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-The Next Day-

-Lochxen-

-Girls' Dormitory—

In her room, Aylin lay on a large bed, her hand folded on her chest right beneath her breasts as she stared at the ceiling. She hadn't slept much all night. There was too much anticipation thrilling through her body to allow such. It was why, despite how little her eyes had closed at all, she felt very well rested. It was also why she had a smile to light up her perfect face.

Today was the day.

She slid out of bed, standing to her feet before doing a few stretches to loosen up tense muscles and let her bones crack into place, filling her with relief. She was dressed in a silk nightgown. One of the few articles of clothing she had brought with her to Lochxen where the Academy Uniform was the accepted/expected wear every day and everywhere within the Academy grounds.

Still with a smile, Aylin approached the full-length mirror in her room, looking herself over.

"Perfect," she said in a little voice.

It was a remark she always made when she looked in the mirror. Because she knew she was perfect. But today, it was more than just an affirmation of her incredible looks— It was also an affirmation of her readiness for the day's occasion.

Because that was what it was;

An occasion.

With a hand on her soft, smooth cheek, Aylin stroked down to her neck and then to her chest. She dipped her hand into the silky material of her nightgown to stroke across the in-between of her large breasts. The feeling was pleasurable but was a mere shadow compared to the memory of a different hand—a more sure hand—touching her.

She turned away from the mirror and headed for the bath. Every room in the Girls' Dormitory was designed to have everything its occupant required. Private bathing areas were one such requirement.

When she got out, Aylin twirled her fingers in the air calling forth a chilling but strong wind that blew against her body, drying her of every droplet. The chill of the wind didn't cause her to shiver. After all, it was nothing compared to what she had grown accustomed to in her home in the North. Hell, living in the warm capital had been the adjustment.

Aylin put on her uniform and lamented a little about how she would have wished to wear something different. Something like an actual gown that could match the significance of the day. Alas, rules were rules.

Aylin stood in front of the full-length mirror once again, now dressed and now ready for the day and the wonders she was sure it would bring. She brushed a hand through her grey-white hair that was smoother and silkier than the nightgown she discarded.

With a twinkle in her icy-blue eyes, Aylin dropped her hand then and brushed across her uniform like she was hoping to dust it off when it already looked impeccably neat.

With one last brilliant smile at the mirror, she turned away and walked to her door, pulling it open to step out and seal it with the Arcane Enchantment etched into its lock that could only be accessed by her as an occupant of the room.

The door had just let out a click sound to signal the success of the lock when Aylin turned to see someone leaning against the wall with their arms folded.

It was Kaya.

"You're up early," Kaya said and her slightly pointy ears twitched as she eyed Aylin over.

Aylin stopped short, looking a little sheepish.

"I could say the same about you."

"Hmm," Kaya said with a nod, "Point taken."

The two stared at each other for a good while, neither appearing willing to be the one to speak first.

And then Kaya did.

"Heading out?" She asked.

"Y-Yeah," Aylin said without her usual confidence, "Early bird and all that."

Normally, she would have walked right past Kaya and been on her way but she just… couldn't. It was as though those leaf green eyes were holding her in place.

Aylin prided herself on possessing a quality that made people predisposed to follow her every whim. A quality to acquire followers. Something her mother also had and made her the capable Duchess and Matriarch that she was.

Over the last couple of days, Aylin had decided that Kaya had that quality as well. Or at least something similar. Because how else would Aylin explain how she gravitated toward Kaya?

How else would she explain how, as she stood here, her destiny—as far as she was concerned—awaiting her, Aylin couldn't actually take the required steps to walk away from Kaya without needing…

"Go on," Kaya said with a smile while gesturing with her head down the corridor.

… without needing that.

It wasn't permission. Not really. Aylin didn't need permission for what she wanted to do. Or for anything really. She was raised to take whatever she pleased because it was hers to take and have.

No, what she needed and what she was getting from Kaya wasn't permission… It was acceptance.

Acceptance into a Circle that was undoubtedly led by Kaya. It was the one occasion where Kaya seemed to have the quality of getting people to gravitate towards her i.e when they belonged to her circle of friends or when they wished to belong.

Aylin smiled and stepped toward Kaya not entirely sure what to say. Eventually, she decided she couldn't let the moment pass in sappiness without some pushback.

"What, you're not here to stop me?" She asked with some sarcasm.

Kaya caught that but answered like it was a genuine question. "Eh," she said with a shrug, "You look like you've waited long enough. Why stand in the way of that?"

Aylin laughed then. Kaya had no idea how long the wait had been. Or how hard—at least in the beginning—it had been to meet the conditions.

And then her expression mellowed even if she still kept her smile. She stepped closer to Kaya and touched her on the arm as they stared into each other's eyes— Icy-blue on Leaf-green.

"I—" Aylin started. She felt she should say more and not just leave like this. That she should say something that expressed the significance of this exchange. But she was coming up short.

Kaya rolled her eyes then and flicked her wrist, conjuring a vine that snapped and struck Aylin lightly on the ass to propel her past her and down the corridor.

"You're stalling," she said, "Go."

Aylin chuckled but she kept on walking. She didn't look back once but she could have sworn she heard Kaya say with a laugh and a thrilling voice,

"Have fun.'

…

Out of the Dormitory, Aylin saw a few who were up early and out and about like her but they were rare. Without stringent class schedules, many preferred to sleep in.

She walked down many corridors as fast as she could without springing into a run. She turned many corners until she was at a final stretch and began to run her fingers across the wall.

Soon, she touched something and once she had gotten the outline, she pressed down. There was a click sound and a door popped out from the wall. A door that would otherwise have been missed.

"Who would have thought?" Aylin mumbled as she pulled the door open a bit wider and quickly walked in without peering inside beforehand. She closed the door right after.

It was dark inside but Aylin could already tell that she wasn't alone here.

"Caius?" She called.

Something shifted in the dark. Like someone was turning around. There were tiny glints framed by what looked like a mouth. Above that were two red orbs moving against the darkness.

Caius's voice sounded then. As easy as ever.

"Morning, Aylin," he greeted,

"What took you so long?"

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