Revantra didn't like surprises.
Especially not the sort that wore sunflower-yellow ribbons in their hair and had the audacity to squeal.
"Eeeek! You must be Elias! Oh my goodness, you're even cuter than the staff portraits!"
Elias blinked once, twice, and then performed the brave, time-honored tactic of a man completely unprepared for social ambush: he smiled vaguely and took an urgent interest in a nearby potted fern.
It was Monday morning, which already meant an uphill battle against sleep deprivation and stiff uniforms. But this week was special. "Parent-Health Check Week" at the Capital School of Magical Arts, where guardians were encouraged—no, expected—to attend magical growth consultations with students. Which meant Elias, as her legally designated "uncle," was doomed to a week of awkwardly trying to understand mana charts while surrounded by other suspiciously perfect-looking parents.
And now this.
Revantra stood frozen just outside the classroom doorway, half a foot taller than last week thanks to the infernal aging process that refused to slow down, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"Lysine Flarehart," the girl announced to the class, twirling one of her ringlet curls between two fingers. "Transfer from Wistervale Academy! I specialize in aura diagnostics and intermediate charms!"
No one had asked.
"And this is my assigned guardian for the week!" she declared brightly, grabbing Elias's arm like a winning lottery ticket.
Revantra's vision tunneled slightly. The glass on the window beside her trembled, just a little.
Elias glanced helplessly toward her. "Uh. Rina—Revantra. This is Lysine. She just—showed up."
"Don't worry, I won't bite," Lysine giggled, still clinging to his arm. "Unless you're into that."
That was when the water bottle on Theo's desk began to boil. Quietly. Persistently. The poor boy yelped and flung it toward the hallway.
Revantra stepped in slowly, her voice dangerously calm. "That's my seat you're in."
Lysine blinked up at her with the wide-eyed innocence of a creature who had never once in her life been told 'no.'
"Oh! Don't be silly. You can sit on the other side of Elias."
"I wasn't being silly," Revantra said. "I was being territorial."
There was a long pause. Even the teacher, Professor Halden, who usually needed a double shot of espresso just to remember which subject he taught, was suddenly very awake.
Elias cleared his throat, gently pried Lysine's fingers from his arm, and offered her a peacekeeping smile. "Let's, uh, give everyone their space, yeah?"
Lysine pouted. "But proximity increases bond resonance—"
"Lysine," the professor cut in dryly, "take a seat that doesn't radiate doom. Preferably soon."
She flounced to the row behind them, puffing her cheeks.
Revantra sat beside Elias with the stiffness of a cat next to a dog it had not yet decided whether to murder or merely ignore. Her fingers were still faintly steaming.
Elias whispered out of the side of his mouth, "You okay?"
"Fine."
"You're boiling things again."
"Still fine."
He didn't argue. Mostly because her pencil had just scorched a hole through her worksheet.
Lunch didn't improve matters.
Lysine had somehow procured a heart-shaped bento box and was feeding Elias sweet bean cakes with chopsticks. He looked like a man being force-fed poison in the politest way possible.
Revantra sat at the end of the bench, stabbing her steamed dumpling repeatedly.
Theo sat opposite her, chewing cautiously. "So… new girl seems... energetic."
"Mm."
"Also possibly clinically obsessed with Elias."
"Mm."
Theo squinted at her, then at the metal spoon in her hand that was beginning to glow orange at the handle. "You know, this might be a great time to test my mana diffusion theory. Just as a science thing. Not because you're turning that poor utensil into slag."
"I'm not jealous," she said.
"I never said you were," he replied, cautiously moving his tray out of splash radius.
Revantra folded her arms, dumpling forgotten. "She's just... irritating. That's all. She thinks she can just waltz into class, giggle at Elias like a drunken pixie, and pretend like she belongs."
"Right," Theo said. "So not jealous. Just... protective."
"I'm not—" She caught herself, looked down at the table, then muttered, "He's mine."
Theo coughed into his juice. "Well. That escalated."
"I didn't mean—" She stopped. Sighed. "I don't know what I meant."
And she didn't. Because it wasn't just the clinging, or the obnoxious voice, or the way Lysine laughed at things that weren't funny. It was the way Elias didn't push her away right away. The way he smiled at her even though it was obviously fake, and didn't even realize how unfair that felt.
Revantra was older now. At least in body. Her voice had changed. Her thoughts were sharper. And her feelings…
Well.
They were louder.
That evening, back in their apartment, Elias was organizing his spell notes on the couch while Revantra sulked in the kitchen.
Or rather, claimed to be making tea while the water in the kettle audibly hissed in protest.
Elias finally peeked in. "Need help?"
"No."
"Because the kettle is—kind of on fire."
"It's just a light simmer."
The fire spirit residing in the corner bowl gave a small, terrified squeak and retreated behind a mug.
Elias stepped in, gently taking the kettle off the burner and casting a small cooling charm over it. He didn't say anything at first, just handed her a fresh cup of tea and leaned against the counter.
Revantra stared at the floor.
"You know I didn't ask for her to grab my arm, right?"
"I didn't say anything."
He smiled softly. "You didn't have to. You incinerated my spoon with eye contact."
She looked up, face flushed. "...I did not."
"You're also glaring at the tea now."
Silence.
Then, very quietly, she muttered, "Why does she get to look at you like that?"
He blinked. "Like what?"
"Like you're... perfect."
Elias scratched the back of his neck. "I'm really not."
"You're mine," she said.
It slipped out before she could stop it. She realized what she'd said a second too late—and turned red enough to match her mana flare.
Elias stared at her, stunned.
She looked down. "I didn't mean—no, I did, but not like—I mean not in the way you probably—"
He reached out and gently tugged one of her sleeves. "Hey."
She dared to meet his eyes.
"I know what you meant," he said softly. "And... thank you."
The fire spirit peeked out from behind the mug, just in time to see Revantra's lips curl into a small, embarrassed smile.
The next morning, Lysine bounced into the classroom again, ribbons even larger than before.
But this time, when she tried to sit beside Elias, Revantra had already parked herself there, arms folded, eyes daring anyone to question it.
Theo leaned over from the second row. "I brought ice cubes. You know. Just in case."
Revantra smiled, calm and smug. "Don't worry. I'm feeling much cooler today."
Behind her back, her pencil ignited.
But only a little.
To be continued…