The Clockwork Heart (ViktorxOC)

Chapter 3: Moving Forward

It had been two weeks since Khione's last Arcane History class, and those two weeks had crawled by in a haze of monotony. The subject was only scheduled for two hours every fortnight—a reminder of just how insignificant the academy regarded it. Still, in those two hours, Khione had felt more alive than in any other class. The possibilities had begun to creep into her mind, the tantalizing what-ifs that came with the study of magic. Even if she had to be cautious, those two hours were a spark she hadn't realized she needed.

The morning light filtered into her small dormitory, casting a warm glow over the array of blueprints and sketches pinned to her walls. Her once-bare pinboard was now cluttered with notes, diagrams, and half-finished designs—medical innovations she had been toying with for weeks. On her desk, resting in a delicate balance between functionality and fantasy, was a small mechanical heart, a side project she had tinkered with in her spare time. She didn't expect it to work, not yet, but the thought of creating something so complex and vital thrilled her.

Khione ran a hand through her hair, examining the tangled silver strands in the mirror before reaching for her brush. She pulled her hair back into a sleek style, securing it with a clasp adorned with tiny rubies, and then quickly refreshed the gold dust over the freckles on her nose. The routine was automatic by now—smooth, seamless, and perfected over years of careful practice. The reflection that looked back at her was flawless, as always.

Satisfied with her appearance, she pinned her family crest to her tie and stood, taking one last glance at her desk. Her eyes lingered on the mechanical heart, the intricate gears and pistons catching the light. She smiled faintly. This was her real passion, her real work, the thing that made the long hours and isolation worth it. It was also a secret she guarded closely. No one knew the depth of her obsession with these designs, not even her "friends."

---

The mechanics classroom was its usual hum of activity when Khione arrived, her footsteps echoing faintly as she entered the room. Her friends—Livia and the others—were already seated at their usual spot, close enough to the front to appear studious, but far enough back that they could pass the time without attracting too much attention.

Khione slid into her seat beside them, her movements as graceful as ever. Livia turned to her immediately, her expression bright and eager. "Khione! I'm so glad you're here. I was hoping you could help me with today's topic. It's all so... complicated."

Khione offered a polite smile but inwardly sighed. Livia and the others had always expected her to carry them through these classes. They weren't interested in mechanics the way she was. They didn't see it as a craft to be mastered, a legacy to uphold. For them, it was just another way to maintain their status, another mark of distinction in the eyes of their families.

"Of course," Khione said smoothly, her tone giving nothing away. "I'll explain it as we go along."

The professor began the lecture, droning on about the intricacies of gear alignment in complex machinery. It was a topic Khione had mastered long ago. She sat with perfect posture, her quill poised as if to take notes, but her mind was elsewhere.

This is all so... pointless.

Her eyes drifted to the side, catching Livia's anxious gaze as the professor called for attention. She gave the other girl a reassuring nod, though the hollowness of the gesture was not lost on her. Livia and the others clung to her, hoping that by proximity to a Devika, they could somehow absorb her brilliance. It was exhausting.

The truth was, Khione felt more alone in that classroom than she ever had in her lab. The constant pressure to maintain her image, to perform at the level everyone expected, was suffocating. And yet, it was necessary. The facade had to be perfect, always.