Bab 24: Hairpin

– It wasn't him! None of that was him!! – A boy with fair skin and dark hair suddenly yelled as he advanced to the front of the crowd.

– Is this Nevra? Of the Pure Water Mages? – The students started mumbling again.

– Why is he defending that human?

– Wait, wasn't he a bastard?

– Bastard?

– Yes, he has ice powers.

Soon everyone remembered that incident, and simply because of that, many admiration looks turned to contempt now that they were staring at Nevra.

Nevra advanced towards the boys holding Raphael, who quickly released him, after that, Nevra looked annoyed at the director, who didn't mind that they both knew the truth of what had happened that year – It wasn't him, I'm sure the director already has a vague idea of the culprit, so I ask for Raphael to not be unjustly accused, even though they're just ordinary humans, I'm sure no one here will want to get in trouble with the Tasvali family, many of them are more powerful than most who are here. Am I right Principal?

The man stared at the two boys in front of him, and as soon as he opened his mouth to say something, the sound of galloping came from far away, attracting everyone's attention.

Four horses approached, and the young men mounted on them were stunned by the crowd they encountered, everyone looked at them whispering to each other, and again a commotion was created.

– What happened? – Thamy spoke as he got off his horse and walked towards the headmaster, who looked gently at the young man coming towards him.

– A boy was found passed out behind the boys' dormitory – One of the teachers answered him, Thamy looked at the boy, narrowing his eyes: 'light?' Soon noticing two students further ahead of the crowd and staring at them with a stunned expression, Thamy seems to have understood the situation as soon as his gaze met those of the youth, turning his gaze to the Headmaster like seeking permission, the Headmaster sighed and nodded slightly.

– Raphael is innocent – He began, staring at the crowd that stared at him with different types of expressions, most still in doubt.

– The energy around the passed out body is light energy, that is, even though Raphael used his amulet to hurt his classmate, the magic that should have been in the body, should've been that of a Night Mage, which is the magic of the Tasvali family amulet – Thamy spoke calmly, the students hesitantly nodded, Nevra sighed as he pulled Raphael behind him, Thamy just said it obvious, but since he was the one who said it, people believed him.

At the window of one of the girls' dorm rooms, a girl viewed the whole situation as a way to end her boredom, that is, until she saw the pale boy with black hair she identified as the stalker who had been after her a few days ago: 'Nevra? From the pure water mages, so... it was you, brat... you changed' - Kirsi smiled bitterly, reaching up and holding something close to her chest, twirling a small pendant between her fingers, still facing the whole situation below.

The principal, noticing that new discussions had started among the students, frowned:

– Everyone comes back, we'll take care of the rest, tomorrow morning there will be no class, go – Even if they didn't want to, no student dared to disobey the principal's orders, then leaving quickly.

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The teachers started arguing with the headmaster, the creature was already dead, which meant that the creature's owner decided to make one last move before finally leaving Kesla – What was this boy's power?

Thamy asked Hiro as he approached Drazhan.

– He was the best healer of second-period, he would definitely become Kesla's best healer before reaching fourth-period... – Hiro sighed.

Drazhan swallowed hard – We foiled whoever was behind this plan by making him steal this boy's powers earlier.

Thamy argued with his classmates about what he had discovered while they were drinking earlier, they theorized various situations while doing so.

Ikuto was talking to the teachers, 'telling' some of the things they found out, Nevra and Raphael just kept standing, watching Thamy arguing with Hiro and Drazhan, Leila and Harumi also watching, no one had noticed they had stayed anyway, while Celine…

Leila looked to the side, and not finding her roommate she looked nervously around, finding Celine walking slowly towards the garden, nudging Harumi, she waved at her and they both followed Celine.

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Celine was looking at the ground, so she walked slowly, trying not to lose sight of the thin line of luminescent aura that floated low across the garden, stopping suddenly when she saw something on the ground, crouching down and picking up a small hairpin, looking up close the material was somewhat transparent, and one end of the hairpin was filled with flowers made delicately and apparently of the same material as the hairpin's shaft.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she tucked the hairpin under her uniform sleeve and turned, letting out a sigh when she found Leila and Harumi.

– Did you find something? – Harumi asked as she approached.

Celine nodded almost imperceptibly, Leila said – Right! Let's go back to the bedroom.

The three walked calmly towards the dorms, everyone was too busy arguing about what had happened, so they didn't notice the girls acting suspiciously.

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– A hairpin? It's so beautiful – Harumi said while looking closely at the details of the hairpin – So, you said that some of the aura that was in the boy was also in this hairpin?

– Hm, I followed the aura to it – Celine nodded as she also took in the pendant's details.

– This item belongs to the real culprit… – Leila spoke with a thoughtful expression, looking at the item in Celine's hand – Let me take a look at it.

Celine and Harumi nodded, Leila took the hairpin and started to look at it close – There doesn't seem to be anything special about it...

– Yeah, it's just an accessory, he was probably wearing it and ended up dropping it, that's all – Celine also looked thoughtful.

– Is the culprit a woman? This hairpin has a style similar to what women wear in Li Tui – Harumi asked.

– Li Tui...?

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There was no signal or ringing in the morning, those who woke up early only had the morning free to do whatever they wanted, the classrooms were closed, only the library and the cafeteria were available to the students, who certainly preferred stroll through the college grounds or chat in their own rooms.

A young woman with long platinum hair was sitting on her bed with a sleepy expression, she looked around and saw that she was alone, her classmates didn't even think to wake her up, all because of yesterday's event when they said the culprit was a Light Mage.

