16. Rumors in the Common Room
After the ceremony at Celestium, Emma and Sophia returned to the Luminous College common room—a shared lounge within the college—along with the other new students.
The common room had a high ceiling with warm lighting. Portraits of graduates lined the walls, and a large fireplace in the center cast a flickering glow. Soft sofas were arranged throughout the space, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
"The Celestium was incredible!"
"That ceiling looked like a real starry sky... How did they even create something like that?"
The students around them chatted excitedly.
Emma and Sophia settled onto a sofa near the fireplace, finally able to relax.
"But hey, wasn’t Kai Faldion just so cool?"
One of their classmates suddenly exclaimed.
"Yeah! He had such a commanding presence."
Another agreed.
"I know, right? That level of composure and authority isn’t something just anyone can pull off," Sophia added, clearly impressed.
Emma recalled Kai’s unwavering stance and the brief smile he had given her. It stirred something inside her.
"He really is someone incredible..."
Then, another topic surfaced.
"Oh, by the way, I heard a rumor that there’s a new student this year who got in through a recommendation."
"A recommendation?" Emma echoed, curious.
The girl next to her nodded, looking pleased to explain.
"Arcana Academy of Magic has a recommendation-based admission system. But the only people who can give recommendations are those from Ark College."
"Wait, you mean that grand building floating at the highest point?" Sophia asked, surprised.
"Exactly! If a professor or student from Ark College writes a recommendation, it’s basically a guaranteed acceptance. But it’s super rare for them to recommend anyone. So if the rumor is true, that person must be an exceptionally talented magician."
Hearing this, a name immediately popped into Emma’s mind—Louis.
(Wait... I was admitted through a recommendation, so Louis belongs to Ark College...?!)
"Huh? Emma, do you know something?" Sophia tilted her head in curiosity.
"Oh, no, it's nothing," Emma replied with a smile, brushing it off. But inside, her mind was in turmoil.
"Ark College, huh... I’d love to see inside it at least once before we graduate."
As the students continued chatting, their conversation gradually shifted into dreams and aspirations for the future.
Yet, while listening, Emma felt her heart pound faster, realizing the weight of the revelation she had just learned.
