Somewhere in the endless starry sky, where no light reaches and no sound is heard, a hazy figure is seen sitting upon a throne made up of the very starry sky itself. Its presence is both Ancient and divine. After some time, the hazy figure opens its silver starlight-like eyes and gazes somewhere far yet near, a small smile tugging its lips as it slowly closes its eyes back…
***
*Knock* *Knock*
"Miss A.."
"Miss Ann.."
"Miss Anna!"
Anna hurriedly woke up after hearing her butler's call.
"Ugh.. good morning, Uncle Andy"
"Good morning, Miss Anna."
"What time is it?" Anna said as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"It's about to be 8 AM, Miss Anna."
"Hah.. I am going to get late…"
"Then you shall hurry up and get ready, Miss Anna."
"Yea…"
"Let me talk to the driver so you can leave for your college as soon as you are ready."
Anna stood up from her bed and left to get ready for college.
Moments later, Anna stood ready to leave for her college. She walked past the gates and reached her car. She sat in the right back seat ( behind the driver's seat ) as she spoke.
"Uncle Jack, please drive fast or else I'll get late!"
"As you say, Miss Anna."
Jack pressed the accelerator, and the car zipped past as they made their way to the college.
Anna gazed at the towering trees going past her through the car's window with a radiant smile on her face…
Jack looked at Anna through the rear-view mirror, seeing the small radiant smile tugging at Anna's face, he thought.
'Master.. you must be happy that your kids are having a happy life? right?'
A long sigh escaped his lips.
"Hah.."
"Hmm?.. What is it, Uncle Jack? Something's wrong?"
"No... nothing... miss Anna"
They reached their location after a few minutes, and Anna stepped out of the car with hurried steps.
"I'll see you at 2 PM then, Miss Anna."
"Sure thing, Uncle Jack, bye!"
Anna looked behind where A three-storey college building with cream-colored walls and large glass windows stood elegantly amidst lush greenery. The entrance features dark wooden doors and stone pillars, leading to a welcoming portico. A modern welded iron gate with sleek, geometric patterns secures the main entrance. Beautiful gardens with colourful flowers and neatly trimmed lawns surround the building. Tall trees and stone pathways complete the peaceful, academic atmosphere.
Anna hurriedly entered the gates as she thought.
'I hope I am not late.'
While stuttering through the stone pathway towards the main entrance, her eyes fell on two girls who stood at the main entrance, gossiping.
"Elise, Hanna!!"
Elise and Hanna turned their head towards the sound after hearing someone call them. Their eyes sparkled after they fell on a girl with shiny blue hair, green emerald-like eyes, with a fit, feminine build of nearly six feet; her face was like the gods themselves had sculpted it for her.
""Anna!!"" Both of them called out at the same time.
"Hmm? Where is Zora?" Anna questioned when she didn't see the third monkey of this group of mischievous friends.
"Her mother had an accident at home. So, she didn't come." ---A green-haired girl of nearly the same age and a few inches taller than Anna, her black eyes gleamed with innocence and love--- Hanna said with a small, sad smile.
"I see.. I'll talk to her later on."
Soon, the three friends left for their class, which was about to start.
The three friends soon reached the class after looking it over. Anna decided to sit at the sixth bench with Hanna, and Elise sat right after them at the seventh bench.
"Hue.. I am all alone," ---a dark blue shoulder-length haired girl with eyes of the same colour, short stature which made her look like a doll--- Elise said as she acted dejected from the thought of sitting alone.
Soon, another girl walked towards Elise and called out to her.
"Elise!!"
Elise turned around to see who had called her. Her eyes then fell on Amaya—a girl with brown hair tied into a ponytail, eyeglasses adorning her light brown eyes. She had a cute face, but her gloomy aura hid all of that as she spoke.
"Hmm? Oh, Amaya!!"
"Can I sit with you?" Amaya asked as she pointed at Elise's bench.
"Sure!!" Elise agreed and beamed from not having to sit alone.
"Hey guys! Meet Amaya. She lives near my house, so we became friends!!" Elise introduced Amaya with a smile on her face.
"Hello.."
"Hello, Amaya!!"
Anna greeted with a half-hearted tone, while Hanna moved her hand towards Amaya for a handshake
*Ahem* *Ahem*
Anna and Hanna looked back towards the sound and found out that the professor was glaring daggers at them.
"Eek... sorry, professor!!" Startled, both Anna and Hanna apologized to the professor.
"Take your seats!" the professor said in an authoritative tone.
Anna and Hanna hurriedly sat on their seats while glaring daggers at Elise, who was looking at them with a wide, triumphant grin.
The clock hands moved past one another, and now it's time for the interval.
"You may now leave the classroom," the female professor said, while bundling all of her items.
As soon as Elise heard that, she began running towards the cafeteria. Anna and Hanna started running behind her to catch her and give her some tough love.
Amaya, seeing this group of friends act like this, blossomed a small smile, which was soon replaced by a slight frown.
'I hope I am not doing something wrong.. but.. I still have to do it.' Amaya thought with a determined look in her eyes.
The group of four sat near one of the tables at the corner and ordered some snacks and drinks from the cafeteria.
"So what I was saying is that please don't forget that today is Jacob's birthday and you have to come," Hanna said
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, stop bothering me," said Anna in an annoyed tone
"Heh. Didn't you say the same thing during the engagement party of Lilya?" said Elise with a smug smile
"Hmph!" Anna looked away, seemingly not interested in their questions anymore.
"Hey.. you guys.. have you heard about midnighters?" Amaya asked in a low voice.
""" Midnighters? What's that?"""
"Hmm? What? You never heard about them?" Amaya said with a shocked expression
"Spit it out!" Elise bawled.
"Ah, so, I heard that there are a few humans who get Superhuman abilities at night and they call themselves Midnighters," Amaya said while leaning forward in a low tone, preferably she didn't want others to hear her.
Hearing her, both Elise and Hanna rolled up their eyes, while sparkles could be seen in Anna's eyes.
"You sure?!" Anna asked with an excited look.
"Ah.. a.. yes," Amaya replied, not expecting Anna to act like that.
"Hah.. Not again," both Elise and Hanna heaved a long sigh.
"You should stop reading and watching those novels and anime of yours, Anna," Elise said while shaking her head.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Anna asked with a frown.
"It makes you stupid!" Elise said matter-of-factly.
"But.. don't you have the lowest grades among us?" Anna said while tilting her head.
"Um.." a voice escaped Amaya's lips, who had an embarrassed look on her face.
"Ah, I meant among us," Anna said while pointing at herself, Elise, Hanna, and an image of Zora in her smartphone.
"It's not about the grades!!" Elise said like she couldn't believe what Anna was saying
*Ring* *Ring*
The interval bell rang, announcing the end of the interval and the start of yet another boring class.
A few hours later, the bell rang one more time, announcing the end of college and giving Anna the freedom Anna so desperately wanted.
"Finally, I am free," Anna said if she had been trapped in a cage for years.
Anna walked towards the towering exit gates with her three friends.
"Anna, please don't forget about Jacob's birthday party," Hanna said with a solemn look.
"Yeah, yeah," Anna replied in a half-hearted tone.
"I beg you, please," Hanna requested with pleading eyes.
"Ugh.. you are so tense for no reason.. I'll be there at the right time, don't worry," Anna said with a deadpan look on her face.
"Hah... Ok," Hanna replied, thinking of putting her faith in Anna.