You Really Do Have Beautiful Eyes

I can feel the weight of every gaze on me, as if a thousand eyes are silently dissecting my every move. The air around me seems to thicken with hushed murmurs, each word a prickling sensation against my skin.

"Why is there a girl here?" someone whispers, their voice laced with disbelief.

I catch a fleeting glance at my reflection in a nearby window—a strange, almost otherworldly figure standing in their midst. My eyes, glowing with an unsettling golden hue, burn like twin embers.

"Look at her eyes," another voice murmurs, a touch of unease creeping into the tone.

"Eew, she's freaky," someone else snickers, their words like a cold wind, sharp and biting.

I try to keep my head steady, my heart racing beneath my ribs, but the questions keep swirling around me, each one louder than the last.

"Do you think she has magic?" A voice tinged with curiosity and fear floats toward me, followed by a nervous laugh.

"What the hell is Prince Julian doing with her?"

"Silence!" The command cuts through the air like a blade, the voice of a man whose presence demands attention. His long grey hair flows down his shoulders, framing a face marked by years of experience. His piercing yellow eyes, the unmistakable sign of a Light magic user, glow with quiet intensity, each word laced with unspoken power.

He stands tall, his posture straight and unyielding, as if the very ground beneath him knows to respect his authority. A wave of silence follows his command, thick and palpable.

"It seems," he continues, his tone sharp and cutting, "that this year we have a collection of presumptuous little boys, raised without manners or discipline, wandering into the Academy as if the rules do not apply to them." His gaze sweeps over the room, challenging anyone who might think otherwise, his eyes flicking with disdain.

"Who's he?" I ask Julian, standing beside me.

"One of the housemasters at the Magic Academy. Housemaster Gilbert."

"As you are all aware by now, we have a female ability-user at the academy this year. Lady Seraphina, will you please come hither?"

I look at Julian, who nods and I walk towards housemaster Gilbert. More indistinct whispers shuffle around.

"This is lady Seraphina." I bow. "She has the ability of dark magic." Wait how does he know that? "I trust that all of you will be kind to her during her time here."

I can already feel the tension in the air, the room heavy with the weight of judgment. A dozen unfriendly smirks spread across the faces of the boys around me, their expressions twisted with disdain, as if they've already decided who I am without a word from my lips. The air crackles with hostility, and my heart begins to flutter erratically in my chest, each beat faster than the last. I try to steady myself, but the unease swells like a storm ready to break.

"Now, let us begin the tour," Master Gilbert announces, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "If you would please follow me."

The words hang in the air as everyone begins to move, but I can't focus on anything but the faces around me. My eyes dart from one person to another, desperately searching for Julian. Every boy I pass glares at me with thinly veiled contempt, their stares sharp and predatory, like wild animals stalking their prey. The heat of their gazes presses on me, and a shiver crawls down my spine. My breath quickens, panic creeping in as I try to keep up with the group while still searching for him.

Then, just as I feel my chest tighten with fear, a strong hand grabs mine, jolting me out of my spiraling thoughts. I nearly scream, my body tensing in reflex, but then I see him—Julian.

"Calm down. It's just me," he murmurs, his voice low and steady, like an anchor in the chaos. I let out a shuddering breath, the tension in my body easing just slightly.

"Stay with me," he adds, his grip firm yet comforting. "Hold on to me if you have to. Just don't get lost."

I nod, a sense of relief washing over me. The storm in my chest settles, if only for a moment, as I latch onto his hand, the feeling of security grounding me amidst the uncertainty.

Master Gilbert shows us the fields where we will be practicing magical combat and sword fighting. Then the classrooms, cafeteria, dorms and ballroom. What's the point of even having a ballroom if only males go to this school?

Finally, we meet the other five headmasters, housemaster Henry of wind, housemaster Marcus of water, housemaster Theodore of earth, housemaster Arthur of fire, and housemaster Edward of dark.

They all look very intimidating and maybe it's my imagination but I feel they're all looking at me in a spiteful manner.

We conclude the tour day by going to our rooms. Once Julian and I are in our room, Julian clears his throat. Only then do I realise that I was holding Julian's hand the whole day. I swiftly release his hand.

"Sorry." I say.

"It's okay."

Unexpectedly, a loud knock echoed through the door, jolting us from our quiet moment.

"Stay behind me," Julian ordered, his voice sharp with authority, his posture stiff as he tensed, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

The door swung open, and before we could even react, a short, exuberant boy with messy blond hair bounded into the room, his face bright with excitement. "Hello!" he shouted, grinning ear to ear, and without a second's hesitation, he threw himself toward Julian.

Julian didn't have time to brace himself. He staggered backward and hit the floor with a grunt, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and irritation. I gasped, instinctively stepping forward, my heart pounding from the sudden chaos.

Julian, still flat on his back, let out a heavy sigh, clearly annoyed. "Hello, Chris. Nice to see you." His tone was dry, as if this wasn't the first time this had happened.

Chris bounced back to his feet, unfazed by Julian's disheveled state, and looked at me with curiosity dancing in his sunny yellow eyes. "Ooh, who's this?" he asked, his tone light and playful, completely oblivious to the tension.

