daughter of darkness and light

Chapter: New Beginnings and Lingering Shadows

Anastasia woke with a start as the ground trembled beneath her. Disoriented and frightened, she sat up, her heart racing. But it wasn’t the earthquake that had woken her—it was Bella shaking her frantically. “Don’t do that again!” Anastasia scolded, still catching her breath. “You scared me.”

Bella’s face fell. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

Anastasia’s expression softened, and she kissed Bella’s forehead. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Just don’t do that when I’m asleep, alright?” Bella nodded, smiling as Anastasia reassured her. “Now, today we have a big task ahead. We’re starting on the University.”

They headed downstairs where the smell of breakfast filled the air. Draven and Talia were busy cooking while Gabriel sat at the table, absorbed in a book. Bella’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She dashed over and hugged him tightly. Gabriel’s usually stern face softened, and he returned the hug with a warm “Good morning, little one.”

Anastasia smiled at the scene. “Good morning, Draven, Talia, and Gabriel,” she greeted, taking a seat.

Draven set a plate in front of her, and she began eating. “This is really tasty, Talia!” she said appreciatively.

Gabriel, who had been quietly sipping his drink, was teased by Anastasia. “Gabriel, you’ve got a good wife there!” she quipped, watching his cheeks flush slightly.

Unable to resist, Anastasia stood up and did a playful little dance. “You’re blushing!” she sang, laughing as she sat back down. Draven and Bella joined in the laughter, adding to the lighthearted mood.

Once breakfast was over, Anastasia grew serious. “Alright, it’s time to get to work. We’ve got a university to build.”

Gabriel nodded, pulling out some plans and files. “This is the place I had in mind for construction.”

Anastasia examined the plans, shaking her head. “No, we’ll build it next to Sky University—in the sky itself. We need to make a statement.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened slightly at the bold suggestion but quickly adapted. “Understood, my lady,” he said with a respectful nod.

The group gathered outside, ready to begin. With a few precise spells, Anastasia created a floating platform high above the ground. It shimmered in the sky, waiting to be shaped into the University of Night. “Gabriel, you focus on constructing the main buildings. I’ll handle the surroundings,” she instructed.

Gabriel wasted no time, chanting spells that summoned stone, brick, and metal, which began to form walls and towers. Meanwhile, Anastasia crafted sprawling gardens and a grand playground that rivaled anything Sky University had to offer. The air buzzed with magic as the new university took shape, elegant and imposing.

As she admired their work, Talia approached. “You’re so different when you’re working compared to how you are with us,” she observed.

Anastasia chuckled, brushing off the comment. “I can’t always be the playful one; there’s serious work to be done!”

Gabriel surveyed the area, impressed. “This will be a place where everyone can learn, free of prejudice.”

Anastasia nodded, satisfied. “Exactly. We won’t tolerate any discrimination here. Everyone is welcome.”

With the day’s work complete, the group headed home. “I’m exhausted,” Anastasia admitted as they neared the house. But as they approached the door, something caught her eye—a bouquet of flowers resting on the doorstep.

She stiffened. It was from Elisa, no doubt. Glancing around, she spotted him trying to hide in the bushes nearby. Without hesitation, she picked up the bouquet and tossed it aside, wrapping her arm around Draven’s instead. “Elisa’s here,” she whispered, leaning into Draven’s side as they walked inside.

Once they were safely indoors, she let go of Draven’s arm, peeking out the window to catch Elisa’s expression. His face was twisted in shock and hurt, but Anastasia steeled herself. She couldn’t afford to waver now.

Dinner that evening was cheerful, filled with laughter and light-hearted conversations. But as the night drew on, the weight of everything settled back on Anastasia’s shoulders. Bella wanted to sleep with Talia that night, leaving Anastasia alone with her thoughts as she lay in bed. Despite the peace of the evening, the memory of Elisa’s desperate eyes lingered, casting a shadow over her heart.