Work Text:
Witch Academy, one of the most prestigious academies in the world. Everyone knows that the students there are only the best out the best, and even they do not always stay there until graduation due to high expectations from professors. The ones who did graduated from academy, getting successful in life and getting great reputation among other witches and mages.
Scaramouche is one of the few students who get a perfect score on the entrance exams and stayed with this score even after a few months of studying there. Hard studying and sleepless nights showed a great result and now a lot of other students look at him with admiration and desire to be just like him for, at least, a few minutes.
Perhaps it would have been the same if not for one of his classmates. He came to the Academy a few months late, and immediately started to get almost the same high grades! Scaramouche could have accepted him as a great rival, maybe even tried to make friends with him, but the new student didn't take his studies seriously at all. He missed classes too often and barely handed in his assignments on time! For Scaramouche, this behaviour was unacceptable, so he tried to avoid the guy and ignore his existence.
A few months passed in trying to ignore his classmate, who, unfortunately for Scaramouche, was in all his classes. Of course, he was still annoyed by him, but if you ignore the problem, it will go away, right? He was also annoyed by the fact that Albedo, his annoying classmate's name, which he doesn't even bother to remember most of the time, still has almost the same grade as him! This doesn't let him relax for a second, although maybe this is more of a positive side than a negative, because he is a hardworking and responsible student who is always on top of his game and doesn't need any relaxation from his studies at all.
For example, now, in the late evening, when most of the Academy's students are already asleep and the school library should have been closed long ago. It wasn't, if you look closely at the window you can see a dim light on one of the tables. The reason for this light is Scaramouche, who, despite the late hour, was still studying, reading academic material ahead of time to be ready for any lessons ahead.
Scaramouche was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear the soft footsteps not far away and the watchful eyes from behind the shelves.
Soon someone spoke to him, startling him, because no one else should have been there but him.
— You know that you shouldn't be in the library at this time, - a male voice came from behind him, and he turned around to see the lazy student whom he absolutely didn't consider as a rival.
— What are you-, - he didn't have time to finish his question when he was immediately interrupted, how rude!
— You should learn to rest, otherwise you won't notice how you'll burn out, - the young man went to the shelf and took out a book. It was a legend so old that many people consider it a fairy tale for children.
Scaramouche said nothing, looking at Albedo's actions. Perhaps he was irritated by his rude gesture, but he was still curious what he would do with the book and why he was here too. Also he shouldn't waste his precious energy on some lazy and annoying guy.
Albedo carefully placed the book on the table and opened it to a page with illustrations that looked like they were for a real fairy tale. With a gentle wave of his hand, suddenly, the characters from the illustrations appeared on the book, just as tiny. They danced and sang, just like in the illustration.
Perhaps for the first time in years, Scaramouche looked amazed. He didn't know such a spell, they were definitely not in the academic study program or any book he read, how did Albedo know this spell?
— Spells can be learnt not only from books and lessons, you know, - Albedo replied as if reading his mind, closing the book. The miniature heroes disappeared and the library was quiet again. - Goodnight.
Immediately after saying this, the other student disappeared into the darkness of the room, leaving the library, leaving Scaramouche alone and speechless. It was their first conversation, and he couldn't even bring himself to say anything in response, he just stared at the book, which no longer made any sound.