The man in front stood with his charismatic aura. His eyes were intense, and he wore a simple black button-up shirt here with trousers. His hair was slicked back, adding to his composed demeanor.
"Good to see you having fun," he said, his voice calm yet engaging.
"You're alone?" he asked again. 
I glanced over to where my friends had been just moments ago. They had conveniently disappeared. And I could only wonder why.
"I am now, "I replied, feigning boredom.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "How about a treat?" he offered.
My eyes widened in surprise and chuckle awkwardly “Oh no, you don't have to do that” 
His soft chuckle sent my heart racing, the sound almost intoxicating, he then smiled at me. I swallowed hard, 
"I'm here to enjoy myself as well. A friend recommended this event, so I thought I'd check it out. What do you say?" he asked, a warm smile lighting up his face.
Well, maybe a little fun wouldn't hurt. 
"Okay."
We wandered through the bustling stalls together, the cheerful energy of the festival washing over us. I found myself emersed in the sights, taking in every colorful display.
Suddenly, a girl approached, holding out a tray. 
"Free samples?" she offered brightly.
She held out cream biscuits topped with fresh strawberries. I took one and bit into it, savoring the sweet, creamy flavor. My eyes widened in delight, and I turned to him.
"Professor, you have to try this it's delicious!" I said, holding out another biscuit.
For a moment, he seemed hesitant, glancing around briefly before sighing. Then, he reached out, took the cookie from my hand, and tasted it. He remained silent for a moment before nodding in approval.
"It is,"he commented, his tone thoughtful.
The girl grinned, her enthusiasm clear as day. "If you want more, sir, visit our stall—one dozen for just one copper!"
Oh no, a marketing trap. But the cookies were too good to resist, even if I didn't want to part with the silver for them.
I sighed. "Thank you, but—"
"Please, lead the way,"he interrupted smoothly.
The girl lit up and eagerly led us to her stall, where boxes of the cookies were displayed in various flavors.
"Pick four, Zaira,"he said unexpectedly.
Surprised, I stammered, "Professor, I couldn't—"
I insist. Pick three for your friends and one for yourself. I saw how much you enjoyed them,he said with a faint smile.
I hesitated, feeling unsure.
“Come on, consider it a reward for having the highest score in class” he added, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
With a reluctant sigh, I selected a variety of flavors, just as he suggested three for my friends and one for me. The vendor placed them neatly into a paper bag, and to my surprise, the professor handed her a silver coin.
“Keep the change,” he said effortlessly.
The woman's eyes lit up as she expressed her gratitude. A single silver coin was worth far more than the price of those cookies—enough to sustain a family for weeks. I wondered if he realized the scale of his gesture.
“T-thank you for this, professor”. I really appreciate it,I said softly, clutching the bag.
He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. “You can call me Thorne.”
My eyes widened. “I-I can't do that. You're my professor, it wouldn't feel right,” I stammered.
He chuckled, and the rich timbre of his laugh sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.
“Just for today” he said, his tone warm and inviting. “Or whenever we were outside the classroom.”
We continued strolling along the lively and bustling stalls of the Academy. I stopped by a stall that caught my eye. It featured jewelries that sparked brightly with a silver-tone bracelet adorned with tiny, clear crystals featuring a snowflake-shaped pendant.
“Caught your eye, miss?” The vendor asked. I snapped back to reality as the vendor addressed me.
I shook my head and said, “No, thank you.”
I looked at Thorne, who was examining the accessories. 
“Is there something that caught your eye?” I asked.
“They’re nice but none of them caught my eye yet” he replied smiling. 
We continued to roam around stalls. As silence filled between us. “I heard there's a fireworks display in a few minutes. Do you want to check it out?” I offered.
“That sounds lovely,” he replied.
I nodded, hoping the girls would be there too. That way, I could invite Thorne along, and it wouldn't feel as awkward.
We stayed away from the crowd, up on a small hill near the school but still close enough to hear the festivities. The stars above and a few lanterns created a soft glow, setting a peaceful mood. I glanced around for the girls but didn't see them.
“You look troubled, Zaira,” Thorne said, his voice steady and observant.
I looked at him, surprised to see concern in his eyes. I shook my head, trying to relax. “No, I'm okay.”
He didn't seem convinced, but he said nothing further.
"Here," he said, holding out a caramelized apple to me.
My face lit up as I eagerly took it. The sweetness of the treat was exactly what I needed.
“You know, for a Chirurgeon, you really love sweets” he remarked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
“Who doesn't?” I replied, taking another bite. Sweets can activate ATP, I added, glancing at him with a teasing smile.
He chuckled, his eyes gleaming. “It's true, but they can also give you diabetes.”
“Well, that's true,” I agreed, laughing along with him.
Thorne seemed to hesitate for a moment before asking, “If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to be a Chirurgeon?”
I paused for a moment, biting into the apple as I considered my response.
"Well, I just wanted to help people in need. It feels... fulfilling” I said, my voice softening as I thought about it.
Thorne watched me closely. “That's a noble goal. But it's not an easy one. Healing people takes a lot out of you. There are sacrifices, and sometimes... there are losses”
I nodded, my gaze shifting downward.
 “I know it won't be easy. But I've thought about it for a long time. Helping people, it just feels like the right thing to do.I paused, my fingers tightening around the apple's stick. And... It's personal, too.”
Thorne's expression softened as he glanced at me, sensing the shift. 
“Personal? How so?”
I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to share the truth, but something about his presence made it feel easier. 
“It's for my mother,” I admitted quietly.
 “She always wanted to help others, save lives... but she couldn't. I want to carry that dream for her. It's like... fulfilling what she couldn't.”
