Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Chapter 21: A Clash on the Stairs

Elara:

I had expected my first class at Moonveil Academy to be something... normal. Well, as normal as a magical academy could possibly get.

History, perhaps. Politics. Maybe that Runes and Magic Theory class listed on my timetable. Anything that involved sitting behind a desk while someone explained how this impossible world worked.

Instead, as I looked over the schedule for what had to be the fifth time that morning, my eyes settled on the very first lesson - Advanced Elemental Studies.

I stared at the words for several seconds.

Elemental Magic.

The subject alone was enough to send two completely opposite emotions crashing into each other inside me - excitement and anxiety.

If someone had asked me three days ago whether magic existed, I would have dismissed them without hesitation. Now... I lived in a world where magical seals, talking familiars, portals, and supernatural races existed.

Even after everything that had happened over the last forty-eight hours, part of my human brain still struggled to accept it completely. Every now and then, I found myself wondering if I’d wake up in my old house, late for my shift at the diner, only to realize all of this had been nothing more than a nightmare.

Unfortunately, the ache in my chest every time I thought of Mom, Dad, and Felix reminded me that this was very real. And today, I would finally see magic being taught. Not in fantasy books, not in movies, and not through stories. But real magic. The thought made my heartbeat quicken.

After checking the academy map for what felt like the hundredth time, I finally left my dorm.

Moonveil Academy was somehow even larger during daylight than it had seemed at night. Elegant stone pathways connected countless buildings, each one towering high enough to rival castles from history books. Students crossed courtyards in groups, some carrying books while others casually talking as if they were just another ordinary people.

I still hadn’t explored even a tenth of the academy. Every corridor branched into another. Every courtyard opened into three more. Without the map, I would have been hopelessly lost.

According to the schedule, Advanced Elemental Studies took place inside Nightfall Tower - a towering structure entirely dedicated to elemental studies classes.

By the time I finally found it, I was already beginning to understand why everyone here seemed physically fit. The tower was enormous, and unfortunately, it had only stairs. Lots of them.

I looked up.

"...You have got to be kidding."

My class was on the fourth floor, and there wasn’t a single elevator just like in the dorm building. I let out a defeated sigh before beginning the climb. One flight. Then another. Halfway through the third, my legs were already protesting.

"Whose brilliant idea was it," I muttered beneath my breath while climbing another step, "to put magic classes somewhere only mountain goats can comfortably reach?"

Apparently, advanced magic also required advanced cardio.

Completely focused on reaching the top before class started, I hurried around the final turn of the staircase. Which turned out to be a terrible idea because...

Thud.

I walked directly into something impossibly solid, or rather... someone. The impact sent me stumbling backward.

"I’m so sorr-" The apology had barely left my mouth before instinct made me take another step back.

A mistake.

I had completely forgotten I was still standing on the staircase. The edge of my foot found nothing. My stomach dropped as for one horrifying second, all I could think that I was about to fall.

The staircase blurred beneath me as my body tilted backward. Then, a strong arm wrapped firmly around my waist while another caught my shoulder. And instead of crashing down the endless flight of stairs, I was suddenly pulled forward with surprising force. Straight into a broad, solid chest.

The fall never came. Warmth did. It spread through my body the instant he touched me, beginning where his hand rested against my waist before flowing outward in gentle waves. It was that strange warmth again, the one I’d felt when Reign grabbed my wrist two nights ago.

My breath caught as a familiar scent surrounded me - fresh, pine, and something wild. Slowly, I looked up and brilliant blue eyes met mine.

Reign Valemont.

For a brief moment, everything else disappeared. There were only those impossibly blue eyes fixed on mine. Neither of us spoke or moved. Time itself seemed to pause. Then, the corner of his mouth slowly lifted into an infuriating smirk.

"Careful, Argentis." His voice carried unmistakable amusement. "I’d rather you didn’t announce your return by breaking your little groundling neck on the academy stairs."

Just like that, the moment shattered. The warmth vanished and reality returned. I immediately pushed his hands away from me and stepped back until there was proper distance between us.

Seriously?

I’d been about to thank him. Actually thank him. Then he opened his mouth.

"I’ll keep that in mind." I brushed invisible wrinkles from my blazer. "And next time I’ll make sure to avoid colliding with overconfident werewolves."

The slight amusement in his eyes cooled noticeably.

Good. Served him right.

I turned on my heel, fully intending to walk away before this conversation became even more irritating. I’d barely taken two steps when a hand suddenly wrapped around my arm. Before I could react, I was pulled sideways and the next moment my back met the cold stone wall beside the staircase.

Thump.

I frowned.

Reign planted one hand against the wall beside my head. Then the other. Completely surrounding me.

My eyes narrowed immediately. "What do you want?"

He looked down at me, his expression unreadable. And when he spoke, his voice remained calm. "I want you to stop acting as though you are above everyone else."

I stared at him for one whole second, then a laugh escaped me, short and disbelieving.

His brows drew together. "You think that’s amusing?"

"Very." I looked directly into his eyes. "Do you know what this reminds me of?"

He didn’t answer.

"It’s the pot calling the kettle black."

The muscles in his jaw tightened. His blue eyes sharpened, irritation flashing openly across his face.

I continued before he could interrupt. "You accuse me of looking down on everyone." I tilted my head slightly. "That’s rich coming from you, Reign Valemont."

His expression darkened further.

I gestured vaguely toward him and kept my voice calm despite the anger simmering beneath it. "Find a mirror and look at yourself. Then next time... you’ll know who’s who before opening your mouth."