With your gentle teacher

The academy felt too large for her. Everything was unfamiliar—the stone paths, the quiet halls, the way magic seemed to linger in the air like something alive. She stayed a step behind Elarion, fingers lightly gripping her sleeve. He didn’t look back, but he slowed just enough.

They stopped near an open training space where two students were already there. Mia noticed first, her eyes lighting up as she walked over immediately. “Wait—who’s that?” she asked, not even waiting.

Ken didn’t move, only glancing once before looking away.

“This is—” Mia started, then paused.

“She’ll be studying here,” Elarion said calmly.

Mia smiled brightly. “Hi! I’m Mia!”

She blinked, a little overwhelmed. “…h-hi.”

“She’s new,” Ken said without looking at her.

“Obviously,” Mia replied, nudging him lightly.

Ken didn’t respond, but this time he looked at her a little longer. “…be careful,” he said quietly.

She didn’t understand, but nodded anyway.

Time passed in small moments—lessons, practice, mistakes. Many mistakes.

Later, Elarion stopped at a quiet hallway and opened a door. “This is your room.”

She stepped inside. It was simple, clean… and still. Too still. Another door rested against the far wall, slightly open.

“That leads to mine,” he said.

She looked at it, then back at him. “…okay.”

He placed a book on the desk. “Start with this.”

She sat down and opened it carefully. The symbols looked complicated, but she tried anyway.

“You’re holding the pen too tightly,” he said from behind her.

She flinched slightly. “I—I’m trying…”

“I know.”

He stepped closer, reached past her, and adjusted her hand. “Like this.”

His voice was steady. She tried again, and this time the line didn’t shake.

“…good,” he said quietly.

She smiled a little.

After some time, he noticed the dust and unused space in the room and began cleaning without a word.

She blinked. “…you don’t have to—”

“It’s fine.”

So she helped. Clumsy, slow, but trying. At one point she nearly knocked something over, but he caught it before it fell.

“…careful.”

“…sorry…”

“It’s alright.”

By the time they finished, the room didn’t feel empty anymore.

Evening settled in quietly. She sat at the desk again, book open, trying, failing, trying again. Her movements slowed, her head dipping slightly, then more.

Elarion noticed, but said nothing.

A moment later she leaned too far.

He moved before she fell.

Her head rested lightly against his shoulder.

She didn’t wake.

Her breathing softened, steady and quiet. He stayed still, not moving her, not waking her.

For a moment, his gaze lowered slightly, studying her—not as a student, not as a problem. Just… quietly.

“…you’ll have to learn properly,” he murmured.

She shifted slightly, still asleep.

He adjusted his position just enough so she wouldn’t slip—

and stayed like that until she woke.