#magical readathon

For the magical readathon (orilium readathon) this semester, my (second) character needs to pass Restoration.

The prompt is to ask for five 5-star titles.

Felix was tired of being invisible. To the rest of the Academy, he was the sunshine-bright boy who was great at light charms but mediocre at potions. To M/N, the cold, formidable prodigy of the Battle-Mage department, Felix was just a blur of freckles in the hallway.

M/N never looked at him. Not when Felix dropped his books, not when Felix purposely sat at the table next to him in the Great Hall.

"Just a drop," Felix whispered, his hands trembling as he hovered a small, iridescent vial over M/N’s morning coffee. "Just enough to make him notice me."

The potion was a shimmering gold—a "Focus & Affection" brew Felix had spent three weeks perfecting. He slipped it in while M/N was distracted by a sparring match across the courtyard.

M/N took a sip. Then he stopped.

His eyes, usually a sharp, icy gray, suddenly dilated until they were almost entirely black. He set the cup down and turned his head slowly, his gaze locking onto Felix with the precision of a predator.

"Felix," M/N said. His voice was deeper than usual, vibrating with a terrifying intensity.

Before Felix could blink, M/N was in front of him. He didn't just 'notice' Felix; he invaded his space. He grabbed Felix’s hand, pulling it to his lips and kissing his knuckles with a ferocity that made Felix’s heart skip a beat.

"You’re glowing," M/N murmured, his eyes scanning Felix’s face as if he were trying to memorize every single freckle. "Why haven't I spent every second of my life looking at you?"

For the first three days, Felix loved it. M/N carried his books. M/N sat at his feet in the library. M/N nearly sent a fireball at a junior student just for accidentally bumping into Felix’s shoulder. It was the love energy Felix had always dreamed of, turned entirely toward him.

"Felix, this is getting weird," Chan said, pulling Felix aside in the herbology greenhouse. The rest of the SKZ members—Jisung and Seungmin—looked equally grim.

"He hasn't slept in forty-eight hours," Seungmin pointed out. "He just stands outside your dorm room like a gargoyle. Felix, look at him."

Felix looked through the glass. M/N was standing in the pouring rain, staring at the greenhouse door. He looked haggard, his jaw tight, his hands glowing with a dangerous, unstable magic because he felt "separated" from Felix by a mere wall.

"The potion didn't give him feelings," Chan warned softly. "It gave him an obsession. It’s hollow, Lix. If you don't break it, he's going to burn himself out."

The guilt hit Felix like a physical blow. He realized he didn't want a puppet; he wanted M/N.

That night, Felix led M/N into the private alchemy lab. He held the antidote—a bitter, charcoal-colored liquid.

"M/N, drink this," Felix said, his voice trembling.

M/N reached out, grabbing Felix’s waist and pulling him flush against his chest. "I don't need anything but you. Why would I want to be cured of the only thing that makes sense?"

"Because it’s a lie!" Felix sobbed, shoving the vial into M/N’s hand. "I drugged you! I was selfish and I wanted you to look at me, but this isn't you! Please, drink it. Even if you hate me after... I can't watch you disappear like this."

M/N looked at the vial, then at Felix’s tear-streaked face. For a split second, the haze in his eyes seemed to clear through sheer willpower. He downed the antidote in one gulp.

M/N’s grip slackened. He stumbled back, clutching his head as the magical fever broke. He collapsed into a chair, breathing heavily, the blackness in his eyes receding back to cold gray.

Felix backed away, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'll go to the Headmaster. I'll pack my things. You probably want to blast me into the next kingdom."

Silence filled the room. Felix turned to leave, his heart breaking.

"You're an idiot, Yongbok."

Felix stopped. M/N’s voice was back to normal—dry, calm, and slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry?" Felix whispered.

M/N stood up, walking over to Felix. He didn't grab him with the frantic energy of the potion. Instead, he reached out slowly, his large hand cupping the back of Felix’s neck, his thumb stroking the skin behind his ear.

"I was going to ask you to the Yule Ball three weeks ago," M/N said, his gaze intense but real. "But every time I got close to you, you started acting like a vibrating rabbit and running away. I thought you hated me."

Felix’s jaw dropped. "You... you liked me? Before the potion?"

"Why do you think I sat at the table next to you every day?" M/N asked, leaning down until their foreheads touched. "I’m a Battle-Mage, Felix. I don't do 'socializing.' I was trying to work up the nerve to say hello without sounding like a drill sergeant."

M/N’s grip tightened slightly, a spark of his natural, dominant energy returning. "The potion was a nightmare because it took my real feelings and twisted them into something ugly. I don't need a spell to be obsessed with you. I was already halfway there."

Felix let out a shaky, relieved laugh, throwing his arms around M/N’s neck. "So... no expulsion?"

"Oh, you're still in trouble," M/N murmured, his lips ghosting over Felix's before claiming them in a deep, authentic kiss that tasted like forgiveness. "You’re going to spend the next month doing my alchemy homework. And you’re never touching a love potion again. You have the real thing right here."

