The evening was calm, a peaceful silence falling over Astraea Academy as students settled down for the night. In the cozy student lounge, Luna found herself surrounded by her new friends—Rei, Kai, and Nia—sprawled out on the comfortable couches with snacks littered across the table between them.

It amazed Luna how easily she’d fit in with this group. She’d barely known them a day, yet the camaraderie felt familiar, like pieces of a puzzle that had always been meant to click together.

Kai stretched out with a wide grin, glancing at his phone to check the time. "First day down. Can’t say it’s gonna be the last time I nearly tripped in the hallway, but hey, we survived!"

“Barely,” Rei teased, looking up from a message she’d been typing. “You’re like a disaster waiting to happen. Seriously, one more trip and they might put up ‘Kai Crossing’ signs in the halls.”

Luna chuckled, joining in. “It was… different from what I expected, honestly. In a good way.”

“Oh yeah? What did you expect?” Nia asked, genuinely curious, scrolling through a few photos on her screen before glancing up.

Luna hesitated, choosing her words. “I guess… something more formal? Strict teachers, rigid schedules, all that.”

“Well, you’re not wrong,” Rei said knowingly. “Some of the teachers are intense. Especially the ones in combat training.”

Luna’s mind went to Elara, their instructor. The memory of her fierce gaze and confident stance lingered. Elara had a presence that was both powerful and controlled—captivating in a way Luna hadn’t expected.

Kai interrupted her thoughts with a mischievous look. “So… who’s up for a little adventure?”

Nia shot him a wary glance, locking her phone and slipping it into her pocket. “Oh no. What are you planning, Kai?”

Kai shrugged, playing innocent. “I heard the courtyard looks amazing under the moonlight. What do you say we… check it out?”

“Curfew’s in an hour,” Rei pointed out, but there was a glint in her eye that matched Kai’s. She pulled out her phone and swiped through the campus schedule app to double-check. “Yup, exactly fifty-eight minutes.”

The idea intrigued Luna. She’d only seen the academy grounds by daylight, and the thought of exploring them at night had a forbidden thrill to it.

“Let’s go,” she said before she could second-guess herself.

They grinned at each other, and with shared excitement, they snuck down the quiet hallways, keeping their laughter low. Rei quickly muted her phone as they walked, just in case any notification sounds gave them away. The academy felt like a completely different place at night, the echo of their footsteps in the silent corridors making the experience feel both thrilling and a bit magical.

When they finally reached the courtyard, Luna paused, captivated. The moonlight bathed everything in a silvery glow, the leaves and flowers shimmering with dew like scattered stardust. She exhaled softly.

“Wow…”

“Told you it was worth it,” Kai said, grinning as he nudged her shoulder. He pulled out his phone, snapping a quick photo of the scene before anyone noticed the flash.

Suddenly, he dashed to the fountain, flashing a mischievous look over his shoulder. “Bet you didn’t think I’d actually do it,” he called out, his grin widening.

“Wait, what?” Nia asked, eyebrows raised, but it was too late. With a gleeful shout, Kai launched himself into the fountain, crashing into the shallow water with a dramatic splash that sent droplets everywhere.

Rei shrieked, leaping back to avoid the spray. “Kai, you maniac!” she yelled, laughing.

Kai sat up, water dripping from his hair and clothes, his face a mix of triumph and hilarity. “Totally worth it,” he declared, grinning like he’d won a prize. He shook his head like a dog, sending more water everywhere.

“Oh, you asked for this,” Rei said, already reaching down to scoop up a handful of water and fling it at him.

Luna clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter, but she was quickly swept up in the chaos. Nia joined in, splashing Kai’s face while he “fought back” from his spot in the fountain, laughing as he tried—and failed—to shield himself.

Kai clutched his heart dramatically, slumping over the edge of the fountain. “I give up... make sure they tell my story,” he wheezed, lifting an imaginary sword in a theatrical farewell.

“Your story?” Nia scoffed, snapping a quick photo with a smirk. “Oh, don’t worry. This is definitely going down in history—exactly like this.”

Luna, usually the quiet observer, felt laughter bubbling up uncontrollably, her usual reserve slipping away. She hadn’t felt this free in... she couldn’t even remember how long.

