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I'm writing a magical story.

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Freyja - The excellent witch of the tower

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Summer's Fairy Transformation

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Miracle - Chapter 22 | The perfect fairy- script

The following days passed in a state of growing internal tension for Summer. Although she continued to play the role of the sunbeam fairy for the outside world, serious frustration simmered beneath that perfect surface. Professor Elera, who had a keen eye for her students' emotional states, soon noticed that her favorite pupil wasn't as happy and carefree as usual.

After one of the theoretical classes, Elera motioned for Summer to stay behind.

– Summer, dear, is something bothering you? – Elera asked softly, searching the girl’s face with concern. – Your light has seemed a bit dim lately.

Summer immediately donned her well-rehearsed, sparkling fairy smile.

– Oh, Professor, not at all! It’s just yesterday’s practice... I’m a little tired – she lied fluently. She had no intention of admitting that she spent her nights crying over a witch who had, to top it all off, forgotten to "court" her.

– She’s sad because of Miracle. – A deep, melodic voice suddenly rang out from the windowsill.

Summer and Elera whipped their heads around at the same time. Cosmo sat there, tossing an apple in his hand. The Night Fairy looked like a dark statue in the afternoon light, his deep blue eyes ruthlessly piercing through Summer’s mask.

Professor Elera’s face turned tomato-red in an instant. The unexpected and cheeky appearance of her upperclassman student clearly threw her off balance. She began nervously adjusting her blouse and hair, avoiding the boy’s gaze.

Summer’s face flushed with shock and shame. She turned toward the Night Fairy to give him a piece of her mind, but Cosmo didn’t wait for a response. With a single mysterious half-smile, he leaned backward out the window as if throwing himself into the depths.

By the time the two fairies rushed to the window in terror, the ledge was empty, and Cosmo had already vanished without a trace within the school walls.

Once Professor Elera regained her teaching dignity and smoothed her blouse, her eyes suddenly lit up. She remembered that during the transition week, Summer had indeed been inseparable from that pale, black-haired girl.

– Oh, but of course! – Elera clapped her hands. – Now I understand. Summer, dear, what happened between you two? Did you have a falling out? I see you’ve been avoiding her lately. Did that poor little Miracle do something to hurt your heart?

Summer didn't dare utter a sound. If she told the truth now—that Miracle’s only crime was being classified as a witch and failing to become the perfect fairy-girlfriend Summer had envisioned—Elera’s face would darken. In Summer’s perfect fairy world, disappointing a soul as pure as the Professor’s would be an absolute catastrophe.

Elera, however, completely misinterpreted the girl’s stifled silence. Her face glowed with good intentions.

– You know what, darling? Try to make up with her! – Elera pleaded, taking Summer’s hand. – I’m sure it’s just a small misunderstanding. Talk it out! You have so much goodness and love inside you. If anyone can soften Miracle’s heart, it’s you. You are the school’s little sunbeam, Summer!

At that moment, the "little sunbeam" broke into a cold sweat of shame. Elera’s kind, trusting eyes now felt as sharp as pitchforks. The naive fairy-mind was finally trapped in the prison of the "perfection" she had built for herself. How could she say no to her teacher’s well-meaning request without exposing her own pettiness?

– I... I’ll try, Professor. – she stuttered almost inaudibly, wishing she could sink into the floor.

Inside, however, she was seething with rage. She wanted to scream. In her mind, she blamed the Night Fairy, Cosmo, for everything: that meddling figure had completely ruined her perfect script where she would have remained the wronged victim and Miracle the repentant pursuer. Now, she was the one who had to humble herself and extend a hand to a witch.

Summer didn’t go looking for Miracle—the apology could wait.— Instead, she wanted to confront the Night Fairy at any cost. Since they had known each other for a long time, she knew exactly which secluded corners Cosmo liked to hide in.

She found him in a deserted part of the park, where the boy was munching on his apple with the same annoying calm with which he had ruined Summer's entire afternoon.

– Why did you interfere in my business?! – Summer snapped at him, her voice trembling with rage. – You had no right to tell Professor Elera!

Cosmo slowly swallowed his bite and looked her up and down with his cool gaze. – Ah, so the real Summer has finally emerged. – he remarked quietly. – The arrogant princess who can't stand it when someone sees through her.

Summer snapped.

– I am not arrogant! Take it back! – she shrieked. – Take it back right now!

Her body suddenly began to glow, and she lunged at the boy like an angry little sister desperate to prove her point. She hurled glowing orbs at Cosmo one after another.

The Night Fairy, however, amusedly dodged the spectacular fairy-tantrum. Even when a light orb hit his body, Cosmo’s high magical resistance was too strong for Summer’s beginner spells to leave even a scratch. He moved with such boredom it was as if he were merely swatting away flies.

The Sun Fairy soon ran out of breath. The magic fueled by her rage burned out quickly, and Summer collapsed to her knees, panting. The golden light faded, leaving only her ragged breaths to break the silence.

Cosmo dusted off his trousers calmly.

– It seems even fairies can get angry sometimes. – he noted softly.

By the time Summer raised her tearful eyes to retort, Cosmo was already gone. The Night Fairy had vanished without a trace again, leaving behind that final, poisoned sentence, which pierced like a dagger into Summer’s naive, "perfect" worldview—a world she herself had just torn down with her outburst.

At the Hall of Fame, Miracle was looking for her name. The extra shifts in the kitchen and organizing the dusty archives had paid off: instead of the number 1, there was now a modest but proud 5. Fifty silvers in her pocket, five points on the list. She was still lightyears away from Freyja, but she had achieved this through her own strength.

A familiar shadow was suddenly reflected in the polished surface of the board. Miracle turned around, and her breath caught.

Summer stood there. But it wasn't the radiant, sunbeam Summer she had met on the first day. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red, and her posture was broken.

Miracle’s face lit up instantly, like the rising sun. Every grievance, every wait, and the bitterness of lonely afternoons evaporated in a single second. Her dear Summer had returned to her.

Summer straightened up and tried to cling to the last fairy-script she had left. She wanted to start with a dignified, arched eyebrow.

– Miracle... – she began in a trembling voice. – I’ve been thinking a lot, and... I’ve decided that in the name of the light... I will overlook the...

But then her eyes met Miracle’s gaze. That endless, pure, hopeful, and vulnerable look that only an orphan with no one in the world can give. In that gaze, there was no mockery, no accusation—only raw, unconditional love.

The perfect fairy-worldview didn't just crack, it shattered into splinters. The clash with Cosmo, Elera’s expectations, and her own unbearable loneliness all crashed down on her at once.

In the next moment, the Sun Fairy collapsed to her knees on the dusty stone floor.

– I’m sorry! – Summer sobbed, desperately clutching Miracle’s legs, burying her face in the girl’s worn trousers. – Please, don’t be mad at me! I was so horrible to you... so petty!

At the far end of the hallway, a few fairies and witches stopped in shock. Whispers began, mocking smiles flashed. A Sun Fairy on the ground, at the feet of a witch? It was the most pathetic sight in the history of Lunaris. But Summer no longer cared. The dam had broken.

– Miracle, no one can stand me! – Summer wailed, her tears soaking Miracle’s shoes. – I... I know I’m too much! The fairies... they just smile at me, but they laugh behind my back! You were the only one who actually paid attention to me! I’m not perfect! I’m a wreck, Miracle! Please, don’t leave me!