Thorne was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on me, the air between us charged with unspoken understanding.
“That's admirable,” he finally said, his voice warm and sincere. 
“You're brave, Zaira.”
His words caught me off guard. I looked at him as he met mine, Those beautiful raven black eyes locking me daring me not to look away, I can even hear his breath and hoping that he can't hear my heart beating faster. 
And yet, the first burst of color illuminated the night, golden sparks trailing into the dark. I looked away, captivated by the radiant bursts of color in the fireworks, and for a moment, it was as though the world had narrowed to just the two of us, sitting there together in the glow of the celebration.
“It's beautiful, isn't it?” Thorne asked, his voice low, almost intimate.
I nodded, though part of me felt like I wasn't just admiring the fireworks. 
“Yeah... it is.”
We sat there in silence, the distant sounds of the crowd mixing with the crackling of the fireworks, both of us lost in the moment.
Stones, mobs, fire...
A memory flashed in my mind for a second. I looked away. 
I kept my cool, not wanting to dive deeper into those memories. It was a nightmare, but it was also a dream to be a Chirurgeon. 
From the bottom of my heart, I knew this was the only thing that made me feel truly valuable to others.
Another explosion lit up the sky. I glanced up, admiring the fireworks as they illuminated the night with various patterns and sizes. The sight was mesmerizing.
“Thorne—” I paused. 
I looked at him as I noticed that his eyes still locked onto mine. My heart raced, beating like a thousand drums. His raven eyes pulled me in like a black hole.
“Your eyes are filled with mystery that I can't seem to solve easily,” he whispered, his words the only thing I heard.
“You're indeed a unique one, aren't you, flower?”
A week later, I left the exam room, sighing. It had been a tough exam, and I hoped I'd passed. It had been a week since the school festival.
You're indeed a unique one, aren't you, flower?
His words echoed in my mind, as if teasing me. After he said that, chaos erupted at the festival. An accident occurred with the men operating the fireworks; they exploded in the wrong direction.
Thorne and I immediately rushed to the scene, and Thorne decided to help the victims by taking them to the nearest hospital. Fortunately, the doctors said the victims were stable and alive. Thank goodness.
After that, we never spoke again, except for our interactions in class.
Zaira! I heard Ainsley's voice. I glanced at her as she approached me.
"Are you busy today?"she asked.
"Not at all, I just finished the exam,"I said.
Her eyes sparkled with relief. "Oh, thank goodness. I need your help” she said, her expression filled with concern.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Well, I'm having some issues making herbal medicine today, and I thought you could help me. It's for a sickness I can't quite understand,she said. I mean, I do understand it, but I just need some clarification."
"Alright, let me take a look," I said.
"The patient reported a high fever, hallucinations, skin color changes, strange visions, and even prophetic dreams," Ainsley explained. My hunch is Mystic Fever, but it's very similar to Ethereal Drift. They have almost the same symptoms."
I scanned her notes for a few moments. Mystic Fever seemed close to what she described, but Ethereal Drift had many similarities too.
"What does the patient do for a living?" I asked.
"I—Am not sure. It doesn't say" she answered.
"You said the patient's skin color changes?" I asked.
She nodded.
"That's right, it's Mystic Fever. They may be similar, but Ethereal Drift usually does not affect the skin color. Sometimes, Ethereal Drift causes tremors and temporary disorientation" I explained.
Ainsley approached her table, pulling out numerous ingredients and mashing them up while consulting a book. I glanced at the book she was using; it was confusing, filled with complex measurements and ingredients.
"Oh shoot."
"What's wrong?"I asked.
"I forgot to pick something from the garden, but I can't leave this,"she said, as she boiled some leaves in a pot.
"I can go get it,"I volunteered.
"You will?"she asked, her face lighting up.
I nodded. Her eyes brightened even more, and she quickly grabbed another book, flipping through its pages.
"It's a Celestial Root," she said. It's from the black tree in the corner of the greenhouse. You'll need to cut about five strands.
"Got it!" I replied.
"Oh, and Zai..." Ainsley called, and I looked at her.
"Be careful with wild plants," she warned.
I nodded. I knew the importance of staying calm and not getting distracted by the beauty of dangerous flora. Wild plants could be deceptive.
I walked through the garden, searching for the shadow tree Ainsley mentioned. Thick cover of leaves, the light dimmed, casting the surroundings in an eerie gloom.
I shivered with a sense of fear but I kept reminding myself to stay focused. I had a knife, just in case I needed to clear any wild vines blocking my path.
Suddenly, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned quickly, but there was nothing, just the dark, shadowy atmosphere. Then, I spotted the black tree. 
I let out a breath of relief when I spotted the tree of Marcana the tree that I've searched for, I walked towards the tree’s direction and start cutting the tiny roots for Ainsley. As I've gathered enough I was about to head out. 
Before I could take another step, something yanked me to the ground. I can feel the vines creeping towards my feet. 
My pulse fastened as I stepped back, until a beautiful red bud emerged from the thick leaves swaying as if it danced for me, I paused mesmerized by its performance. 
Pink pollen filled the air around me, laughing and enjoying the sight, the feeling of happiness overwhelming me as I started to see more of them performing being so close. 
Inch by inch, I was too close. I can feel its vines hugging my body gently yet firm. I can't get out of it. My body feels weak—I can't regain my focus because they're too beautiful to look away.
Until a hard grip of my arm suddenly pulled me hard as I fell down knocking me off—My vision blurred trying to see what happened… 
“Are you alright?!” 
Someone asked me yet I can't hear it that much, The ringing in my ear is too loud I can't point out who that was…