Cursing under her breath, Souline Cordis kicked the unsuspecting stone on the way as she testily marched on the Everdelle Academy's wide pavement. She stopped under a plum blossom tree, dark brow twitching when she caught sight of the winged bunnies hovering around a garden area as though the place was a wide plantation of carrots.

With a dejected sigh, she slumped down on the grass while her mind wandered back to her earlier potions class. She might have really pissed off her professor by nearly setting the laboratory on fire because of a liquid experiment gone awry. It wasn't her fault; she convinced herself. Her teacher should have provided them with a clearer instruction.

Souline stared at the red crystal chips band around her wrist before snapping her fingers and murmuring, "Aithne."

Her bracelet glowed for a fleeting moment. Once the light disappeared, a long staff adorned with garnet jewels materialized in her hand.

She studied the mystic scepter as if it was her first time seeing it and wondered if everything would be different if she had gotten a different elemental; one that was more cooperative than Aithne.

Another sigh escaped her lips as Souline acknowledged that her thoughts were unfair to the poor soul.

"One doesn't need to choose their elemental to be a great mage," her mother had told her one time, and Souline could not argue with the statement. She knew that no matter how good people might think a scepter's soul was, the wielder was still the only one who could dictate the outcome of magic.

The young sorceress slowly twirled her hand and waved the mystic staff in the air, a soft incantation accompanying her movement. With a flick of her wrist, she pointed the scepter at the little edelweiss flowers growing beneath a mossy boulder a few meters away from where she was sitting.

It was just supposed to be a sort of experiment. Souline had only wanted to see if she could metamorphose those white blooms into something more colorful. Heaven knew she had never meant to produce ashes out of them. Yet, as soon as the flash from the scepter touched the flowers, they burst into flames, ending their purpose in the world with a tragic fate.

And by bigger mischance, the blaze did not stop there.

"Oh, Hades!" Souline scrambled to her feet. She gaped, alarmed, as the fire started to consume the glittering grass and other wild plants around the giant rock. "Water! I need water!" she recited to herself, turning her head left and right to look for a nearby pond or lake or any source of water.

The young mage returned her attention to the unfortunate scene. Her hazel eyes widened in horror once she witnessed the fire grow wilder, dancing as though to further make fun of her messed-up magic. She could practically hear the laughter and ridicule. You really are a no-good witch, Souline Cordis.

Just when she was about to lose hope regarding the situation, snowflakes appeared around the mad flame. For a brief moment, the little white frozen pellets just floated in a circle.

Everything happened so fast that the only thing her mind could register was the small explosion, and the next thing Souline knew, she was staring at the large icicles standing in the entire area where the fire had been raging just seconds ago.

"You really have a knack for setting things on fire, don't you?"

Souline turned to the source of the calm male voice, only for her gaze to find the crystal blue eyes. A young man stood a couple of feet away from her, his hand poised around the pommel of his scepter.

The female mage examined the newcomer's appearance closely, noting his distinct characteristics.

Similar to hers, he was wearing the Everdelle Academy's uniform—a gray pelerine cloak over the white dress shirt and black trousers. Azure stones embellished the head of his mystic staff, matching the lapis lazuli pendant on his necklace. Silver hair as pure as the snow—a sharp contrast to her midnight black one—flowed past his shoulders and was gathered in a low ponytail.

Souline was fairly certain there was not a single person in the academy, professors and students alike, who could not tell who the young wizard was with those descriptions.

Yuill Pierre, their generation's top student.

"And, are you stupid, Cordis? Why were you looking around for water when you could have conjured it up yourself? You're a mage, use your magic. Or is it more accurate to say, use your brain?" Yuill continued, his tone a cross between annoyance and concern, much like the scowl on his face.

The teenage sorceress broke out of her reverie. She blinked, realizing that his male classmate was right. Talk about being slapped square on the face. She had been busy panicking, and there was no chance to work out that she could have, in fact, used magic to put out the fire.

"So I am a fool." Souline sneered, tired of receiving such offensive remarks. At least, to this man's credit, he did it head-on, unlike the cowards who could only talk bullcraps behind her back. Even so, it did not mean she was fine with any way of insulting her. "Don't rub it in, Your Greatness."

Yuill Pierre did not immediately respond. He fixed Souline with a hard stare, his expression a blank clue for the riddle that his eyes were drawing on.

"So that's the reason," he then murmured in a cryptic voice before walking to the plum blossom tree and sitting down with his back against the trunk. He shifted his intent gaze to the view in front, as if to admire his own ice-made masterpiece. Scepter still in his hand, Yuill moved his wrist in a circular motion and pointed its tip at the icicles. The beam from the mystic staff instantly melted the ice into droplets, producing a scene like a little summer rain.

Finally, as Yuill spun his scepter, it shrunk into a small ball of light before entering his necklace.

"Show off," Souline muttered. Mimicking the lad's last action, she whirled her mystic staff to make it disappear and return its soul to her bracelet.

If the young wizard had heeded his class fellow's scoff, he elected not to react to it. Instead, he settled for a question. "Honestly though, Cordis, why do you even let people's words get to you?"

"What?" asked back Souline, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"You're clearly upset because of what happened in the potions class this morning, and that perhaps added to your existing dismay about what people always say about you. But, I wonder, do you seriously have to listen to their rubbish?"

"What gave you the impression that I ever care a hang about them? Surely, even I know they are not worth my time. And wasn't it you who just called me stupid a while ago?" the young female mage pointed out and sat back down, finally recovering from the fright of the earlier incident. There was only an arm's distance between the two of them now.

Yuill sent her a sidelong glance. "I did not. Those were rhetorical questions I asked."

