The early morning light bathed Magix City in hues of lavender, gold, and soft pink, transforming the skyline into something almost otherworldly—like a dream plucked straight from the pages of a fairy tale.
- ✧ ❖ ✧ -
As the city began to wake, the streets hummed with a restless energy. People moved quickly, voices mixing with the strange, electric hums of floating devices and magical constructs that buzzed through the air. Hovering vehicles whizzed past, their engines thrumming with a mixture of elemental power and mechanical whirrs, leaving trails of sparkling energy behind them. It was a dance of progress and chaos—magic swirling in unpredictable currents, clashing with the cutting-edge tech that pulsed alongside it. The streets, once orderly, had evolved to mirror the city itself—thriving, messy, chaotic, and ever-changing.
Maggie stood in awe for a moment, her gaze lingering on the bustling city before her, her heart swelling with an ache as her mind drifted back to Astraios. Her planet, nestled in the Starry Belt of the Ætheria DⅠ-Mension, now felt like a distant, yet precious memory—a place where time and magic seemed to pause, holding their breath in quiet reverence. Her home, once so familiar, had always carried an ancient, timeless air about it, but now, the weight of that eternity pressed down on her with a new kind of clarity.
There, magic was not a force to be feared or reckoned with—it was an enduring presence, woven into the very fabric of the world. It hummed softly beneath every stone, every column, and every building. The capital city itself had been built atop the Pillar of Water from the ground up in harmony with this gentle, constant magic, as though the architecture itself had been shaped by the flow of energy coursing through the planet. The magic in Astraios was steady, like the pull of distant stars—immeasurably powerful, yet serene and predictable, never violent, never restless.
But Magix was different. It was vibrant. Chaotic. It pulsed with energy that echoed through the city, making everything feel connected, as though the entire world was breathing together. Here, magic didn't sit quietly—it lived, it moved, it thrived.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Ashya's voice interrupted Maggie's reverie, pulling her back to the present.
Maggie turned to her, a soft smile curving her lips as she took in the bustling city around them. "Yeah, it really is," she replied, her eyes still drawn to the city's energy. Her thoughts flitted back to Astraios briefly, to the memories of its delicate beauty, but there was something about Magix—a certain wild, untamed charm—that called to her. It was a city alive, not just with magic, but with people, with purpose. In a way, Maggie was sure it could eventually feel like home too.
Maggie watched as Ashya stood beside her, with her striking height and radiant presence, the brunette effortlessly exuding confidence and passion.The bright sunlight catching the crisp edges of edges of her Astraean officer uniform, gleamed in a way that was undeniably impressive—but to Maggie, felt stifling.
Did she have to wear it even here on Magix? This was supposed to be a fresh start, a normal school year where they could just be themselves, not the roles they would inevitably fill.
Maggie wasn't blind to the way some people looked at Ashya—like she was already named the Guardian Fairy of Astraios, like she was the embodiment of their people's strength. And she likely would be after they both graduated from Alfea. Ashya was always ready for anything, her grin as wide as the horizon as she cracked her knuckles, eager for the next challenge. Whether in combat, strategy, or the smallest of bets, she was fearless, diving headfirst without hesitation. The world seemed to orbit around her as effortlessly as breathing. Charisma poured from her every movement, drawing attention, inspiring loyalty, and pushing anyone in her path to follow her lead.
Maggie shifted uneasily, her fingers brushing the edge of her own jacket's sleeve. She didn't mind the quiet, the stillness that came with careful introspection. She was content to watch, to learn, to measure her moves. Her mind raced with thoughts of strategy, planning, and the quiet strength it took to lead from behind. But one thing was certain: Ashya wasn't the one who'd be crowned queen.
Maggie knew that. She would one day rule Astraios. But still, it didn't stop the flicker of jealousy, of wondering if it was Ashya who truly had the freedom to be something greater that Maggie could never quite manage. Where Ashya could blaze, no questions asked, Maggie always had to hold something back.
