Hostility and Confusion

As the twins make their way through the main courtyard to the reception hall all eyes are on them.

'Why does she stick with that useless man?'
'I hear she has a fascination with him.'
'They are twins, right? Probably pity.'

'He won't be here long, will probably fail out of the first term test.'
'Haha, he won't be here long'
'It's only a matter of time until his sister abandons him. Poor bastard, haha.'

'Once she gets with me she'll forget all about that worthless pest.'

'Ugh, I hate men who ride the coattails of others, especially his own sister! Has he no shame?'

Comments like this fill the area around them in hushed tones purposefully loud enough for them to hear. They want him to hear these comments. The students are laughing and mocking him. Cautiously he looks over to Valori, who is dragging him along by his arm with a tightening grip, while she maintains an almost noble expression her eyes betray her expression. There is a flame within her iris violently flickering as she hears these comments. Her magic instinctually is activating turning the air around the twins into a relentless cold. Even in this state, the air around them remains warm as if nothing is happening to the surrounding area.

A light frost covers the ground along their path as they press forward. The chatter quiets down considerably with only a few murmurs still reaching them as they progress.

"Hey Sis, take a breath. I am truly happy you are getting angry on my behalf, but at this rate, The courtyard will be a field of frost." Valin locks his fingers with his twin and gently squeezes her hand.

The air around them immediately calms down the cold air dissipates as the warmth of the sun is allowed to return to the surrounding area. She tightly grips his hand in return.

"You are too merciful, brother; say the word and I'd turn the world to ice," Valori says with a loving tone as she gently leans against Valin as they continue walking with a slight blush on her cheeks.

Valin chuckles nervously. 'The fact she can say that in such a light and loving tone, although others may take it as a joke, I've known her long enough that I know she's sincere. I've known this for a while, but I am once again reminded Valori is kinda scary sometimes. She's also sweet though' he thinks as he gazes on her peaceful face.

A short while later they arrive in the reception area. The large room could easily hold five hundred people. The academy only accepts one hundred people from the empire a year. Twenty-five people per class are split into four classes based on performance. Valin is in 'Class 4' which is the worst performer in the school while Valori is put into 'Class 1' nicknamed the hero class. While she is at the top of their year, he is the very last due to his unawakened ability despite getting a near-perfect score in the entrance exam.

The room has one hundred chairs and a large stage with a podium at the front overlooking the students. Valori and Valin sit in the very back of the reception hall waiting for the ceremony to begin. A short while later the magic lamps in the reception hall go dark, and the sudden pitch-black room sends concerned and excited murmurs through the first-year students. In the darkness, Valori rests her head on her twin's shoulder cuddling close to him.

A loud clap is heard through the reception hall. "Silence!" The voice has a loud feminine tone laced with clear authority.

"ignis fatuus!" She snaps and pale blue ghostly lights flicker to life all around the stage and the seating area casting a ghastly light of the same color over the entire room. For the first time revealing the speaker. She is roughly 5'5 with a small bust and waist. Her facial features are hard to discern in the poor lighting, but from her frail physique, it is clear she is a mage.

"I am the headmistress! Welcome first years to the Imperial Academy! Your class is unique with two highly skilled members. The first Imperial Princess, Allisia," surprised murmurs fill the reception hall, there had been rumors, but until now it wasn't widely known. "And someone who may not come from a prestigious family, but whose name will like be enshrined in the history books the of Imperial Academy. She is the holder of Magic Genius, Valori! Please make your way to the stage!" The headmistress waves her hand "Luminatus" The will-o-wisps vanish and the magic lamps around the stage only fill with light once more.

Allisia confidently walks up on the stage standing arrogantly next to the headmistress. The only other movement is students looking around with confusion waiting for Valori to take the stage.

Valori makes no attempts to move rubbing her cheek against Valin's shoulder and whispering disgruntled.

"Valori make your way to the stage or I will be **** to take action!" The headmistress yells with an annoyed tone.

"Go ahead Sis, I'll be here waiting," Valin whispers into her ear.

"Ugh, fine," She says with a hint of displeasure. Though Valin notices a small smile forming on her lips.

She walks up and takes her place next to the princess.

"Now the standards for this year are exceptionally high, this is no place for failures when your classmates are of this caliber!" She yells upon hearing the word failure everyone starts giggling and sneering aimed pointedly at one rumored student. "Starting tomorrow classes will begin so today rest in your rooms this concludes the opening ceremony! Do not fail, the empire is watching now!" She yells with an ominous undertone in the last sentence. "Porto vos," She says with a clap a spiral of wind violently spins around the headmistress when it dissipates she is gone.

The first-year students crowd around the stage in awe showering the two on stage with adoration.

The princess ignoring the cheers and comments around her turns to face Valori reaching her hand out "You should join me, we would make a wonderful team. With our looks and skills, we would be untouchable! Your future would also be secured with a friend in the imperial family." her tone is light and filled with sincere warmth.

Valori glares at her before quickly spinning on her heel to make her way toward her brother "Hmph" ignoring the princess' handshake with a cold demeanor.

"You're going to have to let him go eventually, you do realize he's not even in the same league as you! He will hold you down!" The princess says with concern evident in her tone.

Valori completely ignores Allisia. She grabs her brother's hand interlacing their fingers as if it were the most natural thing in the world and leaves towards to boys' dorm.

They are standing outside Valin's rooms "I will see you tomorrow dear brother," she says with a hint of sadness and regret. "I don't understand why they denied us staying in the same room, we've always slept in the same bed." She puffs out her cheeks showing her clear agitation.

"Dorms are separated by gender so it can't be helped," Valin responds with a gentle tone.

Valori puts her hand gently on his cheek "It seems like we don't have a choice, but please make sure you take care of yourself properly without me!"

Valin chuckles, " I am not a kid anymore you know? I can take care of myself."

Valori sighs heavily "I suppose it is time for me to go then," her fingers linger as if she will never touch him again. She slowly moves her hand across his cheek keeping in contact as long as possible before turning to leave. She takes a few steps then looks back at Valin with a bright smile "Sleep well, dear brother!"

He looks back at her lovingly "And you as well sister, " he gazes briefly at her loving smile before turning and entering his dorm room. The dorms are the Imperial Academy house one student per room and the quality of the rooms varies depending on the class you are in for Valin in class 4 the room is akin to an average inn in the imperial capital. By no means poor quality, but relatively small with two rooms. The main room has a basic kitchen, a bed, and a desk. and a small bathroom with a toilet, sink, and small shower. All enchanted with magic allowing it to function. With everything crammed in the tiny bathroom, there is just enough space to move around, but it is awkward.

After spending the remaining day organizing all of his things and cleaning up he goes to bed. A few minutes past midnight he awakes with a start.

At the foot of his bed sits a woman bathing in the moonlight from the nearby window. She looks almost ethereal with her blueish-purple skin visible under her white see-through nightgown. She is wearing only a pair of black panties under the gown. She has long black hair parted on her shoulders cascading down her voluptuous chest. Her small waist sways teasingly upon feeling his gaze. Her dark batlike wings around her shoulder blades flutter excitedly. With a black tail swaying eagerly behind her with an arrowhead point.

Valin stares at her face noticing her glowing purple eyes piercing his very being. She runs her long sharp, obsidian-colored claw at the end of her index finger along her lips suggestively. "Oh my, I've been looking forward to this," she giggles with a coquettish tone and a deep lust in her gaze.