"Congratulations, Miss Sinclair!"
Principal Grayson's voice rang out like a church bell, filling the narrow office. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his late fifties, with a snowy beard that framed a weathered face.
A pair of round spectacles perched low on his nose, and his gray suit, though slightly wrinkled, carried the quiet dignity of someone who had seen thousands of students pass through these halls.
I blinked at him, unsure I had heard correctly. "Excuse me?"
He leaned forward over his oak desk, a slow, proud smile stretching his face as he held up a crisp envelope stamped with a silver crescent moon. "You've been invited to join Moonveil Academy. The best boarding school in the entire country."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Moonveil Academy.
The name was legend. A place of power and prestige, nestled in the heart of Eldros. Moonveil wasn't just a school, it wasthe school. The place where the children of royalty, tycoons, and political leaders were groomed to take over the world.
Students who graduated from Moonveil didn't just succeed. They ruled.
And me? I was just Maeve Sinclair, a girl from the Braywick.
"Moonveil…" I whispered, my eyes nearly popping out of my sockets.
"Yes, Maeve." Principal Grayson's voice softened. "They've offered you a full scholarship. Your perfect grades, straight A's across every subject, and your performance on the National Scholars Exam made you stand out. Moonveil rarely takes students from outside their elite circles. But they want you."
A rush of disbelief and joy swirled in me like a storm. "Principal Grayson, are you… serious?"
He chuckled and slid the envelope across the desk. "See for yourself."
My hands trembled as I tore it open, heart thudding in my ears.
Dear Miss Maeve Sinclair,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for admission to Moonveil Academy.
Your exceptional academic performance and character have earned you a full scholarship.
Welcome to our world. We look forward to your arrival.
"They… they really picked me," I whispered.
"They did," Principal Grayson said, grinning wide. "You have earned this, Maeve. Moonveil Academy will open doors for you that most people can only dream about."
My throat tightened, and I clutched the letter to my chest, fighting tears. All those nights I'd stayed up under a flickering kitchen bulb, scribbling notes until dawn. Every sacrifice, every missed meal, every worn-out notebook, it was all worth this moment.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely holding steady. "Thank you so much."
Principal Grayson smiled at me, nodding his head. "Good luck, Maeve. I know you will do just great."
When I stepped out of the office Ava, was leaning against the lockers, scrolling through her cracked phone. She looked up, her dark eyes wide with anticipation.
"Well?" she demanded, practically bouncing in her sneakers.
I grinned so hard my cheeks hurt. "I got in!"
Ava shrieked and threw her arms around me. We jumped up and down like maniacs, laughing so loud that a teacher poked her head out of the staff room to glare at us.
"Moonveil Academy?!" Ava gasped. "You're going to Moonveil? That's—oh my god—that's insane!"
"I know!" I said, almost breathless from the high of it all.
"When do you leave?!"
"Next week," I said, holding up the letter like it was a crown.
Ava groaned dramatically, hugging me tighter. "I'm going to miss you, girl! But you're going to crush it there. You'll show all those rich brats what a real queen looks like."
I laughed, but a knot twisted in my stomach. Moonveil was famous for its wealthy, powerful students. Kids who had never worried about bills or counted coins for bus fare.
But I wouldn't let that scare me. Not now. Not when my dream had finally come true.
We rode the bus home together, sitting in the back like we always did. The city of Braywick drifted by, faded brick apartments, graffiti-streaked walls, narrow streets crowded with honking cars and street vendors. It wasn't glamorous, but it was home.
Ava kept chattering about Moonveil, listing every wild rumor she'd heard. "They have dorms with gold chandeliers, swimming pools as big as lakes, and a library with, like, ten thousand books. Ten thousand!"
"You better come back with some hot rich boyfriend," she teased, nudging me. "Or at least some juicy gossip about the princes and princesses of Eldros."
I rolled my eyes. "You're crazy."
"Hey, I'm serious," she laughed. "If anyone's gonna stand out there, it's you."
When I stepped off the bus, I said goodbye to Ava, and then walked up the cracked sidewalk toward my weathered little house. I saw my parents standing on the porch.
Dad's hands were jammed into his pockets, his brow furrowed. Mom clutched her apron, her knuckles pale, like she was holding her breath.
"Sweetie?" Mom called, her voice trembling. "Well?"
I broke into a grin. "I got it!"
Mom's face crumpled with relief as she rushed down the steps, wrapping me in the tightest hug. Dad's normally stoic face lit up as he clapped me on the back, his voice rough but proud.
"You did it, kiddo," he said. "A full scholarship, huh? I knew you would."
Before I could answer, the front door burst open. My older brother, Liam, jogged down, grinning like a fool. "Did I hear right? Our little genius is going to Moonveil Academy?"
"Yep," I said, holding up the letter like a trophy.
He whistled low. "Wow. That's huge, Maeve. I'm proud of you."
"Me too!" squealed Marcie, my little sister. She flew down the steps, almost tripping in her socks, and threw her skinny arms around my waist. "Does this mean you're going to live in a castle now?"
I laughed and hugged her. "Not exactly, but close."
We all crowded inside, the tiny house alive with laughter and chatter. Mom cried again, but they were happy tears this time, and Dad opened the bottle of cheap sparkling cider we'd been saving for Christmas.
"Do you know what this means?" Mom said, wiping her cheeks. "You're going to the best academy in Eldros, and we won't have to pay a dime! Maeve, this is life-changing."
I smiled, my chest tight with joy and happiness.
That night, long after the celebrations died down, I lay on my mattress, staring at the letter on my nightstand.
We look forward to your arrival.
I must've read that line a hundred times because my cheeks ached from smiling. This was real. I was really going.
This was my dream, and it was finally happening.