Ashya noticed the shift in Maggie's expression and smirked, tilting her head toward her. "Still lost in thought?" she teased, her voice light and carefree.
Maggie blinked and grinned mischievously, eyeing Ashya's perfectly pristine Astraean uniform. "Still wearing that thing, huh?" she quipped, tilting her head. Don't tell me you're already feeling homesick."
"Not homesick," she said casually, adjusting her sleeves like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Just a family habit. Besides, someone has to look the part if I'm going to protect your precious sleep."
Maggie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Oh, please. Protect me from what, exactly?"
Ashya smirked, raising an eyebrow as if daring Maggie to keep going. The moment hung between them, a silent exchange that neither would ever back down from. They were alike in that regard—competitive, sharp, never backing down from a challenge, whether it was a match or a battle of words.
Still, the weight of their futures would stay buried deep, carefully tucked away. Maggie respected Ashya too much to let it show. Besides, they were friends, weren't they? Even if, sometimes, Maggie couldn't shake the feeling that Ashya maybe saw her as nothing more than her future heir.
Before Maggie could continue, Ashya's magic swirled around her, shimmering with bright fiery light. In the blink of an eye, her military uniform melted away, replaced by a simple yet stylish outfit that screamed "casual" but still looked effortlessly chic. Ashya adjusted her new clothes and flashed a teasing glance at Maggie. "Better?"
Maggie blinked, the slightest hint of surprise crossing her face before she raised an eyebrow. "Showoff," she muttered, but the teasing grin tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.
Ashya smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction she'd provoked. "You know you're just jealous of my effortless good looks," she teased, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she gave Maggie a once-over. "You don't have to hide it. I am pretty spectacular."
Maggie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the warmth creeping into her smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't let it go to your head," she replied, nudging Ashya playfully.
As they began to walk through the labyrinth of towering bookshelves in the cozy cafe, Ashya's laughter echoed softly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Wouldn't dream of it, princess," she teased, nudging Maggie back.
Maggie was about to make a retort when Ashya suddenly stopped, a smirk curling her lips. "So, how's your spider phobia holding up? Ready for another one to pop out of the walls?"
Maggie groaned, immediately feeling her face flush with annoyance. "You are so annoying."
Ashya raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "What? You mean to tell me you're not terrified of tiny little spiders?"
Maggie crossed her arms over her chest, but the playful grin still tugged at her lips. "It's not the size of the spider that bothers me," she said, feigning seriousness. "It's the fact that I'm sure they're plotting something..."
Ashya laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're acting childish, Maggie," she teased, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "But fine, if you're nice, I'll protect you from all the little bastards. I'm just that good."
Just as Maggie was about to respond with something sarcastic, a voice interrupted them from up ahead.
"You're the childish one, Ashya." Sirene's voice rang out from a corner of bookshelves where the trio had precariously stacked their luggage.
Now brighter, Maggie could admire how the warm glow bathed the space in golden light, illuminating the polished wooden shelves lined with tomes bound in everything from simple leather to shimmering enchanted cloth. A faint hum of magic wove through the air, settling into the very walls, as books flapped their pages to magically find their homes on the shelves. Wisps of enchantments drifted lazily above the books, shimmering briefly before vanishing into the wooden beams overhead. Occasionally, a title would shift on its own, nudging forward as if inviting its reader to pluck it from the shelf.
Maggie turned toward the sound of Sirene's voice. There she was, as always—calm, composed, and absorbed in a book. Her long, sapphire-blue hair framed her face like an ocean wave, cascading over her shoulders. She didn't look up as she spoke, her eyes scanning the page with a practiced speed that almost made Maggie dizzy.
As Maggie settled into her seat, Sirene remained exactly as she was—lounged and cradling the massive tome as though it weighed nothing. The book's gilded spine shimmered faintly, the symbols along its cover shifting, rearranging themselves in a language Maggie didn't recognize. She suspected that even the most dedicated scholars wouldn't attempt something that dense without years of preparation. Yet Sirene skimmed it effortlessly, her wind-reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, their runes glowing in time with the flick of her gaze.
