Even at breakfast the next morning, my classmates hardly know anything other than my fight from the day before.

I left the field shortly after the headmistress and looked for a way back to the tents to change. On the way there, everyone I met congratulated me.

Just as I had taken off my shoes, my friends stormed into the tent and took me by surprise. All the concerns and worries that had stood between us before the fight were forgotten.

Levi also hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear that he always knew I would win. I couldn't resist nudging him in the side for that. He was also the one who gave me back my dagger that Trey had thrown across the arena.

I wanted to look for it later, when most of the people were eating, but my friends put a stop to that. They couldn't stop raving about my fight, especially when they got to the part where I let my magic run free and revealed it to everyone.

When I mentioned her, she started to tingle under my skin with excitement and draw attention to herself. She was already ready for the next fight or the next demonstration of power. I, on the other hand, was less so.

Even though I didn't have any wounds, scratches or anything like that from the fight - my magic has healed everything that could have been painful in the meantime - the events of the last few days were still deeply etched in my memory.

I'm definitely ready for the holidays. In four days I'll have to say goodbye to my friends and go back home.

My parents are leaving on the evening of the ball because they have to attend an important meeting the next day that they can't postpone under any circumstances.

After dinner, I went back to our cabin with Alivia. Levi and Jaxon wanted to make bets for the upcoming tournament with some friends and collect their winnings from today's fights. My friend hadn't bet on the fights, so she couldn't win anything. She thinks gambling is a waste of time and, above all, a waste of money.

Jaxon replied that it was just a waste of money if you don't know how to win. And so Alivia and I spent the rest of the evening in our beds and tried to talk a little more about boys. We didn't get very far, though, because we were both fast asleep after the first five minutes. Shortly afterwards, the sun came up and we had to get up again.

Today is the first day that the third-graders will have their tournament fights. I'm really excited to see who will emerge as the winner.

My classmates probably feel the same way, but the snippets of conversation I overhear in the cafeteria don't suggest that. They're still talking nonstop about the Star Warrior vs. Troll fight.

I let my gaze wander over the individual tables and try to find Trey. He is sitting with his friends at a table at the other end of the cafeteria and appears to be having a passionate discussion with them. Gesticulating wildly, they try to convince each other of their arguments.

Seemingly out of the blue, Trey suddenly stops what he is saying and lets his arms fall. He turns away from his friends and looks directly at me. He must have sensed that I was watching him.

At first he looks at me a little confused, but then a mischievous grin spreads across his face. His friends notice that he is no longer paying attention to them and follow his gaze to me. Suddenly his entire table is staring at me and I wish I hadn't looked for him.

My magic starts to flicker and I feel it wanting to break out. I hold it back with difficulty. I knew that it would be difficult to control it once I let it out of its cage. But I couldn't have predicted that it would want to intervene even in a situation like this.

Trey raises a hand and waves to me. I respond with a nod and he turns back to his friends, who already seemed to be waiting eagerly for his further explanation. Trey doesn't mind being the center of conversation. So I should worry less about him and concentrate on my friends instead.

Levi and Jaxon are just coming back to our table and are raving about their winnings, which they were able to collect yesterday thanks to me, among other things. Alivia rolls her eyes and groans in annoyance. Jaxon immediately responds to her signals and skillfully changes the subject.

»So the prom...« he begins and Alivia jerks herself upright.

Her eyes start to shine every time someone mentions the prom. But it's a prom like any other. We already had one in the last phase and will have one again in the next one.

Although the next time will be really special for us, as it will be our last prom at this school. And last time it was also unique, because it was our first prom as students at the Phoenix Academy.

But this time?

One of many.

Alivia loves to dress up and takes every opportunity to do so. When it comes to proms, Jaxon is right on her toe. »Do you two already have someone you're going with?« he asks innocently.

Ouch, that was the wrong question.

Of course we don't have anyone yet. But that's not so much because no one has asked us yet, but rather because it wasn't the right person. Although that's not entirely true either.

