"Forgotten again."
Those two words echoed in Elira's mind as she looked at the gray school uniform that stood out like a stain among the silver sparkles filling the square.
While everyone else wore their brightest cloaks and silver-embroidered dresses, Kael looked as if he had just fallen asleep in the library, been shaken awake by someone, and pushed outside without having time to change. The single strap of his bag was about to slip from his shoulder, and his hands trembled slightly, whether from running or from panic was impossible to tell.
Lyra rolled her eyes, watching a scene she had become far too familiar with.
"You know, Kael, I think I'd actually be scared if you ever showed up wearing silver like everyone else. That would probably mean Veyra's end has arrived."
Kael casually brushed some dust off the gray jacket he was wearing.
"Don't exaggerate, Lyra. At least I'm wearing something, right?"
A brief silence followed.
When Kael noticed all three girls staring at him with the exact same expression, he let out a deep sigh.
"Fine..." he said in a defeated voice. "Yes, I forgot."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"That was really hard to predict."
"I left in a hurry this morning."
"Of course, none of the festival clothes in your closet were enough to stop you."
Kael shrugged.
"You're all looking at me way too judgmentally."
A few students entering through the academy's other stone gate caught their attention. Their festival outfits shimmered like silver beneath the purple light filtering between the stone walls. They were talking excitedly among themselves; every now and then, one of them would say something that made the rest of the group burst into laughter.
As they walked toward the courtyard with confident steps, the joy of the festival seemed to enter the academy with them.
As the group of boys approached, one of them waved from a distance.
"Kael!"
Kael turned his head and smiled.
"I'm here."
A short while later, they reached them. After the greetings were exchanged, everyone's attention naturally turned toward Kael.
One of them looked over his uniform and couldn't hold back a smile.
"Again?"
Kael sighed with a defeated expression.
"Yes. Again."
Arven smiled and stepped in.
"Come on, the headmaster will start speaking soon."
Together, they stepped through the stone gate, and Elira's gaze instinctively drifted upward.
Thalor Neris rose beneath Veyra's purple sky in all its magnificence.
Built entirely from dark stone, the academy seemed to quietly watch over the rest of the city with its five towers stretching toward the sky. Narrow stone bridges connected the towers, spreading high above like a spider's web, while the light flowing through the blue glass windows spread across the walls in gentle waves.
The main courtyard was more lively than ever. Silver decorations hung for the festival swayed softly in the wind, and blue crystals placed throughout the gardens caught the purple light, casting a gentle glow around them.
Students gathered in small groups, some laughing, some making final adjustments to the flower crowns they had prepared for Floranis.
When they climbed the wide stone stairs, the enormous entrance doors opened before them.
The moment they stepped inside, a cool breeze brushed against their faces. Tall blue-glass windows lined both sides of the grand hall with its high ceiling. The light filtering from Veyra's purple sky outside left blue reflections across the stone floor, while the pillars in the center of the hall looked as if they silently held the entire structure together.
"Same view every year..." Lyra murmured.
Arven smiled.
"Still, you can't help but look."
And he was right.
The noise in the hall grew louder with every passing second. Students moved toward their friends, some standing around and chatting while others took seats wherever they could find an empty place.
Under the high ceiling, the voices echoed and blended together, and soon the hall was completely filled with the excitement of the festival morning.
"Let's sit over there," Lyra said.
Together, they found a few empty seats in the middle rows and sat down.
Just as Elira was about to take her seat, she noticed a familiar face across the hall.
Kaelis.
Standing among his friends in an elegant festival outfit, he was talking with them while occasionally looking around the hall. The moment their eyes met, a small, almost unnoticeable smile appeared on his lips.
Elira smiled back.
When Cyra noticed the looks exchanged between them, she shook her head.
"So nothing has changed this year either."
Lyra smiled and nudged Cyra with her elbow.
"The day has only just started."
At that moment, the noise in the hall slowly began to fade.
The moment the headmaster appeared and walked toward the large platform at the front, the students returned to their places.
Within seconds, silence filled the hall.
After the last whispers disappeared, the headmaster stepped forward toward the podium.
"Good morning, students."
A scattered response rose from the crowd.
"Good morning..."
The headmaster smiled and folded his hands behind his back.
"You all know why we are gathered here."
He paused briefly.
"In fact, I'm sure some of you can repeat the speech I give every year along with me by now."
Light laughter spread through the hall.
The headmaster smiled and shook his head.
"Today, there will be no classes because of Lunor."
A wave of applause and excited voices immediately filled the hall.
The corner of Elira's lips lifted.
"Who would even attend classes anyway?"
