The first thing I noticed was the scent.
Lavender and moonfruit.
Then the soft ringing of bells, distant and crystalline, like they were chiming from inside a dream. I stirred beneath the mist-soft covers, reluctant to open my eyes, wrapped in a warmth I hadn't felt in days. The sheets carried the faintest shimmer of magic, like they'd been kissed by starlight.
I blinked up at the curved ceiling above my bed. It glowed with a gentle silver hue, changing slowly with the rising sun. The walls of our room held no corners, only curves—soft, seamless. Like we were living inside a pearl.
For a few breaths, I just lay there, letting the silence settle around me. Not silence exactly—more like stillness. The kind of peace that feels like it's holding its breath.
I glanced to my left. Riss was upside-down, hanging from her bed canopy like some sort of glittery bat, arms tucked behind her head. Her golden eyes were closed, but she was humming softly, something low and content. Her blanket had drifted halfway across the room, caught in the slow, magic-aided breeze.
Illyra was already up, sitting cross-legged on her perfectly made bed. Her galaxy-braided hair spilled down her back like a nebula, and a glowing book floated in front of her, pages turning with invisible fingers.
I sat up slowly, stretching.
Iri stirred in the back of my mind, like a flicker of wind ruffling through tall grass.
*Sleep well?* she asked softly.
"Better than I expected," I whispered.
*I stayed close.*
"I know," I murmured, touching my heart. "Thank you."
Neither of my roommates seemed to notice me talking to Aerie. Or if they did, they were polite enough not to comment.
A silvery chime sounded near the door—a signal. Soft orbs of light descended from the ceiling, hovering near the arch that led to the bathroom. Warmth followed them, like the sun rising behind a waterfall.
Riss cracked one eye open. "You should go first," she said, stretching like a cat. "New Moonborn perks."
"Are you sure?"
She waved a hand. "Bathroom remembers the first person in. Trust me—you want the mirror to learn *your* face, not mine."
Iliya didn't look up from her book. "We'll wait."
I nodded, quietly grateful, and made my way toward the glowing archway.
The bathroom took my breath away.
A domed space with a floor of pale stone veined in silver, and water flowing gently along the walls like living rivers. Crystals floated near the ceiling, casting soft light that shifted in color depending on where I stood. Everything was curved—no hard lines, no harsh corners.
The mirror pulsed as I approached, recognizing me.
I stared at my reflection.
Same face. Same blue eyes. Same auburn hair. But something was different.
The light caught something under my skin. A shimmer that hadn't been there before. Like moonlight trapped beneath the surface.
I touched the glass.
The mirror didn't ripple. It *breathed.*
Steam gathered as I stepped toward the shower alcove. Water fell from thin air in ribbons, warm and scented with something sweet and ancient. I let it soak into my hair, rinsing away yesterday's dirt, tension, and fear. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I felt clean.
The soap smelled like cloudberries and dusk.
I washed my hair slowly, savoring the softness in my limbs, the quiet in my chest. Aerie hummed inside me, a low, calm sound that matched the rhythm of the water.
Afterward, I wrapped myself in a robe the color of twilight and padded back to the room. A box waited on my bed, tied with silver ribbon.
Inside was my uniform.
Moonfang's colors: midnight blue and soft gray, with silver embroidery around the cuffs and collar. The tunic fit like it had been made just for me. The sash shimmered faintly as I tied it around my waist. Even the boots felt like clouds, despite their solid heels.
I looked at myself in the mirror again—this time, the small one hanging above my desk.
I looked like someone else.
Or maybe I finally looked like *me.*
My hair was still damp, curling gently at the ends. I pulled it back into a loose braid, letting a few strands fall around my face.
Just as I reached for my bag, my tablet buzzed.
A message from *Mom*.
> How's it going at Moonfang? Are you okay? Do you have your things? Is the food weird? Please message me back. I miss you already. Love you.
My fingers hesitated over the screen.
Then I typed:
> I'm okay. It's… different here. But kind of beautiful. I'll tell you more soon. Love you too.
I stared at the message a moment longer before sending it.
Riss peeked over my shoulder. "Family?"
"Yeah."
"She's gonna freak when she finds out you've got floating toast and gravity-shifting hallways."
"Floating *toast*?"
Riss grinned. "You'll see."
We made our way through the winding halls of Moon Hall, silver trim on our uniforms catching the early morning light. More students emerged from their rooms, each one dressed in variations of the same theme—elegant, magical, touched by moonlight.
When we stepped into the main corridor, my breath caught.
The Dining Atrium stood at the heart of the academy, a grand circular chamber with arching windows that stretched into the sky. The ceiling shimmered like water, reflecting the clouds above. Long tables wound like spirals across the room, and hovering trays drifted between them like enchanted ships, offering everything from star-bread to warm, sweet fogroot stew.
Music drifted from invisible instruments.
Laughter filled the air, quiet and curious.
Ilyra led us toward an empty table near the windows. Riss plopped down beside her, already reaching for a mug of steaming blue tea.
I sat last, my eyes still roaming the room.
It didn't feel like a dream anymore.
It felt like the beginning of something real.
And maybe—just maybe—I was ready for it.