“Thank you for this amazing surprise. I feel so unworthy, knowing other students have dealt with so much more in their time here than me, but I’m also so grateful. Coming to Aether, I never imagined my life would take such a turn, but it honestly came naturally. When Aris and her coven were ostracized and hunted, I knew I couldn’t sit back any longer. The support Indigo and our team received was so overwhelming, I’m still in shock! After the Prime Minister rolled out the new changes, we switched from an underground team to an academy-wide one, and the representation from all types of witches was amazing. I’ve passed Indigo’s torch onto a new leader, who I know will do it justice. Our time here is over, but it’s important we leave our legacies behind, and I’m proud of mine,” she said, her voice growing stronger with each word. As she paused and took a breath, she shot me a wink. “Hells bells and tarot tells, witches! We did it!” At that, she practically ran off stage, Torryn’s laugh booming again as he spelled his voice.
“Now, onto the pinning ceremony!”
A row of banners floated up behind him, the names of the first row appearing on the canvas. Standing, I waited patiently as each name was read off, the witch stepping onto the stage where Tor would pin their alumni badge to their chest before they returned to their seat. The longer I waited, the more anxious I got. What if I tripped? What if I spouted something totally ridiculous by accident?
“Aris Calisto,” Torryn announced. As soon as I stepped up onto the stage, my men and Olive cheered obnoxiously loud, silencing my worries. Tor’s eyes were filled with happiness, his smile bright as he pinned my badge to my robe.
“I’m so proud of you, Gorgeous,” he murmured, the projection magic gone as he whispered the sweet sentiment.
“I love you, Tor,” I told him, starting toward the other end of the stage.
“I love you too, Aris,” he echoed before turning back to the crowd and announcing the next name.
I took my seat, giddy and excited to watch Caspian and Olive walk. The other students’ names went quickly, and when Tor reached Cas, he broke tradition, hugging him tightly after pinning the shiny badge on. The display made me tear up. The brotherly love between them was stronger than ever, and I couldn’t help feeling emotional about how far they’d come since we got together.
After another little while, Tor was at the final row, announcing Olive. When she got to the stage, I jumped up and hooted and hollered like she had done for me, not caring how ridiculous I looked. She was my best friend, and I wanted her to know I was proud of her. Her cheeks turned bright pink, her hand coming up to wave at me, Allain, and my guys who were cheering for her as well. As soon as she reached her seat again, we were all officially pinned.
We did it.
“Congratulations, graduates!” Torryn announced. His voice switched to normal volumes as he said a spell, warmth blowing through the crowd of graduates, letting us know he’d used his magic. Looking down at my robe, I saw my pin, the school’s crest, expand to include the word alumni underneath. I couldn’t stop smiling at it, or the deafening noise as the ceremony came to a close. As soon as we were dismissed, everyone moved toward the dining hall, Caspian hurrying to my side and taking my hand.
The dining hall had been transformed into a magical anomaly. They’d rearranged the tables, the centerpieces flashing a continuous holo loop of pictures from our years here at Aether.
Nostalgia slammed into me as I let Caspian lead me further in, claiming a table and pulling out a chair for me. I blinked away tears, realizing this was officially the end of this chapter of my life. It felt like I owed so much to Aether. My life had changed so much since that first day I walked into the school and had a grumpy tour guide lead me around.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Caspian said, wrinkling his nose as he glanced around the quickly filling hall.
“Which part?” I asked, feeling like there were so many things that would be weird until we got used to them—new life, new place, so many changes—but part of me was so happy Aether would continue to be part of our lives. With Torryn and Drayce working here, we’d never go far. Well… unless we went on vacation at the summer home. It needed some major changes to make it ours, so we might have to combine some time away from work with some home improvement fun. Already thinking of a custom mural Xan could paint in our room, I grew even more excited about it being ours. I was glad I hadn’t let my feelings for my parents get in the way of keeping it. The parents I hadn’t heard a peep from since they’d fallen from grace.
“Being done with classes, all the changes,” he mused, pulling me out of my decorating dreams, “but I’m so ready for what’s next.”
Before we could say anything else, his parents joined us, along with the rest of our guys. Hugs and congratulations came in so fast, my head was spinning. I loved Cas’ parents already, though, so it was welcomed. Between them, Xan’s, and Kye’s parents, I had a real family for the first time in my life.
Once the tables were filled, it was like a magic switch was flipped, caterers filing out and filling the buffet line with way fancier food than we were ever served in school. I started to relax as we ate and gossiped while random students stopped by to say their goodbyes. It was funny how their view of me had shifted when we’d come back to school after being on the run. We were heroes to some, a marvel to others, but either way, I was treated so much better than before I let my magic slip.
The best part was the Curse Crew. Once we came back, they tried to go back to their old ways, but it was shut down real quick by the other students, especially the Mixtas. I barely had time to speak before an entire army of students surrounded them. I’d never seen those three witches run so fast, despite that no threat was actually given.
Once Mixtas were told change was coming, it was as if they lost their filters and need to hide, no longer just blending into the background, and I was so damn proud of them. I’d found my way to speak out, and so had they.
With classes expanding and changing in all the academies, we lost some Mixtas when they moved back to home for schooling, but since we had the highest population of them out of the academies, we still had plenty of students to sustain our student body.
Prime Minister Gennady was true to his word, things were moving in the right direction, albeit a bit slowly, but changing, nonetheless. Working with him was amazing. I’d had such a negative view of the council, for obvious reasons, but seeing those members who were left and the new members working to make things right, was great. The fact they wanted help from the little people like me was still mind-boggling, but if I could have even the smallest influence to better Akasha, then I was happy to do so.
Xanthius
“Too much serious thought over there, Muse,” I teased, moving to her side and kissing her cheek. “Let’s go get us a drink.”
“I’d love to,” she said, grinning up at me as I led her away from the table. She looked as though she could use a breath of fresh air after having to talk with half of the student body. Since coming back to school, she was suddenly everyone’s friend and way too nice to tell them to go away. The downfall of changing the world, I guess.
“You just looked like you were getting lost in thought. Are you alright?” I asked, grabbing us both a glass of punch. She took a sip and shrugged.