Hold My Hand Through The Pain

/8/ Stressful Days

You were still in content as you and your familiar journeyed out of the library.

Glancing down at your companion that followed after you, you realized you still hadn't given it a name. "I still need to give you a name, don't i?" You questioned allowed

The creature chirped in agreement as you lightly chuckled with a nod. Going down a list of names before you stopped on one.

"What about (f/n)?" You watched as it chirped again happily before shifting back into one of its bird forms and flew to sit on your head again. You gave a a small smile. "Alright, so you like that one! (F/n) it is."

You then continued down the hall. Though, the farther you went, the more that happy feeling you originally had seemed to die out.

There were whispers from all around you. Each and every student paused what they were doing to look you over with boring, intense eyes as you walked past. And you now understood why Lumin had been so distasteful to the thought of going with you. The people here were kind of shitty people.

Just as you were about to start walking faster, an arm slipped around your shoulders. The whispers seeming to be silenced as you look over at the owner of the arm, your (e\c) eyes meeting familiar brown ones of Orpheus.

"I'm so glad I found you!" He began before pulling you into the Cafe and towards a random table. "You've missed quite a bit."

You sat down infront of him, trying to comprehend what exactly had happened while you were in the library. "Really? What exactly did I miss?"

Orpheus took a deep breath and began to ramble on excitedly about a supposed competition that the school was hosting now that most of the new first years had settled in. It appeared to be a way to represent the ones that hadn't actually dropped out yet. Though, you weren't exactly sure how because most of the first years weren't even allowed to participate in it. Perhaps it was just some form of entertainment?

You sighed softly at that as dinner continued on peacefully before you two went back to the mirror chamber.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, (Y/n)!" Orpheus called out as he began walking towards his dorm's mirror.

"Yeah, good night, Orpheus." You watched as he gave a small wave before soon departing. While you on the otherhand made your way to your own dorm. Your thoughts filled to the brim about the competition that was going to take place in a month, along with figuring out your somewhat blooming friendship with Lumin.

It genuinely seemed like the first week of school wasn't going too horribly, even if it was a little stressful and weird. You could only hope it would continue like this.

~Time Skip~

Perhaps hoping it would be okay was a little to much to actually hope for. Because as the days continued on the stress you continued feeling in regards to the schools 'accelerated curriculum' was immaculate even though they were only trying to teach you basic spells. Which caused you to come to the conclusion that this had been why Eloi had mentioned some of the first years tend to drop out.

Yet you couldn't go down that path, you thought. You were actually making process with your magic, which was what you had wanted from the beggining. Sure, the school was stressing the new first years to learn the basics as quickly as possible so they could get to where the others where with more elemental magic and it was definitely a nightmare trying to do that. But you had come so far, there was no way you'd turn back now.

And with Lumin trying to engage with you and help more, made your achievements even more worth it. And you were sure once you got to where everyone else was, it'd all turn out to be okay in the end. Hopefully...

But currently, you were now being lead back into the main hall for another announcement from the Headmaster. No doubt about the competition.

The tall male was already standing at the pulpit like he had done on the first day. But this time his smile seemed more strained.

"Good evening, everyone! I imagine most of you have already concluded what this announcement is about," He began, only pausing for a moment as the crowd of students finally grew quiet. "Well then.. it is of course in regards to the competition that will be taking place soon, now that the first month of having the newer first years here is almost over. The 2nd and 3rd yours can of course continue to sign up for it until it does occur, but I mainly wish to go over the expectations for that day."

You internally groaned as he began listing off all the rules of how foul play and other forms of cheating wouldn't be tolerated. You soon began weaving through the packed crowd to try and somehow find Orpheus. While also hoping the Headmaster's speech would end soon so you could go back to studying for your classes.

And then you just had to accidentally run into someone. They quickly reached out to grab you and hold you in place before you could stumble more.

This was certainly just your luck, wasn't it? You glanced up to apologize to the person you had no doubt made a fool of yourself too, but immediately paused. Your (e/c) eyes meeting bright yellow one's that belonged to an all too familiar person.