RAVENNA

Part 13

"Attention all guests! The Museum is now officially open! Please proceed to the main Hall to witness the Exhibition of Magical Invention and Legacy!"

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd as students, villagers, and professors alike began moving toward the grand tent at the far end of the grounds. Its enchanted banners shimmered gold and silver in the light snowfall, and the entrance stretched wide like the mouth of an ancient stone lion."Here we go," Rob said, grinning with his cup in hand.

Inside, the Museum Hall was nothing short of breathtaking. Warm golden light illuminated glass cases and floating displays that lined the room in graceful arcs. Ancient runes shimmered along the ceiling, slowly shifting shape, as if retelling forgotten stories through movement alone.

Villagers pointed in awe at relics of old—"a cracked moonstone blade once wielded in the Elemental War", "a preserved spellbook that wrote in response to spoken questions", and "a pair of wings made from phoenix feathers", suspended midair as if still in flight.On the student side of the hall, projects and prototypes were arranged proudly on enchanted pedestals: "a self-cleaning cauldron", "a weather-predicting orb that glowed different colors", and "a charm-lock diary that sang warnings if opened without permission". Rob stopped to admire a floating puzzle box, its pieces constantly shifting and rearranging, while Nieve's eyes were drawn to a display of experimental alchemy tools—one of which looked exactly like the device mentioned in the book she had just bought.Small enchanted plaques narrated each item's history as people walked by, their voices soft and full of wonder. The scent of old parchment, magic herbs, and warm brass filled the air, as did a low magical hum—subtle, steady, like the heartbeat of the place itself."This is incredible," Nieve whispered, gazing up at a holographic illusion of "a star map created by early sky witches", rotating slowly above their heads.

Marcus leaned close, eyes scanning the rows of invention and memory. "Makes you wonder how many stories never got written down," he murmured.

The museum was alive with curiosity—"a bridge between past and future", glowing under the light of young minds and ancient magic alike.The Museum Hall buzzed with voices of wonder and excitement, but amid the crowd, not everyone was focused on the artifacts.

Esme stood a few paces away, half-hidden behind a tall display case that held a glowing hourglass—"its sands falling upward, caught in a loop of frozen time". Her eyes weren't on the magical relics, though—they were fixed on Nieve. A soft, almost regretful smile played on her lips, but it was shadowed with hesitation, guilt, and the weight of words left unsaid for too long.

Nieve, sensing something, turned her head—and froze.Their eyes met across the space.

Both girls stilled, caught in an awkward silence that seemed louder than all the noise around them. Nieve's brows knit slightly, her body stiffened, unsure whether to look away or walk forward. Esme's hands fidgeted at her sides, her mouth parting like she wanted to speak but had no idea how to begin.

Rob noticed the sudden tension in Nieve's posture and followed her gaze. When he saw Esme standing there, his jaw tightened slightly. He instinctively took a step forward, protective and wary.But Marcus noticed too. He reached out and grabbed Rob's arm."Wait," Marcus said quietly. "Let them talk."

Rob frowned. "You know what she—"

"I do," Marcus cut in gently. "But it's not ours to fix. Or to stop."

Rob looked back at Nieve, then reluctantly nodded, stepping back into the crowd with Marcus.

Meanwhile, Nieve and Esme slowly moved toward each other, navigating around a levitating model of an ancient battle site. The air between them was thick—not with anger, but with unspoken history.Esme's voice finally broke through, just above a whisper. "Nieve... can we talk?" Her tone was fragile, and her eyes shimmered slightly.