Val pov(first person point of view)

  "ha...ha...ha...ha..I...think...I think..I...am done." As I say panting, ying on the floor dead tired from ughing, getting tickled, and getting pampered way too hard.

  Eclipsara stood tall over me, panting like a war general fresh off a victory. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she rested her hands on her hips with a smug grin. She looked like the st survivor of a battlefield, and I was the poor soul she left twitching in the dirt. "Ha...ha..ha...ha...whats the matter, Val? Can't handle any more good old excessive pampering?! Well....guess what? You deserve that for cheating and trying to win for my sake! We are definitely doing more in the future!"

  "You crazy girl!" I shouted from the floor.

  She narrowed her lone visible red eye dangerously. "Call me crazy one more time, I dare you Val! I double dare you! Call me one more time and Ill show you real crazy!" Eclipsara threatened with a crazy grin.

  "YOUR CRAZY!"

  OH HO HO!!! YOU ACTUALLY DARE?! I THINK ILL TICKLE YOU MORE TILL OBLIVION ITSELF!"

  "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

  Our unhinged banter continued for quite a while. Eventually, after a chaotic morning filled with threats of tickling and pampering, we had breakfast, crashed on the bed from exhaustion, and finally settled down. Now, finally awake, Eclipsara and I sat side by side on the couch, staring at the three unopened letters id out in front of us like the beginning of some grand mystery.

  “So… fancy letter first?” I asked, gncing over at her.

  Eclipsara crossed her arms and nodded with a thoughtful frown. “Yeah. Let’s save the creepy mystery letter for st. No sender, no address, no thanks.”

  Hearing what she said, I nodded-agreeing with her judgement. "Okay...lets check the fancy one then."

  As I carefully reached for the fanciest envelope of the bunch. The paper was smooth, the seal was ornate, and our names were written in bck cursive.

  As I opened the letter, I spotted both our names at the top of the page.

  “Huh… want to read it together?”

  Eclipsara nodded. “Sure.”

  Elegant Letter to Val and Eclipsara

  Dear Val and Eclipsara,

  Allow me to introduce myself. I am Headmaster Hudstleson, of the future academy soon to be established near the Tree of Life. Though the academy has yet to be named and construction is still underway, it is being built as a symbol of peace and new beginnings after the war.

  We have received early enrollment requests from Dr. Cooler Trauss and Dr. Eldrion on your behalf. Eclipsara is to be enrolled as one of the first students on the opening day of the academy. By then, she will be of age and will study alongside others aged 15 to 20 from across all nations.

  As for Val-while you are 21 and just slightly older than the student range, you have been recommended for a new mentorship program under Dr. Eldrion. You will train as his apprentice with the goal of becoming a doctor. This includes serving as a nurse within the academy, assisting injured students and participating in the medical curriculum.

  This academy, jointly funded by all nations, strives to create a fair and unified educational environment. We look forward to seeing you both in a year’s time.

  Sincerely,

  Headmaster Hudstleson

  Eclipsara and I blinked at the same time. We blinked again. And again-until Eclipsara finally found her voice, both of us still staring at the letter.

  “So… we’re both gonna be in the same academy?”

  “Apparently. You as a student, and me as an apprentice.”

  Eclipsara crossed her arms again, her expression turning thoughtful. “I already knew I was enrolled since Dr. Trauss told us… but you being there? That’s a surprise. So we’ve got a whole year before csses start, huh?”

  I gnced back at the letter, checking the opening date.

  “Oh-looks like it’s exactly a month after your birthday, Eclipsara.”

  “So… August 23, huh…”

  “Dr. Trauss and Dr. Eldrion really pnned a few steps ahead.” I said, my tone calm, almost impressed.

  Eclipsara nodded. “That they did. That they did.”

  I nodded in return. “Want to check the other two letters?”

  “Let’s see the second one,” she said. “The pin one with our address on it.”

  I opened the letter, and both of us leaned in to read.

