A week has passed. A week that literally flew by under the roar of magical drums and the sound of a violin the size of a pine tree. The teachers finally found a way to shut down my impromptu orchestra, but it was already too late.

  My popularity had gone off the charts, crashing through every ceiling, wall, and gravitational anomaly in the Academy. By now, every second stone in this establishment knew my face, not to mention the students. I, true to my old tradition, knew no one. A name is far too precious a piece of information to clutter my brain with.

  Every lunch in the cafeteria had turned into a ritual. I would simply lie on the table (or a bench, whichever was available) while Alastia methodically ran her fingers through my hair. Her hand—cool and alive—was my personal ticket to dreamland. I would fall asleep instantly, purring with pleasure.

  However, through my slumber, I noticed the world continued to spin.

  My dragonkin roommate and Alexia had completely vanished into their own, suspiciously rose-tinted reality. One moment he’s feeding her with a spoon, the next she’s picking out the best bites for him. Basically, a full-blown melodrama is bubbling over there.

  Lianel, meanwhile, has turned into a war machine. Her growth was simply terrifying. In fencing lessons, she was tearing opponents to shreds in a matter of seconds. If before she couldn't even graze my shadow, lately during sparring, I’ve felt the serious pressure of her blade. A little more, and I’d actually have to dull my own sword just to parry her lunges. I don't know what she's aiming for, but her persistence is starting to... unsettle me.

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  Perhaps this was exactly the kind of life I had once secretly dreamed of while reading my grandmother’s fairy tales.

  We were sitting in the cafeteria. My palm—without a glove, bare skin to skin—rested on the crown of his head. I slowly ran my fingers through the black strands, watching them turn as white as snow under my touch.

  It was incredible. Such a deep, thick sense of peace that is simply impossible to find alone. I couldn't help myself and just leaned against his back, listening to his steady breathing. And Greg... he really was purring. A quiet, vibrating rumble, like a massive cat that had finally found its home.

  More and more often, I caught myself simply holding his hand. Not for magic, not for control—just because. Strange, frightening feelings were beginning to wake up inside me. When we had different classes, the world around me turned gray. Minutes stretched like honey, turning into endless hours of waiting.

  "Sister," Kael’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. My brother sat opposite us, looking at me with a sort of bitter smirk. "Maybe you could spare even a minute of your precious attention for me?"

  I reluctantly cracked my eyes open. "Kael, don't grumble."

  "Do you even know how hard it is to be your brother?" he sighed. "Every other girl and every second guy in this building attacks me with questions about you. Or more often—about you and Greg. You’ve become the main topic of gossip."

  I sat up straight abruptly, involuntarily moving my hand away from Greg’s head. "There’s nothing going on between us! We’re just... friends."

  Kael smiled softly. "Alright, alright. Just friends it is. The main thing is that you finally look truly happy, Alastia. The rest doesn't matter."

  "Just friends," I repeated to myself. "Just people who happen to need each other very, very much."