The Breeze of the First Day
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The sun was just rising over the grounds of Teyvat University, illuminating the paths that connected the seven departments of the prestigious academy. Aether rose early, ready to face his first day as a student of the Anemo Department. Xiao, who shared a room with him due to the incident with his dorm, was already awake, meditating silently by the window. The calm of the morning seemed to reflect the essence of his department: freedom and control, in perfect balance.
"Today is the first real day," Aether commented as he tied his shoelaces. "Ready?"
Xiao nodded, his expression neutral as always, but with a glint of calm in his gaze. "I'm always ready."
The two of them joined the students leaving the dorm buildings towards their respective department buildings. The diversity of uniforms stood out on the paths: the green tones of the Dendro Department, the blues of Hydro, the reds of Pyro, and the soft grays of Anemo. Aether and Xiao, though secretly engaged, knew that today they would simply be two more students among many, each taking different paths to their respective classrooms.
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Tuesday's first class for the Anemo Department was Philosophy of Change and Freedom, taught by Professor Venti, known for his laid-back yet intriguingly persuasive style. The first-year students settled into an open classroom, where the windows let in the morning breeze and the sound of rustling leaves.
“Welcome, new winds of Teyvat,” Venti began with a bright smile. “Here you will not only learn to control the flow of air, but also the flow of your own lives. Freedom is not just a concept, it is a responsibility.”
Aether took a seat near a corner, attentive to Venti’s words and eager to understand more about his department. Although he knew Xiao was at a more advanced level and in another classroom, the fact that they belonged to the same department gave him some comfort.
The second class, Wind Dynamics, was more practical. In a large field behind the main building, students practiced channeling air currents, working on balance and precision. Although Aether had initial difficulties, he managed to improve thanks to his determination, earning some encouraging words from the professor.
Meanwhile, Lumine began her classes in the Electro Department, starting with Technology and Energy: Introduction to Electro Systems. Keqing, the department representative, led a short introductory talk before the students worked on small experiments related to energy conduction.
“At Electro, we stop at nothing,” Keqing said as she paced between the desks. “Our duty is to question, innovate, and transform. Never forget that.”
Inquisitive and meticulous, Lumine quickly demonstrated her ability to adapt to the fast-paced Electro Department classes. The second class, Innovation Strategies, focused on thinking outside of conventional boundaries, something Lumine particularly enjoyed…
At noon, the siblings met in the main cafeteria, a common space where students from all departments could socialize.
“How was your day so far?” Aether asked as she helped herself to a salad.
“Interesting,” Lumine replied, holding a tray of sushi and miso soup. “Keqing is incredibly demanding, but I think I'll like her!”
In the afternoon, Aether attended Anemo Meditation: Channeling Inner Energy. The class forced him to confront calmness, something that wasn't easy for him at the moment, given the whirlwind of thoughts about his engagement with Xiao and his college life.
Lumine, on the other hand, ended her day in Electro Energy and Future Applications, a class that explored the element's potential impact on global technological development. Despite the day's intensity, Lumine's natural curiosity kept her alert and excited about what she was going to do next. would come.
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That night, Aether and Xiao shared a brief moment of quiet in their room.
“Today was interesting,” Aether commented, plopping his tired body onto the bed.
Xiao, who was already settled on his side of the bed, nodded. “The first few days are always like this. But it will get easier.”
Aether looked at him, surprised by the encouraging words. “Thank you, Xiao.”
“Rest,” was all Xiao said before closing his eyes.
As Aether looked at the boy he had known since childhood, he couldn't help but wonder how much had changed, and how much of the boy who shared his bed at sleepovers was still there, hidden under the serious facade of the young man in front of him... Aether looked at the ceiling as he remembered how his parents had hidden the marriage from him behind a facade of wanting him to become friends with the son of one of their partners, only to suddenly reveal it one afternoon. He still remembers that after that his relationship with Xiao had cooled a bit since knowing that you were going to marry someone you considered a friend wasn't that easy to process when we were kids..