Walking around the bustling market, I couldn’t help but notice the indiscreet mitres thrown my way as I passed. So curious, so admiring, and well... so not so innocent. My long hair, which I hadn’t cut in over a year, fluttered gently in the wind, it was ti to cut it, it had beco a nuisance.
The incident with that drunk in the tavern hadn’t been the only one. A group of n, confused by my appearance, tried to approach in a nearby alley. Their intentions were unclear, but their lust subtly sparkled. Without thinking twice, with precise and quick movents, I left them lying on the ground and hit them again and again until I learned my lesson. I ca out unscathed but the situation left with a bitter taste in my mouth. I was tired of being mistaken for a woman. It was ti for a change.
I couldn’t put it off any longer. I made up my mind and headed to a small hairdressing shop I knew near the market. The atmosphere was pleasant and the place was decorated with colorful fabrics and antique mirrors, and the scent of herbs and essential oils filled the air. The stylist, an older woman with deft hands, greeted with an understanding smile.
"What am I doing to you today?" she asked, looking at my hair with professional interest.
"Cut it," I said with determination. "I want it to look practical. Nothing to cover my face."
The woman nodded and began to work. With each strand that fell to the floor, I began to feel relieved. When she finished, I looked in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile. My face, previously hidden under a curtain of hair, was now uncovered, showing more defined features and a bright expression. I left the place feeling lighter and more relaxed.
The journey back to the academy was calm, fortunately I didn’t encounter any other inconveniences, it almost felt like the world had decided to give a break. The streets were less crowded, and the fresh afternoon air caressed my newly discovered face.
It wasn’t long before I arrived at the academy, the first thing I did was report to Professor Veronica. She was in her office, surrounded by books and scrolls. Upon seeing , she raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"It seems that the trip wasn’t easy," she comnted, observing my new look.
"It never has been," I replied with a smile.
The professor nodded in approval and I said goodbye, walking through the halls of the place as soon as I reached the boys’ dormitories, without hesitation I went straight to my room. The room was simple, with a bed, a desk and a small shelf full of books and potions. I dropped onto the bed, feeling the tiredness of the day, but also a sense of satisfaction.
***
The next morning was accompanied by the welco speech for the new students. While they were speaking up on the platform, I wasn’t too excited to be surrounded by so many people, but it was sothing I couldn’t help. This was because it was a mandatory event for all cadets at Nova. The room was packed, and from here I could see the expressions on their faces, so with expressions of excitent and others, like , with a mix of nervousness and boredom.
As the speech continued, from ti to ti you could see yawn discreetly, trying to hide the boredom that threatened to consu . The speaker, a high-ranking officer, spoke passionately about the values of the academy, discipline and honor. Although his words were inspiring, my mind wandered between thoughts of what the future would hold for in this place.
The next morning ca the welco speech for the new students. I wasn’t too excited to be surrounded by so many people, but I couldn’t miss it either. It was a mandatory event for all cadets at Nova, and although I preferred the solitude of my room, I knew I had no choice. The main hall of the academy was filled with young people in impeccable uniforms, so with expressions of excitent and others, like , with a mix of nervousness and boredom.
The speech began with welcoming words from the vice-chancellor, a tall man with a penetrating gaze who seed to have seen more battles than he could count. His strong voice resonated, filling the entire room, full of authority. He spoke about the values of the academy, discipline, honor, and the importance of serving one’s country.
Suddenly sothing caught my attention. The vice-chancellor ntioned sothing about a joint class that would be held in the next few months, a unique opportunity for the most outstanding cadets. My eyes widened a little more and my posture straightened.
The speech ended with a wave of applause, as I left the room I couldn’t help but feel a small spark of excitent.
Walking through the halls of the academy I soon arrived at class A, this ti I was the first to appear. The classroom was empty, a harmonious silence ran through it, with only the sound of the clock marking the passage of ti. I looked for a seat in the back, near the window, from where I could see the gardens of the academy. I didn’t know how much ti had passed, but when I looked up, the teacher was already in the front, looking at with an expression I couldn’t decipher.
"Cyan, could you co solve this problem?" the teacher said, pointing at the board.
Although I didn’t want to get up, I knew it wasn’t an option. I stood up from my seat and walked to the front, feeling the gazes of my classmates fixed on . When I reached the board, I looked at the problem that was written on it. It was a complex equation, full of symbols and mana variables that seed to dance before my eyes. But, instantly, a solution appeared in my mind, as if I were hypnotized. I took the chalk and began to write, solving each of the steps with a precision that I didn’t even know I had.
My hands moved on their own, tracing lines and numbers on the tablet. It seed that I was completely absorbed in the problem. The murmurs of my classmates faded into the background, and all that existed was the board and . After a few monts I dropped the chalk back into its place and returned to my desk. Everyone’s eyes were on , but I didn’t care.
The teacher didn’t say a word, she just stared at the board for a few seconds, before taking a picture of the solution. After a few minutes she was able to speak: "Well done, Cyan," she said before continuing with the class. I sat back down in my seat, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction.
The class moved on, but my mind was already sowhere else, thinking about the joint class the teacher had ntioned. What would it entail? Nothing like this had ever happened in the novel. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitent and anxiety.
When class ended, I stayed in my seat for a mont longer, watching my classmates leave the classroom. So gave curious glances, others simply continued with their conversations.
As I left the classroom I decided to take a little walk through the gardens trying to clear my mind a bit. The fresh air and the sound of the birds helped relax. I walked along the stone paths, passing fountains and statues depicting fallen heroes of the holy war. Each one had a plaque with their na and a brief description of their achievents. I stopped in front of one in particular, that of a young cadet who had sacrificed his life to save his comrades during the war. His face, carved in stone, seed to look at with a mixture of determination and sadness.
I continued my way, finally arriving at the academy library, it was an imposing and ancient building, its shelves extended to the ceiling filled with all kinds of docunts, from novels to magical items. I decided to go inside and look for sothing that would help strengthen myself physically. After a few minutes of searching, I found a book titled "Strategies for combat and tactics for the mission." I took it and sat at a table beginning to read.
The hours passed quickly, and I had long since read all of its volus, now I continued with similar books. From them I learned about infiltration tactics, handling high-risk situations, and how to lead a team in extre conditions. Every book I read was a hidden gem that strengthened my understanding of this world.
When I finally stopped reading, the sun was already beginning to set, dyeing the sky orange and pink. I stood up from my seat and laid out all the books I had read, feeling a new sense of determination.
As I left the library, sothing on the counter caught my eye. Red hair that seed to subtly shine under the dim light of the lamps. She was at the reception desk, holding a luxuriously covered book in her hands. Looking closer, I noticed it was a romance novel, one of those with covers of couples embracing in the rain or in dramatic landscapes. Alia, who always displayed a haughty and serious attitude, had those hobbies. Now that was not what I expected!
Without hesitation, I approached her with a slight smile on my lips. I don’t know why but I could make fun of her, I wanted to tease her a little. After all, seeing her holding a romance book was sothing new.
"Hi, Alia," I said, trying to keep a casual tone, though the smile on my face gave away my intentions. "What do you have there? An advanced tactics manual?" I asked, leaning in close enough to see the cover of the book.
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