City of Andratia

It was only near the city that I could truly grasp its size. The walls were around 8 or 10 meters tall, stretching all around the settlement. A few guards watched us closely as we passed through the gates.

A great bustle filled the inner streets, and a vast marketplace welcomed everyone who stepped in, with a variety of vendors announcing their products. Each stand was different from the others. Some sold meat and fruits, others displayed wands and glowing stones that looked similar to the one Nina was wearing.

"What are those things?" I asked, pointing at some items displayed in a nearby stand.

"They're magical artifacts."

"Like the one in your necklace?"

"Yes, the stone jade is one of the best kinds of conduit," she said proudly.

I was used to seeing magic as grand spectacles in scenes from epic movies, but here it was everywhere. People carried all sorts of artifacts. Some wore stones as accessories in necklaces or bracelets, and others held massive staffs. Even kids dashed into the crowd, waving sticks that imitated wands.

But in this world, it didn't look like grand spectacles. It was part of their routine.

As we moved deeper into the city, people greeted Nina at every step she took, and more and more figures appeared wearing the same uniform as hers, receiving the same treatment.

"Seems like everyone knows you," I said.

A subtle smile formed on her lips. "Andratia is famous for its Magic School. Students from all over come here to study. It's normal for people to treat us with respect."

"You came from outside too?" I looked at her ears.

She didn't seem like a local. I mean... No one else had ears like hers. Even among all the different people we'd passed, none resembled her.

"I..." Her ears twitched beneath the hood.

Somehow, it felt like a delicate question. She kept them hidden for a reason. Maybe it bothered her.

"Sorry," I said. "You don't have to answer."

I didn't understand the reason for her hesitation. Maybe it was something people didn't often see? Anyway, she had her reasons, and I didn't want to sound nosy.

Coming from a world where such things were unthinkable, maybe I was too excited about meeting someone with features like hers. Not that I thought about it in a weird way, but it was hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't find it curious.

"I think you should show them more often, your ears are really beautiful."

Nina instantly stopped. Her face flushed, even redder than the color of her eyes.

I thought I had said something harmless, but her reaction proved me wrong. "Did I say something bad?"

She didn't answer, just resumed walking, stomping her feet.

"Let's go, we're not too far from the school," she said, gripping her hood.

I could barely keep up with her pace. Maybe I really said something wrong. She looked cheerful when I asked her about magic before, but now she was icy cold.

"Seriously, I'm sorry. I just wanted to say you shouldn't hide—"

Before I could finish the sentence, she turned around and punched me straight in the face.

The hit landed with such force that I crashed directly to the ground.

***

The school was far bigger than I had imagined. Its entrance reminded me of old Gothic architecture, with tall corridors that arched overhead. Sunlight poured through the windows, projecting perfect geometric shadows onto the stone floor.

Beyond the windows, my gaze caught the courtyard outside. A vast garden, perfectly kept. Flowering shrubs formed winding paths, and in the center, a stone fountain sprayed crystal clear water.

Teachers passed, surrounded by groups of students. Laughter echoed in the halls. And some students staggered forward, carrying a pile of books that was too tall for them to see where they were going.

I couldn't deny a certain charm in all that. Especially knowing that inside those classrooms, entire worlds of magic were waiting to be taught. My heart pounded with excitement thinking about it.

But I was there for another reason. Nina had brought me so I could talk with one of her professors, a specialist in summoning and teleportation magic. At least that's how she said it to me.

"So, this professor of yours can really help me find my sister?"

"Of course, if anyone knows about this kind of magic, it's him."

The way she spoke about him sounded confident. Still, I couldn't help but doubt if that was really the best choice.

I could be using that time to search for my sister, not following a girl who wasn't even sure this would work.

"You don't sound very convinced," she said.

"It's just that... What if he can't do anything? I'll have wasted all this time coming here, while my sister is still out there, in danger..."

"And your great idea is what? Run around yelling her name? The best we can do right now is ask someone who actually understands these things. Don't you think?"

She had a point. I had no clue about my sister. So running aimlessly wouldn't help.

"I just don't want her to wait for me too long," I said quietly.

"I can't promise she's safe, but sometimes we have to trust others to help us."

Hard to believe this was the same person who had punched me moments before over a comment about her ears.

Which, by the way, still hurts.

***

At last, we reached the teacher's office.

I sat on a nearby bench while Nina went to ask about the professor. The brief silence and tranquility gave me a chance to breathe after all the chaos that had happened.

While she spoke with the professors, students kept passing by in the corridor. Many glanced at her, whispering to each other. Fragments of conversations reached me.

"She came back to class..."

"Who would even dare to talk to her?"

"The ears."

I stood up, leaning against the wall, listening, trying to piece it all together. There was something off, something no one said clearly, but made the students snicker softly and trade quick glances. And for some reason, the focus wasn't on Nina herself, but her ears.

But why? What about them made people whisper like that? My mind filled with questions I couldn't answer, like a puzzle with missing pieces.

While I tried to understand, some boys leaned over to look at her more closely, but then quickly turned away when they noticed me watching.

The sunlight bathed Nina's back in a dramatic glow. She looked different, as if from a distance she seemed unreachable. I didn't know if it was curiosity or a warning signal, but my heart sped up. I wanted to ask her about the reason for the whispers, but at the same time, I was afraid of getting too close.

I couldn't hear her words anymore, as if time had slowed down, and I just watched her movements, her lips, while she obtained information from the professors.

Then she turned. Her brows furrowed, her eyes seemed to burn, and she marched straight to me with clenched fists.

"Wait... Nina...," I muttered, too stunned to react.

The impact came before I could even prepare myself. A clean punch. And once again, I hit the ground.