Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1: Fairy Fate
Lyra adjusted the huge bag tied to her back for the tenth time, even though it wasn’t helping her nervousness at all. This was her first time stepping out of her home… the only place she had known since forever. A tiny wooden hut hidden deep, deep inside the forest, where sunlight barely touched the ground and the air always smelled like old magic and wildflowers.
That was her whole world.
Just her and her mother.
Her sweet mother who always spoke softly, always smiled warmly, always kept her close as if the world outside would swallow her. Lyra had never seen anyone else before not even once. She grew up thinking maybe it was just them in the world. Just two hearts living quietly far away from everything.
Then the invitation came.
A paper that glowed faintly, landing right in front of their hut like it had wings. Her mother held it for a long time before telling her the truth… that there were other people in the world. Many. Creatures she had never seen. A whole kingdom. A whole life Lyra never knew existed.
She didn’t even know how to feel.
Excited? Scared? Both?
What if people were kind, like her mother?
Or… cruel, like the stories her mother warned her about?
She sighed shakily, staring at the unfamiliar path ahead until she spotted the huge building peeking above the trees.
Nocturne Academy.
Just the outside alone made her freeze in place. It wasn’t like anything she had ever seen before. Tall black towers touching the sky, glowing symbols around the walls, arches shaped like wings and claws. The academy felt alive, like it was watching her approach.
She reached the gate just as a group of students ahead of her walked in. The moment they stepped through, a shimmering shield closed behind them.
Lyra panicked and ran, trying to slip in before it sealed completely, but as soon as she touched the barrier—
Boom.
The shield blasted her backward.
She hit the ground hard, her breath knocked out of her chest. Pain spread across her arms and back, and she winced as she pushed herself up slowly.
“W-What was… that…” she whispered, rubbing her elbow.
The shield still glowed in front of her, beautiful but intimidating. She hesitated before reaching out again, unsure if she should. Her fingertips were just about to touch the magic when—
“I’m sure you’ll regret that.”
Lyra jerked her hand back and turned quickly.
A girl stood behind her. Beautiful. Pale. Expressionless. She stared at Lyra like she had crawled out of the dirt.
Lyra smiled nervously. “Hello…”
The girl didn’t smile back.
“Where are you from? The ground?” she asked, voice flat.
Lyra blinked and shook her head lightly.
The girl scoffed. “Use your admission letter to get access. The shield only opens for that.” And just like that, she turned and walked in without even glancing back.
Lyra watched her leave, then whispered softly, “Thanks…”
She was smiling because she was talking to someonesomeone, someone who wasn’t her mother. It felt strange, but in a nice way.
She pulled out the glowing invitation and held it toward the shield. The magic reacted instantly, scanning the paper with a soft hum before the barrier parted like opening water.
Lyra stared at it for a moment, afraid but also curious. Then she finally stepped through.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Inside the academy was… unbelievable.
Students filled the courtyard. Some walked in groups, talking loudly. Some sat alone under the tall trees reading glowing books. A few stood in circles practicing spells sparks of magic flying around like tiny stars. She spotted a bridge leading over a sparkling river, and beyond that, a huge waterfall where students lounged with books or chatted softly.
Her mouth hung open the entire time.
Everything was so bright, so alive, so full of things she had never imagined.
People stared at her as she passed, whispering. Their eyes lingered on her face, her hair, She didn’t understand why, but she just kept smiling politely.
If only she knew…
They weren’t staring because she looked strange.
They were staring because she was the most beautiful fairy they had ever seen maybe the most beautiful girl in the entire kingdom.
Lyra tried asking a few students for directions, but no one answered. They only glared at her, their eyes cold, as if she had no right to speak to them.
She lowered her gaze, swallowing the tiny lump forming in her throat.
Then someone tapped her back gently.
Lyra turned. A very beautiful girl with long curly hair smiled at her.
“What do you want?” the girl asked, but her tone was surprisingly friendly.
“I’m new here,” Lyra said softly. “I don’t know where to go. No one answered me.”
“Ohh.” The girl’s smile grew a little. “They’re ignoring you because you’re a fairy. It’s… normal here. Come, I’ll take you to registration.”
Lyra frowned. “What is wrong with being a fairy?”
The girl shrugged lightly as they began walking. “You’ll find out later.”
And with that, the academy swallowed Lyra deeper inside… her quiet steps leading her into a world she didn't know.