Miraculous

1 - School Begins Again

The insistent rapping on his door echoed through Varian's skull, a dull ache that mirrored the thrumming in his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut, burrowing deeper under the covers, a desperate attempt to burrow back into the dreamscape he'd just been ripped from.

"Varian!" A voice, rough with years and worry, cut through the haze. "Get up, son! You're going to be late for school again."

Varian groaned, the sound muffled by the pillow. He recognized the voice - it was always his father, Quirin, on these mornings. But Quirin hadn't always been like this, a constant presence draped in worry.

Memories flickered, unbidden: a younger Varian, giggling as his mother, Ulla, chased him through the alchemy lab, flour dusting her hair like a halo. Her smile, warm and bright, was a stark contrast to the strained lines etched on Quirin's face these days.

Ulla's passing, when Varian was much too young, had left a gaping hole in their lives. Quirin, once a jovial alchemist, had become a shell of his former self, his playful spirit replaced by a constant undercurrent of anxiety.

Varian finally threw back the covers, the chill of the Parisian morning air a shock to his system. He shuffled towards the door, his hair a mess and his eyes gritty with sleep.

"Coming, Dad," he mumbled, pushing the door open a crack.

Quirin stood there, a tired frown etched on his face. His usual alchemist's coat hung loosely on his frame, and his eyes held a weariness that mirrored Varian's own.

"There you are," Quirin said, his voice gruff. "Breakfast is ready. Don't want you fainting in class again."

Varian winced. The fainting incident had been a culmination of sleepless nights spent hunched over his alchemy books, fueled by a desperation to understand the magic that had taken his mother away. It had only served to worry Quirin further.

"I'll be more careful," Varian mumbled, forcing a smile.

Quirin offered a weak smile in return, the gesture not reaching his eyes. "Just... try not to push yourself too hard, alright?"

Varian nodded, a familiar pang of guilt twisting in his gut. He knew his obsession with alchemy worried his father, but it was the only way he could feel close to his mother again. Maybe, just maybe, through his studies, he could find a way to bring back the light that had dimmed in Quirin's eyes.

The aroma of freshly baked croissants wafted up the stairs, dragging Lashanie from her dreams with a happy sigh. Unlike Varian, the mornings in the Humboldt household were a symphony of bustling activity and delicious smells.

Lashanie skipped down the wooden stairs, two steps at a time, the scent of pastries growing stronger with every step. She burst into the kitchen to find her parents, Anne and Ludwig Von Humboldt, in a delightful flurry.

Anne, her hair a riot of fiery curls escaping her usual braid, expertly glazed a tray of golden croissants. A smattering of flour dusted her apron, but her smile, as bright as the Parisian sunrise, was unfazed.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Anne chirped, winking at Lashanie. "Ready for another day at Françoise Dupont?"

Lashanie grinned. Françoise Dupont, a prestigious school with a focus on science and technology, was her haven. Unlike some of the more traditional institutions, it embraced her fascination with engineering and gadgetry.

"Definitely," Lashanie replied, pulling out a chair and hopping onto it.

Across from her, Ludwig, a man with a kind face and a perpetually flour-dusted beard, was carefully arranging a basket with pain au chocolat. He glanced up at Lashanie, his eyes crinkling at the corners.