Alivia has already been asked out by very, very many boys, but she turned every single one down. Every time I ask her, she has a different excuse. One was too short, the next too tall, too skinny or too strong, too attractive or too ugly, nobody was perfect. But she hasn't asked one yet and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't turn him down.

It's a different story for me. My title as Princess of Lux puts my male classmates off asking me out. That's why I haven't been able to turn anyone down or say yes to anyone yet. »Nobody has asked me yet,« I answer quickly, before Alivia lets something slip that she would later regret.

Levi looks at me in surprise. »Really?«

I shake my head slightly.

»Oh man, and this school is supposed to bring you closer to the common people. It's crazy that they're still so afraid of you,« Levi skillfully sums up my thoughts.

»I don't think your performance yesterday helped to ease their fears,« Jaxon chimes in.

»Oh, nonsense. The others aren't afraid of her. They just think that Micah already has a date,« Alivia corrects us.

»Oh yeah?« I ask.

»Who?« Levi wants to know too. Curious, he leans over the table and waits for Alivia's answer.

Alivia just grins broadly and shrugs her shoulders. »How should I know? Do I look like I can read minds?«

»Come on, Liv, tell me,« Levi urges my best friend.

She gives me a quick glance. I'm no less excited than the boys to hear what she's about to tell us.

»Okay.« She rolls her eyes again. »You probably would have figured it out yourself at some point. I might as well tell you now. So listen carefully. I won't repeat myself.«

Levi leans even further over the table so as not to miss a word from her mouth. His shirt is almost hanging in his breakfast.

»So our dear classmates think that Micah is going to the prom with someone in particular.«

»Don't make it so exciting,« Levi begs.

I'm more fascinated by his immense curiosity than the fact that our classmates think I have a steady boyfriend.

»They think that Micah is accompanied by a puck. And that puck is you, Levi. They think you're going to the prom with Micah,« Alivia finally lets out the secret.

»What!?« Levi blurts out.

This revelation shocks him so much that he loses his balance and lands directly on his breakfast.

Her words surprise me too. Levi is my best friend, not my steady boyfriend. Jaxon can hardly stay in his chair from laughing. Levi curses to himself as he tries to free his shirt from his breakfast.

»You're not serious, Alivia. You're kidding us, aren't you?« he asks, slightly nervous.

Alivia shakes her head with a smile, causing her short black hair to fly wildly around. »No. A few days ago, after you collapsed, I heard Micah, some nymphs and dryads talking about it. They wondered how long things had been going on between you and how serious it was. They feared that there would soon be a Puk as king.«

I choke on my juice at the last words. Coughing violently, I try to get some air again.

Levi, on the other hand, is frozen into a pillar of salt. He doesn't say a word, doesn't move a finger, doesn't even blink.

Is he still breathing?

Jaxon seems to think the same. He moves a hand up and down in front of Levi's eyes. »Are you still with us, buddy?«

He pokes Levi's arm with a finger, but he still doesn't move. With his mouth slightly open and a blank look, he stares between Alivia and me.

Jaxon is about to feel for a pulse on Levi's neck when he suddenly jumps up, takes his tray, mumbles something about putting on a new shirt and disappears. Three confused friends remain behind, who don't know what just happened.

In the days that follow, Levi avoids me. He either eats before us, after us, or in his hut. When we ask Jaxon about him, he just shrugs his shoulders.

»We're just sharing a room in a hut, not a brain. I have no idea what's going on in his crazy head,« is all he always replies.

On the evening of the last day of the tournament, I wanted to visit him and talk to him in person, but he wasn't in the hut. And so I had no choice but to wait for the last day at the Phoenix Academy. The certificate ceremony is in a few hours and I'll see him there at the latest.

»I think Levi is upset,« Alivia suddenly blurts out. She's helping me to fasten my dress and takes me by surprise with this statement.

»Why would he be upset? You were just spreading a few rumors. It's not like he didn't really want to hear it.«

»Yes, I know. But you also know how sensitive he can be. He's probably afraid that something will change between you two now.«

»He doesn't need to be afraid of that. He's still my best friend and he always will be.«

»But does he want that?«

I look thoughtfully at my reflection. The big ice-blue eyes shimmer with concern about losing a good friend. But that doesn't stop me from admiring how stunning I look in this dress.

