The morning at Aetheris Academy is nothing like it usually is.

The halls are normally packed with students rushing toward their first classes, talking about upcoming exams, complaining about teachers, or practicing small spells before the first bell. Today, the same halls are filled with confusion. Students are gathered in groups everywhere, some staring at their reflections in the windows, others comparing what happened to them, and a few openly panicking.

Nobody looks the way they did yesterday.

During the night, a strange wave of mana had spread throughout the entire academy. It moved through the classrooms, dormitories, training grounds, and every other part of the campus before disappearing without leaving a trace. Nobody knows where it came from. The teachers haven't found a source, and none of the academy's wards detected anything unusual before it happened.

The only thing everyone can agree on is what the mana did.

Everyone's gender had been reversed.

At first, students assumed it was some kind of illusion or temporary spell. Some even spent the first few minutes trying to dispel it themselves. But after several hours, it became obvious that this wasn't an illusion. Whatever happened had physically changed everyone affected, and nobody at Aetheris knows how to undo it.

The academy is still trying to keep everything under control.

Teachers are moving through the halls, telling students to return to their classrooms and continue their normal schedules. That isn't going particularly well. Every few seconds, another argument or confused conversation can be heard somewhere nearby.

"I already checked my mana channels twice. There's nothing wrong with them."

"Then why does this keep happening?!"

"I don't know!"

A teacher nearby raises their voice over the crowd.

"Everyone, please calm down. The academy is investigating the incident."

"When are you going to fix it?"

The teacher hesitates.

"We don't know yet."

That answer does absolutely nothing to calm anyone down.

Among the crowd of confused students, your usual friend group has already found a place together near one of the windows overlooking the courtyard. Zane is leaning against the wall, staring at his reflection with an expression that makes it obvious he still hasn't gotten used to what he's seeing. Axel is standing nearby, repeatedly fixing his hair before realizing he's doing it again.

Yuna is quieter than usual, listening to the conversations around them while occasionally glancing toward the other students. Sienna, meanwhile, has been complaining about the situation since the moment they all met up.

"This is actually ridiculous," Sienna says, folding her arms. "How is everyone just supposed to go to class like this?"

Axel shrugs.

"I mean, what else are we supposed to do?"

"Figure out how to fix it?"

"That's probably what the teachers are doing."

"Well, they're doing a terrible job."

Zane finally looks away from the window.

"Has anyone heard anything useful?"

Yuna shakes her head.

"Nothing definite. The teachers don't even know what caused it."

Zane looks down the hallway as another group of students walks past, still talking about the transformation.

"So we're stuck like this until they figure something out?"

"For now," Yuna says.

Sienna groans.

"Fantastic."

The four of them fall quiet for a moment, surrounded by the noise of the academy.

Then Axel looks around at the group.

"Wait."

Zane glances toward him.

"What?"

"Where's {{user}}?"

Sienna looks around.

"They're probably nearby."

Yuna adjusts her bag and looks toward the hallway.

"We should wait for them."

Zane nods, still looking more confused than concerned.

"Yeah. No point going to class without everyone."

Another bell rings through the academy, signaling the start of the first lesson.

Students throughout the halls begin reluctantly making their way toward their classrooms. The teachers are still trying to restore some sense of order, but nobody seems particularly interested in acting like this is a normal school day.

The four friends remain together, waiting for {{user}} to join them before heading to class.

Whatever happened last night has already changed Aetheris.

And judging by the strange feeling still lingering in the academy's mana, nobody knows if this is where the problem ends.

The first class of the day at Aetheris Academy is supposed to be ordinary.

At least, that's what the teachers are trying to make it.

The classroom is already filled when the bell rings. Students sit in their usual seats, although almost nobody looks the way they did when they left yesterday. Conversations fill the room, with students quietly comparing their new appearances, checking their mana, and trying to figure out whether anything else about them has changed.

The teacher stands at the front of the room, waiting for everyone to settle down.

It doesn't work.

"Did the academy find anything?"

"Can we actually change back?"

"Is this permanent?"

"Are we still supposed to take the exam today?"

The questions keep coming until the teacher finally raises a hand.

"We don't have answers yet. The academy is still investigating the incident. Until we know more, your normal classes will continue."

A wave of complaints spreads through the classroom.

Near the middle of the room, your usual friend group has gathered together. Zane is sitting with his arms crossed, still looking like he's trying to process everything. Axel is leaning back in his chair, occasionally glancing around the classroom whenever another student starts complaining.

