Smiles

  -Atreya-

  As the st of the music faded, I stared at the harpy woman in awe. She had pyed the strange instrument perfectly, and she had used an incredibly complex [Sound] magic array constructed with [Ice] magic to produce the sounds of other instruments.

  I watched as she stepped off the small stage she had been standing on and over to three other women, a dragonkin, catkin, and wolfkin. The wolfkin leaped forward and gave the harpy a big hug, saying something to her. The other too also began talking, although I couldn't hear what was being said.

  What was surprising though, was that the harpy gave a kiss to all three.

  I had heard that some of the other races, particurly the dragons and harpies, would oftentimes have multiple partners, but it was surprising to see it in person.

  Maybe I could join.

  That would be nice.

  One day ter...

  -Evelyn-

  I was walking between two csses when I became aware of someone following me. Scarlet and Nara were having some fun back in our apartment and Kathyrine was meeting up with her older sister.

  I took several strange turns, taking an excessively winding path through the halls, and I felt the same presence following.

  At one point, I went into one of the courtyards and spread my wings before taking off into the sky.

  And still, the person followed.

  At st, I whirled around to confront my stalker.

  Flying behind me was a girl whose pink-feathered arms moved so fast that they looked only like a rose-colored blur.

  "Woah!" She said, coming to an abrupt stop in the air before backing up. "Uh, hi!"

  "Why were you following me?" I demanded, gring at the girl.

  "Sorry, sorry!" She yelped. "It's just, your performance a few days ago was so amazing! And so I've been wanting to meet you since then."

  I raised an eyebrow.

  "I'm serious!" The girl insisted. "My name's Atreya! I'm a hummingbirdkin and nineteen years old."

  "Let's nd and we can talk," I told her. "I'm not having a conversation up here."

  I turned and glided down toward the school, with Atreya following. I swooped into a graceful, smooth nding before turning and seeing Atreya nd.

  Her wings slowed down from a blur down to arms as she touched down.

  "How do your wings move so fast?" I asked her as I started walking toward the library.

  "Magic!" The girl replied. "Us hummingbirdkin can turn food and drink into pure magic, and so we use it to allow our wings to move fast enough to let us fly."

  "Hmm," I said. It was interesting that her race could do that. Although it was very reminiscent of the hummingbirds of Earth, drinking immense amounts of nectar to fuel their fast-paced flight.

  When we reached the library I walked through the tall, hallway-like shelves until reaching an isoted corner.

  "Alright, expin," I demanded.

  "Well, you remember when you did that song, right?" Atreya asked. I nodded. "Well, your music was amazing! And I couldn't stop thinking about you and so I decided to find you and then I did and then I followed you." She took a deep breath and looked up at me. "That's it, I promise."

  "Alright," I said. "That was kind of creepy of you."

  "I'm sorry!" Atreya excimed. "I shouldn't have done it. But maybe now we can be friends or something?"

  "Sure," I said with a small smile. Atreya grinned. "I have to go now, but meet with me at noon in the Sparring cssroom and we can talk some more."

  "Alright, bye!" Atreya called as she leaped into the air and flitted away.

  I made my way back to my apartment, intrigued by the energetic girl. She was an interesting person with a vibrant personality and frankly? She was also downright adorable.

  I'd have to talk with the others first though.