Alivia picked it out for me and gave it to me this morning. The knee-length red-orange skirt is puffed up by several layers of tulle underneath. Small crystals are sewn into the folds that reflect the light as soon as it hits them. The strapless bodice is tight and emphasizes my magnificently built chest area, as Alivia would say.

A silver chain with small red crystals adorns my neck. My hair is tied up in a simple bun. Single strands frame my face.

Alivia also bought a new pair of shoes to go with this outfit. The thumb-high heels of the lace-up shoes will torment me for the next few hours, but luckily I'm wearing flat shoes for the ball later.

This ensemble is just for the certificate presentation. Every student at the Phoenix Academy will wear an outfit in the colors of our school, the colors of Queen Aurora, the colors of Phoenix magic.

Alivia is wearing a red dress that is only tight around her breasts and is held in place by them. Underneath, several layers of light fabric flutter around her body down to her knees. She also wears elegant ballerina shoes with very high heels, a red and gold chain with fine links and similar earrings.

She wears her hair pinned up in a similar way to me. The only difference is that this hairstyle looks a little wilder with her short hair than with my long hair.

We make our way to the main building together. On the first floor there is a large theater where all students and employees can sit, as well as our guests and relatives.

Masses of Lux find their way through the hall doors and fight for the best seats. I leave Alivia in the second row, the row of second graders, and go behind the curtain on the stage.

There's a lot going on back here. The people in charge are whirling around wildly, trying to finish the last preparations quickly before the ceremony begins.

I spot our principal at a lectern at the edge of the stage and walk over to her. Before I reach her, she spots me and smiles.

»Hello, princess,« she greets me with a slight bow.

»Please, that's not necessary,« I wave her off.

She straightens up. »You look stunning.«

I blush slightly. »Thank you. So do you,« I reply.

Principal Siz wears her brown hair tied back in a bun as usual. Her dark red pantsuit emphasizes her natural curves and muscular physique.

»Have you prepared your speech?« she asks me.

I nod.

»It won't be much different from the last handover, though,« I admit.

»Don't worry. You'll find that my speech is no different from the last one,« she encourages me.

I smile.

As principal, it is her duty to say a few words at the end. As student representative, it is also my responsibility to say something. Even though I have often had to give a speech in front of others and speaking in front of my classmates is nothing new for me, I can still feel the nervousness rising in my body.

A teacher comes towards us. »It's time.«

»Thank you,« Principal Siz and I answer at the same time.

I stand slightly behind Principal Siz and we look at the back of the curtain. Muffled voices from the hall behind reach us. A deep bell rings and signals to sit down. Slowly, silence returns as everyone takes their seats.

The large hall light goes out and the curtain opens. Applause rings out as a spotlight is directed at the lectern. And once again I am in the spotlight.

Principal Siz raises a hand and silence returns immediately.

»Dear students, dear colleagues, dear parents, friends and relatives, dear attendees, Your Majesty, my Queen, it is a great honor for me to welcome you all to this year's graduation ceremony,« she begins her speech.

As she promised me, her words are very similar to those from the last graduation ceremony and probably also from the graduations before that. She reports on special events from the past school phase, including the attack by the shadow warriors that almost killed them all.

She highlights special achievements by students, especially third-graders, but she also mentions my rescue mission. She emphasizes how much she is looking forward to the coming school phase and how much luck she wishes the graduates for their future.

She has to interrupt her speech again and again because she is interrupted by the applause of those present. Finally, she thanks all the students for a truly exciting school phase and hands the floor over to me. Applause shakes the hall again and I have enough time to swap seats with the director before it becomes quiet again.

I let my gaze wander over the rows and vaguely spot my friends, who nod encouragingly at me. Further up, my parents are sitting in a special box. They are waiting eagerly for my speech.

Breathe deeply, Micah. You can do it.