On the other hand, Ashya bristled from the other side of the table. "What did you say?" Her eyes narrowing as her posture stiffened. "You want to try that again?"
Sirene's voice remained cool and unbothered. "I said you're the childish one. A fear of spiders, fine. But ghosts? Really?"
Ashya's jaw clenched, but before she could respond, something else stirred in the air.
Without even looking up from her book, a nearby teapot stirred to life at a mere flick of Sirene's fingers, floating lazily in the air before tilting forward to pour the steaming mooncloud tea into delicate porcelain cups. The fragrant vapor unfurled in twisting, silvery ribbons, coiling like mist over a midnight sea. For a brief moment, the steam coalesced into the image of a pale moon, veiled by drifting clouds—a fleeting vision before dissipating into the café's warm air.
Maggie leaned forward, her smile mischievous. "You know, I think I might've heard something earlier." She let her voice drop to a teasing whisper. "A big Thump. Could've been the wind, or…" She raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ashya. "...a ghost?"
The moment the word left her lips, Ashya's eyes widened. Her usual defiance faltered, and for just a brief second, her bravado cracked. She visibly stiffened, glancing nervously toward the shelves, her wine colored eyes scanning every corner. "Don't joke about that," she muttered, a hint of real fear creeping into her voice.
Maggie's smile only grew. "What, Ashya? Scared?" she teased, her tone light but with just enough edge to coax a reaction. "I thought you were going to protect me?"
Before Ashya could snap back, Sirene's cool voice broke through the tension. "You're both ridiculous." She didn't even glance up from her book, her fingers lazily flipping a page. "You," she said, addressing Ashya without looking, "are far too easily frightened. And Maggie, well…" Sirene's lips curved just slightly. "I'd say you're just enjoying this far too much."
Ashya's face flushed, her pride clearly stung by Sirene's words. "I'm not scared! You just—" She cut herself off, shaking her head in frustration. "I'm not the one hiding behind books."
Sirene's gaze flicked up for the first time, her violet eyes meeting Ashya's with a quiet, inscrutable boredom. "I have no need to hide," she said, voice soft but firm. "And I certainly don't need to explain myself to you."
Ashya's temper flared, her hands clenched into fists on the table. "Well, I'm not afraid of any ghosts, alright? And you can't make me—"
"Oh, I can and I will," Sirene interrupted smoothly, her tone now laced with something sharper. "It's not the ghosts you should fear, Ashya. It's your own overactive imagination. But no, let's keep going, if you think I'm the one hiding behind books."
Ashya's eyes narrowed as she watched the blue haired girl closely. "That's not funny, Sirene," she said, her voice tight. "I swear, I'll—"
Sirene raised an eyebrow, the barest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You'll what, exactly?"
The bickering continued, each word sharp and quick as Maggie settled back in her seat, her gaze distant and unamused by the familiar dance between them. She sighed softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup as she carefully avoided eye contact. She knew this scene all too well—Ashya's fire against Sirene's calm, their constant back-and-forth like a game they never got tired of playing. Maggie had long ago learned not to get involved in their endless back-and-forth. Instead, she let the comforting atmosphere of the café wash over her, the soft hum of magic and the warm golden light surrounding them.
It was always the same—Ashya, full of passion and energy, never backing down from any challenge, always ready to strike. And then there was Sirene, composed and deliberate, never rushing but always hitting her mark, like a silent force of nature.
If Ashya burned—fierce and unyielding, like a wildfire fueled by furious passion—then Sirene flowed—cold, deliberate, an ocean's depth hidden beneath a mirror-still surface. She didn't demand attention with fire or force; instead, she waited. She was a quiet inevitability, her presence as constant as the tide pulling at the shore, as unhurried as the ebb and flow of the sea.