Cyra glanced toward Kaelis, who was sitting two rows ahead of Elira.
"I think there are some who would."
Elira instinctively turned her eyes toward Kaelis as well.
A confident, faint smile rested on his face.
After waiting for the applause to fade, the headmaster continued.
"That is all from me for now."
With a warm expression, he looked over everyone in the hall.
"Now go... welcome the day with the joy of Floranis, and when night falls, come together once more beneath Lunor's light."
After his words, the hall was filled with applause.
As students excitedly stood up, the sounds of footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
The heavy stone doors opened, and the cheerful sounds from outside immediately filled the hall, replacing the silence.
Elira stepped outside.
Then another step.
The moment the academy's garden came into view, she stopped where she stood.
Beneath the purple sky, the endless green grass, silver ribbons swaying gently in the wind, and blue crystals scattered throughout the garden made Thalor Neris look more enchanting than ever.
The shadows of the five towers stretched across the garden, while the light filtering through the blue glass windows left soft reflections on the stone paths.
The students' joyful laughter mixed with distant melodies. Some sat across the grass talking, while others had already begun making their first flower crowns.
Elira continued looking around in admiration.
Until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
Arven tilted his head with a smile.
"Have you finished memorizing the garden?"
Without taking her eyes away from the view, Elira smiled.
"I don't think I ever will."
Suddenly, she grabbed Cyra's hand.
"Come on!"
Before Cyra could understand what was happening, she was pulled along. She instinctively grabbed Lyra's hand, and Lyra laughed as she reached for Arven.
At the end of the chain, Kael found himself running after them before he even had the chance to complain.
"I really wonder," he said between breaths, "how do you manage to drag us along every single time? Why don't I have that power?"
Elira laughed.
"Because you never try."
"No," Lyra said with a smile. "It's because if you were the one leading, you'd get lost first."
They all burst into laughter.
The moment they reached the grass, Elira and Cyra dropped onto the soft ground without hesitation. Lyra lay down beside them, laughing.
Arven smiled and shook his head at them.
"Neither of you has changed at all."
Kael looked around.
"Am I the only one who doesn't understand flowers?"
Lyra shrugged.
"No."
Kael let out a relieved breath.
"Oh."
Lyra continued without losing her smile.
"You don't understand anything."
Kael thought about it for a few seconds.
"Actually... you might be right."
This time, even Arven couldn't stop himself from laughing.
Elira sat up and clapped her hands together.
"Okay! First, we're collecting flowers."
The noise in the hall grew louder with every passing second. Students moved toward their friends, some standing and chatting while others sat down at one of the empty seats they found.
As the voices echoed beneath the high ceiling and blended together, the hall quickly filled with the excitement of the festival morning.
"Let's sit over there," Lyra said.
Together, they found a few empty seats in the middle rows and sat down.
Just as Elira was about to sit, she noticed a familiar face across the hall.
Kaelis.
Standing among his friends in his elegant festival outfit, he was talking with them while occasionally looking around the hall. When their eyes met, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Elira smiled back.
When Cyra noticed the looks passing between them, she shook her head.
"So nothing has changed this year either."
Lyra smiled and nudged Cyra lightly with her elbow.
"The day has only just begun."
At that moment, the noise in the hall slowly began to fade.
As soon as the headmaster appeared and walked toward the large platform at the front, the students returned to their places.
Within a few seconds, silence filled the hall.
After the last whispers disappeared, the headmaster stepped toward the podium.
"Good morning, students."
A scattered response rose from the crowd.
"Good morning..."
The headmaster smiled and placed his hands behind his back.
"You all know why we have gathered here."
He paused briefly.
"In fact, I'm sure some of you can already repeat the speech I give every year together with me."
Soft laughter spread through the hall.
The headmaster smiled and shook his head.
"Today, there will be no classes because of Lunor."
A wave of applause and excitement immediately filled the hall.
The corner of Elira's lips lifted.
"Who would even attend classes anyway?"
Cyra glanced at Kaelis, who was sitting two rows ahead of Elira.
"I think there are people who would."
Elira unintentionally turned her gaze toward Kaelis as well.
A confident, faint smile rested on his lips.
After waiting for the applause to fade, the headmaster continued speaking.
"That is all from me for now."
With a warm expression, he looked over everyone in the hall.
"Now go... welcome the day with the joy of Floranis, and when night falls, gather once more beneath the light of Lunor."
After his words, the hall was filled with applause.
As the students excitedly stood up, the sound of footsteps mixed together across the stone floor.
The heavy stone doors opened, and the cheerful voices rising from outside instantly filled the hall.
Elira stepped outside.
Then another step.