Miracle’s heart nearly broke. At this moment, Freyja’s thirty points didn't matter, the vulture-faced old woman’s demands didn't matter, and not even Master Mordana’s dark promises mattered. Only this broken girl lying on the ground mattered, finally being honest.

Though her own tears were falling now, Miracle reached gently toward the fairy and, gathering all her strength, scraped her friend up from the floor. She wrapped her arm around Summer's shoulder, trying to shield her from the onlookers.

– It’s okay, Summer... I’m here. I’m not angry, I never could be. – she whispered in her ear, ignoring the judgmental stares directed at them from the board.

Summer’s face remained buried in Miracle’s shoulder, but as her sobbing began to subside, her sense of reality returned. She heard the whispering. She felt the judgmental eyes. Her naive fairy-mind, which had been swinging between extremes, now panicked at the public humiliation. Her own confession, falling to her knees... it was too much.

She pulled away from Miracle’s embrace and began frantically adjusting her clothes, smearing tears across her face.

– I... I... – Summer backed away, her face now burning with shame. – We’ll talk tomorrow. We’ll really talk, I promise! I... I love you, Miracle, but this is... this is too much! I can't handle it!

Before Miracle could say a word, Summer turned on her heel and, almost fleeing with her hands covering her face, ran out of the room, leaving Miracle alone before the stunned crowd and the Hall of Fame.

Miracle stood there alone, but her heart was no longer empty. Summer had confessed. Summer loved her. And though the girl had fled, Miracle knew: the fairy-script had finally burned away, and something much more real had begun.

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Miracle - Chapter 21 | Envy

The next morning, on her way to the Great Hall, Miracle stopped in front of the bulletin board, where a magical, gold-framed tablet displayed the List of Glory. According to the school's system, students received points for successfully completed missions, and the score was directly proportional to the difficulty and the reward received.

The list was still led by Drago at unreachable heights, but Miracle’s eyes caught a familiar name. Cosmo stood at a distinguished fifth place.

– So he’s not just dangling his legs from trees after all... – Miracle muttered. It seemed the night fairy’s lonely wanderings actually covered the completion of serious and dangerous tasks.

When she reached the freshmen's section, her stomach lurched as if she’d been punched. One name blazed above all others:

Freyja – 30 points.

She herself had received a mere 1 point for cleaning the tables.

Apart from Miracle, the names of a few other poor Earth-born students were at the bottom of the list with 1 or 2 points, but they, like her, had only performed "servile" labor.

Summer’s name was nowhere to be found. The fairy girl likely considered herself too delicate for physical labor or combat. Miracle wasn't even surprised by Flamma’s absence. Her roommate was rather lazy and preferred spending her time joking around in the common area rather than on risky missions.

Miracle couldn't even imagine what kind of mission Freyja could have undertaken to earn so many points. Envy pierced her heart like a sharp needle. Freyja had earned thirty times more money in a single evening than she had with a whole night of cleaning. The ten silver coins nestling in her pocket, which she had been so proud of yesterday, now felt pathetically few and worthless.

Meanwhile, the old hag guarding the tower entrance was already sizing her up from a distance like a vulture with squinting eyes. The little witch knew that the time for "rent" would soon come again, and her reserves would vanish in an instant.

Miracle’s face fell. Freyja stood at the top of the list like an elite witch, while she remained at the bottom, with Mordana’s "stupid goose" label ringing in her head, destitute.

In the next class, the atmosphere of the classroom changed radically. Master Mordana’s cold, military discipline was replaced by Professor Elera’s gentle presence, reminiscent of a spring breeze. The fairies, like little birds emerging after a storm, immediately swarmed around the kind teacher.

Elera saw the traces of the previous day on the girls, especially on Summer, whose eyes were still a bit puffy from crying. The professor gently stroked the sun fairy’s blonde head.

– Do not worry, my dears, – she said with a sweet smile. – Master Mordana’s methods are undoubtedly... unusual, but you only have class with him once a week. On the other days, we shall walk the path of Light and Harmony.

While the fairies breathed a sigh of relief, Freyja, in the back row, only rolled her eyes. To her, Elera’s classes seemed like a boring waste of time. At least in Mordana’s class, there was a challenge, there were stakes, and finally, she wasn't treated like a fragile porcelain doll.

Miracle, however, wasn't paying attention to them now. She sat alone in her desk and made a difficult decision: she would wait for Summer to reach out to her. She felt she had already done everything. She had begged, cried, revealed her orphanage past, and poured out her heart to the last drop. She was tired. Now it was Summer’s turn to decide if she could accept a witch’s friendship or if she would remain forever in her naive fairy world.

During the break, the sun fairy was visibly flustered. Summer glanced again and again toward the corner of the room where Miracle sat, waiting for the usual "siege." According to her naive fairy-mind, Miracle—for whom she had made so many "sacrifices" during the transition week—should be following her penitently, pleading for her grace, and then she—the perfect and kind Summer—would eventually forgive her.

Unexpectedly, Miracle moved closer to Freyja. Envy and curiosity were stronger in her than fear, so she asked the question directly.

– What mission did you do yesterday? – Miracle asked, trying to sound indifferent. – You got thirty points for it.

Freyja slowly turned her head toward her, a mocking smile flitting across her face.

– Nothing is free, Fairy-girl, – she drawled. – I’ll only tell you if you reveal what Mordana wanted from you.

Miracle swallowed. She didn't want to talk about the painful rune circle, nor the "stupid goose" label, and especially not about her secret desire regarding the fairy form.

– Nothing special, – she replied curtly. – Just remedial lessons. I had to practice focusing because he thinks my technique is lousy. That's all.

– Remedial lessons? – Freyja raised an eyebrow. – It seems more like you’ve become the master’s favorite. Some people saw you sneaking out of his office looking happy yesterday.

Miracle didn't back down, nor did she start making excuses. Instead, she looked back at Freyja with a wry smile.

– Yes, he definitely chose me because he loves the color purple and hopeless cases. I'm quite the jackpot.

This unexpected response clearly impressed Freyja. The witch nodded appreciatively and finally held up her end of the bargain.

– I was hunting shadow-spawn in the Whispering Woods, – Freyja said proudly, straightening her back. – I collected twenty essences. They were like pests, but my magic tore them to pieces.

Naturally, she deeply suppressed the fact that in the darkness of the forest, a giant monstrosity had nearly finished her, and in the end, only the silvery flash of the night elf, Cosmo, had saved her skin.

To Miracle, Freyja now seemed like an invincible, professional warrior, compared to whom her table cleaning and struggling in the rune circle felt even more humiliating.

After classes, Miracle felt she needed some human company before envy consumed her. She asked Flamma if she wanted to hang out for a bit, and the fire witch agreed with a careless shrug. As they walked toward the park, Miracle couldn't hold it in any longer and the question burst out:

– Does it really not bother you? The points? Freyja is already at thirty…

Flamma waved it off dismissively and flicked a small spark between her fingers.

– Oh, please! There are enough "point-maniacs" in the family who strive hard enough for me too. I just want to enjoy life at Lunaris, not sweat in front of a bulletin board.

