Kai slowly pulled himself out of bed on the morning of his thirteenth birthday, immediately noticing that all the other children had already vacated the room. The empty beds and silence told him exactly what was happening—they were undoubtedly gathered in the dining room, waiting for him to make his appearance so they could surprise him with their traditional birthday celebration.
Every child at the orphanage received the same treatment on their special day: an enthusiastic group surprise, a slightly more elaborate breakfast than usual, and the uncomfortable but well-meaning attention of being the center of everyone's focus for an entire morning. Kai didn't particularly enjoy this tradition—being the focal point of a room full of excited children felt more like an ordeal than a celebration—but he had never bothered to fight against it either. The other children meant well, and Mary clearly took joy in making each child feel special on their birthday.
Before facing the inevitable crowd, Kai decided to visit the small washroom. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping the shock would help him wake up fully and prepare mentally for the day ahead. After drying his face with a rough towel, he looked up at the cracked mirror mounted above the basin and found himself staring at his own reflection.
'It's weird, he thought as he studied the face looking back at him. I was alive for seventeen years on Earth, and yet never once did my reflection feel nearly as real as it does in this world. I don't even remember what I used to look like anymore.'
The observation struck him with unexpected melancholy. The person staring back at him from the mirror was unmistakably himself—thirteen years old with shaggy black hair that fell to about his ears, eerie grey eyes that seemed to hold depths beyond his apparent age, and a rather skinny frame covered in pale skin. He wasn't particularly tall, but then again, he was only thirteen. This body, this face, this identity felt more genuinely his than anything from his previous existence ever had.
Kai sighed deeply, running his fingers through his unruly hair in a futile attempt to make it more presentable. He spent a few more moments mentally preparing himself for a day of being the center of attention—which, in his personal opinion, might as well have been a form of torture.
Just as he had predicted, the moment he entered the dining hall, the entire orphanage erupted in celebration. All the children were gathered around tables laden with a feast of breakfast foods that clearly exceeded their usual simple morning meals. Upon seeing him appear from the hallway, they all jumped ecstatically into the air, their voices joining in a unanimous, joyful chorus: "Happy birthday, Kai!!"
Despite his internal discomfort, Kai managed what he hoped was a genuine smile and thanked them all graciously. He took his seat at the head of the main table—the birthday tradition's place of honor—and did his best to eat breakfast with as much enthusiasm as he could muster alongside the other children. Their excitement was genuinely infectious, even if being the focus of it made him feel somewhat overwhelmed.
The meal progressed with the usual birthday customs: embarrassing stories about Kai from when he was younger, predictions about what kind of adult he might become, and general chatter about his magical training progress. Maya regaled the table with tales of his recent improvements in sword combat, while Rowan quietly but proudly mentioned how much stronger Kai's augmentation magic had become over the past year.
Soon breakfast ended, and the children began preparing to scatter for their morning duties. But before anyone could leave the dining hall, a sharp knock echoed from the front door of the orphanage.
Mary excused herself to answer it, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she made her way to the entrance. When she returned moments later, she held an official-looking letter in her hands, the kind that came with important seals and formal letterhead.
Maya saw the letter immediately and launched herself from her seat with such excitement that literal sparks began flying off her body—small flames dancing around her shoulders and fingertips as her emotional state triggered her magic. "Is it here?!" she yelled, her voice cracking with anticipation and hope.
Mary smiled gently, though there was something cautious in her expression as she began carefully opening the letter. "Yes, dear. Now let's see what they said."
The entire dining hall fell into immediate, complete silence. Every child present understood the significance of this moment. Mary had kept her promise to Maya and sent a letter to the Brightspire Magic Academy several weeks ago, inquiring about the possibility of a scholarship. This letter represented Maya's dreams, her future, her chance to escape the limitations of their small orphanage and receive the kind of magical education that could transform her from a talented child into a true master mage.
Everyone waited with bated breath as Mary's eyes moved across the formal text. The letter was longer than expected, which initially seemed like a positive sign—surely a simple rejection wouldn't require multiple paragraphs?
But as Mary continued reading, her bright and gentle expression began to dim noticeably. Her soft smile gradually faded, replaced by a look of deep disappointment and concern. When she finally looked up from the letter, her eyes sought out Maya's face with an expression that was unmistakably apologetic.
The silence in the room became oppressive as everyone waited for the verdict they could already read in Mary's expression.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry..." Mary said softly, her voice carrying all the weight of crushed dreams and dashed hopes. "They... they denied our request."
The words hit the dining hall. Maya's flames immediately extinguished, the sparks around her body dying out as if someone had poured cold water over her entire being. Her face went through a rapid transformation, from hopeful anticipation to confusion, then to dawning comprehension, and finally to something that looked dangerously close to devastation.
Several of the younger children gasped audibly. Rowan's face fell into an expression of sympathetic sorrow for his friend. Kai felt his own heart sink, not just for Maya's sake, but because he understood exactly what this rejection meant for all of them. If Maya, their certified prodigy, their most naturally gifted student couldn't earn a scholarship to Brightspire, then what hope did any of them have for advancing beyond the basic magical education they could receive at the orphanage?
The birthday celebration atmosphere evaporated instantly, replaced by a heavy cloud of disappointment that seemed to settle over everyone present. This was supposed to be Kai's special day, but suddenly that felt completely irrelevant in the face of Maya's shattered dreams.