I had sunk into the tree, not literally, I was just incredibly superbly relaxed while conducting a thank-you speech to the many people who helped me when it happened. Two applicants had barely reached the finish line, with a third right at their heels, followed by a golden light, sort of like a halo. At first, I thought it was dawn breaking, but I knew it was light magic once it kept growing.   

The intensity of it burned the trees it surrounded and began burning my face. I don't think I have to explain how light and dark are essentially opposites, yet both exist within the realm of the other. I like to think of it in terms of a family. Light and dark are sisters, with darkness being the oldest of the two. Each attribute shares some characteristics of the other siblings. For example, darkness and earth are close together, air and water are in the middle, and fire and light are on the other end. All siblings have a specific role to play. However, in recent years, some mages are proficient with two or three attributes due to mixing bloodlines. Then how do we narrow down our attribute? Some never do. They can use them well interchangeably. The supreme matriarchs are capable of using all attributes, which come from achieving mastery over their mana. It is a skill very few mages possess. But, just like there is always a dominant hand, a dominant eye, and a side that you prefer to sleep on, there is your strongest attribute. One that comes as naturally as breathing.  

Back to the main point, it stands to reason that dark mages would be averse to light mages. As people, we can get along, but our interactions are mostly negative. Perhaps because of what happened in the past during the war between the temple’s light mages and the dark mages who sided against the temple’s teachings. Or maybe it’s just how some people can’t get along, like vampires and werewolves or mermaids and sirens. Either way, our respective attributes hurt the other when one dominates the other. In this case, that light burned me because it was infused with much stronger mana than I possess. It was strong enough to burn the trees, so I was in trouble.  

Despite the treatment, I couldn’t move my left arm from my eyes, and my right arm still hurt. Even though it hurt, I tried pulling my weight to the right side. No good, I wasn’t moving fast enough. I would have been burned to a crisp like meat over fire had someone not grabbed and pulled me to the other side of the tree.  

It took a while for my eyes to readjust to see who had kindly helped me. Beside me, crouched down to avoid the light burst, was a pair of dark-as-coal eyes that not even the burst of light could brighten. He took my breath away. His eyes were cold but beautiful, he had a tall and slender nose. Honestly, his features were as if they were chiseled by a master. The only imperfection I could find was a small scar on his left eyebrow, lightly marring his soft olive skin. I think I forgot to breathe for a second.  

He was and still is so beautiful. All elves have beauty as a trademark but, some are ethereal, as if they don’t belong to this world at all.  

He wasn’t staring at me, of course. It was only me, who was taking on his features while his eyes looked to his right waiting for the burst to end. I didn’t even see anything apart from him. I had an embarrassing moment of getting caught staring when his eyes turned to look at me. I shied away, my face hot from being caught. I wanted to apologize, but something lodged in my throat, and I couldn’t let out the words.  

I peeked again at him, wondering if I could steal another hard look. Thankfully, his attention had moved somewhere else. Now his eyes were focused on the person walking through the goal line. I knew her name before I met her. Everyone knew her name. She was and still is famous, Emilia Clare.  

She walked bathed in sunlight, shining brightly like a tiny sun. My breath caught in my throat as I saw his eyes. Their dark color took on a slight sheen at seeing her. It stung, and in my stupid mind, I rationalized it as a trick of the eye. Believing there was no way he would have feelings for someone, I can’t believe I thought, out of his reach. There was no conceivable way a dark elf would like a light mage, especially one already called the future crown princess. I feel dumb for thinking so close-minded, but if I thought like that, it meant I had a chance. If I believed his feelings would never reach her, mine would. And so, I planted the tiny seed growing in my heart.  

He and I stayed behind that tree while we watched, or rather I watched both, mostly him, as he watched her receive a red uniform. Each star rank had a color trim to the standard navy uniform. A five-star is gold, a four-star is purple, a three-star is red, a two-star is blue, and a one-star is gray. 

“Such a display for a low rank,” someone nearby sneered.  

“Tch, she’s probably trying to stay near the common races who can’t do better than a three-star.” Another creature chimed in.  

“What if she just burned through all her mana with that burst to show off?” I didn't know who said it, but they sounded very jealous.

“Maybe she did that to see who’ll approach her?” Another voice said their peace.

Everyone had their own opinion on the second star of the test. The first was the prince, obviously. He had not come with her. which meant he was still collecting scrolls. I left before the prince crossed the finish line because I wanted to bathe, but I heard he passed with forty-five scrolls later. An incredibly impressive number, nothing less expected from the future Emperor of the Knoles Empire. 

The dark elf’s expression didn’t change, but I could tell he wasn’t happy with what was being said. My stomach took that moment to growl loudly. Blood rushed to my face as I lowered my gaze. I quietly prayed he had not heard my bold stomach. 

“Here,” the dark elf held a round piece of bread inside a cloth. I’m not a person who would quickly say ‘no’ to food. Plus, it would be rude not to take it now that he offered it. I carefully took it from the cloth. Once I did, he stood up and began walking away. I wanted to thank him at least, but the words were stuck deep inside my chest. Where they remained until our second meeting. I cursed at myself for being like I was, but there was nothing I could do after he had already left. I didn’t see him after that either, not until classes officially began.  

And then I remembered I stunk, he must have smelled the mud, the boar, the bugs, sweat, and maybe more. Thankfully he didn’t recoil. Didn’t show an ounce of recognition of my horrible smell. Then I remembered the fact that he couldn’t smell me was good. My blood lineage and what my grandfather had taught me left my mind with a pretty elf’s eyes. I’m sure if grandfather or even father had seen me, he wouldn’t have hesitated to smack some sense into me. But they weren’t the ones I would have listened to anyway.