I will find a way, or I will make one

Ethan

Waking up on my first morning at the Academy of Magical Affinities, I took a moment to absorb the silence. I had a dorm to myself, probably a perk of being the heir to the Wolfe House. Technically, Nicholas is older, but since he's engaged to the Crown Prince of Callisto, leadership of the house falls to me. Weird, considering I was adopted. From what I've been told, my birth mother was part of the knight order and well my father there's not much known about him. I spent my early years in an orphanage, playing barefoot in wild grass, until Eli Wolfe saw me.

He said I reminded him of an old friend... my mother. They were academy mates. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe fate. Either way, he took me in.

The day I arrived at the Wolfe estate is burned into my memory. I expected icy judgment from his wife, Isabella. But she only looked at me once and turned away. She didn't hate me, but I don't think she ever truly saw me either. A mystery wrapped in silk and silence.

Nicholas, though? That boy ran down the stairs like it was Solstice morning.

"Oh my gods, he's adorable! Father, who is that in your arms??" he gasped.

"Your brother. You're responsible for him now," Eli said, handing me over like a surprise gift.

"I HAVE A BROTHER! I'm going to show him to EVERYONE! Do you wanna play? We can go outside right now!" he squealed, grabbing my hands in his tiny hands. He never really let go after that.

Father warned me before I left for the Academy this year. Told me Nicholas was "forgetting his allies and colluding with enemies." I understood his concern. He saw the world in terms of strategy and bloodlines. But he never truly knew us. He was always too busy, too distant. He gave us freedom, but not guidance. We weren't unloved... just unseen.

Still, I believe he cares in his own way. Or maybe I just want to believe it. Nicholas is easy to love, and honestly, the best big brother anyone could ask for.

Get your ass up, Nova growled in my head. We're going to be late if you keep reminiscing. This isn't a palace, you know. No maids. No butlers. Just your clumsy self.

Someone's in a mood this morning, I muttered mentally, yawning.

Someone doesn't want to sit in the hallway because their human has the time management skills of a snail.

It was our first real day at the Academy. Orientation. And most importantly, the search for our mysterious white-haired prince. I hoped he was in the boys' dorms in the western towers. Not just to win the bet with Aria, though that mattered, too but because I genuinely couldn't stop thinking about him.

I threw on my uniform, grabbed my bag, and left the dorm with Nova padding behind me like a grumbling shadow.

No sign of white hair anywhere.

But then I saw her. Aria's signature candy-red hair caught the sunlight like a flag. We locked eyes, grinned, and I flew to her side literally.

"Hey Ethan! Did you see him?" she asked, cupping my face dramatically.

"Do you think I'd be standing here alone if I had?"

"Maybe he ran off again after seeing your ugly face," she replied with a smirk.

I gasped, hand over my heart. "Oh? And yet you see this face every day and still claim to love me? Make it make sense."

"I've built up an immunity. He hasn't yet. We need to ease him into the horror," she said solemnly, pretending to wipe a tear.

"You do realize that if I'm ugly, you're calling yourself ugly too, right? Same soul and all that."

"Please. I clearly got the good half of the soul. He probably got a sprinkle of my sparkle, but let's be honest, I'm the main event."

"Your tie is crooked," came Iris's voice from behind as she started fixing Aria's mess of a uniform. "And do you even own a brush?"

"We mortals bow before your perfection," Aria sighed, dramatically sagging against her sister.

"You were just saying you were the prettiest one here," I pointed out.

"Heh. Kidding. Obviously, the prettiest is my flawless sister. Right, Your Highness?" she turned to Stephen as he joined.

"You only use my title when you're being sassy," Stephen said, chuckling. "But yes, your sister wins."

"Of course he agrees. He doesn't want to end up on the couch," Nicholas added, striding over with Adonis in tow.

"If you keep running your mouth, Iris is going to beat your ass in Practical Magic II. And I'm not saving you," Adonis said, deadpan.

"Even you, Adonis? My own beloved betrays me. I am wounded." Nicholas pressed a hand to his chest like a tragic playwright.

"The only one who truly loves me is my little brother," Nicholas continued, now wrapping an arm around me. "Look at you, so grown-up. That uniform looks perfect."

He might be dramatic, but he meant every word. Nicholas was like a giant, affectionate puppy. Honestly, I was surprised his familiar was a wolf and not a golden retriever. Even Blue, his familiar, often wandered over to me for extra pets.

"Alright, let's go. We're going to be late," Adonis said, exasperated. "Try not to cause a scandal before second year starts."

"Bye, baby bro," Nicholas said, ruffling my hair again. "Eat well, drink water. And if I spot any white curls, I'll chase them down myself."

"Don't forget why you're here," Stephen added. "Yes, find your soulmate. But also remember—you're representing your empires."

"Yes, Dad," Aria said, saluting with two fingers.

We bolted toward the orientation hall in the central tower. Most seats were already filled when we arrived.

And then we saw him.

Our prince. White curls. Purple eyes. Caramel skin. Sitting next to a blond boy with matching Allerick badges.

I looked at Aria. She looked at me. We grinned.

We sprinted.

She hurled herself sideways into me, and we crashed into the bench at the exact same time. Several students gasped. Whispers bloomed like wildfire.

We didn't care.

His wide eyes blinked at us, stunned. His eagle familiar looked equally confused. Nova and Elora had appeared beside us in an instant, both alert, ears flicking.

Just as we opened our mouths to say something—

"PLEASE find a seat and SEAL your familiars. Orientation is beginning," the principal's voice boomed.

I groaned. Aria rolled her eyes.

Our prince had to wait. But not for long.

We weren't letting him go twice.