The city pulsed with a kind of life Ezekiel had never known. Not just noise or movement—but a deeper current, like magic laced into the wind itself. Every breath he took was full of something electric, like the moment before a storm.
Velmira was more than just alive... It was awake.
Winding streets wove between slender towers of blackstone, their windows aglow with soft amber light. Storefronts spilled warmth onto the cobblestones, and the air was thick with scent—rich brews, fire-roasted spices, and the sweetness of fresh bread. Steam drifted from mugs clasped in mittened hands. Lanterns strung between balconies, dancing in the breeze like captured stars.
A bakery with unique oval-shaped windows caught his eye. The line curled around the corner. A girl near the front bit into a steaming bun, her eyes fluttering shut and face melting into an expression that showed pure bliss.
It must be good, Ezekiel thought. I'll come back here later.
He didn't know where he was going. Only that the flow of the crowd pulled him forward.
When he turned the corner, color exploded around him. A market unfolded like a living tapestry—stalls brimming with glowing fruits, fabrics that shimmered like moonlight, trinkets etched in moving runes. The scent of roasted chestnuts mixed with honeyed pastries and something sharp—cool, like crushed mint leaves in winter air.
A man passed balancing five wooden crates with casual strength, while a floating cart zipped overhead, a translucent delivery notice trailing behind like the tail of a shooting star. Street performers juggled flames that flickered like fireflies. A musician played a stringed instrument that sang with crystalline clarity, his melody echoing out.
Ezekiel paused near a stall, eyes glued to the tiny cakes that floated inside rotating glass orbs, each one turning slowly like miniature planets suspended in orbit.
"You should try the lemon-fire ones," a voice said behind him. "They burn your tongue, but it's worth it."
He turned.
The speaker was a tall guy with warm brown skin and a grin too wide to be innocent. His dark hair was a tangle of lazy curls, and his hoodie was unzipped despite the chill in the air. He radiated a 'special' kind of energy... like someone who made decisions faster than they could think.
Next to him stood a girl—taller than Ezekiel expected, with long, deep-bronze hair braided over one shoulder. A small bird tattoo peeked from beneath her collarbone, the ink dark against her copper-toned skin. She carried herself with a kind of grounded grace, like she was used to walking through fire and not getting burned. A worn leather satchel hung from one shoulder, its brass buckle shaped like a crescent moon.
The third figure lingered just behind them, silent and still. A boy—sharper, leaner. His dark eyes swept the crowd like a blade slicing through fog, not paranoid but alert, calculating. He had the same high cheekbones as the girl, the same subtle strength in his stance. A scar curved faintly beneath his jaw, half-hidden in a shadow.
"First time in Vel City?" the tall guy asked, amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"…Yeah," Ezekiel replied. His voice came out lower than expected.
"I knew it!" The guy spun to smirk at the others. "Told you he was a newbie. Probably here for the entrance exam too. Just like us."
Before they could jump in, he turned back with a grin.
"I'm Rian. That's Tala, and the brooding scarecrow behind her is Kaito. They're twins. And yeah—we're all here for the academy."
"Ezekiel," he said, nodding slightly. "Nice to meet you."
Mentally, he sighed. Of course. A loud one.
They stepped closer at his response. Kaito studied him with calm intensity before speaking in a low, even tone.
"Ezekiel, huh? Cool name. Bit long, though. Let's go with Zeke."
The name dropped like a pebble into still water.
"Sure, I guess," he said, shrugging. "That's what my family calls me anyway."
The word family settled heavy on his tongue.
Rian clapped once, delighted. "Perfect. Zeke it is."
Before he could think to protest, Rian waved him forward. "C'mon. If it's your first time in Vel City, you have to see the rest of the market."
Zeke hesitated—then followed. Not because he craved company, but because the noise was easier than the silence curled up in his mind.
Rian grabbed skewers of glazed meat from a nearby vendor, offering one with a casual tilt of his wrist. Zeke shook his head. Rian didn't push.
"This area's called Mira's Row," Tala said, matching his stride. Her voice was soft but steady. "It's always like this. Apparently the nights here are even more magical. Locals say the stars shine brighter here."
Kaito scoffed quietly. "Too much sugar and grease. Smells like a sick day waiting to happen."
"Spoken like someone who's never had fun," Rian retorted.
"I've had fun. I just remember having food poisoning."
That made Zeke exhale, something close to a laugh.
They kept talking—bickering, joking. Zeke didn't join in. He watched. Observed the ease in how they moved, how they filled space like they belonged in it.
Tala slowed again beside him. "You came alone?"
"Yeah. Got here this morning."
"Family live far?"
Zeke's gaze drifted to a vendor selling enchanted wind chimes, the glass flickering with pulses of light. "Something like that."
She didn't press. Just nodded once.
They passed into a quieter alley lit with soft paper lanterns. The glow reflected in puddles underfoot, turning the cobblestones gold and red. A mural stretched across the brick wall: a girl reaching toward the moon, her fingers brushing its edge.
"Velmira's strange," Rian said, tossing his skewer into a bin. "But kind of amazing. The old districts feel like the stories coming to life. The new parts… well, you'll see when we get there."
Zeke asked, "How long have you been here?"
"Few days," Tala answered. "Orientation's in two, then the real entrance test starts."
"We wanted to settle in early," Kaito added.
"What do they test for?"
"No clue," Rian said. "Changes every year."
"All we know is it's brutal," Kaito said. "A lot of people get sent home."
Zeke didn't flinch. The idea didn't scare him. In some way, it comforted him. If he passed, it meant he deserved to be here.
They turned a corner into a plaza where the market spilled wider. Lanterns swayed above like fireflies. A bard played by a fountain, his voice silver-bright and clear.
Then Zeke felt it. A shift.
A cluster of older teens loitered near a stall with cheap charms and decorative blades. One—tall, wiry with a face curled into a permanent sneer—stepped into their path. The others fanned out beside him, half-laughing, like this was routine.
This isn't a movie, Zeke thought bitterly. Just walk away.
He glanced left. Tala was still admiring the plaza, eyes bright.
Of course.
He sighed, low and long.
The wiry teen's voice cut through the plaza like a rusted blade.
"Well, well. Didn't think I'd see a face like yours this far from the noble courts. Sure you're in the right place, sweetheart? Maybe you took a wrong turn on the way to the dance hall."
The crowd slowed. Watching.
Kaito's shoulders tightened. A smile tugged at his lips—sharp, anticipatory.
"What did you say to my sister?" he asked, voice soft on the ears yet full overflowing with power.
Zeke almost laughed. This guy had been waiting for a fight all night.
Tala stepped between them, one hand held out.
The smirking teen stepped forward. "I don't care whose sister she is. In fact i'll take all your sisters, to go. thanks."
His voice echoed in the growing hush. Faces twisted—some in discomfort and disgust, some in interest.
"You know," he added, "if you're tired of walking with these losers, I could—"
Zeke stepped forward.
Before he realized it, his voice reached the ears of everyone in the plaza—low, steady, slicing.
"What the hell is this? You're ugly... I can't tell if you're flirting or having a stroke. Please, get out of my sight."
For a second, everything stopped.
A collective gasp sounded through the now silent plaza.
Rian's mouth fell open. Tala blinked as if trying and failing to process what just happened. Kaito, standing beside her raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a laugh.
The sneering boy's expression twisted.
And just like that, the tension peaked.