Miracle remained silent, her mouth tight. She deeply envied Flamma’s nonchalance and the security her family background provided. Flamma could afford to be lazy, but she had to worry every day about her livelihood and the vulture-faced old woman who could knock on her door at any moment.

– Must be nice, – she said quietly, but Flamma was no longer listening.

Her friends were shouting to her from the distance, and with a quick wave, she stormed off to spend the afternoon in the taverns on the edge of the city.

Fueled by envy, Miracle sat down on a nearby bench and pulled the iron sphere from her pocket.

– At least you don’t let me down, – she whispered to the cold piece of metal.

She closed her eyes and, instead of anger, she now focused on the searing envy she felt toward Flamma and Freyja. She was surprised to find that the sphere rose into the air much more obediently. Envy proved to be a quieter, colder, and more stable fuel than volatile anger.

A few minutes later, Summer appeared nearby. The sun fairy was visibly "accidentally" walking right that way and stopped a few meters from Miracle.

She began to fidget, ostentatiously adjusting her dress and sighing loudly, waiting for her friend to finally notice her. Miracle, however, was so immersed in her own new "invention" that she didn't even notice the dramatic fairy-performance. After a few minutes of fruitless whimpering and theatrical sighing, Summer moved on, offended.

Miracle sat there all afternoon until the sun dipped behind the towers. The magic truly became more stable. The sphere no longer jerked like a rabid dog. But when Miracle looked at the light escaping from her palm, she pursed her lips in disappointment.

– Still dark blue, – she said sourly to the sphere.

Freyja’s afternoon bore an eerie resemblance to Miracle’s lonely quest, though she was driven not by envy, but by pride. In the safety of her own suite, hidden from prying eyes, she finally took out the dark gray cube she had stolen from Mordana. She thought that if she could handle shadow-spawn, a lifeless object wouldn't get the better of her.

She was wrong.

The cube seemed to sense the girl’s tense, commanding magic and resisted with all its might. Whenever Freyja tried to lift it, the object became heavier than a lead block, or unexpectedly began to spin wildly, slipping from her mental grasp. The runes glowed insolently in the dark, as if Mordana’s mocking laughter were echoing within them.

By the end of the day, Freyja’s face was flushed with effort and rage. It became clear to her that taming this devilish invention was not a one-afternoon task, and raw power was far from enough here.

– Stupid cube! – Freyja hissed, and losing her patience, she threw the object against the wall in a fit of pique.

After the crash, Freyja watched the sequel with wide eyes. The cube didn't fall lifelessly to the stone floor. Instead, it bounced with insolent elegance, then casually rolled under the bed. It disappeared into the dust-covered gloom with such confidence, as if it knew exactly how much annoyance it was causing.

Freyja snorted angrily. If she wanted to practice on it again—and her pride wouldn't let a piece of metal defeat her—then next time, the proud witch of the tower would first have to crawl on all fours under the bed to fish out her "prey."

At the end of the day, Miracle headed back to the tower with heavy steps. From afar, she spotted the figure waiting by the gate: the "vulture’s" neck was elongated, and a well-known, greedy light shined in her eyes.

– She’s looking for me, – the girl noted bitterly. She tried to sneak in by blending among a group of noisy upperclassmen, but there was no escaping the old woman’s gaze.

– Stop right there, you little wanderer! – the woman screeched, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp knife. – It’s time to pay! Give me the rent, right now!

Miracle’s hand clenched convulsively around the ten silvers in her pocket. These ten coins were her last bastion of hope, a symbol that perhaps one day she too could buy something nice for herself or eat something other than the tower's meager, tasteless basic food. She didn't want to hand them over.

– By completely emptying yourself, your body will take in more next time, – the master’s words from yesterday flashed through her mind.

The girl made her decision. She was only going to sleep now anyway, and her magic would regenerate by morning—and if the master was right, perhaps she would get even stronger.

– I have no money, – Miracle lied, trying to put on a sincere, desperate face.

– What? Still no money? – the vulture snorted. – You’re a lazy, worthless girl!

The woman reached angrily into a desk drawer and shoved three drained, gray crystals in front of Miracle on a small table.

– Then pay with your blood! Fill these up, and fast!

Miracle silently wrapped her fingers around the crystals. She felt her remaining energy slowly migrate into the stones. As the last crystal glowed to life, the girl’s legs trembled, and her head grew heavy.

The old woman snatched up the charged gems with a satisfied grin.

– I’ll be looking for you again in three days, – she said mockingly, tucking away the loot. – Until then, try to do something useful, you little freeloader!

Without deigning to answer the woman, Miracle used the last of her strength to stagger up the stairs toward her room.

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Cosmo, the Night Fairy

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Miracle - Chapter 20 | Whispering Woods

Freyja stood before the mission board, her hands trembling with rage as she smoothed over the parchments. She could still feel the draft on her face from the door being slammed in her face—she had barely managed to jerk her head back before her nose paid the price for eavesdropping. The earlier humiliation—when she had been spun around the room along with her chair—had left a deep wound on her pride.

– I’ll show them who the elite witch is around here. – she hissed through her teeth.

On the board, she found one of Master Mordana’s missions. She tore off the dark-edged, ominous-looking scroll. The task was clear: exterminate the shadow spawn that had overrun the Whispering Woods and collect at least 20 units of essence. This wasn't flower picking for fairies, this was stone-cold combat. Without a word to anyone, Freyja immediately headed toward the darkening trees of the forest.

As she entered the dense, twisted trees, the air grew cold. The Whispering Woods lived up to its name: the wind whistled through the branches as if invisible mouths were whispering sinister secrets.

Freyja was already deep inside the forest when she spotted a tall, slender figure sitting on a fallen trunk, examining the surrounding moss.

It was Cosmo. The night fairy looked up slowly, his deep blue eyes showing no sign of surprise.

– What is a witch doing here at this time of day? – Cosmo asked coolly, almost in a whisper. – At this hour, this forest is no longer a playground for beginners.

Freyja laughed scornfully and thrust the mission slip before his eyes.

– Look at this! I have business. I’m going to handle twenty shadow spawn before the moon rises.

Cosmo scanned the paper, then looked into Freyja’s furious gaze.

– This mission is dangerous for a first-year .– he said matter-of-factly, without a hint of mockery. – Shadowspawn sense anger and uncontrolled magic. They will latch onto you like hungry leeches.

– I don’t need advice from a fairy! – With a swift motion, Freyja formed a dark purple, vibrating shadow orb and hurled it straight at Cosmo.

The night fairy didn't even flinch. With a single graceful, almost dance-like move, he leaned away from the whizzing projectile, which struck a nearby tree and dissipated into black smoke.

– I get the hint – Cosmo said calmly, then in an instant, he merged with the shadows and vanished among the trees.

Freyja was left alone in the heart of the forest, and the first noises of the night were already stirring from the bushes. The shadow spawn were beginning to sense her presence.

Freyja stood enveloped by the dark trees, feeling the air suddenly chill around her. She didn't have to wait long: small figures made of swirling darkness emerged from the shadows. They were the shadow spawn—glowing purple eyes stared at the witch from their black, incorporeal bodies.

The creatures did not hesitate. They tensed simultaneously and fired thin, needle-sharp purple beams at the witch. Streaks of light cut through the dark woods.

