Cyrus Solaris
It was the day of the dance. The clouds were dark and heavy, draping over the academy like curtains. None of that mattered to me because I was attending the dance with one of the prettiest girls at the academy.
"What are the odds you think someone will end up sleepwalking tonight during the dance?" students from my house said as they walked past me.
" I'd say it's probable. Look at how many kids have been falling asleep in class."
"What do you think is causing it?"
"The nurse says it's because of the academy's rigor."
"It could be, but have you heard about the rumor?"
"You believe that?" One of the kids said, lightly jabbing his friend in the shoulder.
"Cyrus, are you gonna get ready? The pre-dance banquet will start soon," one of the students asked, staring up at me as I cleaned the house's main telescope.
I had lost track of time, cleaning the outside of this large telescope was tedious, and required a delicate approach. When I looked down at my communicator, I saw that I had only thirty minutes before I was supposed to meet Cendra at her bridge.
"Shoot, you're right, thank you," I said, sliding down the outside of the telescope. I dashed to my dorm room.
Despite passing our last team exam, our ranking didn't change much. Which meant I was still stuck in the rundown room. I missed the luxury room I had in the beginning.
On my bed was the suit that Cendra helped me pick out. A black blazer, white colorard shirt, orange tie with feathers stitched into the lining, black slacks, and white shoes. She was adamant that I have the perfect outfit.
Saying that I need to look the part if I was going to be by her side.
I hurried and put the suit on. I wished I had a mirror; this was the first time I would wear a suit. I hoped I looked presentable.
I checked my watch. I had twenty-five minutes until I had to meet her.
Before I stepped out of my dorm, I grabbed the umbrella Cendra had demanded I get, telling me I needed to be prepared for the weather and that it would be a shame if my outfit were ruined by rain.
I tried to put the umbrella in my dimensional storage, but for some reason, it wouldn't open. I didn't have time to troubleshoot it, so I just carried it in my hand on my way to meet Cendra.
I had barely made it on time; it was hard running in dress shoes without creasing them.
I got weird looks as students caught me huffing and puffing as I waited by House Obalex's bridge.
"What are you doing here?" Bayu Kazehoshi asked, walking past me in his white suit lined with green accents.
"Waiting for my date."
"What arbiter would want you as a date?" He asked, his brows furrowed.
"Cendra," I replied, feeling a droplet of rain hit my face.
"You must be lying; there is no way she agreed to go with you and not me."
Then a pleasant voice interrupted his outburst.
"You simply don't interest me, Bayu."
Walking down the bridge was Cendra. Wearing an orange dress with black frills at the bottom, a necklace made of bronze feathers, and a thin black cardigan, while clutching a small white purse.
Her curly hair was done up in a bun, and her bright orange eyes lit up the dreary scene.
She looked beautiful.
I hadn't been focused on girls, but part of me wondered if I should now.
"What do you mean, Cendra? Our families spend a lot of time together, so it would only make sense."
"That's why. I know you all too well. Now off you go, don't keep your date waiting," Cendra said, shooing him away.
Bayu stormed off, leaving Cendra and I alone.
"You clean up good?" she said, her smile radiant as ever.
"T-Thanks, I have no mirror in my room, I was worried if I put everything on correctly."
"You did perfect, come on, let's get to the banquet." She said, wrapping her arm around mine.
My stomach fluttered the entire way.
When Cendra and I made it to the cafeteria, where the banquet was held, I felt the eyes of everyone staring.
I looked over to Cendra and whispered, "Does this happen to you often?"
"Don't worry about it," she said, pulling me towards our seats.
As we walked past many of the tables, the murmurs grew, "I can't believe she went with him.
"Why would an heir go with a commoner?"
"She is too pretty for him."
"A date with a lunatic."
It was hard to keep myself composed. I hadn't realized that I was squeezing Cendra's hand harder until she gave me a slight squeeze back and a playful smile.
She might be the nicest person I have met here at the academy.
"Ah, here we are, Cyrus," she said, stopping at a table with another couple. Our name tags were placed at our seats.
"Sora, you look amazing," Cendra said, running toward her, pleading for her to stand up and show off her dress.
Sora gave me a faint smile as Cendra came up to her.
I wasn't expecting to be seated at the same table with someone in my cluster. But I should have expected it, since Cendra wouldn't stop talking about how much she adored Sora.
Sora wore a long, light blue silk dress and a white, puffy shawl that looked like a cloud.
"Cyrus, doesn't she look beautiful?" Cendra said, staring at me with her warm eyes.
"Yeah, sure, she looks beautiful," I said, as my gaze focused on her date.
It was Bogdan, and his glare pierced right through me.
"How did you bribe her to be your date, or is this some clan charity?" He said, shifting his gaze to the diamond in his ring.
"I could say the same for you."
Bogdan just chuckled as Sora gave me another glance.
"You can sit if you want," Cendra said, pulling my seat from underneath the table.
I looked at her face, and a sigh left me, and so I sat in the chair and waited for the first course to be brought ou