19 - Leaving Celestia

The week following Anna’s successful admission into Celestial Academy passed in a blur of preparations.

For Anna, it was a mixture of excitement and nerves, for Luna, it was mostly annoyance—peppered with reluctant amusement.

The admission letter had arrived with all the pomp one might expect from the most prestigious academy in the world.

Neatly written, sealed with the academy’s crest, and delivered by an official courier—it had Anna nearly trembling as she opened it.

Inside was not only confirmation of her acceptance but also the announcement that she had been named the representative for the Flame Department of Class A.

Anna had squealed in delight when she read that part, hugging Luna so tightly the smaller girl wheezed.

“I did it! Luna, I really did it!”

“You’re crushing me,” Luna muttered, but her lips tugged upward all the same.

Anna’s joy was only momentarily dimmed by the realization that she had fallen just short of the prestigious Class S.

She had pouted for perhaps an hour, then vowed with burning eyes that she would climb her way into Class S next year. Luna privately admired that determination, even as she teased her mercilessly for being sulky.

Still, the result meant that Anna had to move into the academy dorms. The institution was strict about it, all students were required to live in their assigned housing.

Even the wealthiest nobles couldn’t buy their way out of it. The academy claimed it was to foster independence and unity, but Luna suspected it was really about control.

And so, with her letter in hand, Anna began preparing for the move.

The preparations themselves didn’t require much. Celestial Academy provided all school-related equipment—uniforms, basic magical tools, even furniture in the dorms. All Anna needed were her personal belongings.

That meant Luna’s role was less about packing boxes and more about offering advice.

“Bring a second set of quills,” Luna said as she perched on Anna’s bed, kicking her legs idly. “They’ll tell you one is enough, but trust me, it’s not. And don’t forget a water flask. You’ll thank me when you’re stuck in some endless lecture.”

Anna looked at her suspiciously. “Why do you sound like you know what you’re talking about? I thought you said you’d never attend an academy.”

“I never said that.” Luna smirked, wagging a finger. “I said I won’t attend one here.”

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “So you did attend one before?”

“Mm, maybe.” Luna’s tone turned vague, evasive, and deliberately teasing. “Who knows?”

“Luna!” Anna groaned, exasperated, but her friend only grinned and shoved a piece of candy into her mouth to avoid answering further.

The dorm system was explained in the letter as well, and Luna had grumbled for hours after reading it.

Class S students each received their own private rooms, lavishly furnished. Representatives of the elements within Class S had even better accommodations—spacious chambers that bordered on miniature apartments.

Class A students, like Anna, were paired with roommates.

Class B, C, and D students fared even worse, four to a room.

“It’s the same everywhere,” Luna muttered darkly as Anna packed. “The smarter you are, the more privileges you get. Doesn’t matter the world—you’re still rewarded with better rooms.”

Anna had only laughed, too thrilled by her placement to mind the complaint.

When the day of moving arrived, Luna helped carry Anna’s trunks to the dorms.

It wasn’t far from the academy itself, a cluster of stately buildings encircled by tall gates and guarded by mages and knights. Despite being outside the academy grounds, the dormitories were unmistakably under its control.

Anna’s attendants trailed behind them, their presence steady and reassuring. Yet everyone knew it was temporary. Tradition dictated that once students had settled in, attendants were to leave.

The academy prided itself on safety within its walls. No child of noble birth, they claimed, had ever come to harm in the dorms.

Anna had tried to look cheerful when that moment came, but Luna caught the flicker of sadness in her eyes.

Eveline, her tutor and guardian, smiled warmly and patted Anna’s shoulder.

“You’ll be fine, young miss,” Eveline assured her. “You’ve grown stronger already.”

Anna nodded, her fiery determination rekindling. “Yes. I can handle it.”

Luna, watching, noted how Eveline’s smile dimmed slightly when she thought no one was looking.

After the attendants departed, Eveline lingered behind for a moment, her expression thoughtful. She had her own burden—an obligation to report everything she had witnessed to Count Crimson, her lord.

Particularly regarding Luna. Eveline’s suspicions gnawed at her, and though she denied them, duty demanded she relay what she knew.

Luna, oblivious, was occupied with teasing Anna about her new role.