Freyja did not back down. Instead, with a contemptuous smile, she channeled dark magic into her legs. Just as the first beams would have reached her, the witch’s movement shifted: she didn't step, but began to almost skate across the ground. Dark sparks flew from the moss in the wake of her boots as she glided out of the path of the projectiles, spinning on her axis. The purple beams hit nothing but air, and Freyja became a single graceful, dark vortex in the crossfire of attacks.

With a sudden leap, she pushed off the ground and landed on top of a massive, fallen log. From there, she looked down at the army below.

– Come on then, you little mongrels! – she hissed.

Now it was her turn. She formed dark energy orbs in both hands, and the counter-strike began to rain down. Freyja threw the shadow orbs from above like a siege engine. Every impact scorched the spawn with purple flames. The creatures decomposed into dark smoke, leaving behind shimmering essence crystals.

The haughty witch stood panting but triumphant in the middle of the battlefield, with essence crystals lying everywhere on the ground, waiting to be collected.

Freyja routinely gathered the last of the glowing essences from the damp moss. The twenty crystals were already tucked away in her pouch, the mission was accomplished, and her pride was beginning to mend.

But the forest suddenly went silent. Even the whispering of the wind ceased. A massive, dark mass rose from the thicket near the marsh. This was no simple spawn: a Shadow Monstrosity towered before her, its body appearing as if made of solidified tar, its red-glowing eyes flashing with rage.

Freyja did not hesitate, she immediately went on the attack. She hurled purple shadow orbs one after another, but her face soon distorted in shock. Her spells bounced helplessly off the creature's armor-like skin, as if she were merely throwing pebbles.

The monstrosity raised a massive, clawed paw high, but before it could strike, a silvery flash sliced through the darkness. Cosmo, who had been hiding nearby all along, appeared between Freyja and the monster in one graceful motion.

– Step back, witch! I’ll take it from here – he said softly, but in a voice that brooked no argument.

Before Freyja’s eyes, the night elf’s body began to glow. Cosmo took on his true fairy form. His clothes transformed, and massive, midnight-black wings grew from his back, their edges sparkling like the starry sky.

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He moved with a speed that was barely visible to the naked eye. Sharp, crescent-moon-shaped spells flew from Cosmo’s hands, cutting into the monstrosity’s body, dealing deep wounds where Freyja’s magic had failed. The monstrosity collapsed with a painful howl and dissolved into nothingness before it could land a single blow.

Cosmo transformed back and turned toward Freyja, but there was no trace of gratitude on the witch’s face. She angrily adjusted her clothes and stood up from the ground, clutching her loot.

– I didn't need your help, pointy-ears! – she remarked scornfully, looking into the night fairy's eyes. – I was just about to use my best spells. You just stole the show.

With that, Freyja turned on her heel and marched proudly—though with slightly trembling legs—toward the school, leaving the silent Cosmo behind in the depths of the forest.

Freyja’s legs nearly gave way as she stepped through the gates of Lunaris. Her trousers were torn in several places, her silvery hair clung messily to her face, but defiance burned in her eyes.

In the tower hallways, the other witches whispered behind her back, seeing her battered state. Flamma, who was lounging in one of the velvet armchairs in the common area juggling a small flame, looked at her with wide eyes.

– Good heavens, Freyja! You look like you were spat out by a dragon. Where on earth have you been?

Freyja didn't even deign to answer, she merely shot her an icy glare and continued toward the top floor with her head held high. She entered Master Mordana’s office without knocking.

The Master was hunched over a thick codex, but as soon as he sensed the wild scent of the forest and the lingering trace of shadow magic around the girl, he straightened up. Freyja tossed the pouch bulging with crystals onto the desk with a flippant, almost careless gesture. The stones landed on the polished wood with a soft clinking sound.

Mordana opened the bag with his long fingers and ran them over the essences. His hand paused for a moment, as if feeling the raw power trapped within the crystals.

– Adequate. – the man said finally, without looking up.

Freyja’s heart gave a great leap. She knew that from the Master’s mouth, this was the highest praise a student could ever receive.

Mordana then pulled a smaller leather pouch from his drawer and counted out three gold coins onto the table. The precious metal landed with a dull thud, signaling its value—this fortune far exceeded Miracle’s ten silvers.

Without a word, the witch swept up the gold and left the office. She hurried to her own room. As soon as the door closed behind her, she collapsed onto her bed, but instead of resting, she reached for her secret drawer.

She pulled out the dark gray, rune-engraved cube she had stolen from Mordana’s desk during the chaos at the end of class. She ran her hand over its cold surface and smiled. She already had her plans: she would torture this cube until it danced exactly to her tune.

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Miracle - Chapter 19 | Catch-up lesson

Miracle’s heartbeat was still pulsing in her ears after Mordana’s cold command, but her thoughts immediately flew to Summer. She knew exactly that the raw, dark energy dominating the classroom was toxic for a being like a sun fairy.

She found her in a distant corner of the park, under a blooming magnolia tree. Summer sat alone in the grass, her gaze empty, rocking herself with a soft, rhythmic chant:

– Love is the power of Light... Light is beauty... beauty is the fairy. – she whispered, as if trying to draw a shield around herself with the words.

Miracle stepped closer cautiously, fearfully.

– Summer? Are you okay? – she asked softly.

The sun fairy flinched, then in an instant, she pulled that certain perfectly practiced, but ice-cold smile onto her face.

– Oh, Miracle! – she said in a tinkling but false voice. – What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the tower with your new witch friends?

Miracle was stunned. This behavior hurt her much more than Freyja’s mocking. She couldn't take it anymore. She stepped forward and grabbed Summer’s hand. The fairy tried to pull away, but Miracle held tight.

– Please, stop it! – she cried, her voice breaking. – Summer, I had no choice! If the Mirror doesn’t see the magic in me, they’ll send me back. Back to the orphanage, to that gray hell where I have no one!

Summer remained motionless. At the words "orphanage" and "hell," her mask cracked for a moment. This was the first time she had heard of Miracle’s past, the loneliness the girl had brought with her from Earth.

Tears streamed down Miracle’s face.

– I still want to be a fairy... I want to be like you! – she sobbed. – But my magic only wants to come out of rage. I love you, Summer, you’re my only real friend here! I don’t care about anyone else, not Freyja, not the tower!

Summer’s face contorted. In the pure, naive, and superficial world of fairies, there was no room for such heavy, raw emotions, for the misery of an orphanage, or for confessions this deep. To her, it felt as if molten lead had been poured onto her heart.

– No! This... this is too much! – Summer wailed, wrenching her hands from Miracle’s grip.

She turned and ran away among the trees, almost fleeing, stumbling.

Miracle remained alone in the grove, wiping her tears, while the hand of the clock moved relentlessly toward two.

Miracle had no time to run after Summer. The clock was ticking, and the thought of Mordana’s private lesson was even more suffocating than the heartbreak.

As she trudged up the stairs of the Witch Tower, the resident witches followed her with contemptuous looks. They saw a crying, red-eyed, broken girl—someone who didn't belong within the dark walls.

Mordana’s office was on the top floor of the tower. Entering, Miracle was met with exactly the sight she expected. Dark walls, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and military order. Not a single unnecessary decoration or personal item anywhere. Mordana sat at his desk and immediately noticed Miracle’s state.