Eventually, they collapsed onto the stone benches, their clothes damp and their cheeks flushed from laughter. Luna’s heart felt light, a warmth spreading through her chest as she looked at her friends.

“That was definitely worth it,” Kai said, checking his phone to see how much time they had left before curfew.

“Definitely,” Nia agreed. “Though tomorrow’s training is gonna hurt. I don’t know if I can function without sleep.” She set an alarm as she spoke, holding it up so everyone could see she was serious this time. "See? Responsible adult."

Rei nudged her, grinning. “Speak for yourself. I’ve got stamina spells for days.”

Kai snorted, giving her an exaggeratedly betrayed look. “Oh, and you couldn’t share that with the group? Selfish.”

They all burst into laughter again, their shared amusement filling the quiet courtyard. Luna looked around at them, realizing how quickly they’d become her friends. She hadn’t expected this—this warmth, this ease—but it was real, and it felt good.

But just as the laughter began to die down, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see Elara standing a few steps away, arms crossed, her face set in a stony expression. The moonlight cast a pale glow over her, making her look almost ethereal.

Luna’s stomach dropped, and she felt her friends go still beside her. Elara’s gaze swept over them, her expression unreadable.

“You’re aware of the academy’s curfew, I presume?” Elara’s voice was calm, but it held a weight that made them all stand a little straighter.

Rei opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Kai, ever the bold one, tried for a sheepish grin. “Uh… yeah, but we were just appreciating the scenery?”

Elara raised an eyebrow, entirely unimpressed. Her gaze lingered on them, her eyes sharp and assessing. Luna felt her cheeks flush, a silent thought rising in her mind: Then why are you here, Instructor?

Elara’s face softened just a little, as though she understood what they were trying to say. “Look, I get that being here is exciting. But there are rules for a reason. Breaking them on your first day isn’t exactly a stellar start.”

Luna felt a pang of embarrassment and guilt, even though they’d only been trying to enjoy themselves. She wanted to say something to defend their actions, but words failed her under Elara’s steady gaze.

Elara’s expression softened just slightly, as though she recognized their excitement, but her voice remained firm. “There’s a reason why discipline is one of the academy’s core values. It’s something you’ll need, both here and beyond.”

They all nodded, thoroughly chastened but not entirely dispirited. Luna thought she saw a hint of understanding behind Elara’s stern expression, as if she might even be holding back a smile.

“Now, back to your dorms,” Elara said, her voice brooking no argument. “And consider this a warning.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing softly as she disappeared into the night. They stayed silent for a moment, still processing the unexpected encounter.

Kai was the first to speak, letting out a quiet, breathy laugh. “Okay, note to self: don’t underestimate Elara’s stealth skills.”

Rei shook her head, smirking. “Did you see the look she gave us? I thought I was going to melt on the spot.”

“Same here,” Nia admitted with a shudder. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look that intense.”

They shared another round of quiet laughter, the nervous energy slowly fading as they began their walk back to the dorms. Luna couldn’t shake the image of Elara’s face from her mind—the way she seemed both fierce and understanding. Despite the scolding, Luna felt a strange sense of admiration for her instructor. There was something there, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on yet.

As they reached their dorm rooms, Kai let out a dramatic sigh, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Guess we’ll have to behave for a while. Don’t want another late-night run-in with the ‘Elara of Shadows.’”

Nia elbowed him playfully. “You make it sound like she’s some kind of ghost. She was just doing her job, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kai said, rolling his eyes. “But come on, you can’t deny she was intimidating.”

They laughed quietly, and one by one, each of them slipped off to their rooms. Luna lingered outside her door, listening to her friends’ footsteps fade down the hall.

When she was alone in her room, she took a deep breath, a smile still tugging at her lips as she looked out the window. She could just make out the courtyard in the distance, bathed in moonlight.

Tonight had shown her a glimpse of something she’d been hesitant to hope for—a new life, new friends, and the possibility of genuine connections. She closed her eyes, a quiet determination settling within her. She would find her place here, even if it meant learning to balance the fine line between secrecy and trust.

With that thought, she drifted into sleep, the memory of laughter and moonlight lingering like a soft warmth in her heart.