Another scoff. "What good would rowing back do for you?"

"But it's the truth. And another thing," Yuill said without a speck of deception tainting his sober expression, "I have always believed that, in your own way, you are a very good witch."

Before Souline could argue with the latest statement, the young wizard added, "And no, it's not only because you are the daughter of two great mages of their generation, or that your skills are hereditary. No, I don't think that."

A wan smile pulled on the corner of Souline's lips once she was reminded of the biggest reason the insecurity for her craft had always plagued her.

People always asked why she could not be like her parents every time she came across trouble learning the art of magic. And on rare occasions that she would accomplish something wonderful, they were quick to remark that it was because of the blood of the talented mages running through her veins.

As much as she was proud of her parents and family, she found it exhausting to be constantly compared to them or to always live in their shadows.

"I know that's how other people think of you. That your feats are the results of being a Cordis. That you are born a skilled mage because you are born to skilled parents."

"The thing is, I have never really been a skilled mage," Souline interjected as she could no longer keep the thought to herself, "Aside from the fact that I'm my parents' daughter, there really is nothing else wonderful about me. Unlike my older brother, who's good at combat spells, or my little sister, who's talented in potions and healing charm, I am not exceptionally good at any magic."

"I beg to differ," the young wizard said, "I have always considered you a great mage because I've seen you working hard to become one. Do you know that when you're not trying to burn things, you're quite skilled in metamorphosis and conjuring spells? I also think that once you just mastered your key attribute, you will have a good chance of prevailing over our whole class."

"My key attribute?" Souline tilted her head and threw Yuill a curious look.

"Yes, every mage has at least one attribute, which they can manipulate better than anyone else. Mine is ice or snow." As if to prove his point, the young wizard conjured some snowflakes above his palm. He let them float in the air for a while, and with a snap of his fingers, they disappeared, one by one, with small pops like bubbles.

"So my key attribute is..." The teenage sorceress frowned, reflecting on what it could be. Her eyes widened when it dawned on her at last. "Fire!"

Yuill smirked. "Apparently."

"And that's where the problem starts," Souline said, barely keeping herself from snorting, "I often screw up my magic, affecting my fire to cause destruction."

"I consider it you're passionate. In some cases, it's actually a good thing."

There was just something about Yuill's gentle tone that prompted Souline to focus on his face. Her heart skipped a beat when she was greeted by the young man's soft smile.

"I've never known a mage as passionate as you are."

Souline felt the warmth spread over her cheeks. No wonder most mages, young and old ones, males and females alike, found Yuill Pierre charming despite his reserved front. He just always knew how to turn the right enchantment on people.

The young sorceress looked away in the hope of hiding her blush.

A comfortable silence came over them. For a moment, Souline regaled herself by watching a winged bunny trip over a mound of soil.

She chanced another glance at her side, relieved to see that her companion was no longer looking at her.

Instead, Yuill had his eyes closed, an arm resting over his bent knee, while his head was turned skywards. The breeze blew, teasing his side fringe, causing some strands to brush against his face.

Lost in the allure of the scene, Souline breathed, "So beautiful."

Yuill opened his eyes and raised a snow-colored brow at her. "I am, aren't I?" he wanted to know, a playful smirk finding its way to his lips.

Souline's face heated up more as she grew aware of what she had just blurted out. "I was not talking about you!"

Apparently not interested in the young woman's excuse, Yuill raised to his feet. "Do you want to see a more beautiful view?" he asked with a hint of humor in his voice. Still, Souline comprehended he was being serious when he muttered, "Neve," summoning back his elemental in the form of the mystic scepter, and then adding, "Flight."

The lapis lazuli stones gleamed while the magical staff extended longer. Blue light gathered on the head of the scepter before it grew white wings, similar to those of a dragon.

Souline stood up and stared in awe. Before she could explain that she had yet to learn how to transform her elemental into a flying staff, Yuill seemed to already know as he held out his hand to her.

Albeit reluctant, Souline accepted and hopped on the scepter behind the young wizard.

In a matter of seconds, the ground disappeared beneath her feet. They floated higher and higher, and soon she found herself marveling at the scene below.

She had heard about it from old mages before; Everdelle was surrounded by layers of a prismatic atmosphere. Now that she was close to the clouds, she finally understood why people described it as a stunning sight.

The multiple hues moved like colorful water in the air, changing patterns with each lazy motion. It was like watching the small Everdelle world through a large kaleidoscope.

"This is so beautiful," Souline gasped against the wind, laughing.

"Even more beautiful than I am?" Yuill asked, his smile audible.

"S-shut up!" She hit him playfully in the arm before reflexively holding on to Yuill's middle as she felt herself losing balance. "But seriously, this is the most beautiful charm that I've ever seen. Don't you think the same, Yuill?"

"Who knows?"

Souline was just about to call the young wizard out for acting enigmatic again when her attention got drawn away by their surroundings. She discovered they were now flying even higher and faster.

"Oh, I've never experienced anything this thrilling!" she squealed and giggled, watching the rainbow-like birds play with the clouds.

The young sorceress could have sworn her companion had murmured something. However, when she asked him to say it again since she was not sure she had gotten it right because of the wind, Yuill only replied, "It's nothing important. Don't mind it."

Souline attempted to peer over the young wizard's shoulder to see his expression, but all she could make out was the redness of his ear.

She stared at the back of Yuill's head for a while, before a gentle smile slowly adorned her lips. Truth be told, even she had lied by saying she had not heard him clearly.

"I see," she whispered, wrapping her arms around Yuill's waist more securely, while the man's words replayed in her mind like a sweet incantation.

"I love your laughter, Souline. I think it's the most beautiful charm that I've ever known."