– Pull yourself together! – he commanded sharply. – We have more important things to do than throwing a tantrum. There is no room for self-pity here.

The master stood up and pointed to a complex rune circle etched into the stone floor in the center of the room.

– Look. Another fine invention of mine. I believe... you will find it interesting. – the master said with a sinister smile. – Stand in the center of the circle and begin to levitate the iron orb.

Miracle obeyed. She pulled out the iron ball and tried to concentrate, but the pain and anger she felt over Summer immediately overflowed within her. The magic erupted wildly from her palms in dark blue rays. At that moment, the runes beneath her feet started to glow, and a sharp, burning pain shot through Miracle’s body, as if she were being pricked by a thousand tiny needles.

– Ah! – the girl cried out, immediately jumping out of the circle. – This is cruelty! I... I won't do this!

Mordana’s face remained motionless.

– Why do you think... the circle caused you pain? – he asked matter-of-factly.

– Because the master finds joy in my suffering! – Miracle snapped offendedly, her anger now directed at Mordana.

The master raised his gaze toward the heavens, indicating with a deep sigh how much the girl’s stupidity exhausted him.

– You are hopeless. The circle punishes you because you are wasting energy. Every single spark that escapes from the orb strikes back at you. That filthy, dark blue color is the evidence of your waste. Magic is pure only when there is no loss.

Miracle fell silent. She remembered Freyja’s purple shadow orb in class. It was pure, deep, and stable, not vibrating wildly like this.

– Continue! – Mordana commanded again. – If you want to become a master of magic, I am the only one who can get you there. But that requires discipline.

Sulkily, Miracle stepped back into the circle. The “practice” lasted for a full hour. At every twitch, at every wrong move, the circle punished her relentlessly. The witch’s body was drenched in sweat, her limbs trembled from the effort and the shock.

– Enough. – Mordana finally spoke. But before the girl could feel relieved, the master pushed three depleted crystals toward her on the desk. – Now, fill these with all your remaining mana!

Miracle stared at the stones in disbelief.

– What? This too? This school really is the worst! They just use us wherever they can!

Mordana’s face now reflected genuine shock at the girl’s lack of understanding.

– Are you truly this narrow-minded? This method forces your mana reserves to grow! By emptying yourself completely, your body will take in more next time! I am strengthening you, you stupid goose! – the master fumed angrily.

Miracle opened her mouth to complain, but suddenly remembered her practice in the grove yesterday afternoon, where she had run out of breath in moments. Though Mordana’s methods were terrible and cold, she sensed the logic behind his words. Silently, she wrapped her fingers around the stones and squeezed the energy out of herself until the world began to spin.

Mordana saw the girl almost collapse. He pointed to a comfortable, leather-covered armchair in the corner of the room.

– Sit down. – he said, his voice a shade more humane now. – Stay there until you recover a bit.

From the comfort of the armchair, still a little dizzy, Miracle gathered the courage to ask the question that had been consuming her since she stood before the Mirror.

– Master... – she began fearfully. – Can a witch... ever become a fairy?

This was perhaps the greatest sacrilege ever spoken within the walls of Mordana’s office. The master stopped writing, put down his pen, and slowly looked up. Miracle expected him to scream or throw her out immediately, but Mordana’s face remained searching.

– That is an... interesting question. – he said finally, softly. – Tell me, what do you think makes someone a fairy?

Miracle blurted out the answer almost without thinking, drawing from fairy tales and her admiration for Summer.

– The wings! And the beauty! The fact that they can transform into their true fairy form. And of course, that they fight for justice.

Mordana was inwardly horrified. He had to realize that this Earth girl was incredibly stupid and endlessly superficial.

– If you think a “fairy form” is enough for fairyhood... – he said, choosing his words carefully. – then the answer is... yes. Perhaps it is technically possible.

Miracle’s eyes lit up. her face brightened instantly.

– Really? Can you teach it to me, master?

The dark master cooled the girl’s enthusiasm with a mocking grimace.

– I will not assist in such a shameful “experiment.” – However, here the master craftily twisted his words. – But... you can be sure of one thing. A potential... “fairy form”... will certainly not manifest from whining and angry twitching. Only control and discipline can help you get there.

Mordana turned back to his desk, indicating the conversation was over.

– Now, get out. I see you are already too much in your element. I will notify you of the next catch-up lesson.

Miracle practically floated out into the corridor. She felt she had won a huge victory. The master hadn’t said it was impossible! If she practiced hard enough, maybe she could get her old dreams back and stand beside Summer in the light.

After the door closed, Mordana only slowly shook his head. It was amazing to him how easy it was to influence this stupid creature. With this tiny, uncertain, and hazy promise, he had ensured that Miracle would now return to him voluntarily—even enthusiastically.

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Miracle, the little witch

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Miracle - Chapter 18 | The iron hand

The next morning began with a vibrating tension in the common classroom. Miracle took her seat between the two witches, trying to hide her yawn. Freyja leaned back, resting her feet carelessly on the desk as she listened to Miracle’s account.

– So, our little Fairy took a job as a cleaning lady? – the witch snorted, but this time a drop of respect mingled with the mockery in her voice. – Well, at least you aren’t lazy. That’s more than I can say for most soft-bellied Earthlings.

Flamma just shook her head while adjusting her red ponytail. – I told you that you would’ve been better off with the mushrooms. Ten silver... I wouldn't even get out of bed for that much.

Visit Original Link

At that moment, the door swung open with such force that the impact echoed off the walls throughout the room. All conversation died instantly. The man in black, whom Miracle had seen the previous night, stepped inside. His footsteps clicked with military precision on the stone as he marched straight toward the dais. He stopped and scanned the students with a cold, midnight-black gaze.

– My name is Master Mordana – his voice rang out, cold and cutting like steel. – I will be teaching you Control. Raw power... is worth nothing if you cannot command it.

A shocked whispering broke out from the fairies' side. – Why isn't Professor Elera here? – a girl asked in a half-whisper. – And what’s with this "Master" business? This is a school, not some dark order...

– Silence! – Mordana’s voice lashed out like a lightning strike. – In my class, there will be no whimpering and stupid questions. Professor Elera is far too soft-hearted with you. Magic is not a game.

Freyja clearly liked this style. She acknowledged the fairies finally being put in their place with a satisfied grunt. However, Mordana’s eyes suddenly settled on her. More specifically, on her feet, which were still resting on the desk.

– I see someone already feels... very much at home. – Mordana said ominously.

Before Freyja could respond, the Master made a single, lightning-fast motion with his hand. Miracle heard only a faint whoosh, then saw an invisible, raw force spin Freyja’s chair around, girl and all. In the blink of an eye, the witch found herself sitting properly in her desk with a straight back, her feet hitting the floor with a thud.

– In this classroom... – Mordana continued. – only those who have already mastered their magic may... keep their feet on the desk. You, however... are still lightyears away from that.

Freyja’s face turned from bone-white to flaming red in an instant. Her lips trembled with rage and public humiliation, but she didn’t dare speak.

– Let us begin. – the Master said with icy calm. – Control is not a matter of choice. Control is the guarantee of survival.

Master Mordana stood at the edge of the dais, arms crossed, watching the students. His gaze settled on the Earth-born ones.

