A World Between Realms

My mate

As the full moon approached, the ancient academy buzzed with activity, its corridors and halls echoing with the sounds of preparation. According to the oracle and the astrological elders, the ritual must be held at the arena, perfectly aligned with the North Star, which pointed directly to its center. This celestial alignment was said to amplify the mystical energies needed for the prophecy to unfold.

The arena, a massive structure of stone and wood, had seen countless ceremonies over the centuries, but none as critical as the one to come. The entire community of the academy was involved, each member, students, from the youngest apprentice to the most venerable master, assigned specific tasks.

Sophie, Mia, and Pita joined other students in the task of cleaning the spectator seats, an area that often went overlooked during regular maintenance but was crucial for accommodating the multitude of attendees expected for the ritual. Armed with brooms, cloths, and an assortment of cleaning potions, the group approached their duties.

"This seems never-ending," Sophie complained lightly, sweeping the dust off the ancient stone seats, her broom leaving trails in the thick layer of grime that had accumulated over time.

"If you were purely an elite student, you wouldn't be doing this, but your other classes are still on level 1 and 2," Mia teased Sophie with a playful tone.

Sophie quickly retorted, "Correction, I've accelerated to level 5 in my physical class. You know we're not in the same class anymore, especially after I won the horse racing competition, haha!"

Speaking of the devil, there was Randall, who had been irritating Sophie ever since she transferred to the 5th level for her physical class. As her classmate, he was always up to antics, particularly aiming to get Sophie to be his mate. Randall had once been a wolf in the Animus Kingdom before he crossed the portal into their world, and it seemed some of his wilder traits had followed him through.

Randall called out with a boisterous laugh, "Sophie, my mate!" His pack of friends trailed behind him, their chuckles adding to the mockery.

The words grated on Sophie, igniting a fiery urge within her to strike back hard enough to silence him, so she wouldn't have to hear the word "mate" from him again.

Mia let out an evil laugh, thoroughly amused by the situation, while Pita, usually the quiet one, couldn't help but join in, laughing as well at the sight of Sophie so visibly irritated. They both knew this scene would repeat itself over and over until Sophie found a way to hide from Randall or deal with his relentless teasing more permanently.

Sophie, reaching her limit, turned sharply towards Randall and demanded, "What do you want for you to stop this nonsense?"

Randall shrugged, unfazed by her frustration, and replied nonchalantly, "I've already told you, like a hundred times already, that you are my mate."

Sophie shot back with equal force, "And for the hundredth time, I've also told you that I am not your mate!"

Randall interrupted her, insisting, "See, I use Animus language and you can understand me—you are my mate, and I know it. My wolf has been calm since we watched you in the horseback racing back then."

Sophie's frustration with Randall grew; he didn't seem to grasp that she didn't truly understand the Animus language. To her, it sounded like normal English when they spoke their realm's language, making it impossible to ignore his persistent declarations.

Mia interrupted Randall's rebuttal, seeing an opportunity, "If you really want to get on Sophie's good side, why don't you help us clean?" Randall, eager to impress, quickly agreed and summoned his friends to join in the task.

While Mia gave Sophie a conspiratorial wink, Sophie whispered anxiously, "Are you out of your mind? He might take this the wrong way, or think I actually like him."

Mia chuckled and reassured her, "Relax, how would you know? Maybe you'll see him in a good way. Besides, he's cute, you know. Most of the girls here have a crush on him. He could be on the level of your Ealdred or Argus if he just acts right. Give him a few months more to adjust to human life, then see."

Sophie corrected her quickly, "My Ealdred?"

Mia grinned and teased, "As if I haven't noticed the way you look at your prince charming, haha."

Pita chimed in, catching on to the teasing, "Oh, that's why she turned down Argus's offer to call off their match—so she could continue to train with her prince charming."

Sophie's cheeks tinged with a blush at their teasing. "Would you please stop? Don't remind me of that grumpy," she protested, trying to deflect the playful jabs from her friends.

Pita gently addressed Sophie, offering a different perspective, "Actually, Sophie, it's one in a million times that Argus would turn down a match from someone who challenges him. You must accept it, you know. Tone down your pride sometimes."

Sophie pondered Pita's words. "I'm just tired from training, and I'm irritated with him for looking down on me. You know, I've had my own share of survival from people who look down on me, and I'm used to that scenario. I have this learned habit to do my best just to prove myself." Her voice held a mix of defiance and exhaustion, reflecting her constant struggle to be recognized on her own merits.

Sophie, puzzled by Pita's insight, asked, "And why would you say that? You seem so familiar with Argus?"

Pita shared a bit more about her past with them, "Actually, I've been here the longest in the academy. I've been here for 10 years, so I know most of the people here."

Sophie and Mia looked at Pita, amazed. "Wow, so you've been here since you were what? 14?" Mia asked.

"Yes," Pita confirmed with a nod. "I am too an orphan. I don't even know if I am a realm crosser. I don't have any affinity to other realms like you, Mia. You know you're from Elementalia, and you know in your soul and heart as an elemental, even if you lost your memory. Me, I don't know where I came from."

She continued, "At first, I stayed at Gardwyn Pavilion with other realm crossers who were still lost and needed help. But from a young age, I really wanted to be here at the academy, so Lady Elowen supported me and understood my desire."