"The cherry blossoms are finally here..." The woman said in a low voice as she gazed outside her office window. She then slid the window open and a powerful gust of wind flooded the room; causing her hair--which was as red as rubies--to act much like a cape; as it flew backward into the air and majestically off her back. She put one hand on the window sill while the other reached out towards the cherry blossom trees. However, the woman seemed as though she was attempting to grasp something much more than that. Something much more important than those beautiful pink petals.

"Roman," she softly smiled. "Do you remember?"

March 30, XX20

It's so windy. I thought this to myself as I rubbed my arms with frustration. Honestly, I wouldn't even be in this horrible predicament had it not been for my crazy mentor. That quack just does whatever he wants and never worries about how it might affect others. Gods!

And, of course, he's not even here yet! But, why should I even worry myself silly over that foolish man? I grumble even more to myself as I proceed to walk back in the direction I came. Roman must be out of his mind if he thinks I'm just going to stand here and wait for him. What am I? Some sort of obedient dog?

Hmph. I'm leaving for sure.

I'm just about to grab the handle to the door—that I came out from—but it suddenly twists by itself, proceeds to swing wide open, and almost knocks me flat-out in the process!

"Wh— what the hell?" I stuttered. My eyes slowly traced up from the top of the figure's feet, passed their legs, and all the way up their torso. They were huge. Looming over me, in front of the opened door, WAS ROMAN?!

"Ruby, my dear student!" he shouted, while flinging his arms out, in preparation to—I'm assuming—hug me. Of course, I side-step, and he falls flat on the concrete.

"How pitiful," I scoff.

Roman sat up slowly, groaning in pain.

"Are you really scoffing right now? Can't you see that your poor mentor is in horrible pain!?"

I raise an eyebrow, "you can't be serious, right? That little fall hurt you that badly?" My face shriveled up into pure disgust.

My failure of a mentor suddenly shoots up off of the ground.

"Don't make that face! I was just kidding...!"

"Aren't you too old to be acting like a child?"

"Too old? I'm just barely touching fifty, kid. And if that's the case--how about you learn how to talk to your elders!" Roman exclaims, practically spitting.

"I'm fifteen. Not a kid."

"Really? Are you trying to be funny right now?"

I roll my eyes in disbelief. Sick of his nonstop nonsense, I begin to walk back up the concrete steps that lead into the school. I can't take any more of this foolishness. He probably just called me out here to mess around. This mentor...

"Wait, Ruby, where are you going?! I have to show you something, so don't leave yet!" Roman's voice smacked against my eardrums and made me halt.

What the hell could be this serious?

"Come on Ruby...please," Roman pleaded. My heart ached for some reason. What's with him? Why does he seem so desperate?

I roll my eyes for the second time. A habit, at this point.

"Fine. Just hurry up."

Roman beamed at me then took off and urged me to follow in pursuit.

We ran from the back of the school--to the courtyard--which was located at the front of the school. The sky was crystal clear without a cloud in sight and I could feel the warmth of the yellow sun shining down on my face. Eventually, we made it to our destination. That's what I'm assuming, at least, because Roman finally stopped running.

"Don't you know, Ruby?" Roman panted—obviously not as young as he used to be—while trying to get me to follow him down a path.

"Don't I know, what?" I was as clueless as one could be. Like, was this some sort of test, or something?

...Should I expect to have to fight a goblin or something soon?!

"Ruby, look around you. Don't you notice anything?"

What in the world is this mentor talking about? Look around me? What could b—

My eyes widened as I turned around in a slow circle. All around me— all around me were these tall cherry blossom trees. I've...never seen one before. At least, not in real life. The beautiful pink-petaled trees were aligned all along the brick path that we were currently resigning on. The "Ever-Changing" Courtyard of Spellbound always had so many new sights to behold.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Roman held out his hands and a cherry blossom petal fell into his palm. He held it up to his mouth and blew it away. "I love cherry blossoms and I wanted to see them with you, my dear student, while they're still here. As you know, this courtyard changes it's scenery all the time and at random...on top of that, I—"

I wasn't quite listening to Roman. I was too distracted by the cherry blossoms.

After a few seconds of contemplating about whether I should or not, I ultimately decide to run along the brick path that we found ourselves on with my arms extended out towards the gorgeous trees. As I did this, a trail of cherry blossoms flew into the air behind me. They kind of looked like a swarm of butterflies. I unconsciously let out a giggle.

This is pretty fun!

"Mentor!" I called out.

My voice seemed to snap Roman out of whatever daze he was stuck in.

"What is it, Ruby?!"

"Well," I shouted, "aren't you coming? Let's go to the end of the path!"

"Haha...yes, but of course. Here I come!" He raced right past me.

"This isn't a race!" I protest to that overly-competitive man. He told me that it was a "Crossfire" thing. That it ran in the family. But I highly doubt little Rani or even Miranda are as crazy as him.

But you know, Roman really is amazing. I always find myself chasing his back.

I reached for him— for his back. I want to catch up to him. I want to surpass him.

"I am really going to miss you, my dear student."

Roman? The voice was so low and so quiet that I really might've just imagined it. I mean, everyone says I did. That I had to. But— but I know what I heard.

Unfortunately, I blacked out before I could comprehend anything that had just happened.

The last thing that I still can remember, up to this day, is the sweet smell of cherry blossoms, all around me.

March 28, XX30

"I was a real brat back then, wasn't I Roman?" The woman spoke to herself as she sealed shut an envelope.

"Well, you'll be very happy to know that I've changed a lot since then. But that's not the only thing about me that's changed," she grinned widely, "I'm also the vice-principal of Spellbound now! I even have my own office, as you can seeeee." The woman twirled around in her spinning chair, arms wide open.

She took one last look at the envelope she'd be occupying herself with this whole time, and finally placed it in a drawer with nine others.

Yuland, Meldemia
0302 Heartfield Ln
To: Rani Crossfire
From: Ruby Larson of Spellbound Academy

A/N:
hi guys!! i've officially decided to reboot Spellbound Academy and this is the aftermath of it...did you guys enjoy the first chapter? tell me you did! well anyway please look forward to more chapters soon <33

and as always, don't forget to vote for more spellbound!

RX