– You, who arrived from this insignificant ball of mud called Earth... – he began, and there was so much contempt in his voice that Miracle’s stomach churned. – take out your iron spheres! Levitate them! Now you shall show me if you have learned anything at all during the temporary week, or if we are simply wasting our time with you.

While the Earth-born students fumbled in their pockets with trembling hands, Mordana turned toward the students of the magical world, who were waiting confidently for the task. The man tossed several dark grey cubes engraved with strange runes in front of them.

– For those who were fed magic even in their cradles... I have brought something else. The task is the same. Though... these cubes are a bit... more interesting than those boring iron spheres. – he said with a sinister smile.

Chaos soon took over the room. The Earth students' hands shook from the tension. Mordana’s presence was so oppressive that even the simplest concentration ended in failure. Even those who had successfully levitated objects before failed now. The spheres fell to the floor with dull thuds.

The students from the magical world fared even worse. Mordana’s cubes seemed to have a will of their own: they spun wildly, shook, and the moment someone tried to lift them, they slammed themselves against the desk or the wall with elemental force.

Summer, who had outshone everyone in every class so far, was now trying desperately.

– Please, lovely little cube, stay still... levitate nicely... – she whispered kindly, coaxing the object.

– Silence! – Mordana’s voice snapped. – I said there is to be no whimpering in my class! Magic is not a request, it is a command of will.

Summer went silent immediately, her face turning pale as she stared at the stubborn cube while fighting back tears.

Meanwhile, Freyja was trying to force her own cube with both hands, her face strained. Her power lashed out from her palms in purple sparks, but the more she struggled, the more violently the cube thrashed.

Mordana began to walk between the desks. He stopped beside Flamma, who was trying to "scare" her cube with a small plume of fire.

– Are you truly of magical descent? – the Master asked quietly, but piercingly. – Go back to the iron sphere. This task... is clearly beyond your intellectual capabilities.

The Master did not help, he gave no advice. He went back to the dais, sat down, and watched the struggling with cold indifference. At the end of the lesson, he stood up and slammed his logbook shut.

– Disgraceful. – he said quietly, yet his voice reached everyone. – This... "performance"... is shameful. You are not students, but a burden on this school's neck. Get out of my sight.

The students began to pour toward the door like a defeated army. Summer practically fled the room, the lesson did not fit into her idyllic fairy worldview. Freyja angrily threw her bag over her shoulder, while Flamma just shook her head in bewilderment.

Miracle was also preparing to leave, but Mordana’s voice stopped her.

– You... there in the purple sweater. You stay here.

Miracle’s stomach tied itself in a knot. She stood alone in the massive room with the black-clad Master as the door closed behind her.

Master Mordana began to move toward Miracle with slow, threatening steps after the last student had left the room. He stopped directly in front of the girl, his cold, analytical gaze sweeping over her.

– You... – Mordana began, his voice deeper than it had been during the lesson. – You have the worst technique in the entire year. What you were doing at your desk just now… that was anything but magic. You twitch that miserable piece of metal like a rabid dog with a rag. You’ve been at Lunaris for over a week, and this is all you can manage?

Miracle’s face flushed, fear pulsing in her throat.

– But Master… I’m trying… it’s just the anger… It’s hard to control… – she started to make excuses.

Mordana suddenly raised his hand, and Miracle silenced at once. The Master’s eyes flicked toward the door, which had remained open by a finger’s width. The Master made a single, casual gesture in the air, and the massive oak door slammed shut with such elemental force that the hallway echoed from the impact.

A faint, pained whimper was heard from outside. Miracle’s heart leaped – she recognized Freyja’s voice. The girl had stayed out there to eavesdrop, and now she likely had to retreat with a sore nose.

Mordana paid no mind to the potential injury he had caused. He turned back toward Miracle.

– Your kind, who possess more temper than sense, require radical methods to progress. Gentleness leads nowhere here.

Miracle’s heart hammered in her throat. The phrase "radical methods" could mean anything but something good.

– What… what does that mean? – she asked with a trembling voice.

Mordana did not answer immediately. He deliberately packed the rune-engraved dice into a velvet-lined box, then looked coldly into Miracle’s eyes.

– It means you will be attending remedial lessons. Report to my office at two o'clock sharp. I will teach you the difference between throwing a tantrum and having power. Now, get out.

Miracle did not dare to resist. She only had the strength for a quick, silent nod before hurrying out of the room. In the corridor, there was no sign of Freyja, only the dark stones echoed the girl’s rapid footsteps.

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Miracle - Chapter 17 | The quest

After classes, the hallway was buzzing with students. Miracle swallowed hard, and before Freyja could storm past them, she gathered all her courage.

– Freyja! – she called out tentatively. – Flamma and I were thinking of looking for a quest at the board... We were wondering if... well, if you’d like to join us.

Freyja let out a snort so scornful that Miracle wished she could sink into the ground right then and there.

– Just because we sleep in the same tower doesn't mean I’m your girlfriend, Little Fairy. – Freyja said, leaning closer, her voice as cold as the north wind. – I work alone, and I don’t do babysitting.

She looked the two startled girls up and down, a mocking smile curling her lips.

– Go on, just the two of you. Or you know what? Go and beg that blonde crush of yours. Maybe she’ll take pity on you with a little fairy dust.

With that, she spun on her heel and left them behind without a single backward glance. Miracle stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, completely crestfallen.

Flamma stepped beside her with a loud huff, crossing her arms.

– That chick seriously thinks she’s some kind of dark queen. – the fire witch remarked, trying to cheer Miracle up. – I bet she spends hours in front of the mirror at home practicing that icy stare just to creep everyone out.

Flamma started toward the bulletin board, gesturing for Miracle to follow.

Miracle simply nodded, though Freyja’s words still stung deeply. Together, they headed toward the central hall, where the large, wooden notice board stood, covered in all sorts of scrolls and announcements.

Flamma’s eyes lit up when she spotted a gold-rimmed scroll at the edge of the notice board. With a swift motion, she tore it off and thrust it triumphantly under Miracle’s nose.

– Got it! – she cried victoriously. – This is the one, Miracle! ‘Gathering rare midnight mushrooms in the marsh of the Whispering Woods.’ Look, they even included sketches, and the description is spot on!

Miracle stepped closer and scanned the lines. As she reached the word “marsh,” a cold shiver ran down her spine, and a sense of foreboding settled like a weight in her chest.

–The marsh? – she asked uncertainly. – Flamma, isn't that too dangerous for us? We’ve only been here a week, and my energy sphere shattered after just a few seconds... But if the two of us go together, then maybe...

Flamma suddenly paused, blinked in confusion, then slapped Miracle on the shoulder with a loud laugh.

– Wait, you’ve got it all wrong, girl! – the fire witch laughed, pressing the scroll into Miracle’s hand. – I’m not going with you. I was just looking for something for you that pays well. My family... well, they’re quite well-off. I don’t need the extra gold. Besides, I promised my friends I’d meet them in town. There are some great spots there—I’ll have to take you sometime!

Miracle’s stomach tightened. Her sudden surge of enthusiasm was replaced by an icy loneliness. Flamma was kind, flighty, and talkative, but in that moment, Miracle had to face the painful truth: Flamma was just a roommate. Not an ally, not a partner in hardship, and most of all... she was not Summer.

–I see... – Miracle replied softly, casting her eyes to the floor. – It’s fine. Have fun in town.

