The second we stepped into the main building of Alexandria university, my eyes widened.
They were people in colorful outfits and dark and brown skin tones from every corner of Africa with hairstyles that seemed to shout their heritage. For a moment, I forgot this was a Flux university and thought I had accidentally stepped into a cultural festival.
Hinesia didn't even blink like she had seen this a thousand times, and maybe she had. Her sandals clicked softly on the floors as she walked beside me, her robe brushing the surface. Meanwhile, I was turning my head left and right like a pigeon, taking it all in.
"Most of the students here are Africans from the African Kingdoms like the Ethiopian Kingdom, the Kenyan Kingdom and the South African Kingdom. You'll notice the diversity of tribes, languages and cultures but they all converge here because of one reason. Flux."
"That strong, huh?"
"About seventy percent of Africans are born with the Elemental Flux. It's the highest density anywhere on Altera Earth so Alexandria became… well, inevitable. It's an Elemental Flux school built to hone what already existed."
"That's insane. Reversa University doesn't really care about the Flux types that much. It's more about versatility."
"That's the difference. Reversa always had a global mindset, pulling in Fluxers from everywhere, integrating strategies and building techniques that work across categories. Egypt chose the continent first. Alexandria University wasn't built to conquer the world. It was built to anchor it and give Africa a spine when the Fluxwave Phenomenon hit."
"So how long's this place been standing?"
"Seven centuries. It's the oldest Flux university in the world. When nations fell, Alexandria endured. Don't get jealous. Reversa's still a baby compared to this."
"Yeah, yeah, rub it in."
We passed a group of students practicing in one of the side courtyards, visible through wide glass walls. Flames danced from their hands in a calm rhythm. Another group stomped their feet, raising walls of earth like shields. I swear I caught a whiff of ozone as lightning sparked above a circle of heads.
"Wait. Are you a student here too?"
She tilted her head with her brown hair brushing her shoulders. "Yes. Third year. Final year, actually."
"Final year? So you're wrapping this up soon. By the end of winter, you'll be done."
"Yes. After this, I'll be free to take my role back in the House of Rameses, or… pursue something beyond it. But that's not what you want to ask, is it?"
"No. What I want to ask is about the library. The real library."
That earned me a soft laugh. "Ah. The forbidden fruit."
"Forbidden?"
"The Alexandrian Library isn't a tourist stop. It's sealed unless you belong to the House of Rameses, or unless, someone like my father allows it. Fortunately for you, you got his blessing. Me? I use it for history."
"So where are we going now?"
"My class. I'm not skipping because of you."
"And me?"
"You can join if you want or roam the campus. Six hours isn't long."
"Six hours? That's an eternity."
"Only if you waste it. Come on. You're from Reversa, right? Worst case, you can sit as a guest. I'll vouch for you."
I hesitated for a moment. Six hours of wandering wasn't appealing, but sitting in on an Alexandrian lecture? That was like peeking into another world. My curiosity gnawed at me.
"Alright. I'll tag along. Just don't blame me if I start snoring."
"Snore, and I'll feed you to the fire majors."
"Fair enough, Lady Hinesia. Lead the way."
I followed her deeper into the university.
The lecture hall was massive, built like some kind of amphitheater, the walls lined with ancient murals of the Nile and pyramids that seemed to breathe history. The air smelled faintly of chalk, incense and something metallic. By the time we got there, the place was about halfway full. Students were scattered across the rows, chatting and laughing. Hinesia barely got two steps in before her friends practically swarmed her.
I wasn't about to be the awkward tagalong standing in the middle of the aisle while her fan club grilled me. So I raised a hand in half a wave, excused myself and slipped away to the very back row, dropping into a seat with all the casual grace of a stranger trying not to look like a stranger.
Of course, it didn't work.
I felt it instantly. A low hum of whispers prickled across the room. I didn't even need to enhance my senses to know what they were saying. The Houses were celebrities and here I was, the Argemenes heir sitting alone in the back, pretending I belonged. I leaned back, my eyes scanning the room, doing what I always did when people stared too hard: thinking about something else entirely.
Why hadn't th second this university? Nefira, the third daughter, was nineteen and the starting age for Flux universities was twenty, so that checked out, but what about the second daughter of Seirath? If Hinesia was the first and Nefira the third, that meant the second daughter should have been old enough to be here already. Where was she?
That thought barely settled in my head when the seat beside me creaked.
"What are you doing here?"
I turned and found myself staring at a face that was so much like Hinesia's but was almost unsettling. He wore the insignia of House Rameses on his chest, which was the Ankh symbol.
"Oh. Asmarion."
"I'll ask again. What are you doing here?"
I jerked my thumb toward the front row where Hinesia was laughing with her friends. "She brought me."
He followed my finger, his eyes landing on her. A sharp exhale left his nose, almost a laugh, but not quite.
"Figures. My twin sister really is… weird."
That word caught me off guard. "Wait, twin?"
"Yes."
"She doesn't look like she'd be your twin. I thought you were—"
"Older? We were born minutes apart. She came out first but I took the title of heir. She took… whatever it is she thinks she's doing."
I couldn't resist. "So… is she annoying?"
For a second, the corner of his mouth curved in something dangerously close to amusement. Then he scoffed, turning his head away.
"I wouldn't call it annoying. More like… inconvenient. But at least it's not as bad as before."
His tone shifted on that last word—"before." I caught myself leaning forward, ready to ask, but his silence slammed the door shut.
"So… what's this class about, anyway?"
He glanced at me, his eyes narrowing and for the first time since he sat down, he didn't look like he wanted to strangle me.
"It's better if you listen. Explanations don't do it justice."
Before I could press him, the chatter in the hall dipped like someone had pulled a curtain across the room. Conversations stopped and laughter faded. The doors at the base of the amphitheater opened and in walked the lecturer.
Instantly, every student stood.
The man was tall, draped in long white robes. His hair was silver though his face was ageless. His staff tapped once against the floor and a ripple of power rolled through the hall. I felt my throat go dry. Whoever this was, he wasn't just a teacher.
Asmarion leaned slightly toward me.
"You wanted to know? Listen well. You won't hear lessons like this in Reversa."
I swallowed, eyes fixed on the man as he raised his staff.
"Class begins now."
And just like that, the hall dropped into silence thick enough to crush the breath out of me.