makes. After the Royal sicons, than the elf, I draw my name with ice. I fill a bloom of heat as he meets my eyes and nods. A feeling of shame for my inability to properly greet him. He must think less of me.

I look down to his broad chest and study the stars on the leather chest piece that he has on. I recognize some of the constailons on it. They are ones that some runes work best under. That chest piece must fit a her- demon of the stars. For once I am glad I can not talk. It is too much to think of something to say while looking into those eyes. Eyes that I feel that I am falling into.

Headmaster says we are done for the day so I walk over to the library of runes, discories, history, and the world. I pull out a book on the far north, a land covered with snow, ice, hostile but with things living there. Cold, hellish place.

I look up, watching as Ivan sits down while the headmaster sets him on a task. One that an elementary mage could do, forcing his influence for a ease of casting.

I feel his massive aura flow form him, radiating like the sun so far that I can not easily sense the edge of the boundary that he can influence. He closes his eyes and starts to take deep breaths. I feel the weight of his influence grow heavier with each breath, rapidly shrinking. Soon it grows to the edge of the school. The weight forces me to flare and strengthen my influence.

Soon it shrinks to the size of the room and I am flattened against my chair by the weight of his presence. I let out a weak, pitiful noise of pain as I watch the others pass out as it washes over them, then relieves them of the weight. Gods...Even headmaster can not fight against it. Aura so thick that inside of it, he simply is a vague human shape. A medical team runs in, treating the others.

They check me quickly but my eyes are glued to the lights blooming in the darkness, swirling and lighting as he is bathed in violet light. A color that I have never seen before but it is beautiful and haunting. Something malicious in those flames, the color is not right. The stars on his chest piece are glowing, and faint ones coming from under the robes that he is wearing. I watch, the others do as well.

The heat even out of his influence is severe...but warm. Much warmed than my on magic, kinder. We are just too close. We should not dare close on a being like him… What is the point of my magic when a god can gift someone like him with such might? The fog grows thinner as the stars form around him. Lighting him in violet. He does not look like a hero bathed in that light. A beast of nightmares that looks at you like you are a bug, and to him, he is right. I am someone he can almost kill with the might of his mana alone.

Gods...Why...Why put him on this world? Such a being I can not think of as mortal… Why remind me of my unlessness, my powerlessness, my weakness… But with with such a beautiful, kind looking, empty looking eyes beastkin?

He steps out of his circle. Hesitating to. Once he does...Space itself rips asunder. Black, evil voids form an swallow all the mana in the room greedly, filling him once more.

Gods what was that...

But he sits down tired looking. He looks to me, asking for ice. I nod and make a bite sized piece with some sleep poison mixed in form a vial I have hidden on my body. Vials of poison used to treat ice to make their effects harsher. I watch him bite it, eating it to refill his fluids, or to refresh him. He quickly falls asleep on his chair.

The headmaster calls Syliva, looking shaken. Deeply shaken. She carries him once more and I follow her.

“Shio, are you going to help put him to bed?” I nod.

“Thank you! He's so big and heavy and they are making a tiny girl carry him.” She giggles. I know she is not struggling. She opens the door next to my room and walks in, placing him on the bed. I help adjust him to a comfortable position. I stroke the hair out from his eyes, “Falling for our little hero?” I hear her speaking in that dreaded teasing voice. I feel a plume of heat through my body. A crush? I’ve had them before… My emotions are so confused. Attraction, fear, admirement. Many of them without names bit mixing into something that sets my heart hammering in my chest.

I run out of the room, going to my mine and throwing myself on the bed, shaking form the emotions, the teasing, the sense of uselessness and the knowledge I will never have him. Someone to be tied to the royal family through an arranged marriage. It's just not fair. Why him? Why do I feel so much to him?

Is it that he is everything I want to be? An escape from my life… Maybe… Maybe if I prove myself I can travel with him… Maybe… I'm so confused…

Fata Stele… Please let me have him. Just let me be near and I will be happy...A star with such warmth...