The moment the academy garden came into view, she stopped.
Under the purple sky, the endless green grass, silver ribbons swaying gently in the wind, and blue crystals placed throughout the garden made Thalor Neris look more enchanting than ever.
The shadows of the five towers stretched across the garden, while the light coming through the blue glass windows created soft reflections on the stone paths.
The students' joyful laughter blended with distant melodies. Some sat on the grass talking, while others had already begun making their first flower crowns.
Elira continued looking around in admiration.
Until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
Arven tilted his head with a smile.
"Have you finished memorizing the garden?"
Without taking her eyes away from the view, Elira smiled.
"I don't think I ever will."
Suddenly, she grabbed Cyra's hand.
"Come on!"
Before Cyra could understand what was happening, she was pulled along. She instinctively grabbed Lyra's hand, and Lyra laughed as she reached for Arven.
At the end of the chain, Kael found himself running after them before he even had the chance to complain.
"I really wonder," he said between breaths, "how do you manage to make us follow you every single time? Why don't I have that power?"
Elira laughed.
"Because you never try."
"No," Lyra said with a smile. "It's because if you were the one leading, you would get lost first."
They all burst into laughter.
When they reached the grass, Elira and Cyra immediately dropped onto the soft ground without hesitation. Lyra also lay down beside them, laughing.
Arven smiled and shook his head at them.
"Neither of you has changed at all."
Kael looked around.
"Am I the only one who doesn't understand flowers?"
Lyra shrugged.
"No."
Kael let out a relieved breath.
"Oh."
Lyra continued without losing her smile.
"You don't understand anything."
Kael thought for a few seconds.
"Actually... you might be right."
This time, even Arven couldn't hold back his laughter.
Elira sat up and clapped her hands together.
"Okay! First, we're collecting flowers."
Cyra raised an eyebrow.
"And then?"
Lyra shrugged with a knowing expression.
"Then we'll make flower crowns for each other."
Elira thought for a few seconds.
"No... let's do something different this year."
Everyone looked at her curiously.
"Let's give our crowns to someone else instead of each other."
Lyra's eyes lit up.
"Not a bad idea."
Elira grinned.
"Arven, Kael, and Taren will make our crowns."
The expression on Kael's face immediately changed.
"Wait... me?"
"Absolutely."
"I don't even know how to choose flowers."
"You'll learn."
"I don't think I will."
The girls laughed as they stood up.
"Come on!" Elira said. "Let's find the prettiest flowers before everyone else takes them."
The girls ran toward the flower beds with laughter, while Arven and Kael slowly followed the stone path behind them.
Soon, two familiar figures approaching from the opposite direction caught their attention.
"Sorel," Arven said.
Sorel smiled and raised his hand.
Taren beside him nodded in greeting.
The four of them continued walking together.
Kael let out a deep sigh.
"Our entire reputation is ruined."
Sorel raised an eyebrow.
"What happened again?"
"The girls are forcing us to collect flowers."
Without hesitation, Taren said,
"Dude, what reputation did you even have?"
A brief silence followed.
Arven couldn't hold back his laughter.
Sorel lowered his head and started laughing as well.
Kael placed a hand over his heart.
"That hurt."
Taren shrugged casually.
"Truth hurts."
Kael looked at the flowers in his hands.
"I have a question."
Sorel turned toward him.
"Ask."
"Why does Lyra like flowers so much?"
Taren shrugged.
"I don't know."
"It's not just normal liking."
Arven smiled slightly.
"Some people just have interests."
Kael frowned.
"But... they're flowers."
"Yes."
"They don't talk."
"Yes."
"They don't walk."
"Yes."
"So why are they so interesting?"
Taren laughed.
"Go ask Lyra."
Taren pointed toward the flowers beside the path.
"Serelis."
Kael bent down.
"This one?"
"Lyra's favorite."
Kael looked surprised.
"Really?"
Taren nodded.
"Last year during Floranis, she talked about it nonstop."
Sorel laughed.
"You're exaggerating."
"I'm not."
Kael looked at the flower again.
"Half an hour?"
"I'm not exaggerating."
"So you can actually talk about a flower for half an hour?"
"If Lyra is the one talking, then yes."
They continued walking while laughing.
Kael shook his head.
"I still think all flowers look the same."
Taren chuckled.
"If Lyra hears that, she'll have a heart attack."
Sorel shrugged.
"She'll give you a two-hour flower lesson."
Kael's expression dropped.
"No. I'm happier this way."
The four of them continued along the stone path, laughing.
☾✧☽
When the girls returned to the grass with their arms full of flowers, the place where they had been sitting had turned into a small flower garden.
