WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKE nine, all 25 students that were selected for the Advanced Class were assembled inside the lecture hall include six instructors, all lined at the front of the hall. Each pair of eyes scanned the students, without any hint of smiles and only amusement in their eyes of what would become to these batch of students for the next three months.

One particular instructor; one with dark green eyes and unnerving focus and kept on looking at her way like she had grown a second head. Behind the curtain of long dark front hair, Stella was doing the same (though she did not know if the man knew she was doing so).

That man.

She knew she had seen him somewhere. Was it last week? Was it that night? The night where she had wished that she was better off dead and be done with, was it?

"Good morning and welcome for all of you who had been chosen to enter the Advanced Class for your preparation before entering the world of your passion and wonders of trained magic wielders at the Royale University at the capital this April," said Professor York, director of Chamberly Institute. 

He was recently appointed for the position back in November last year. He looked professional and clean with his crisp cut suit adorned his tall and lean frame though no one would ever figure that he was over 40 years old. It may because of his young and childlike face but he did try to hide it with a pair of square spectacles without a frame.

"Before that, I want to congratulate you because once again you had braved another challenging year and give you my condolences for that you will have to prepare yourself for the next three months before the Grand Assessment that will be held in late March, I assure you."

Upon hearing the news, many of the students sighed and some – especially the back row seats began to murmur their restlessness.

"And just like the seniors before you, following the tradition, this year the institute will host Maximus Festival at Kawah Stadium which your Grand Assessment will take place. On the day of the festival, I together with a few panels from Royale University will assess how far have your magic grows and it will decide whether it is wise for you to go further your study at the Royale University or not. Need not for me to remind you one thing, even if your prep class was done at the capital, it doesn't guarantee your seat to the university. So do not fret and show us how much you have learned as a student at this institute," he ended his speech with a controlled expression.

He was rather brutally honest and straight-forward for a director to give a speech for his esteemed listless students. If Gitto was beside her right now, he would have said that the director was bonkers and that he would say that he would pass the assessment with flying colours. But Gitto was not here. The students were panicking and she wanted to panic too but she cannot. She does not know how to and for assurance, she was the most unexpressive person inside this lecture hall aside from the Wisdoms. They did not seem to bother about the news.

How on earth was she going to pass this ordeal if she cannot even conjure a spell? To start with, there was not a single low aptitude magic wielder in this hall and she was a non-magic wielder trying to be part of something she was not meant to be part of.

Ever since elementary school, they had measured their aptitude and possibilities of growing into. While they had learned many basic subjects that did not involve with magic so that the children knew the basic of life but starting fourth grade, the gap of talents started to show. The subject starts to cover more about the basis of magic, the kids start to conjure paper birds and the bullying...

Her chance to show possibilities stops when they entered sixth grade. Her parents had tried many things and they even brought her to meet with the psychology expert because magic can conjure when one has emotion and healthy mental strength. They said she had neither. She knew that she had neither. At least she believed that she did not have one of those. She was classified as a non-magical wielder or correctly termed as alexithymia.

"As a reward, when the festival ends, the institute will celebrate your hard work by organizing Nolie's Night," Professor York announced which was received with a delightful cheer from the students. Some even started to whistling and shy glances were exchanged. The lecture hall was basically turned into a concert hall that the director had to raise both his hands and clapped. The sound echoed throughout the lecture hall and everyone falls silent.

"Nolie's Night was possible this year because of our seer contribution, Mrs. Shea, who had seen our magnolia tree, bloomed the night of the festival. After ten years of the draught of flowers, we are to be blessed this year by the presence of Nolie spirits. So I want your undivided attention and determination to make your last semester a memorable one."

Stella's right arm was lightly tapped. It was Jacq.

"Nolie's Night is a social dinner?" he asked in a hushed voice.

She nodded.

"There'll be a dance?"

Again she nodded.

Jacq bit his lip. He then turned to face his twin who was quiet and unmoving until Jacq whispered something in her ear. Then they both continued to talk in whispered tone and Stella threw her glance back to the front row; to the man that never tried to hide his sole attention to her. 

