(POV: Caspian Arcwright)
'I think I'm on ti...' Caspian thought as he stepped through the wide double doors of the academy's grand ballroom.
He noticed the hush that followed his entrance.
Conversations paused, eyes turned.
Why are they staring... Do I look odd?
Caspian instinctively adjusted his cufflinks, glancing down at himself.
He'd never put much effort into his appearance — tonight was the first ti he'd actually tried.
Maybe I overdid it...
He shook the thought off.
Whatever... I need food.
With that, he turned toward the banquet table, the scent of roasted at pulling him in.
"Hey, there you are!"
Caspian flinched as Lyrius appeared beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, thank God…" Caspian muttered under his breath.
He wasn't sure how long he could've endured those stares without soone breaking the awkward silence.
"You're dressed up for once." Lyrius smirked.
"Don't start," Caspian grumbled, picking up a plate.
They both chuckled — but soon enough, even Lyrius drifted away, blending into the crowd of students.
Alone again.
Caspian exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
His eyes wandered across the room — and that's when he saw her.
Her...
A woman stood by the far end of the hall — tall, graceful, and effortlessly captivating.
Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, catching the chandelier's glow. Erald green eyes scanned the room.
...A professor?
Caspian felt his heartbeat quicken.
She's... beautiful.
It wasn't like the fleeting admiration he sotis had — this was different.
There was sothing about her that struck him deeply, like he'd just witnessed a glimpse of perfection.
Focus... It's just a crush... I barely even know her...
"Caspian!"
A voice called out from behind. He blinked and turned around —
Vynesaa.
She stood just a few steps away, her flowing sapphire gown. The delicate silver ornants woven into her braided hair only added to her elegance.
For a mont, Caspian forgot what words were.
Beautiful... She's beautiful too...
'it's my first ti asking sorry to soone other than my brother ' Vynesaa thought.
"I... I'm sorry," Vynesaa said.
Caspian sighed heavily, unable to hide his frustration.
"It's fine," he muttered.
Vynesaa's breath hitched.
He sighed... He's disappointed in …
Her heart twisted painfully in her chest.
Why not? Even I'm disappointed in myself… What can I do to fix this? What can I do to make Caspian smile?
Her face turned red, her thoughts spiraling.
Then —
"Caspian!"
Another voice cut in.
Caspian turned once more — this ti to see Fianna Redmond standing just a few steps away.
Her crimson dress clung elegantly to her figure, and her white hair flowed in loose waves across her shoulders.
...She's beautiful.
"Will you dance with ?" Fianna asked, her voice sweet and confident.
"W-Will you dance with ?" Vynesaa asked at the sa ti.
Both girls blinked and stared at each other — then back at Caspian.
What?! Caspian's thoughts froze.
Two of the most stunning girls in the academy — both standing before him, asking him to dance.
What am I supposed to do?!
His mind spun in circles. His body tensed. His heart pounded.
And then — without thinking —
"Excuse for a mont," Caspian blurted out, turning on his heel.
Before either girl could respond, Caspian strode across the ballroom — straight to the blonde professor.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked, breathless.
The professor blinked, clearly surprised.
A few students nearby turned their heads, whispering curiously.
For a mont, there was only silence —
Then the professor smiled faintly.
"You're quite bold. But sure… one dance."
Caspian exhaled in relief as she took his hand.
He didn't even look back to see Vynesaa and Fianna's reactions.
I... definitely acted without thinking again... Caspian realized.
But as the music swelled and he moved to the dance floor —
His chest still felt tight.
He'd felt overwheld, cornered... so he'd done the first thing that ca naturally.
He walked away.
And now here he was — standing with her.
Professor.
She was nothing like the younger girls competing for attention tonight.
Caspian knew it was stupid — dangerous even — to think about her like this. She was a teacher, soone far above him.
Yet as they danced, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder, her palm warm against his, he couldn't stop himself from noticing her — really noticing her.
Her eyes locked on his, sharp yet calm.
"You're tense," She said softly, her voice like a gentle breeze cutting through his racing thoughts.
"Am I?" Caspian forced a smile, knowing full well he was.
His hand rested against her waist — warm, soft. He tried not to focus on it.
"You're frustrated about sothing," she added, her gaze narrowing slightly. "Or maybe soone?"
Caspian's breath hitched.
"It's nothing," he muttered, glancing away.
But her presence — her calm, collected presence — made it impossible to block out the whirlwind in his head.
Why did Vynesaa's betrayal bother him so much?
And then there was Fianna — her confidence, her smile.
Why was everything so complicated?
"You're thinking too hard," She said again, her lips curving slightly. "Relax."
Relax? How could he?
His fingers twitched slightly against her back.
The warmth of her skin through the silk fabric was impossible to ignore.
Her scent — faintly floral yet not overwhelming — seed to cloud his mind further.
Damn it.
He closed his eyes for a brief second, forcing the thoughts down. It wasn't right. She was his teacher.
But that didn't stop the feeling — the flicker of sothing unfamiliar and frustrating building inside him.
Was this attraction? No, it couldn't be. Maybe it was the stress — the pressure of the entrance exam, the disappointnt with Vynesaa, the constant weight of being watched by everyone.
Maybe he just... wanted comfort. Sothing steady, sothing certain.
But no — that wasn't true either.
He wanted soone to comfort him.
He felt like a fool — like a child — unable to control himself.
"Are you alright?" Professor voice broke through his thoughts again, quieter this ti — almost concerned.
"Yeah," Caspian lied. His throat was dry. "Just... a lot on my mind."
"You shouldn't. Burdens like that... they wear you down faster than you realize." She said.
He almost laughed. If only she knew. If only she knew about the mories that weren't his own — the ghosts of fallen souls of Monsters whispering in the back of his mind. If only she knew how much he had lost just to stand here today.
Instead, he smiled faintly. "I'll be fine."
The song neared its end, and professor hand slipped from his shoulder.
For a brief second, Caspian felt the warmth fade — leaving only the cold air against his skin.
"You're stronger than you think," she said, stepping back. "Don't let anyone make you forget that."
Her words lingered long after she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Caspian stood frozen.
But the fool didn't know his end was near.....
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