All students who possessed these powers began to be estranged by their peers, not even the princess of Argon escaped it.

Asterin rose, washing her face to stay awake.

Sitting in front of her desk she stared at the book and the small written notes scattered across her desk, remembering the reason she had made them she changed her clothes and left, not forgetting to carefully gather the notes and take them with her.

Downstairs she found a small group in the middle of the hallway, a young woman being surrounded by others, and as soon as she saw Asterin, she smiled, nodding at her.

That was the confirmation Asterin was looking for, and walking straight to one of the doors she knocked, hearing no response she looked back at the girl who had waved at her, who saw her doubtful look and just spoke so she could hear her – Just go in, I think she's still sleeping – With that, she turned and left, along with the group that was talking to her.

'Aysel is a little careless, and if she wasn't sleeping and was changing clothes next to the bed instead of going behind the screen as most girls did…?' - Asterin thought as she watched Aysel leave with the group following her.

Asterin sighed and closed her eyes before stepping in – Elaxi?

Nothing, there was no sound, Asterin decided to risk opening her eyes, she didn't know if the other one was playing tricks on her, but, unsurprisingly Elaxi was really sleeping, from the door Asterin could see her incredibly red hair standing out on the white sheets.

Asterin walked over, placing her notes on Elaxi's desk before sitting on the edge of the bed and watching the sleeping girl.

Smiling, Asterin held a strand of the red hair between her fingers, watching her carefully.

'Chirp'

A small sound came from the window, Asterin looked to the window sill, finding a small pair of black eyes staring at her, it was really small and cute, inside a delicate nest a little bird was staring at her in a judgmental way.

Asterin laughed lightly as she got up, approaching the bird and whispering – I just came to deliver these notes, you don't need to wake her up, let her sleep, I'm leaving now.

'Chirp!'

Asterin left, closing the door slightly, she was smiling gently as she walked towards the main hall to see if there was anything left to eat, Aysel was there, she handed her a plate and put another one away, saying it was for Elaxi, Asterin nodded, and as soon as she finished eating she went to the library.

A while later, Elaxi got up, yawning as she crawled to the small lavatory at the side of the room, finally awake after rubbing her face a few times and going to change clothes she noticed something different on the desk, something that didn't feel right about the little mess that she kept it on it, seeing that it was a few notes that changed the scenery she picked one up to take a look.

They were study notes, delicately written, it was especially pretty handwriting and very familiar… Asterin?

– Lily, did Asterin ask you to leave this here?

The bird looked at her with an indifferent look:

'Chirp'

– She was here?! Why didn't you wake me up?! What are you useful for?

'Chirp!!' The bird rose, spreading its wings in a small sign of protest, and turning around he sat down again, this was a sure sign that he would ignore her. Elaxi went to him and opened the window, expelling him from the room – Shoo shoo.

She wasn't really angry, it was almost a routine for both of them to get angry, Elaxi didn't completely close the window, leaving a small opening for when her little friend came back. Wearing her uniform she ran to the main hall, bumping into her roommate.

Aysel smiled at her – Eat, we have to meet the boys soon.

Elaxi who planned to invite Asterin for a walk – ...

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– Asterin, you are here too! – Harumi smiled.

– Yes, I'll use the time I have to read a little – Asterin nodded to the three young women – May I join you?

– Of course – Leila replied, the four were in complete silence, Asterin had already finished making a small note about the book she was reading, when she unconsciously looked to the side, reading 'Rare Items from the Nine Kingdoms' on the cover of the book that was in Celine's hands.

– This version does not show the correct items.

– Hm? – Celine stared at her, Asterin pointed to the book – This book doesn't show the real rarer items.

The area between them was once again silent, they were all facing each other, Celine sighed and took the hairpin from her small bag and showed it to Asterin – Have you seen anything about this? Maybe it's not even a rare item.

Asterin stared at the pendant – By the design, it probably came from Li Tui, but this type of pendant is one of the most common there is, my mother got one at her wedding.

Celine nodded as Leila and Harumi sighed, Asterin still trying to make sense of the situation – Is there something in this?

– We don't know, that's why we were looking about... – Leila spoke, her voice was lowering slowly, Asterin was a Light Mage, but she always had a lot of confidence in her, so she just spoke.

Asterin smiled – It's okay, you don't have to tell me...

– No! It's all right!" – Leila spoke interrupting her, Celine also nodded – The auras are not alike, actually it doesn't seem to have been anyone from college, it was someone from outside.

– Anyone from the outside? – Leila muttered – Why would someone attack Kesla's college like that, it would be easy if it was someone from the inside, but from the outside... that person must be very powerful.

They started to argue, Asterin stared at them puzzled – Aura?

– Ah, this seems to be Celine's power, she can feel and see the auras, but still not very well – Harumi explained.

Asterin looked shocked at Celine: 'Only a guardian can see auras. Actually... it wouldn't be a surprise considering her background'

– What is it? – Leila asked seeing Asterin's strange expression.

– Can I take a look?

– Sure! – Celine nodded and handed it to her, Asterin took it carefully, looking at it closely, it was light and almost transparent, its details were delicate and painstakingly carved, every part of it suggested the many years of work for this little hairpin to emerge, the light suddenly reflected on the piece, Asterin seemed to have noticed something as she frowned heavily.

– Aura of a light Magé you said, right? – Celine nodded.

Asterin held out the hairpin – Here, look at this symbol...

...