The whole time the director was giving his speech that man never wavered. He sat at his seat, unmoving throughout the speech. Stella did not know what to make out of this situation. Was she supposed to just stare at him like what she did for the past ten minutes or she had to acknowledge him somehow? It was something that she cannot understand, looking at him – at his pair of dark green eyes. It was as if she was looking into Gitto's eyes when in actuality that boy has dark brown almost black irises. There was no resemblance in those two yet, there she was, itched to stand and go to the man to ask one question.

Who are you?

When Professor York started to speak again, Stella finally could divert her eyes from kept on looking his way. "Before I end my speech, I give you my best regards and thank you for keep on trusting us to guide you so that you could walk on your chosen path. And also I am grateful to have the Wisdoms as our students as well," he said.

All 25 students stand including Stella. She and her fellow put their hand on top of their hearts. Their hands started to glow except for hers, of course. Then they thrust out their hands to the instructors and Professor York. 

The gesture was their ways of expressing thank you and respect to one who had given them knowledge throughout their students' lives and for the next three months to come. Although she does not have single emotion and her hand does not glow with magic, her intention was the same as others. This institute still picked her among others to study and prepare here. She vowed that she will find whatever means to pass her Grand Assessment.

*****

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HER class only consisted of five students.

Two of them were the Wisdoms. She did not know if it was a coincidence or both of them choose to be in the same class as her during the briefing session a few minutes ago. One thing she knew though, the other students all waited for her to pick her choice of class when Mrs. Honeycutt distributed the class form. She could feel their menacing eyes peeping behind her back. They all wanted to avoid sharing the same class as her but the Wisdoms were truly something else. As for the other two, it seems that there was a lucky draw as who would be chosen to be in the same class as her.

It was not a wonder that they did not want to be in the same class as her. Fifty percent of their Grand Assessment marks depended on class teamwork while she, on the other hand, became a black sheep of the group.

"Stell!"

Her wrist was tugged, forcing her body to spin to face the boy behind her. Gitto's worried expression greeted her. "Gitt," she called.

They were standing in an empty hallway in the senior division building. Most of the students are still in class and the majority of Advanced Class students either already went back home or went to the library or went to the cafeteria.

"You okay? They didn't bully you, did they?" he asked rapidly. His eyes were wild searching any kind of bruise or dirt that might mar her body.

"I'm okay," she said.

Gitto looked at her, suspecting any lies but he knew her well and he sighed. His body slumped and he put his head on her shoulder. "I'm so gonna kick them till they beg for mercy."

Stella rubbed his hair softly. It was a gesture that Gitto taught her back when they were in elementary. He said that the act made him ease a little. "You don't have to. I don't mind."

"But I do,"

"Thank you," she offered.

He hugged her. Firm and warm. It enveloped her that it made her remember all her morning routines. That warm ray of sunshine when it kissed her skin. His hugs had always made her feel something. It was indescribable and sometimes she wanted to assume that this feeling that she felt was what people call it love.

"How was class?" she asked remembered that her best friend was repeating a year.

He scoffed. "Boring... I have to learn the same thing all over again and this time there's no you. So I skipped class," he answered, and at the end of his word he laughed a little. 

"I was so worried Stell. I scared that what happened when we were elementary could happen again now that I wasn't with you."

"It wasn't that bad."

"It was bad! My heart could fail at that time when I saw you got dragged like a rag doll."

"It was all in the past. Now they don't even want to be in the same class as I do."

His body went stiff. Then slowly he relaxes against her embrace. "You can do it. I know you do."

As much she did not want to part with him, she lets him go. Their eyes met. Those dark brown eyes looked at her with strength and determination. His hand rubbed her cheeks. That feather-light touch made her heart grew.

"Let's show them that they can't mess with my Stella," he spoke softly yet there was fierce in his tone.

Ah.

Stella realized why she thought that man's eyes were like Gitto's. There was a flame in them. A flame that cannot be stocked and she wondered whether or not should she tell him about that man.