was still standing there, staring at the empty doorway long after Evelyn had left. The weight of her words lingered in the air, wrapping around me like an unseen force.
Don't hesitate.
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. I hadn't realized how tense I was until now. Evelyn had a way of getting under my skin—not in a bad way, but in a way that made me think. And thinking was dangerous. Especially when it made me question things I wasn't ready to face.
"Seraaa~"
I jumped slightly as a familiar voice practically sang my name. Camille leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smirk playing at her lips. "You look like someone who just got scolded."
I groaned, rubbing my face. "More like lectured."
"By Ms. Sinclair?" Camille's smirk widened. "Or should I say Evelyn?"
I shot her a glare. "Don't."
Her laugh was nothing short of mischievous. "Oh? So we're on first-name terms now?" She strolled into the classroom, twirling a strand of her platinum hair. "What exactly did she say to have you all flustered?"
I rolled my eyes. "Nothing."
"Lies," Camille said easily, sliding onto my desk, her legs swinging playfully. "You're all stiff. And your face is still a little red."
I scowled. "It is not."
"Mm, sure." She leaned in slightly, watching me with amused ice-blue eyes. "Well, whatever she said must've been important."
I sighed, finally gathering my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. "She told me not to hesitate."
Camille blinked, momentarily surprised. "…That's actually solid advice."
"Yeah," I muttered. "It is."
She studied me for a moment before hopping off my desk. "Then why do you look like you have no idea what to do with it?"
Because she was right. I didn't. I wasn't even sure what I was hesitating over. My power? My past? My future? The fact that five people had confessed to me in some way or another, and I had no idea how to process any of it?
I shook my head, shoving the thoughts away. "Come on, we should get going."
Camille fell into step beside me, her usual teasing smile dimming slightly. "Hey."
I glanced at her. "What?"
She hesitated—not something Camille ever did. Then, she exhaled. "You do trust yourself, right?"
The question caught me off guard. I stopped walking, staring at her. "…I don't know."
She hummed, tilting her head. "You should."
And then, just like Evelyn, she walked off—leaving me standing there, grappling with yet another thing I wasn't ready to answer.
By the time I made it to the garden, the others were already waiting. Lillian sat elegantly under the shade of a tree, reading something while Diana and Claire were talking animatedly about something Claire probably found on one of her spontaneous adventures. Tessa, as usual, was leaning back on a bench, looking completely relaxed.
Lillian glanced up as I approached, her lips curling into a soft smile. "There you are."
"About time." Claire grinned. "We were thinking of starting without you."
Diana raised an eyebrow, her emerald eyes scanning my expression. "You look like someone with too much on their mind."
I sighed. "It's been…a long day."
"Then sit," Lillian patted the space beside her. "Rest."
I hesitated for a second before finally dropping down beside her. The familiar warmth of her presence settled me, though the moment I did, Camille arrived—plopping down next to me and throwing an arm over my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"So," Claire leaned forward, grinning. "Who's ready for the real madness?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean real madness?"
Tessa smirked. "The Festival of Laze was child's play."
Diana crossed her arms. "The real school events are about to begin."
Lillian nodded. "Now that we're back, things will only get… more interesting."
I looked around at them, feeling the familiar sense of foreboding crawl up my spine.
Oh no.
"What exactly are we talking about?"
Claire grinned.
"Well, my dear Sera…"
She gestured dramatically to the sky.
"Welcome to the Academy's Survival Trials."
What? I don't think I processed what she said properly.
I narrowed my eyes. "Claire, don't tell me… As Student Council President, you somehow got inside information about upcoming events? Or—" I crossed my arms, eyeing her suspiciously. "Did you sneakily peek at what the Headmaster was planning?"
Claire gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Me? Do such a thing? Sera, how could you accuse me of something so heinous?"
I gave her a blank look. "Because it's you."
She deflated instantly. "...Okay, fair."
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "So you did take a peek."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Claire averted her gaze, feigning innocence. "If anything, ask Diana! She's my vice president!"
Diana, who had been sipping her tea, didn't even flinch at being thrown under the metaphorical carriage. Instead, she gently set her cup down, folded her hands in her lap, and smiled. "I don't know anything. It wasn't me who mentioned it, after all."
Claire's mouth fell open, her violet eyes widening with absolute betrayal. "Diana?!"
Diana took another sip of her tea. "Hm?"