Julian groaned in exasperation. "Chris, don't—"

The boy grinned and leaned in dramatically. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I'm—"

"Lady Seraphina!" Chris interrupted, his voice rising with gleeful recognition. "How do you—"

"You've been the talk of the school," he continued without missing a beat. "The first female to be an ability-user."

"Yes, that's me," I replied, my voice steady.

The boy bowed exaggeratedly, pressing his lips to the back of my hand with a flourish. "Pleasure to meet you, mon chéri."

"Likewise," I said, feeling a flicker of surprise at his boldness but managing to keep my composure.

Julian's patience, on the other hand, was clearly wearing thin. "What are you doing here, Chris?" he asked, his voice clipped, irritation bubbling under the surface.

The boy simply grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself. "We didn't get to see you today, so we thought we'd have a slumber party here!" His enthusiasm was infectious, but Julian's face darkened.

"Slumber party?" Julian echoed, his voice dripping with annoyance. "Now?"

Before Julian could protest further, three other boys walked in, each carrying an aura of confidence that seemed to fill the room.

The first, with striking silver hair that shimmered like moonlight, had piercing grey eyes that seemed to cut through everything they glanced at. His sharp, angular features were framed by the sleekness of his hair, and his smirk—a mixture of amusement and challenge. He stood tall, exuding an almost predatory grace, as if he were always one step ahead in every situation.

The second boy, with a tousled mop of brownish-blond hair that fell carelessly over his forehead, looked far more laid-back. His warm, hazel eyes were full of quiet amusement, as though he found everything around him mildly entertaining. He carried himself with a relaxed air, as if he were far too comfortable in his skin, and his easy smile made it clear that he wasn't worried about making an impression—he already had.

The third, with jet black hair that curled slightly at the nape of his neck, seemed to hold a quiet intensity that set him apart. His dark blue eyes were like a stormy sea, full of secrets and depth, scanning the room with a contemplative, almost distant look. He wasn't as outwardly expressive as the others, but there was something about him that made it impossible to ignore—like a force just waiting to be unleashed. His posture was straight, but it was the stillness about him that commanded attention, as if he was always thinking three steps ahead.

"Hi, I'm Sir Alexander." Said the boy with grey eyes, giving a short nod.

"I'm Sir Wilfred," the hazel-eyed boy introduced himself with a wink.

"I'm Sir James," the blue-eyed boy said coldly.

"And I'm Sir Christopher," the yellow-eyed one added with a polite but slightly distant smile.

"I'm Lady Seraphina. It's nice to meet all of you," I said, trying to keep my voice warm, though I couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was all happening too quickly, like I was being swept into something I didn't fully understand.

"Oh, we know who you are," Wilfred said with a grin, his tone almost teasing. "You're practically famous."

I shifted uncomfortably under their knowing stares, a flush creeping up my neck, but Julian was having none of it.

"Guys, we can't have a slumber party," he said firmly, his eyes flashing with a mix of frustration. "First, we have a girl here. Second, our first day of school is tomorrow, so goodbye!"

With a swift, almost forceful gesture, Julian began ushering them toward the door, his voice growing sharper with each word.

"Party pooper!" Christopher called out from the doorway, his tone playful but clearly meant to provoke.

Julian, now thoroughly exasperated, shot him a look that could've frozen fire. "You're lucky you're not on the receiving end of a detention for this, Chris," he muttered under his breath.

I watched, both amused and slightly overwhelmed, as Julian slammed the door behind them, the sound echoing through the room. Julian let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache.

"What a pain." he muttered, his voice laced with annoyance.

"So, your friends…um they seem nice."

"Yeah, but they can be a hindrance sometimes though." Julian say lying on his bed.

"Oh, by the way. My father arranged me to be in all your classes, so just stick with me. I'm sure you can already tell by now, students loathe you, particularly because you're a girl and an ability-user. It goes against the holy book of the heavens and that's the main reason for there hate."

"What about you?" I ask, my voice softer than I intended as I glance over at Julian. He looks at me, his eyes thoughtful.

"Do you hate me?" I hear myself ask, the question escaping before I can stop it. It feels a little too raw, but I need to know.

He's quiet for a moment, studying me, as if weighing the question. "I don't know you well enough to hate you," he finally answers, his voice more gentle than I expected. "But I'm not sure if I even know what I think yet."

I nod, feeling a strange sense of relief, though I don't quite know why. "Okay," I say meekly, not sure if I've gotten the answer I wanted, but somehow feeling more understood.

He raises an eyebrow, the faintest hint of curiosity in his gaze. "Why are you asking?" he asks. "Were you hoping we could be friends?"

I hesitate before answering, feeling a little more vulnerable than I intended. "I mean, since we're going to be stuck together for three years... it'd be nice if we could get along."

Julian considers this for a moment, his expression softening. "You know it's not that simple, right? Friendship doesn't just happen overnight. It takes time... but we can try, if you want."

A small smile tugs at my lips, and for the first time, I feel a little lighter. "I'd like that," I reply, the words feeling surprisingly warm. "Goodnight, Julian."

"Goodnight," he says, his voice quiet.