The purple of the lavenders, the vivid colors of the tulips, the golden yellow of the daffodils, and a few Serelis flowers mixed among them created a colorful harmony across the green grass.
Elira carefully placed the flowers she had collected onto the ground.
"Okay," she said excitedly. "Everyone, make your own crown. Then we'll give them away."
Lyra knelt down and began separating the flowers with a smile. Cyra sat beside her, fixing the stems one by one, while Elira had already decided which flowers she wanted to use.
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"If I follow one of you, the other one disappears in a completely different direction."
All four of them turned around at the same time.
Nera stood on the stone path, looking at them with a small smile.
Her dress looked as if a piece of Veyra's purple sky had been taken and turned into fabric. The dark purple, slightly blue silk flowed gracefully from her shoulders with delicate ruffles. The skirt ended at her knees in the front, while the back extended into a waterfall of thin layers of tulle.
But what truly made the dress mesmerizing were the dozens of purple butterflies embroidered onto the fabric. At first glance, they looked like ordinary decorations, but as Nera moved, their wings trembled slightly, creating the illusion that they were alive.
Thin, shining chains scattered between the layers of tulle shimmered with every step, like mist blending into the night.
Elira's face immediately brightened.
"Nera!"
As Nera approached them, she shook her head.
"Finding you was harder than I expected."
Cyra laughed.
"We were looking for you too."
"Clearly," Nera replied. "If I follow one of you, the other one goes somewhere else."
Lyra smiled softly.
"That's what happens when you follow Elira."
"What did I do now?" Elira asked innocently.
"What else would you do?" Cyra laughed. "You dragged all of us along again."
Elira shrugged.
"It worked though."
Nera looked at the colorful flowers spread across the grass.
"So you've started."
"Only just," Lyra said. "Come sit with us."
Nera carefully adjusted the long layers of her dress and sat beside them.
Just then, Kael, Arven, Sorel, and Taren returned toward the grass.
When Kael saw the pile of flowers on the ground, he took a deep breath.
"Can someone please explain how these are supposed to become crowns?"
Lyra looked up with a smile.
"Don't worry."
Kael became hopeful.
"You won't succeed on your first try."
The hope on Kael's face disappeared instantly.
"Was that supposed to encourage me?"
Taren shrugged.
"She told you the truth."
"Don't start with the truth."
Sorel smiled slightly.
"If you want, we can help."
Kael sighed.
"Today is really not going well for my reputation."
Elira laughed.
"Stop complaining and pick up the flowers."
Kael looked at the colorful flowers in front of him.
"...Fine."
As everyone settled onto the grass, the joy of Floranis continued spreading throughout the garden, carried by their laughter.
☾✧☽
After a while...
The thin flower stems had been carefully woven together, transforming into colorful crowns.
Elira held her crown with both hands and examined it carefully.
"Okay..."
"Who am I going to give this to?"
Cyra shrugged.
"You can give it to any girl from the academy."
Elira looked around.
"I don't know..."
A small smile appeared on Lyra's lips.
"Give it to Kaelis."
Elira immediately turned her head.
"What?"
"Give it to Kaelis."
"Are you serious?"
Nera smiled and nodded.
"I think so too."
Elira still wasn't convinced. She looked at the crown in her hands for a few seconds.
Giving it to Kaelis wasn't actually a bad idea... but the small feeling of competition inside her still refused to accept it easily.
"But..."
Cyra finished her sentence.
"Because of your rivalry, you should give it to him."
Elira frowned.
"That's ridiculous."
Lyra laughed.
"During Floranis, everyone offers good wishes to each other."
Nera added:
"Today isn't about competition. It's a festival day."
Elira looked at the crown for a few more seconds.
Then she sighed.
"...Fine."
She lifted her head and looked at her friends.
"Who are you going to give yours to?"
Cyra replied:
"I haven't decided yet."
Lyra thought for a moment.
"I..." she said with a small smile. "I'll do eeny, meeny, miny, moe."
Elira laughed.
"You're still doing that?"
Lyra shrugged.
"It has never failed me so far."
Nera smiled.
"I think that's actually a good method."
Elira took a deep breath.
She carefully held the crown with both hands.
Among the crowd, her eyes searched for someone.
Soon, she found Kaelis.
Kaelis was talking with a few friends when he noticed Elira walking toward him. His conversation stopped halfway.
Elira stood in front of him.
For a few seconds, they silently looked at each other.
Elira smiled slightly and held out the crown.
"Happy Floranis."
The surprise on Kaelis's face was impossible to hide.
"You're... giving this to me?"
Elira shrugged.
"No competition today."
A brief silence followed.
