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Standing before a table displaying badges, Miss Evans’ voice bellowed through the grand hall as she began, “This year’s special grade rankings for the new batch of students.” The hall was packed with guests, young mages eagerly awaiting their rank announcement, and the royal princesses and princes.
Clearing her throat, Miss Evans added, “Remember, even if you haven’t unlocked your magic yet, you can still achieve special grade.”
Unrolling a scroll, she called out, “Pyrrhus!”
Across the room, a proud 16-year-old boy with red hair rose from his seat. His friends around the table cheered for him.
Rosabella nugged Ernesto on the side, “it’s your water mage” she whispered.
Ernesto took a sip from his wine class, “I can see Rosa..”
“Hm” Eleanor put her head down, “I am still upset, mum didn’t let me keep Vinter in my closest” her lips turned.
“What?” Levina shifted in her sit, “did I miss something?”
Vinter placed a hand on her shoulder, “you don’t need to know”
Prince Jabari of Zalare, kingdom of dragons, spoke up, his golden hair fading to black at the roots of his cornrow braids. “Why were you keeping him in your closet?”
Beside Jabari, Princess Diana of Alysia, land of healing mages, tossed her blood-red hair. “You should have hidden him better” she chided in her dark eyes.
“Well...I don’t wanna get in between both of you” Jabari said.
“No one does” Edward agreed.
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Miss Evans placed the badge on Pyrrhus. Icurus lowered his head, realizing of course that the boy who had so rudely pushed past him was in the special grade.
“Ugh,” Xavier rested his head in his hands, “of course he’s in that grade.”
“I heard he’s half mermaid,” Alcester said.
Xavier raised an eyebrow, “So have you also heard he’s a cocky dickhead?”
Icurus sighed loudly, “I’m sure he just bumped into me by accident.”
“Or...” Ariana began, “because you’re half-siren.”
“Oh please,” Icurus rolled his eyes, “What’s so wrong with being half siren anyway?”
“Well, sirens are known for hurting humans...” Alcester reminded him.
Pyrrhus had returned to his seat. Miss Evans quieted the crowd and announced, “Next we have... Princess Levina of Etheria!” The hall erupted in applause once more as Levina proudly approached Miss Evans to receive her badge.
“Of course, the cat electrocuter is in Special Grade,” Ariana huffed.
“Next,” Miss Evans continued, “Prince Edward of Venora!”
Icurus’ heart leaped with joy and excitement at the prospect of seeing Edward again after all these years. From his distant vantage point, catching a good glimpse of Edward would be difficult as he walked past the tables to Miss Evans.
Xavier mockingly said, “Oh look, it’s your crush who you have zero chance with!” His tone was playfully loving.
“Shut up,” Icurus replied.
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Miss Evans placed the badge on me, on my way back to my sit. I saw him again, I know I did. Could it really be him? After all these years would he remember me?
Could he really be my Icurus? The one I met at the beach all those years ago...he has the same turquoise hair, the same beautiful silver eyes, the same sun kissed skin. He still had his charismatic smile, you could see his cute dimples.
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I saw him push his friend. Not in a harmful manner but a playful one. And beside him...was...Ariana? and Alcester?
Did those two get lost and not find me? Perhaps...or....My eyes flickered to Rosabella who was teasing my older brother, did she pick him? He is wearing the Eldorian uniform.
I took my seat and Miss Evans said another name, “Icurus”.
My heart swelled, it really is him?! If so, he is Special Grade, he will be able to stay at the castle, I will be able to see him every day!
I watched him, he looked a little confused before Ariana wacked him in the head with a fork and shouting at him. He got up rubbing his head. I couldn’t help but let out a little giggle.
“What’s so funny?” My brother asked.
I shock my head, “nothing...”
I still followed his movements, as he walked, he took out something from underneath his shirt. A necklace. My necklace, he had it for all these years...
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Icurus sat back down, “that...was unexpected”
“Ha-” Xavier was cut short as Miss Evans announced another name, “Xavier!”
Xavier lost his smile and looked at Ariana, “this is a mistake right..?”
Ariana shrugged her shoulders, “just go get the badge”
“Ok...” Xavier got up a little unsure.
“Congratulations...” Alcester said with a weak smile.
A green light suddenly flickered in Icurus’s vision. He looked around frantically to identify the source, but found nothing. His gaze drifted to the entrance, where Edward smiled at him. Icurus’s cheeks flushed.
