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Distant stars began to twinkle overhead, their faint light barely visible against the warm glow of the streetlamps lining the way.

Her reflection stared back at her—a pale, tired face framed by loose strands of auburn hair, cheeks slightly flushed with the memory of the long day behind her.

They had spent the entire day at the northern grounds of the academy, where the first-year students had embarked on a field study under the guidance of Professor Elwin.

He was a tall, severe-looking man with a reputation for his patience and keen eye for detail.

The lessons had focused on three core elements: the manipulation of elemental energy, the application of basic defensive wards, and the practice of channeling mana through nature.

Professor Elwin had moved methodically through each topic, his voice calm yet firm, guiding them through the steps with the careful precision of a master craftsman.

She remembered the crisp sensation of earth magic flowing through her fingers.

The way the defensive wards shimmered like pale blue bubbles in the air before settling around them, and the electric thrill of drawing mana directly from the ground beneath her feet.

She could still feel the remnants of that energy humming under her skin, a quiet buzz that made her fingertips tingle as she pressed them to the cool glass.

But now, that excitement had faded, leaving only a heavy, hollow feeling in her chest.

The bus rolled smoothly past the academy\'s central plaza, the town\'s shops and eateries casting warm, welcoming light onto the cobblestone streets.

She sighed and pulled back from the window, her reflection blurring into the passing scenery.

The rest of the students on the bus chattered away, laughing and sharing stories of the day\'s events, but she felt oddly detached, lost in her own thoughts.

Suddenly, a soft flutter of wings caught her attention, and she looked up to see a small green sparrow materialize in the seat beside her.

His translucent feathers shimmered in the dim light, and his eyes, a deep emerald green, sparkled with a playful curiosity.

"Augustus," she said softly, a hint of surprise in her voice.

The spirit bird tilted his head, his beak opening in a knowing smile.

"You look troubled, Ariana," he chirped gently, hopping closer and perching on the windowsill next to her.

"It\'s not like you to be this quiet...

Are you... thinking of him again?"

Ariana\'s lips twisted into a pout, and she pressed her palms to her face, peeking at Augustus through her fingers before letting her hands fall.

"Of course I am," she admitted, a note of frustration in her voice.

"How could I not?"

Augustus ruffled his ethereal feathers, casting her a look that was both affectionate and mildly exasperated.

He clicked his beak softly, as if mulling over her response, then sighed.

"You know, Ariana," he said, almost to himself, "your situation with him... it\'s getting worse.

If you don\'t find a way to resolve these feelings soon, I\'m afraid things might take a turn you don\'t intend."

Ariana\'s eyes narrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms defensively.

"I can\'t help it, Augustus. He\'s... he\'s different from everyone else.

He\'s the first person who\'s ever tried to see the real me."

Augustus\'s feathers settled, his gaze turning soft.

"Go on," he encouraged, his voice gentle but insistent.

"What is it about him that makes you care so much?

You\'ve had suitors before, and none of them made you feel this way."

Ariana hesitated, her fingers tracing an idle pattern on the cold glass, as if searching for the right words.

"He... he\'s the only one who actually sees me," she said finally, her voice trembling slightly.

"I come from a noble family, you know that.

Most people, when they talk to me, they\'re only interested in themselves.

They\'re obsessed with status, with bragging about their accomplishments, about politics and business deals that I don\'t care about.

They don\'t see me, not really."

She took a deep breath, her eyes softening as she remembered.

"But he\'s different.

He didn\'t treat me like some kind of trophy or a means to an end.

He\'s... genuine.

He took the time to get to know me, to ask me about my interests, my hobbies, my fears.

And if I\'m being honest...it was always like he knew me in and out. Like he had known me for years.

He\'s the only person I\'ve ever liked on my own terms, not because of some ridiculous family arrangement or political expectation...

That\'s why... that\'s why I can\'t stop thinking about him."

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Augustus was silent for a moment, his small green form shimmering faintly in the fading light.

He let out a soft coo and fluttered closer, resting on Ariana\'s shoulder.

"Ariana," he began, his voice serious yet kind, "love isn\'t just about how someone makes you feel in the moment.

It\'s about the long, hard road of getting to know each other\'s strengths and flaws, of standing together even when the world seems to pull you apart.

It\'s about trust, honesty, and being able to let go when the time is right."