Then Kaelis smiled as well.
He carefully took the crown.
"Happy Floranis, Elira."
The two of them nodded to each other before walking in different directions.
After a while, everyone had delivered the flower crowns they had made to their new owners.
The joy of Floranis mixed with the laughter filling the academy garden, and no one noticed how quickly time passed.
☾✧☽
Hours had quietly passed with laughter and cheerful conversations.
The warm atmosphere of Floranis had spread throughout every corner of the academy, and the flower crowns had already found their new owners.
As evening approached, students, families, and the people of Veyra began making their way toward Obyra Noctis.
Elira, Cyra, Lyra, Nera, Arven, Kael, Taren, and Sorel joined the crowd, walking through the purple-stoned streets.
Along the way, purple lanterns swayed gently, and flowers hanging from window ledges danced in the soft wind.
The laughter and melodies rising from every corner of the city carried the excitement of Floranis everywhere.
As they turned onto the final street, Elira's steps slowed.
Obyra Noctis stretched before them in all its magnificence.
Even though she had seen the same view every year, she still couldn't hide her admiration.
Purple was Veyra's traditional color. Because of this, every corner of Obyra Noctis was decorated with elegant lights and ornaments.
Small blue crystals placed along the roadsides shone like pieces of stars in the darkness. Their soft glow blended with lavender tones, creating a breathtaking harmony.
No matter where someone looked, it was almost impossible to see anything except the mixture of purple and blue.
But beyond all that beauty, the sky alone was enough to take someone's breath away.
Thin clouds covered the sky like a veil, trying to hide the endless sea of stars behind them.
But neither the mist nor the darkness of night could hide Lunor's silver light.
Shades of blue and violet danced silently across the sky, their reflections falling onto Lunor and making it appear more magnificent than ever.
Elira stopped without realizing it.
She couldn't take her eyes away from the sky.
In moments like these, time seemed to lose its meaning.
The harmony of the colors and the silent dance across the sky made people want to stay in the same place for hours, simply watching.
"It's the same every year..." she whispered.
Cyra smiled and completed her sentence.
"...but somehow more beautiful every year."
Elira nodded slightly.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
"Are you still looking at the sky?" Kael said with a sigh. "If you keep staring any longer, Lunor will get tired of watching us."
Taren laughed.
"Don't worry. It will get tired when it sees you."
"You're very funny."
"Thank you."
They started walking again among laughter.
The purple-pink stone path stretching from the shore of Obyra Noctis to the giant tree where the celebrations were held was surrounded by lavender flowers on both sides.
Thin lights placed between them trembled softly whenever the wind blew, while the cool breeze rising from the sea carried the sweet scent of flowers toward the shore.
Distant music blended with the rhythm of the waves.
People gathered around the stands, talking, while children ran around happily with glowing decorations in their hands.
Obyra Noctis was not just a place for celebration.
Tonight, the heart of Veyra was beating here.
The eight friends moved slightly away from the crowd and sat on the grass near the giant tree.
The tiredness of the day was visible on their faces.
Kael yawned and placed his hands behind his head.
"I think I can't feel my feet anymore from walking all day."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"From walking? You spent the whole day around the food stands."
Kael raised a hand as if defending himself.
"I was researching."
Cyra raised an eyebrow.
"Researching what?"
"Which one smelled the best."
Taren burst into laughter.
"The result?"
Kael shrugged.
"All of them."
Lyra shook her head.
"No one expected a different answer from you anyway."
For a while longer, they enjoyed the festival atmosphere.
Laughter, music, and endless conversations spread along the shore of Obyra Noctis as the night continued, while the cool breeze from the sea carried the scent of lavender through the crowd.
After some time, the eight friends stood up from the grass.
"We should probably head home now," Arven said while stretching slightly.
No one disagreed.
The pleasant tiredness of the day had settled over all of them.
They walked through the crowd and reached the stone-paved road.
Some families had already started returning home, while others remained by the shore, watching Lunor.
As Elira walked, she did what she always did and observed her surroundings.
Veyra's nights always gave her a sense of peace.
The people walking beneath the lights, the distant laughter, and the gentle waves of Obyra Noctis...
All of it reminded her that this was where she belonged.
Just as she was about to turn her attention back to her friends, her eyes caught something between the trees.
Her steps slowed without realizing it.
Something gray stood out among the trees.
She couldn't make out what it was.
Maybe her tired eyes were playing tricks on her.
"Elira?" Kael called.
Elira flinched and pulled her gaze away.
"I'm coming."
She looked back one more time.
But all she saw between the trees were branches moving with the wind.
Silently, she caught up with her friends.