Without thinking, Icurus exclaimed, “I’ll be back!” to the others as he hurried toward the entrance. Edward ducked behind the doorframe as Icurus approached the gate, peering down the dark corridors. Two haunting yet beautiful pairs of emerald eyes stared back at him. Icurus froze. Edward winked before stepping through a portal that opened behind him, leaving Icurus dumbfounded.
The same green flicker caught Icurus’s eye. He followed it past corridors and hallways into an unfamiliar garden. Magic hung in the air - Icurus could feel it. Strange, mesmerizing flowers dotted the garden, mystical in the moonlight.
A light tap on his shoulder made Icurus turn. Edward stood before him, as stunning as he remembered, if not more stunning from all those years ago. His lithe, pale body seemed to sparkle under the moon. Wavy purple and blue hair framed his flawless, almost dragon-scale like skin. Perfect pink lips parted in a smile, and his gorgeous emerald eyes.
“It’s been a long time since we last met,” Edward said.
Icurus mumbled under his breath, “Well no shit, it’s been six years...” He paused, then asked more gently, “How- how have you been?”
“I’ve been alright,” Edward replied, hands clasped behind his back. “And you? How did Princess Rosabella come to find you?”
Icurus fumbled for words. “Oh- I, uhmm... it’s complicated...”
Edward sat down on a nearby beach, gesturing for Icurus to join him. “Would you like to talk about it?” he asked kindly.
Icurus sat, sighing as he thought back on the whirlwind of yesterday. So much had happened so quickly. Just yesterday he’d been living his normal life, awaiting his father’s arrival, only for him not to show. And now here he was, sitting with Edward.
“A lot happened....the Silver Tide returned yesterday,” Icurus finally said.
“Oh!” Edward sounded surprised. “Princess Rosabella didn’t mention that...”
“Uh...” Icurus hesitated, unsure whether to tell him. “The ship arrived...empty.”
Edward’s brow furrowed. “What? I don’t understand.”
Icurus took a deep breath. “The ship docked in Eldoria, but there was no one aboard. She looked abandoned.”
“Not even Captain Berend was found?” Edward asked, stunned.
Icurus nodded, heart aching at the thought of his father. “My father was a crew member,” he choked out, tears threatening.
Edward moved closer, grasping Icurus’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” he murmured, lips pursed sympathetically.
Icurus didn’t want to cry in front of him, but his presence was comforting, nostalgic even, like they were children again watching the waves.
Close enough that Icurus could feel his breath, Edward whispered, “If you need anything, I’ll always be here for you.” He placed the softest kiss on Icurus’s cheek.
Icurus’s heart raced at the delicate gesture, and he shrank back, embarrassed. Edward blushed slightly, biting his lower lip.
Icurus turned to look at him, their lips inches apart. “Thanks,” he whispered back.
For a moment, Icurus was at ease - until he noticed a rose behind Edward, its stem writhing as if alive. The scarlet flower seemed to glimmer under the moonlight. “That wasn’t there before...” Icurus said slowly.
Edward turned to look. As he did, the rose hissed, pedals spreading to reveal a grotesque mouth of jagged teeth. It struck at Edward.
Icurus pulled Edward into his arms, using his free hand to grab the rose. As it struggled in his grasp, he demanded, “What is that thing?!” The rose shriveled and crumbled to dust in response. “Huh...?”
Still holding Edward close, Icurus sighed letting him go, only for Edward to embrace him tighter.
They sat together beneath the moonlight, just the two of them.
“I don’t know what gay mating ritual you two are doing but it’s time for the feast” Ariana’s voice made them jump up in surprise. They both parted, “Oh hey Ariana...” Edward said clearly embarrassed.
“Hmm...yes hello” she had her hands on her hips, “your lucky I found you and him before your older brother did”
Edward pouted, “yes...I know”
“Come on let’s go” she ordered.
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The feast had begun and the servants had served the food and drinks. The hall was filled with the clatter of forks and knives against plates, and the murmur of guests chatting amongst themselves.
Rosabella gently dabbed her face with a napkin, then set it down and nudged Ernesto again. “I need to talk to you...” she whispered.
“Now? I’m hungry...” he protested.
She stepped on his foot. “You’re an immortal fairy, you’ll live,” she said.
Eleanor placed a hand on her brother’s head. “Let this man eat first,” she suggested.
Rosabella sighed. “Okay, but later we need to talk,” she conceded.
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Ariana dragged Icurus towards the table, “you can kiss your boyfriend later, for now eat! You have a big day tomorrow”
“He isn’t my boyfriend!” Icurus said
Ariana looked at him unamused, “Listen half fish, I may be many things but I ain’t blind” she pushed him on his sit, “now sit and eat, you have a long day tomorrow!”
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