Wings of the Radiance

2

As the bell marked the conclusion of the break, Yoora strolled alongside her newfound acquaintance, Clover. Together, they retraced their steps, returning to their respective classroom.

Mrs Roth strode into the room, her entrance immediately commanding the attention of all scholars. "Would you all be so kind as to retrieve your literacy books," she entreated.

Amidst a chorus of reluctant compliance, Yoora also reached for her literacy book. However, as Mrs Roth began to read aloud from the selected passage, the monotonous cadence of her voice proved an effective lullaby.

Yoora, her eyelids growing heavy, watched as the words on the page began to blur. In a spontaneous gesture, she converted her book into an improvised pillow and surrendered herself to drowsiness.

"Miss Lee." The distant voice of Mrs Roth barely permeated the air.

Unperturbed by her educator's call, Yoora's face remained veiled behind her wavy hair. In her undisturbed repose, she paid no heed to the burgeoning frustration of Mrs Roth.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed until a smack against her desk produced a sharp noise, reverberating through the room. Startled from her slumber, she groggily lifted her head, her hand moving to stifle a yawn.

As her gaze lifted, she discerned the furrowed line between her educator's brows. Mrs Roth stood with a ruler in hand—the source of the disruptive noise.

She injected a touch of sarcasm into her words. "Impressive, Miss Lee, making quite the debut on your very first day in my class." Yoora remained silent, unswayed by the thinly veiled irritation evident in her educator's tone. "There are no special exemptions for newcomers. Should you dare to doze off once more during my lesson, expect lunchtime detention." She seamlessly resumed her reading, as if the incident were but a fleeting ripple in the unbroken stream of her lesson.

Seated right in front of Yoora, Clover waged a valiant battle to suppress her laughter. Her lips quivered with mirth, as though she had just witnessed a rather comical turn of events.

The drone of Mrs Roth's voice once again proved to be an insurmountable challenge for Yoora. Her gaze roamed, seeking refuge in the captivating world beyond the window, where Rayors openly flaunted their extraordinary powers.

Casting a nonchalant glance at her literacy book, which lay on the wrong page, she allowed her cheek to rest against it again.

Yet, this moment of respite was short-lived. Mrs Roth's fury erupted in a thunderous bellow. "YOORA LEE!"

Jolted from her reverie, she muttered shamelessly, "Oh, that's right..."

Mrs Roth pronounced her verdict with simmering anger. "Detention it is!"

In response, Yoora rolled her eyes and emitted an annoyed groan. She cast her gaze forward, where Clover's shoulders trembled with the internal struggle to restrain her laughter.

In the blink of an eye, Yoora's lunch time vanished, replaced by the unenviable task of cleaning the Luminary Elite's training area.

The training arena stretched out as a vast expanse enclosed by stone walls. Worn-out targets were pinned on these walls, their countenances pockmarked by the impact of projectiles. In one shadowy corner, practice dummies stood, their wooden frames etched with countless gashes. Elsewhere, a punching bag dangled from the ceiling, its surface bruised and battered, the creak of its chain contributing to the ambience of the space. At the very centre of the arena, a large white circle had been painted onto the stone floor—a focal point where Rayors engaged in fierce battles that tested both physical and mental endurance.