Her beauty, too, was different—distant, sculpted from seafoam, effortless in its transience. Sirene's calm radiated outward, a presence that felt both soothing and implacable, like the stillness of the ocean just before a storm, untouched by the chaos around her.
Maggie had long since accepted that the two of them would never truly get along. Their truce was thin, bound only by their mutual friendship with her. Left alone for too long, they were like opposing elements colliding.
She took a slow sip of her tea, feigning deep concentration. It made sense, she supposed, when one considered their powers.
Best to stay out of it.
Sirene sighed, the sound deep and heavy. "Whatever," she muttered, clearly tired of the back-and-forth. "I still can't believe we were dropped off in MagiX so early," she muttered, shaking her head. "I mean, we were supposed to head straight to Alfea, with our luggage and everything, but no—here we are, stuck waiting for a shuttle." Her voice was thick with frustration, her gaze distant as if she was somewhere far from the cramped waiting area they were stuck in.
Maggie winced slightly, her voice lowering as she tried to find the right words. "I didn't expect them to just ditch us like that, honestly. I thought we'd have a bit more time to settle in, but—" She trailed off, fidgeting with the rim of her teacup. "I didn't want to make the Specialists stay just because I'm, well..." she added quietly, a frown tugging at her lips. "I just wanted to have a normal school year, you know? Not because of my title. I wanted to be here as a normal fairy."
She glanced up, eager to shift the conversation. "But hey, since we're so early, at least we can explore Magix a bit! None of us have really had the chance to see the place yet, right?" She tried to sound cheerful, but something in her chest tightened, and as she looked at Sirene, she noticed her friend had paused in her reading. The book now lay forgotten in her lap, her gaze distant, lost in thought.
Maggie's smile faltered as a pang of guilt struck her. She'd been so caught up in her own thoughts about wanting a "normal" school year that she hadn't really considered Sirene's experience. Sirene wasn't just adjusting to life at Alfea—she was still carrying the weight of everything she had left behind.
First, it was Idrilla, her world torn apart by forces beyond her control. Then, Astraios, another fresh start, but still weighed down by her past. And now, Alfea. It was like Sirene had never truly settled, always moving, always rebuilding.
She wasn't just here because she wanted a normal life; she was here because she had to prove herself worthy to be here—granted permission by Astraios, a planet that wasn't even her own. Maggie had begged the Astrum Epiclese, the High Court of Astraios, to allow her to attend Alfea, pleading for the opportunity. But Sirene? She had fought for this spot, showing she was worthy of it, not just because of who she was, but because she had something to prove—both to others and to herself.
Ashya grinned, cutting Maggie off, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh please," she said, laughing lightly. "Those boys would've just snuck off anyway. They're useless when left to their own devices." She threw her arms behind her head and leaned back, stretching lazily. "Honestly, I'm glad I didn't turn out like them and attending Red Fountain, though. More cute girls at Alfea, after all."
Sirene's brow arched as she watched Ashya with a bemused expression. "It sounds like you're attending Alfea for the wrong reasons," she said coolly, her voice dripping with sharp amusement. She gave Ashya an appraising look, clearly unimpressed.
Ashya stuck her tongue out in playful defiance, causing Maggie to laugh softly. The tension in the air seemed to ease as the sound of Maggie's laughter warmed the moment. She quickly caught herself before letting her thoughts drift back to the weight of the situation, reminding herself that she didn't have to solve everything all at once.
Sirene closed her book with a soft snap, setting it aside as she removed her glasses, her expression thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea," she said, her voice quieter but with a hint of agreement. "We've got time, and it's not every day we get to explore MagiX."
The girls exchanged smiles, a sense of camaraderie settling over them. They made a quick plan to grab breakfast and do some shopping before heading to the shuttle that would take them to Alfea. With that, they stood up, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they left the quiet of the café behind, ready to embrace the day ahead.