~Two weeks had passed since Victoria Frost transferred to Crescent Moon University.
Life on campus continued much as it always had.
Students attended lectures, rushed between classes, completed assignments, and desperately prepared for the upcoming final examinations.
For Luna Ashwood, the exam season was both stressful and familiar.
Every morning she could be found in the library before sunrise, reviewing notes while most students were still asleep.
"Luna, normal people need sleep," Sophia complained one morning.
"Normal people also need passing grades."
Sophia groaned.
"Why do you always have a response ready?"
Luna smiled and continued studying.
Across the library, Victoria sat at another table.
At first she had tried studying with Luna's group, but Sophia and Maya quickly discovered that Victoria spent more time talking than studying.
Now she mostly sat nearby, occasionally glancing toward Luna.
The sight annoyed her.
No matter how hard she tried, Luna always seemed calm.
Always prepared.
Always admired.
And Victoria hated it.
Not because Luna was mean.
That was the problem.
Luna was kind.
Students liked her because she genuinely cared about others.
Victoria couldn't understand how someone could be so effortlessly loved.
Exam week arrived.
The entire campus transformed.
Coffee sales doubled.
Students carried textbooks everywhere.
Several people looked as though they hadn't slept in days.
Even Sophia became serious.
"Pray for me," she said dramatically before entering the examination hall.
"You studied."
"Not enough."
"You studied for three weeks."
"Not enough."
Luna laughed.
The Mythical Ecology exam lasted three hours.
The questions were difficult.
Several students left the room looking defeated.
Victoria exited looking nervous.
Maya looked annoyed.
Sophia looked traumatized.
Luna simply looked tired.
"How was it?" Ethan asked.
Luna thought for a moment.
"I think I did okay."
That answer terrified everyone.
Whenever Luna said she did "okay," she usually earned one of the highest grades.
One week later, the results were posted.
Students crowded around the giant notice board in the central courtyard.
The atmosphere felt tense.
Excited voices echoed everywhere.
Some students celebrated.
Others looked devastated.
Sophia squeezed through the crowd first.
Then she screamed.
"I PASSED!"
Several birds flew from nearby trees.
Maya checked her own score.
"Ninety-three."
She nodded approvingly.
"I'll take it."
Ethan earned ninety-five.
Victoria earned ninety-one.
For most students, those scores would have been incredible.
Then someone found Luna's name.
The crowd fell silent.
At the very top of the department rankings stood:
Luna Ashwood — 99%
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then cheers erupted.
"Luna got first place again!"
"I knew it!"
"She's unbelievable!"
Sophia nearly tackled her in a hug.
"You did it!"
Luna blushed immediately.
"It's just one exam."
"JUST ONE EXAM?" Sophia shouted.
"You got ninety-nine percent!"
Students gathered around to congratulate her.
Luna thanked everyone politely.
Nearby, Victoria stared at the rankings.
Her score.
Ninety-one.
A score most students would celebrate.
Yet all anyone talked about was Luna.
Again.
Victoria clenched her hands.
For months she had been praised at her previous university.
Here she was just another student.
Meanwhile Luna seemed to shine without even trying.
The jealousy twisted inside her chest.
"Congratulations, Luna," Victoria said.
Her smile looked perfect.
But her eyes told a different story.
"Thank you," Luna replied sincerely.
Victoria walked away before she could say anything else.
For the first time since arriving at the university, she felt truly invisible.
The following day marked the official beginning of summer vacation.
The atmosphere across campus completely changed.
Students packed suitcases.
Dormitories buzzed with excitement.
Everyone discussed travel plans.
"I'M GOING TO THE BEACH!" Sophia announced.
"Three months of freedom."
"You still have summer classes," Maya reminded her.
Sophia froze.
"You ruined everything."
Luna laughed.
The four friends sat beneath a large oak tree in the university gardens.
Warm sunlight filtered through the leaves.
The semester was finally over.
For the first time in months, nobody needed to study.
It felt strange.
"So," Ethan asked, "what's everyone doing this summer?"
Maya shrugged.
"My parents want me to intern at their company."
"Sounds boring."
"It is."
Sophia grinned.
"I'm visiting my cousins."
Everyone turned toward Luna.
"What about you?"
Luna looked down.
Her smile softened.
"I'll probably stay here."
"Why?" Sophia asked.
"The library offered me extra hours."
Everyone immediately understood.
Money.
Luna rarely spent money on herself.
If she had the chance to earn more, she would take it.
"You deserve a vacation too," Maya said.
Luna smiled.
"Maybe someday."
Sophia opened her mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
She knew Luna well enough to understand.
Luna never wanted sympathy.
She simply kept moving forward.
Always.
That evening, Luna walked alone through the quiet campus.
Most students had already left.
The pathways were nearly empty.
A gentle summer breeze moved through her long hair and fluffy tail.
For once, there were no assignments.
No exams.
No deadlines.
Only peace.
She paused beside the university lake and watched the sunset reflect across the water.
Orange and gold painted the sky.
Beautiful.
Calm.
Hopeful.
Luna felt proud.
Not because she had earned the highest score.
Not because people admired her.
But because she had survived another semester.
Years ago she had wondered whether she would ever reach university.
Now she stood among the best students in her department.
Her parents would have been proud.
The thought made her smile.
As darkness slowly settled across the campus, Luna turned toward the dormitories.
A new semester would come eventually.
New challenges.
New friendships.
Maybe even new opportunities she couldn't yet imagine.
For now, however, summer had finally arrived.
And somewhere in the city beyond the university walls, fate was already preparing
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