With an apologetic shrug, Flamma left her alone in the buzzing hall. Miracle stood solitary before the notice board. She stared at the drawing of the mushrooms, but without a companion, the dark image of the marsh seemed even more threatening. With trembling hands, she pinned the scroll back onto the corner of the board.

She ran her finger over the humbler advertisements. At the very bottom, she found a simple, handwritten scrap of paper: “Help wanted for cleaning the tables in the Great Hall after dinner. Payment: 10 silver and a warm meal.”

It wasn't glorious, there was no adventure in it, but at least it promised safety. Miracle took the paper and left the hall with her head bowed. A lump formed in her throat at the thought: while others were out on adventures or laughing with friends, she would be alone in the dim hall, scrubbing tables.

There were still hours to go before dinner, but Miracle had no intention of returning to the cold walls of the Witch Tower. Instead, she headed toward a remote corner of the school park, where the thick foliage of the bowers offered a safe sanctuary. This was the place where, only a few days ago, Summer had shown her fairy form with such radiant joy—the memory now bit at Miracle’s heart with a bittersweet sting.

– Let's go... – she whispered through grit teeth.

She tried again and again. Every time, the dark blue energy flared in her palm and began to take shape, but before it could stabilize into a solid sphere, it vanished like blown smoke. By the tenth attempt, her arms felt as heavy as lead, and a bead of sweat rolled down her temple. Her knees buckled as she leaned against one of the bower's pillars, staring breathlessly at her trembling fingers.

– Do I really have... so little mana? – she asked herself in disappointment.

– It would seem so. And you’re wasting a lot of what little you have. – came the unexpected reply from somewhere above her.

Startled, Miracle looked up. Cosmo was perched among the branches of a dark-leaved tree with his usual effortless elegance. The night fairy’s dark clothes almost merged with the shadows; only his deep blue eyes glinted in the twilight.

– Shaping and maintaining pure energy is extremely exhausting, especially for a beginner. – Cosmo continued in his calm, deep voice. –Levitating an existing object, like a... steel ball, can be done with much less mana.

Immediately, Miracle remembered the small metal sphere tucked in her pocket, which she had received during the temporary week. She pulled out the cool metal, but by the time she looked up to thank him for the guidance, the branch was already swaying empty. Cosmo had vanished as silently as he had arrived.

A faint smile appeared on Miracle’s lips. At least someone had helped her, even in such a mysterious, “night-fairy” kind of way.

– Thank you, Cosmo. – she whispered into the wind.

She set to work practicing with renewed strength. She tried to use her anger, as she had before, but the iron ball only jerked wildly in the air before hitting the ground with a metallic clatter. Anger was far too unpredictable for such delicate movement.

Although the sphere refused to obey for now, Miracle felt a sense of peace by the end of the afternoon. During her years at the orphanage, she had only dared to dream of this, and now here she was—even if clumsily, she had been practicing magic all afternoon. This feeling—the awakening of her own power—brought back a glimmer of lost hope.

Dinner time arrived. Miracle entered the Great Hall, where the air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and spiced pastries. Under the massive arches, hundreds of fairies and witches dined noisily. When Miracle checked in at the kitchen counter, the burly head chef sized up the girl’s thin frame and pale face.

– So, you’re the volunteer cleaner? – the man huffed, then slid a generously piled plate in front of her. – Here, eat first, before you collapse next to the bucket. But don’t get used to being pampered.

Miracle found an empty spot at the edge of the hall. A few tables away, she spotted Summer sitting among the other fairies. The sun fairy was just raising a glass of nectar to her lips when Miracle gave her a timid wave. Summer froze. She waved back, but the smile on her face was so forced and pained it looked as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She immediately looked away and began to study her plate with intense focus.

The sting of rejection felt colder than the stones of the tower. To distract herself, Miracle glanced toward the teachers' table, but she regretted it instantly. At one end sat a stern man dressed from head to toe in black. His slicked-back raven hair and sharp features commanded authority, but what truly terrified the girl was the man’s gaze.

The professor sat motionless, his lips pressed thin, boring into her with his black eyes. There was none of the kindness that radiated from Professor Elera, nor the sheer boredom shown by Freyja. This look pierced deep, as if the man could see the unstable, angry magic swirling inside her.

Miracle finished her meal in a hurry just to escape his stifling attention. As soon as she put down her spoon, the head chef appeared at her side.

– Right, I see you’re done staring! – he boomed. – Here’s the cart, get to work! Collect every piece of cutlery and every plate. By the time the cleaners get here, the surfaces must be clear!

The hard labor eventually acted as a merciful distraction from her swirling thoughts. She buried her loneliness amidst the clattering of trays and routine movements. By the time she reached the teachers' table, the seat of the mysterious man in black was already empty. Miracle wiped the tabletop with a sigh of relief.

After clearing the last crumb, she pushed the cart back to the kitchen. The head chef nodded in satisfaction.

– Good work, kid. I wouldn’t have pinned you for having this much grit. – he remarked, sliding ten silver coins onto the counter.

Miracle stared at the shining coins in disbelief. In her sixteen years at the orphanage, she had never held this much money in her hand. There, destitution had been the only constant. These ten silvers weren't just payment, they were the first tangible pieces of independence and hope.

Despite the aching exhaustion, she crept back to the tower with a light heart. Flamma was already fast asleep, so Miracle quietly placed her treasure in her nightstand, then collapsed onto the bed, still in her clothes. For the first time, she felt that in this strange world, she might just have a place after all.

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Miracle - Chapter 16 | Energy Sphere

After their morning conversation, Miracle and Flamma hurried to their first joint class. Miracle was still groggily trying to process her new reality, but Flamma’s unstoppable chatter left no room for brooding. On the way, a cool, familiar figure cut in between them: it was Freyja.

Her icy blue eyes swept over Flamma, then flashed toward Miracle.

– I see you’ve already got a new girlfriend, Little Fairy – Freyja remarked with a mocking yet appreciative half-smile. – You’re better off with this fiery chick than with that vapid Sun Fairy. At least here you’ll learn what real life is like.

As they entered the lecture hall, it was clear that individuality was a great treasure at Lunaris Academy. Not a uniform in sight: the room was a kaleidoscope of diverse styles. Most of the fairies floated in pastel-colored, softly flowing silks, while the witches emphasized their individuality with dark elegance, Gothic lace, or extreme, leather-strapped sets. Although the two groups sat sharply divided, Miracle noticed a few "eccentrics" who bravely mingled with the other side. This sight lit a small ray of hope within her.

On the far side of the hall, amidst the cluster of fairies bathed in light, she spotted Summer. The girl practically glowed in the center of her circle, as if she were woven from sunlight itself. Miracle’s heart gave a great thud. Although Flamma had warned her against such behavior, she couldn't help herself and rushed over to her.

– Summer, please, can we talk for a minute? – she called out as she reached her.

– Oh, hi, Miracle! – Summer said with that usual, practiced cheerfulness that now somehow rang hollow. – Congratulations on your classification! It’s truly... unique.

– Summer, listen, I didn’t want it to be like this, it’s just... – Miracle started, her words tumbling out in an apology.

But Summer didn’t let her finish. She suddenly perked up her head as if hearing a distant call.