The group was gathered in the school’s central courtyard, the winter sun pale against the stone arches. Felix was trying to hide behind a massive ancient tome on "Ethical Transmutation," but it was useless.

"Hey, Lix!" Jisung chirped, leaning over the table with a mischievous grin. "I’m feeling a bit thirsty. You didn't happen to bring any of that 'Special Blend' coffee today, did you? I’m looking to fall in love with a tree or maybe a stray cat."

Felix turned a shade of red that rivaled a ripening dragon-fruit. "It wasn't funny, Hyung. I almost broke his brain."

"Oh, it was a little funny," Minho chimed in, lazily spinning a silver dagger between his fingers. "I’ve never seen M/N stand so still for so long. He looked like a very expensive, very angry lawn ornament outside your window. I was tempted to throw birdseed at him."

"Leave him alone," Seungmin said, though his eyes were dancing with malice. "Felix just wanted to ensure his romantic future through chemical warfare. It’s a bold strategy. Very Slytherin of him."

The teasing reached a fever pitch just as a shadow fell over the table. The air temperature seemed to drop a few degrees—the unmistakable sign of M/N’s presence.

M/N stood behind Felix, looking every bit the elite battle-mage in his dark, reinforced robes. He placed a heavy, possessive hand on Felix’s shoulder, his thumb tracing the line of Felix's collarbone.

"Is there a problem?" M/N asked, his voice low and cool.

"No problem, Alpha," Changbin teased, undeterred. "We were just asking Felix for his recipe. You know, for research. We wanted to know what 'concentrated desperation' smells like."

Felix groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Please, just let the ground swallow me."

M/N didn't laugh. Instead, he pulled Felix’s chair back and sat on the edge of the table, forcing Felix to look up at him. He reached down, tilted Felix’s chin up with two fingers, and looked at the group with a dry, sharp smirk.

"It smelled like sunshine and bad decisions," M/N said, his gaze returning to Felix, softening just enough to make the others groan at the fluff. "But since the 'bad decisions' led to him finally staying in one place long enough for me to claim him, I’m willing to overlook the attempted mind-control."

Felix peeked through his fingers. "You're not still mad?"

M/N leaned down, his lips brushing Felix’s forehead in front of everyone. "I'm still making you do my homework, Yongbok. That's your penance."

He then looked at the rest of the guys, his eyes flashing with a spark of his combat-ready magic. "But if I hear one more joke about birdseed or lawn ornaments, I’m going to test my new 'Silence' spell on all of you. It lasts for forty-eight hours. Any takers?"

The table went silent instantly. Changbin suddenly found his protein shake very interesting, and Jisung began intently studying the clouds.

M/N nodded, satisfied. He stood up, tugging Felix with him. "Come on. We’re going to the library. And Felix?"

"Yes?"

"Keep the vials for alchemy class. If you want my attention from now on..." M/N leaned in, whispering loud enough for only Felix to hear, "...just pull me down and kiss me. I’m already yours. No magic required."

The road has been a rocky one and in all those years of doubting my capabilities and myself, my self-confidence, optimism and resilience had to take quite a few hits. It basically became my habit to always remain below my potential. Constant overthinking and anxiety kept me far away from finally taking action and changing my life to the better.

I know, I know, this might be a heavy intro, however, the premise of this blog is to, first and foremost, keep things real. Reality sometimes can be ugly and very imperfect, but it is important in times like these, where most people are driven by an almost uncanny perfectionism and constantly performing their artificial facade on social media, to just stay radically authentic. To admit and acknowledge mistakes, lack of character and discipline and, even more so, lack of empathy and kindness towards oneself. Giving oneself and others grace is the key.

With this in mind, follow me through the challenges of everyday life, tackling my anxiety and finally exploring my real potential.

On this blog I'm sharing all things books, my writing journey and give insights into my new career. If you have questions or any requests, don't hesitate to send me a dm.

I'm looking forward to making great friends and finding a kind community on bookblr <3

© Rêves & Drafts

meet my “magical readathon:orilium” character ↝ nawa al-leline

nawa al-leline is an elf and one of the rare non-iltirian scholars of the great underwold library. she was discovered as a baby on the surface of darkmeadow by several iltirian scholars of the great underworld library who were on an exploratory expedition to the surface. when it became clear that nawa was an orphan, the scholars decided to raise her within the walls of the great underworld library, as one of their own.

nawa has spent her life cultivating the skills of a scholar, but now she wishes to put that knowledge to use. deciding to explore the mystery of her origins and where she came from, nawa sets off on the novice path, with the goal of attending the academy as the first step of her quest.

Djali, has wanted an adventure the moment they read their first page. They crave stories of adventure, daring, destiny, and magic. Naturally, Iltirian's are most suited to collecting and safeguarding stories rather than making them. While Djali loves and respects the work of their people, they want to at least have a little fun before settling down to the life of a librarian. And venturing to the Academy sounds like a great start to an adventure. They're very eager, enthusiastic and excitable.