"I—I thought we were in this together!"
Diana opened her emerald eyes just enough to glance at Claire, amusement glinting in them. "I never said that."
Claire clutched her chest dramatically. "This is treason!"
Tessa chuckled from where she was lazily lounging on the bench. "I, for one, would love to hear what you happened to find out, Claire."
Lillian nodded, though there was a knowing smile on her lips. "Yes, since you've already said so much, why not enlighten us?"
Camille smirked, nudging Claire playfully. "Might as well spill. We will find out soon anyway."
Claire groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I really should have just kept my mouth shut…"
"You really should have," Diana said cheerfully.
"Ugh, fine!" Claire threw her hands up in surrender. "Yes, I may have taken a tiny peek at the Headmaster's upcoming announcements."
I sighed. "Claire…"
She held up a finger. "But! In my defense, it's my duty as Student Council President to ensure the well-being of my fellow students by thoroughly investigating any upcoming events."
"You mean snooping," Diana corrected.
Claire ignored her. "And that is how I happened to find out about the upcoming event—the Academy's Survival Trials."
A heavy silence settled between us.
"…The what?" I finally managed.
Claire grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Oh, don't worry, Sera. It's exactly what it sounds like."
I did not like the way she said that.
Lillian sighed. "Survival Trials… That means they're officially bringing back the Academy's tradition of testing its students in extreme conditions."
Diana nodded. "Which means combat, strategy, endurance, and teamwork are all going to be evaluated."
Tessa smirked. "And, knowing the Academy, they'll make it interesting."
Camille hummed. "It has been years since they last held one."
I, on the other hand, was absolutely not thrilled. "So let me get this straight." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "We just got back to the Academy, and now we're going to be thrown into a Survival Trial?"
"Basically!" Claire chirped.
I groaned. "I hate this school."
Claire patted my shoulder sympathetically. "Oh, Sera, you'll be fine! You've been training, right?"
"Yes, but I didn't expect to be using it this soon!"
"Think of it as a hands-on learning experience!"
"I think I'd rather just learn from a book."
Diana chuckled. "Too late. You're already part of it."
I dropped my head into my hands. "This is going to be a nightmare."
Lillian placed a gentle hand on my arm, her touch reassuring. "Don't worry, Sera. We'll all be in this together."
Camille grinned. "That's right. And who knows? It could be fun."
I gave her a flat look. "Your idea of fun is dangerously different from mine."
Tessa stretched her arms behind her head. "Well, no use worrying about it now. We might as well prepare."
Claire clasped her hands together. "Exactly! Which means—" She pointed at me. "Training starts now!"
I groaned again.
Of course it did.
Because why wouldn't Claire immediately throw me into the fire?
I crossed my arms, giving her a slow, calculating look. If she wanted to make things difficult for me, I could do the same for her. Two could play at this game.
A wicked grin spread across my face. "Alright, Claire. Since you insist on making things so exciting… from here on out, you're going to be my partner."
Claire blinked. "Huh?"
I placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing just enough to make her nervous. "You did say training starts now, didn't you?"
Her eyes darted between the others, as if hoping for a lifeline. "Uh—"
"Oh no, no take-backs now." I tilted my head, my grin widening. "You wanted this, remember?"
Lillian chuckled softly behind her hand, watching the exchange unfold with obvious amusement. Camille smirked, arms crossed. "Well, well, this just got interesting."
Diana, sipping her tea like she was watching a thrilling performance, hummed. "I was wondering how long it would take for Sera to strike back."
Tessa, ever the instigator, leaned against a nearby column, watching us with an entertained look. "You did bring this on yourself, Claire."
Claire let out a nervous laugh, hands raised in surrender. "Now, now, Sera, let's not be hasty! I mean—partners? That's such a strong word. Maybe we should—"
I pulled her closer. "What's wrong, Claire? Weren't you just so excited about training?"
Lillian sighed dramatically. "Ah, the Student Council President, meeting the consequences of her own actions. How tragic."
Claire groaned, realization setting in. "I really should've kept my mouth shut."
Diana took another sip of tea. "Yes, you should have."
"Too late," I said cheerfully, patting her back. "So, my dear partner, let's get started, shall we?"
Claire gave me a weak smile. "Have mercy?"
I grinned. "Absolutely not."
The others burst into laughter, and just like that, the first day back at the Academy had officially begun—with chaos, as expected.