– Oh, I’m so sorry, sweetie, but the girls are calling me! – she pointed toward her group, though it seemed to Miracle that no one had said a word. – It’s a very important fairy-matter, you know how it goes... We’ll talk later! Kisses! – In a flash, she vanished into the circle of fairies, leaving Miracle behind in the tense silence.

Miracle went back to her seat, dejected.

– That was totally cringey – remarked Flamma, who had watched the whole scene.

Freyja merely snorted with disdain from her desk.

– That chick was always like that – she threw at Miracle. – As soon as a problem arises, she immediately runs away and hides in her little fairy bubble where everything is pink and perfect.

The conversation was interrupted by the clapping of Professor Elera. The fairy professor radiated pure energy.

– Congratulations to all the Earth students who successfully cleared the hurdles and are here with us! – she began kindly with a beaming smile. – Today, we will practice the cornerstone of magic: the Energy Sphere spell. Let your power flow into your palms and shape it into a stable sphere. Use your own element, that will be the easiest!

Almost immediately, the first lights flared up in the room. For the magical-world students, this was a routine operation. Summer, standing a few rows away, smiled modestly, a perfect sphere bathed in golden light hovered between her hands, flooding her surroundings with warmth.

Miracle glanced sideways at Freyja. The witch held a swirling, dark-purple shadow orb in her palm with profound boredom and a casual air. It was then that Miracle realized: Freyja was a Shadow Witch too, just like her.

– Don’t just stare, do it! – Freyja muttered over her shoulder.

– Miracle, look! – squealed Flamma, and a tiny ball of fire popped from her palm. But the girl’s enthusiasm overflowed: the fire suddenly elongated and nearly singed her eyebrows. Startled, Flamma swatted at the flame to put it out, then grinned sheepishly at her stunned classmates.

Miracle took a deep breath. Summer’s rejection was still stinging her soul, and she tried to feed off that disappointment. She gritted her teeth and channeled the rage into her palms. For a few seconds, an unstable, vibrating dark-blue orb appeared between her hands, nearly burning her skin. Then the orb snapped apart, and Miracle leaned on the desk, panting with trembling arms.

Looking up, she saw Professor Elera standing by Summer, delightedly praising the girl’s flawless technique. Summer glowed from the recognition.

Freyja visibly rolled her eyes.

– Typical – she grumbled, leaning toward Miracle. – The sappy fairies love to polish each other’s egos. Disgusting.

Miracle said nothing. She only watched the Sun Fairy—who was her best friend until yesterday—silently and longingly. Then she clenched her teeth and turned back to her palms to continue practicing.

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Miracle - Chapter 15 | The Witch Tower

Freyja’s and Miracle’s footsteps echoed loudly through the dark corridors of the Witch Tower, built from volcanic stone. Upon reaching the reception desk, Freyja stopped and glanced at Miracle with a mocking half-smile.

– Well, we’re here, Little Fairy. – she said carelessly. – I’m leaving you here. The old hag will get you settled. Don’t expect any more guided tours from me.

With that, she turned on her heel and left the girl alone with the surly porter.

The elderly witch sized up Miracle’s jeans and purple T-shirt with obvious distaste.

– Miracle, right? – she wheezed, flipping through a massive ledger. – Room 120 is yours. But first, pay for your lodgings. Nothing is free here.

Miracle looked at her, startled. She thought of her home, where she’d barely even had proper clothes.

– I… I don’t have any money. – she stammered. – Neither Earthly nor magical.

The porter reached under the desk with a bored motion and pressed a few pale, exhausted crystals into Miracle’s hand.

– Then fill these with magic if you want to stay. You’re capable of that much now that you’ve been classified, aren’t you?

Miracle clenched her fists around the crystals. She remembered Summer’s rejecting gaze, the humiliation before the Mirror, and Freyja’s mocking voice. The rage and frustration built up inside her forced its way out, and the deep, dark-blue magic erupted from her almost like an explosion.

The crystals immediately began to glow in her palm, greedily soaking up the energy like a sponge. When the last stone was full, Miracle’s knees buckled. She collapsed in exhaustion, then placed the glowing crystals on the counter with a trembling hand.

The porter nodded with satisfaction and slid a heavy iron key toward her.

As Miracle headed for the stairs, she saw a few other Earth-born witches arriving. One of them was going through the exact same process. Miracle saw the pain on the girl’s face as the tower’s system literally drained the magic out of her in exchange for a room.

The door to room 120 was stubborn. Inside, she was met by dark green velvet curtains, Gothic-carved furniture, and a cool stillness emanating from the walls. Miracle looked around slowly in the dim light. The place was cold and alien—yet incomparably better than the gray walls and crowded dormitories of the orphanage.

– Hi! Don't tell me you're my new roommate?

A red-haired girl jumped up from one of the beds. Her hair, tied in a high ponytail, and her black poncho seemed to vibrate with energy.

– I’m Flamma, Fire Witch! – she grinned. – I saw what you did with the Mirror. That was intense!

Miracle could only nod as she slumped onto her own bed.

– Miracle… – she whispered exhaustedly.

Flamma sat beside her and continued in a lower voice:

– Look, I get the situation. During the temporary week, the two of us performed the worst, that’s why they paired us up. I accidentally set things on fire, and you… well, they almost sent you home. Looks like we’re the black sheep.

Miracle was flooded with relief. Finally, someone who had no expectations and didn’t look down on her for her Earthly origins.

– I’m sorry, Flamma… – she whispered. – I’m terribly tired.

Before her roommate could answer, Miracle had already drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Miracle woke up still groggy within the dark green walls of the Gothic room. Flamma was already on her feet. Her bright red ponytail swayed cheerfully as she adjusted her poncho.

– Good morning, Shadow! – she greeted her brightly.

Miracle sat up heavily. The memories of yesterday—the dark-blue light of the Mirror, Summer turning away, the humiliating "rent"—rushed back instantly.

– Please… just call me Miracle – she sighed. – I didn't want to be a Shadow Witch. I wanted to be a fairy.

Flamma’s face suddenly darkened. She cast a quick glance at the corners of the room as if the walls themselves were listening, then stepped closer to Miracle.

– Shhh! – she whispered. – Don't say that out loud here. In the Tower, that’s as good as a curse word. Witches are proud of their power. If someone says they’d rather be a fairy, it’s seen as weakness… even betrayal.

Miracle sighed and looked at her palm, which was still tingling slightly.

– I’m still reeling from yesterday. – she admitted. – If you’re poor, they just take your magic? That’s… cruel.

Flamma fell silent for a moment. She began to fiddle with the fringes of her poncho, then turned toward Miracle.

– There’s a side to Lunaris they don’t really show during the first week. – she said quietly. – The school monetizes everything. It profits off everyone. But don’t despair! We’ll get some money, and then you won’t have to experience that draining again.

– But how? – Miracle asked, lost. – I know almost nothing about this world.

– Relax, we’ll figure it out! – Flamma gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. – After classes, we’ll go to the Great Hall, to the mission board. There’s always some small job. Gathering potion ingredients, cleaning labs. Even for a total beginner.

Miracle felt a bit more at ease. Though her heart still ached, Flamma’s confidence gave her strength. As her roommate adjusted her poncho, Miracle’s gaze drifted into the distance. She longed for the marble towers of the Fairy Wing and Summer’s warm embrace.