“So, top scorer for the flame mages in Class A,” she drawled, leaning against the doorframe of Anna’s new room. “Should I start bowing when I see you?”

Anna puffed out her cheeks. “Don’t tease me. It’s important.”

“Oh, I know.” Luna smirked. “But you still fell short of Class S.”

That earned her a cushion to the face.

Over the next few days, Anna grew accustomed to dorm life. She unpacked, organized her things, and even made a few tentative introductions to other students.

Yet one rule bothered her more than all the rest, no guardians or outsiders were allowed inside once the moving period ended.

It meant that soon, Luna wouldn’t be able to visit her freely.

Anna pouted in the café where they had gone for lunch one afternoon, stabbing at her dessert with unnecessary force.

“It’s not fair. Why can’t you come see me once the moving period passes?”

“Because rules exist,” Luna replied flatly, licking frosting off her fork. “And because I don’t want to get kicked out of the city for breaking them.”

Anna leaned forward, eyes pleading. “But you could just slip in, couldn’t you? Use that mist spell. No one would even know.”

“No,” Luna said firmly.

“Please?”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

“Anna—”

Anna pressed her palms together dramatically, tilting her head with practiced sweetness. “Luna, I’ll be so lonely without you.”

Luna groaned, shoving another bite of cake into her mouth as though it might drown out the guilt creeping into her chest. “You’re impossible.”

“Does that mean yes?” Anna’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“…Fine.” Luna slumped in defeat, pointing her fork at Anna like a weapon. “But only sometimes. And only if you don’t get me caught.”

Anna beamed, triumphant. “Deal!”

Luna sighed. She really does act like a spoiled little sister sometimes.

That night, back at the dorms, Anna’s new roommate finally arrived, Reina Ava, the Class A representative for Earth Mages. She was quiet, reserved, and carried herself with the careful composure of someone unused to attention.

The two girls were just beginning to exchange polite words when a soft knock came at the door.

Reina flinched, her expression tensing. Trouble on the very first night?

Anna, on the other hand, grinned as though she’d been expecting it. She bounded to the door and opened it.

No one stood in the hallway.

Reina blinked, confused, until Anna stepped aside as though making room for an invisible guest. A moment later, the air shimmered and Luna appeared, dropping her Mist spell with a cheeky grin.

“Yo.”

Reina nearly jumped. “Y-you…! How—?”

“This is Luna,” Anna introduced happily. “She’s my sister and my best friend.”

“Sister?” Reina tilted her head. Luna certainly looked younger, small and delicate. But there was something in her eyes that didn’t quite fit the image of a child.

Reina didn’t press. Instead, she asked hesitantly, “Aren’t you afraid of being caught? The dorms are heavily guarded.”

“There’s no way I’d get caught,” Luna said smugly, folding her arms. Her confidence was so casual, so absolute, that Reina was left blinking in bafflement.

Anna only nodded, as though this was completely normal.

And somehow, within the hour, the three were chatting as though they had known each other far longer than a single evening.

Reina’s reserve melted away each time Luna offered her a sweet. By midnight, they were laughing together, the room filled with warmth and sugar crumbs.

When it was time for Luna to leave, she placed her finger to her lips and dissolved into Mist once more, vanishing from sight.

Reina stared at the space she had disappeared from, wide-eyed. “…Incredible.”

Anna just smiled knowingly.

From that night forward, Luna continued to slip into the dorms. Sometimes to bring sweets, sometimes to listen to Anna’s complaints about her studies, sometimes simply to sprawl across the floor and nap while the other two girls worked.

Reina never asked how it was possible. She only wondered silently, who exactly was Luna Aqua?

The days leading to the official start of the school year passed more quickly than anyone expected. Anna, Reina, and Luna slipped into a rhythm almost too natural to be new.

By day, Anna studied her new schedules, explored the dorm halls, and introduced herself to other representatives.

By night, when the hallways quieted and lanterns dimmed, a soft knock—or sometimes no knock at all—announced Luna’s arrival in their room.

She would melt from the shadows, Mist dispersing like fog caught in lamplight, carrying a paper bag or a small box stuffed with cakes, candies, or pastries.

At first, Reina’s eyes had gone wide every time Luna appeared, but soon she grew accustomed, even expectant, of those nightly visits.

They shared sweets, whispered secrets, and laughed until their cheeks hurt.