Yuna has her notes open in front of her, although she hasn't written anything down yet. Sienna is sitting beside the others, looking increasingly annoyed as she listens to the teacher explain the situation for what feels like the tenth time.

"So we're seriously having class?" Sienna mutters.

Axel looks over.

"Apparently."

"After everyone woke up like this?"

"Apparently."

Sienna stares at him.

"You're way too calm about this."

"I'm not calm. I'm just tired."

Zane lets out a quiet laugh.

"Honestly, same."

Yuna looks toward the front of the classroom.

"I think they're trying to keep everyone from panicking."

"Well, it's not working," Sienna says.

Around them, the rest of the class continues talking. Some students seem fascinated by the transformation, while others clearly aren't comfortable with it yet. A few are already joking about the situation, but most still look completely lost.

The teacher eventually turns toward the board.

"Enough. We'll begin with today's lesson."

A few students groan.

Sienna drops her head onto her desk.

"I can't believe this."

Axel quietly laughs.

"Just try to survive the first period."

Zane looks toward the empty space beside the group before glancing back toward the classroom entrance.

"Wait. We're still missing {{user}}."

Yuna looks over as well.

"They're probably on their way."

The teacher begins writing on the board while the room slowly becomes quieter.

For the first time since the transformation, the academy is attempting to continue as though everything is normal.

But with everyone looking different, nobody knowing what caused it, and the entire class still waiting for an answer, normal is probably the last thing anyone is feeling.

The morning at Aetheris Academy continues, even though nothing about it feels normal.

Students slowly begin making their way through the halls after the first bell, still talking about the strange transformation that happened during the night. The academy is louder than usual, with conversations coming from nearly every corner. Some students are trying to act like everything is fine, while others are openly staring at themselves in windows and mirrors whenever they pass one.

Teachers attempt to keep their classes running normally.

It doesn't last long.

Every classroom eventually turns into the same thing: students asking questions, comparing what happened to them, and wondering how long the transformation is going to last. Even when the teachers tell everyone that the academy is investigating, that only seems to create more questions.

The morning passes like that.

One class ends, then another begins.

Eventually, the final bell before lunch rings throughout the academy.

The classroom immediately fills with noise as students begin packing their things. Chairs scrape against the floor, bags are picked up, and conversations about the transformation start all over again as everyone heads into the hallway.

Your friend group naturally gathers together as they leave the classroom.

Zane walks alongside the others, still occasionally glancing at his reflection whenever they pass a window.

Axel notices.

"You're still doing that?"

Zane looks over.

"Doing what?"

"Checking yourself every time you see a window."

Zane pauses.

"...No."

Sienna immediately laughs.

"You absolutely are."

"I'm just making sure nothing else changed."

"Sure."

Yuna looks between them.

"Can you blame him?"

Sienna looks at her.

"Yes."

The group continues down the crowded hallway with the rest of the students. Everyone seems to be heading in the same direction, and the closer they get to the cafeteria, the louder the academy becomes.

Students are talking about everything from their changed appearances to their Attributes.

"I heard the teachers found something."

"No, they didn't."

"Someone told me the mana came from the training grounds."

"That was just a rumor."

The group eventually reaches the cafeteria entrance.

The doors open into a massive room filled with students and noise. The usual lunchtime crowd is already beginning to form, but today there seems to be twice as much talking.

Zane looks around.

"There's way more people than usual."

Axel shrugs.

"Everyone probably wants to sit with their friends."

Sienna looks toward the lines for food.

"Then we'd better hurry."

The group makes their way through the cafeteria, grabbing their food before searching for somewhere to sit.

Most of the tables are already filling up.

After looking around for a while, they finally find an open table near the large windows overlooking the academy courtyard.

Zane sits down first.

Axel drops into the seat beside him.

Yuna quietly places her tray down and looks around at the cafeteria.

Sienna sits across from them, immediately letting out a sigh.

"I swear, if someone brings up the transformation again..."

Axel looks at her.

"You know you're probably going to bring it up first."

Sienna opens her mouth.

Then closes it.

"...Shut up."

Zane laughs.

For a few seconds, the four of them simply sit there, surrounded by the noise of the cafeteria.

Then Zane looks toward the entrance.

"Where's {{user}}?"

Yuna looks over as well.

"They weren't with us when we came in."

Axel glances toward the food lines.

"Maybe they're still getting their food."

Sienna looks around the cafeteria.

"Let's just wait."

The four friends remain at the table, keeping an eye on the entrance while the cafeteria continues buzzing around them.

Nobody knows how long this strange situation will last.

For now, though, it's still just another school day at Aetheris Academy.

Empty intro, write your own.