The whispers started subtly, like a rogue breeze rustling through the enchanted eaves of the academy. By Monday morning, they had blossomed into a full-blown gale, sweeping through the dining hall, swirling through the corridors, and fluttering amongst the stacks in the library.
In the bustling main dining hall, amidst the clatter of silverware and the hum of a hundred conversations, a group of third-year students were engrossed in their own hushed debate.
"Did you hear the latest from the Royal Court?" a slender Arcane student, Elian, murmured, leaning over his enchanted toast. "They say Princess Aurelia was seen wearing a new sigil. A rare, almost forgotten symbol of the Sunstone Duchy. Some are speculating it means a betrothal to Prince Kaelen's younger brother, not the Crown Prince after all!"
"Oh, please, Elian," scoffed his friend, Anya, a brilliant Conjurer who had just won the inter-house Magical Duels. "That's old news. Besides, the real question is who's going to snag the top spot in advanced runecasting this term. I heard Marcus from House Umbra managed to stabilize the Chronos-Weave spell in under three minutes – a new record!"
"Marcus is a prodigy," another student chimed in. "But have you seen the Enchanting Guild's display for the Autumn Equinox festival? They've conjured a whole miniature forest inside the main hall, complete with actual glowing pixies! Sarah from our class practically lives in the guild hall now."
Just as the conversation drifted to the merits of various club activities, a breathless first-year scurried past, clutching a stack of scrolls. "Did you hear?! Professor Thorne and Lyra Moonshadow are... engaged!"
A sudden, shocked silence fell over the table, quickly followed by an explosion of gasps and incredulous exclamations. The royal gossip, the academic achievements, the club festivities – all instantly eclipsed by this single, outrageous piece of news.
In the sun-dappled student lounge, Lyra was trying to appear nonchalant while her friends, Aster and Wren, practically vibrated with contained energy. Aster, ever the meticulous one, was perched on the edge of a plush armchair, while Wren, the more theatrical of the two, paced dramatically.
"Lyra Moonshadow," Aster began, her arms crossed, her tone attempting sternness but failing miserably. "Care to explain why half the academy is convinced you're betrothed to Professor Elias Thorne? And why are we only hearing about it from half-whispered rumors in the dining hall?"
Wren stopped pacing, striking a pose with one hand over his heart, mimicking Thorne's perpetually serious expression. "Indeed! 'A very important private discussion about our future, I assure you.' He mimicked Lyra's sweet, saccharine voice. "Oh, the dramatics! We thought you had perfected the art of subtle illusion, Lyra, not... theatrical declarations of matrimony!" He then dropped his voice to a low rumble, mimicking Thorne. "'A temporary expedient, Lyra. A performance, if you will.' Was that his reaction, Lyra? Did he even blink?"
Lyra laughed, a melodious sound that drew a few curious glances. "My heart, dear Wren, is perfectly intact and focused on our studies, just as yours should be. The Professor and I were discussing... sensitive academy matters. And when young, overly enthusiastic Life Magic students descended upon us, a quick, undeniable truth was required."
She tapped her finger to her temple. "An Illusionist's best tool, after all, is not just what they show, but what they make others believe. In this case, a grand, romantic illusion for the masses."
"So it's not real?" Aster asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice, but also relief. "You're not actually marrying Professor Thorne?"
"Not in the traditional sense, no," Lyra replied, her smile hinting at deeper layers. "But a partnership? A collaboration? Absolutely. One that might, incidentally, involve quite a few candied apples." She winked. "Now, what were we discussing about the upcoming 'Warding Arts' club showcase? I heard they're attempting to conjure a temporary anti-gravity zone this year."
Near the entrance to the Life Magic wing, Reginald and his bubbly friend, Elara (the student), were still buzzing from their encounter at the tavern. They were supposed to be reviewing ancient Life Magic texts for Professor Thorne's class, but their conversation had derailed entirely.
"I still can't believe it, Reginald!" Elara exclaimed, clutching a thick tome to her chest. "Professor Thorne! Engaged! He's always so... so rooted to his studies. Remember his lecture on nutrient absorption cycles for the Vance Everbloom? I thought he'd grow roots himself, he was so focused!"
Reginald nodded emphatically. "Right? And then Lyra Moonshadow just announced it like it was the most natural thing in the world! He barely even reacted! Do you think he's secretly a grand romantic, just waiting for the right person to... uh... cultivate his affections?" He shivered slightly. "Though, I suppose that means my chances of getting extra credit by impressing him with my knowledge of fungal networks are now... significantly reduced."
"Oh, don't be silly!" Elara giggled. "Professor Thorne respects knowledge above all else. He'll still give you extra credit if you earn it. Maybe he'll even talk about how his 'fiancée' influences his work! Imagine, a whole lecture on 'The Symbiotic Relationship of Scholarly Dedication and Marital Bliss'!" She paused, then a dreamy look came over her face. "You know, this makes me even more excited to join the 'Aura Weaving Club'! They say it helps you understand your own life energy better, and maybe even project emotions! What about you, Reginald? Still set on the 'Advanced Herbology Society'?"
"Absolutely," Reginald affirmed, trying to regain his composure. "Professor Thorne always emphasizes practical application. And the Herbology Society is working on some new drought-resistant crops. It's very noble. And less... romantically complicated. I just hope," he lowered his voice, "he still has time for us now that he's... off the market."
The murmurs continued throughout the day, reaching even the ears of those who usually considered themselves above trivial student gossip. Cassian Valerius, striding through a packed corridor near the library, overheard a group of second-years gushing about "Professor Thorne and Miss Moonshadow's whirlwind romance."
He stopped dead, his sharp, aristocratic features contorting into a sneer of pure disbelief. Thorne? That stiff, unyielding brute of a Life Magic professor? And Moonshadow, the slippery Illusionist who always seemed to see too much? The very idea was preposterous.
"What in the blazes are you babbling about?" Cassian demanded, his voice cutting through their conversation like a shard of ice. "Thorne and Moonshadow? Don't be ridiculous. That man wouldn't know romance if it sprouted vines and hugged him. And Moonshadow is far too... ambitious for such sentimental nonsense."
The students quailed under his gaze, mumbling apologies. "B-but Sir Cassian," one timidly offered, "Reginald from Class 7 said he saw them at the Night Market and Lyra Moonshadow herself announced it!"
Cassian scoffed, a dark amusement flashing in his eyes. "Announced it, did she? More like a desperate attempt to gain some relevance. Or perhaps she's trying to distract from something else."
He paused, a calculating glint in his gaze. "Or," he continued, a slow, unpleasant smile spreading across his face, "perhaps Thorne is just even more utterly incompetent than I thought, if he can't even avoid being embroiled in such pathetic theatrics by a simple student. Either way, it casts a rather amusing shadow on the 'esteemed' Professor Thorne, wouldn't you say?"
He strode off, leaving the students to consider his words, a new, more cynical angle to the academy's hottest gossip. The academy, it seemed, was fertile ground for whispers, and Cassian Valerius was always ready to plant a few more seeds of doubt.