Yet beneath the laughter was an invisible thread of tension, at least for Anna. Every time Luna mentioned her travels—even in passing—Anna’s chest tightened.

It was on the fourth night that Anna finally voiced what she’d been carrying.

The three of them had crowded together on Anna’s bed, crumbs scattered across the sheets, with Reina carefully nibbling at a cream puff while Luna stuffed marshmallows into her mouth without restraint.

“So, when exactly do you leave?” Anna asked suddenly.

Luna paused mid-chew, blinking.

Reina looked between them, curiosity flickering in her soft brown eyes.

Luna swallowed and shrugged, as though the answer were simple. “Soon. Once your term starts, I’ll set out again.”

Silence followed. The kind that prickled at the edges, heavy and hesitant.

Anna bit her lip, her eyes dropping to her lap. “So quickly?”

“You’ll be busy,” Luna said lightly, though her gaze softened when she saw Anna’s downcast face. “You won’t even have time to notice I’m gone.”

“That’s not true,” Anna murmured, so quiet it nearly disappeared into the sheets.

Reina tilted her head, surprised by the fragile tone. Anna, usually so fiery and confident, looked almost small in that moment.

Luna sighed, leaning back against the headboard. She had known this conversation was coming. Anna was too transparent, her emotions worn on her sleeve.

“I’ll come back to visit,” Luna said finally. “Whenever I can. You’ll blink, and I’ll be here again, stealing your sweets.”

Anna’s lips curved into a shaky smile, though her eyes glistened faintly. “Promise?”

“Promise.” Luna extended a pinky finger.

Anna blinked at the childish gesture, then laughed softly and hooked her pinky with Luna’s. For a heartbeat, the sadness in her chest eased.

Reina watched quietly, something unreadable flickering in her gaze. She still didn’t understand who Luna really was, but she knew—instinctively—that this small girl was not someone ordinary.

The days continued like that.

Luna slipped into the dorms nightly, never once caught. Anna grew accustomed to the secret, treating it as natural, while Reina accepted it with a shy smile and the occasional questionless stare.

On one such night, as Anna packed her bag for her first official class, Luna lounged on the windowsill, legs swinging, watching the moonlight spread over the academy grounds.

“You really don’t want to stay?” Anna asked suddenly, glancing over her shoulder.

Luna chuckled. “We’ve been over this. I don’t belong in classrooms.”

“But you’d be amazing at it,” Anna insisted. “You could be in Class S. Maybe even higher.”

Luna tilted her head, amused. “There’s no higher than Class S.”

“You know what I mean.” Anna’s voice softened. “You’d stand out.”

Luna turned her gaze back to the moon. Her fingers toyed idly with a candy wrapper. “I’ve had enough of standing out for one lifetime.”

Anna frowned but didn’t push further. Instead, she zipped her bag closed and joined Luna at the window, the two of them sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the pale glow.

Reina, from her bed, watched them silently. She wanted to ask—why? Why leave? Why travel?—but her timid nature held her back.

The night before the school year began, Luna brought an entire cake, smuggled in from a bakery she had discovered on the far side of the city.

The three girls held a small “party” in the dorm room, whispering and giggling until the candles had burned low.

“To the first day!” Anna declared, raising a forkful of cake like a toast.

“To sweets,” Luna countered, her grin smug.

Reina hesitated, then lifted her teacup. “To… new friends.”

The clink of fork, spoon, and cup against each other sealed the moment.

When it was time to leave, Luna lingered longer than usual. She looked at Anna, at Reina, and then at the quiet room that already felt different from the inn she had been staying in.

“I’ll come back,” she said simply, before dissolving into Mist.

Anna hugged her pillow tightly that night, both comforted and unsettled by the promise.

Morning came swiftly. The dorm halls buzzed with energy, students rushing in crisp uniforms, voices echoing as they hurried to the academy’s gates.

Luna, by contrast, woke in her modest inn room to the scent of fresh bread from the bakery below. She stretched lazily, rubbed her eyes, and sat up.

It was time.

Her bags were already packed—just enough to carry comfortably on her back. Practical tools, clothing, and, of course, a pouch filled with sweets.

She had prepared everything over the past week, even if she hadn’t said it aloud.

Anna and Reina were already stepping into their new lives. And Luna… Luna had her own path to walk.