  Pin Letter to Val and Eclipsara

  Dear Eclipsara and Val,

  What’s up? It’s me, Sylvarius. I was just thinking-since you two basically have nothing better to do (you’re probably zing around or scking off, you absolute bums)-why not join me on a bit of traveling I’ve got pnned for next week?

  I want to show you some sights and help you both rex before the chaos of the upcoming year. And yes, Dr. Eldrion already told me everything about your situation, so I’m fully in the loop.

  Anyway, I’m expecting a positive response. Val, I want to hear more about your time with Cooler. And Eclipsara… you and I have some girly stuff to talk about.

  Sincerely,

  Sylvarius

  I stared. Eclipsara stared.

  I muttered. “…Did-did she just straight up call us-”

  Eclipsara suddenly exploded, shouting in absolute disbelief:

  “BUMS?!”

  I couldn’t help it-I burst out ughing. “I mean… she’s not completely wrong…”

  Eclipsara turned to gre at me. “Val!”

  I raise my hands in the air, while still ughing. “Okay, okay! Sorry!”

  Eclipsara pouted, crossing her arms like a grumpy cat. “She’s so dead when I see her. Girly stuff? What even is that supposed to mean?!”

  “I don’t know." I said with a smile. "but I definitely want to see what happens when you bring it up.”

  Eclipsara narrowed her visible red eye at me. “Because you’re going to get a good ugh out of it, Val. But I swear, I will have my revenge for what she just called us.”

  I threw my hands up in mock surrender. “I am with you, partner-in-crime.”

  After Eclipsaras annoyance subsided after I massaged her head abit, we both then turned our attention at the final, mysterious letter.

  Eclipsara broke the silence. “Sooooo… Val… wanna guess what’s in this one? The mysterious no-name, no-address, no-anything letter?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know… maybe something like Dr. Eldrion’s letter? Could be official, could be completely pointless too.”

  “Hmm… maybe, maybe.” Eclipsara said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

  And thus I opened the letter and Eclipsara and I read it. Eclipsara held the letter as well to help her see what it is.

  Mysterious Letter to Val and Eclipsara

  Please visit and see the Tree of Life anytime possible. It can be today, a month from now, or even six months if you wish.We welcome all visitors to behold the Tree from a safe and beautiful distance, where one may appreciate its full glory.

  I blinked. “Huh… it seems like a simple let-”

  I cut myself off mid-sentence when I turned to look at Eclipsara. Her expression had changed.

  She wasn’t reading anymore.

  Instead, her fingers were pressed tightly against her temples, and her eyes were squeezed shut as if fighting off a sudden sharp pain.

  “Eclipsara?” I reached out gently. “Hey, are you okay?”

  She let out a slow breath, then opened one eye halfway. “Yeah… yeah, I’m fine. Just… sudden headache. Weird timing, huh?”

  Concern tightened my voice. “You sure? You don’t usually get those out of nowhere.”

  “I said I’m fine.” she muttered, her tone calmer than her posture. “Just caught me off guard.”

  I hesitated, watching her rub her forehead as she wore a confused scowl.

  She gnced down at the letter again, then leaned back against the couch with a sigh.

  “For a second there.” she murmured, “I thought this letter was going to be something spooky. But… it’s not. It’s just a peaceful invitation. Honestly, I'm kinda relieved.”

  I nodded slowly, though the concern in my mind didn’t quite go away. “Still… that reaction wasn’t nothing, Eclipsara.”

  She gave me a sideways gnce. “Yeah, I know. Maybe it’s stress. Or maybe I’m just overthinking.”

  I looked back at the letter. Pin words, no signature. No name. Not even stating our name or address. Just a message about the Tree of Life. Peaceful… but vague. Too vague, maybe.

  “Well.” I said, folding the letter back up, “Whether it’s innocent or not, we’ll figure it out.”

  Eclipsara finally smiled again, albeit a little tiredly. “Yeah....”

  And though we didn’t say it aloud… we both silently agreed: That tree visit?

  Yeah, it was definitely going to happen. As to when? We have no pns at the moment. For now, Eclipsara should rest till she recovers from the suprise headache. We can start thinking after that,