He paused, and his tone softened even further.

"You have to ask yourself—is this love, or is it just admiration because he\'s different?

Is it real, or is it just your way of finding a way out of the cage your family and status have placed you in?"

Ariana\'s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard, pressing her fingertips to her flushed cheeks.

The words hit her like a physical blow, the truth of them sinking deep into her heart.

"I... I don\'t know," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

But the uncertainty in her eyes hardened into determination, and she lifted her chin, a fierce light gleaming in her gaze.

"No, I do know. It\'s real. It has to be. And I\'m going to tell him.

I can\'t keep hiding these feelings anymore. They\'re tearing me apart."

Augustus sighed, but there was a hint of pride in his expression.

"If you\'re sure, then do it, Ariana. Don\'t wait until it\'s too late."

The bus slowed to a halt, the hiss of the brakes pulling her from the intensity of the moment.

She stood abruptly, her bag slung over her shoulder, and gave Augustus a quick nod.

"I\'ll do it," she said firmly.

"I\'ll tell him tonight."

She stepped off the bus, her boots clacking against the stone pavement as she made her way toward the towering silhouette of Ironwood Hall.

The building loomed over her, its dark, ivy-covered walls nearly blending into the shadowy evening sky.

She hurried up the steps, her breath quickening with each step, until she reached the familiar door of the student dormitory.

Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her down the hall to the room she knew so well.

It was 6:48 PM.

She had been gone since early that morning, leaving the academy grounds at dawn for the field study.

The day had been long, exhausting, and now, it was finally coming to a head.

She stopped in front of Noah\'s door, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

This was it.

She knocked, her knuckles rapping sharply against the wooden door.

Silence.

She waited, the seconds dragging on like hours.

She knocked again, harder this time.

Still no response.

"Noah?" she called softly, pressing her ear to the door.

There was nothing—no sound, no movement, only the heavy, oppressive silence of the empty corridor.

Her brow furrowed, a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach.

She reached for the doorknob, hesitating for a moment before turning it.

To her surprise, it was unlocked.

Slowly, she pushed the door open, her eyes widening as she stepped inside.

The room was empty.

Completely, utterly empty.

There was no furniture, no books, no papers scattered across the desk—nothing.

It was as if no one had ever lived there. The walls were bare, stripped of any decoration or personal touch.

The bed was gone, the desk vanished, and the shelves that had once held stacks of notes and magical devices were bare.

Ariana\'s heart sank, a wave of confusion and disbelief washing over her.

She took a hesitant step forward, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Noah…?"

The echo of her voice was the only reply, bouncing back at her from the empty walls.

Ariana stood frozen at the empty doorway, her breath hitching as she tried to comprehend the scene before her.

The emptiness felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on her chest, and she couldn\'t tear her gaze away from the barren walls.

A soft clearing of a throat broke the silence, and Ariana spun around, her eyes widening as she recognized the figure standing just a few feet away.

It was one of the academy\'s head maids, Miss Ghislaine, dressed impeccably in a long maroon dress with a neat black apron tied around her waist.

On her head was the traditional white maid\'s cap, its lace trim framing her stern yet kind face.

"Miss Ghislaine," Ariana said, her voice shaky with a mix of surprise and relief.

She offered a polite nod, feeling the familiarity of the woman\'s presence like a grounding force amidst the confusion.

"Good evening."

Miss Ghislaine\'s expression softened, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips as she returned the greeting with a gentle incline of her head.

"Good evening, Miss Snow.

Is there something I can help you with?"

Ariana hesitated, glancing back at the empty room before meeting the maid\'s gaze again.

"Miss Ghislaine, why... why is this room empty?

What happened to the student who was staying here?"

The maid\'s brows furrowed slightly, and she lifted a slender finger to her chin, her expression thoughtful as if trying to recall a detail that eluded her.

"The student…?"

"Yes, Noah Ashbourne," Ariana clarified, her voice a little more desperate than she intended.

"He\'s a first-year student. This was his room."

Miss Ghislaine\'s eyes flickered with recognition, and she clasped her hands neatly behind her back.

Her face settled into a calm, almost serene expression, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment.

When she opened them, her gaze was steady, unyielding.

"Oh, him," she said slowly, her tone carrying a hint of finality.

"I\'m sorry, Miss Snow... but he\'s gone."