Still, there was one last thing she had to do.

The Celestial Academy gates loomed ahead, majestic and imposing. Guards stood tall at either side, their armor gleaming in the morning light.

Luna approached with her hood drawn low. The guards glanced at her, recognition flickering across their faces. They had not forgotten the hooded figure who called the vice principal grandfather.

Before they could speak, Luna slipped a card from her pouch and held it out.

The guards stiffened, then immediately straightened to attention when they saw the emblem embossed on the top corner, a mountain crowned by a shield—the symbol of William Terra’s family.

“Welcome, young miss,” one of them said, his voice respectful. “We will escort you.”

Luna tilted her head. “No need—”

But the guards were insistent, walking at her sides as though she were a noble lady.

She sighed, but allowed it. It was quicker than arguing.

The corridors of Celestial Academy were quiet compared to the bustling dorms. Their polished stone walls gleamed, their tall windows spilling sunlight across patterned rugs.

When they reached William’s office, the guards knocked politely before opening the door.

Inside, the vice principal sat at his desk, spectacles perched on his nose, papers stacked neatly before him. Yet the moment he saw Luna, his stern features softened.

“Granddaughter,” William greeted warmly. “Come in.”

The guards bowed and withdrew, leaving the two alone.

On the desk sat a tray of cookies. William gestured toward it without preamble.

Luna’s eyes lit up, and she darted forward to snatch one, crunching happily as she perched on a chair.

“Still bribing me with sweets?” she teased through a mouthful.

“Bribing implies resistance,” William replied with a chuckle. “I don’t recall you ever refusing.”

Luna grinned, unable to argue.

They spoke idly at first. William asked about her week, and Luna, sheepish, admitted to sneaking into the dorms.

“A mischievous cat slipping past the guards every night,” William mused, eyes twinkling. “I wondered who it might be.”

Luna froze, the cookie halfway to her mouth. “…Oops?”

William laughed, the sound deep and genuine. “You could have asked me. I’d have given you permission.”

“But where’s the fun in that?” Luna retorted, cheeks puffed as she bit into the cookie.

He only shook his head in amusement.

Then, the conversation shifted.

“I’ll be leaving soon,” Luna said, her voice quieter now.

William set his pen down, folding his hands together. His expression gentled, though there was an unmistakable weight in his eyes.

“I thought as much,” he admitted. “Your heart was never meant to stay in one place.”

Luna fiddled with the edge of her cloak, uncomfortable under the warmth of his gaze. “I’ll come back. I promise. Just… don’t get lonely without me.”

William chuckled softly, though there was a trace of melancholy in it. “I’ve lived long enough with loneliness, child. But your visits—” He paused, searching for the words. “They make the days brighter. Come back when you can. That will be enough.”

Luna swallowed, her throat tightening. She nodded.

When she finally rose to leave, William stood as well, escorting her to the gates himself.

Their footsteps echoed through the corridors, and wherever they passed, whispers followed.

The vice principal has a granddaughter?

Since when?

Who is she?

Luna kept her hood low, ignoring the murmurs. William, on the other hand, wore a faintly satisfied smile. He wanted the rumors. If the city knew Luna was under his protection, fewer would dare trouble her.

At the gates, William paused. “Are you certain you don’t want me to see you back to your inn?”

“No,” Luna said quickly. “Too much attention already.”

He chuckled. “Very well.”

She smiled faintly, then whispered, “Goodbye, Grandpa.”

Before the guards’ stunned eyes, Luna pressed a finger to her lips and dissolved into Mist, vanishing without a trace.

William watched the last wisps fade, his smile bittersweet.

“Travel safely, child.”

By the time Luna returned to her inn, the whispers had already taken root. The guards at the gate had seen her identification card. They had seen her name. And gossip spread like fire through dry grass.

By evening, all of Celestial Academy buzzed with one question,

Who is Luna Aqua, the granddaughter of William Terra?

And by dawn, that question had reached beyond the academy walls, spilling into the streets of Celestia itself.

From there, it would travel farther still, carried by merchants, letters, and rumors to the mage towers of neighboring lands.

The world was beginning to take notice.

And Luna, blissfully unaware of the storm she had stirred, sat in her inn room, savoring a slice of cake and planning the first leg of her journey.