For an entire week, I had done nothing but be bored in element class. The things they were teaching felt too simple for me.
In just a week, I had already gotten used to this place. Liz had told me I would meet with the seer, but it seemed like they had no intention of doing so until all my powers awakened. I had grown used to Hope and Jess. I was so used to them that I noticed their absence when they weren't around.
Even though we never spoke, I found myself lingering on Mina whenever I saw her. I would watch her for a long time. Sometimes, our eyes would meet, but I was always the first to look away. Mina, however, stubbornly kept staring.
"Hello." I finally managed to pull my eyes away from Mina when I heard a voice beside me. This time, I was the only one staring.
I turned my head to look at the boy standing over me. Under normal circumstances, I would have thought he was very handsome. But ever since I had seen Mina, it was as if all the girls had lost their beauty and all the boys had lost their charm.
Without saying a word, I turned my head away again, but Mina was no longer where I had been looking. She was gone.
"I'm Andre," the boy introduced himself. I wasn't sure how much more disinterest I could show. He started speaking in a warm and friendly manner. He was probably one of those people who knew everyone at school and was friends with them all. I understood—he was the classic popular kid.
"Not interested," I said as I stood up. I had stopped hinting and directly told him to his face. When I saw Jess and Hope stepping out of the building, I went over to them.
"Was that Andre?"
"You know him?"
"He's a second-year. He has the water element and is ranked fifth. If you ask anyone at school, they'll point him out. He's very polite and friends with everyone," Hope explained.
"My least favorite type," I said, scrunching my nose.
"Don't say that—there are girls at this school who are dying to date Andre."
"Honestly, I couldn't care less."
We were heading to the cafeteria for lunch. Even though Hope and I could have skipped the line, we waited for Jess and walked with her. Once again, we sat at one of the empty tables. Hope was too focused on her food to follow the conversation between Jess and me.
"Well…" A girl with gray hair stood beside our table, holding her tray hesitantly. We all turned to look at her. "Can I sit here?" she asked timidly.
"Daisy." Jess swallowed her bite and smiled. "Of course, you can sit."
With permission granted, Daisy placed her tray next to Hope's and sat down.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. There weren't any other empty spots," she said, glancing around the cafeteria. Indeed, there were only a few single-seat openings, but no other entirely empty tables. Why she had chosen to sit with us instead of elsewhere was a mystery.
"I don't know anyone, and at least we're in the same class," she continued to explain.
"Soron doal doyso," Hope mumbled with her mouth full. Jess and I shot her a look so sharp that she turned her face back to her tray and continued eating in silence.
"She meant 'It's no problem, Daisy,'" Jess translated.
Hope grinned and then turned her gaze toward the entrance. We followed her line of sight. She had some kind of Jonathan magnet—whenever he entered the cafeteria, she would gleefully watch him join the end of the line.
When Stevon walked in behind Jonathan, she wrinkled her nose and went back to her meal. She absolutely could not stand Stevon. Jess and I exchanged glances and giggled before focusing on our food. Daisy was the youngest at our table. It showed in the way she blushed whenever we asked her a question, answering timidly yet always speaking with utmost politeness. She was kind, and something inside me made me want to protect her.
She was at the exact age when everything had started going wrong for me. My life had fallen apart at fifteen, too. I knew exactly what it meant to be away from family at that age, what it felt like to have no friends. Daisy's family wasn't dead, perhaps, but she was alone here. I had never seen her hanging out with anyone. She was always striving for something, yet she was only fifteen.
Looking at Daisy reminded me of Dani.
"Hope mentioned something about a family visit the other day. What was that?" I asked Jess.
"We get a three-day leave once a month. They take us back to our home countries and allow us to visit our families. The next visit is the day after tomorrow. If you want to go, just tell Liz."
It was sooner than I had expected. I smiled.
"Are you going to visit your family?" Jess asked.
"No, my sibling. I don't have a family." I said it as if it were the most normal thing in the world, but it cast a heavy silence over the table. "My mom died seven years ago, and my stepfather four years ago. I have a seven-year-old sibling who was adopted by a family. If I don't change my mind, I'm going to see them." I explained. "It's been a long time. Really, I've gotten used to it."
They weren't looking at me with pity. It was more like they wanted to share in my pain. Even Daisy. But what they didn't know was that this wound no longer hurt.
"Are you going?" I asked, changing the subject. I wanted to lift the heavy mood at the table, but it refused to budge.
"I am," Hope said. "My last visit was canceled because of my punishments."
"I'm not going," Daisy said.
"I'm going too. Mine was canceled as well. My sister is really curious about me." So, Jess had a sibling. I had expected her to be an older sister rather than a younger one—she was the most responsible among us.
In the afternoon, we had martial arts class. Another pointless lesson for me. My boss, who had decided I should become an assassin, had forced me to take martial arts classes since I was fifteen. Of course, I actually enjoyed it because I could punch people and defend myself. Plus, it was free. A win-win situation.
Each class, we were paired with different people. They didn't want us to train with the same opponents repeatedly, ensuring we developed in a versatile way. We had martial arts class three times a week. I was curious about my opponent this time because I usually relieved my stress in these lessons.
I had zoned out until I saw Mina standing across from me. When our eyes met, I hiccupped and covered my mouth. "Shit, shit." My thoughts were screaming in my head, but my hand was still over my mouth. The more I hiccupped, the redder I became. I was embarrassing myself more by the second. Mina's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly composed herself and put her cold expression back on. I wanted to talk to her, but as Jess had said, I had never seen her speak.
"Hello?" I said, hoping for a response. She only nodded slightly. "Hello." The voice was barely above a whisper, but I froze. I was certain it came from Mina.
"You answered me!" I said, eyes wide in shock. She lifted her head just as fast to look at me. Her eyes were probably as wide as mine. She was surprised. I was even more surprised.
"You can hear me," she said as if seeking confirmation. A normal person would have to have someone whisper directly in their ear to hear her. Maybe that was why she never let anyone get too close.
"I can," I confirmed.
"How?" Her brows furrowed as she stared at me, waiting for an answer.
"Well, my ears hear three times better than normal people's. I was born this way. My nose is also good at picking up scents, and my eyes see well too. Saying it like this, it sounds like I should be some werewolf or vampire or something, but I ended up here instead."
What was I saying? God, I was rambling! Why was my mouth running so much? Rachel, you are the queen of silence, get a hold of yourself.
Mina's lips curled up again. I wanted to tell her how beautiful her smile was, but thankfully, I kept it to myself.
"That's a nice ability." Now that she had said it, it did seem like a nice thing to have. As if I hadn't spent years nearly passing out from people's perfume, as if I had never heard the gossip whispered behind my back, as if I hadn't even noticed the farthest eyes watching me.
"Rachel, Mina, start now." Because of the warning we received, we started attacking each other. Even though I was throwing punches, the moment my skin touched Mina's, it burned as if it had caught fire.
"You're different."
"How am I different?" I asked.
"There's something very familiar about you. What you did in the duel last time wasn't normal. The way you used water was similar to how I use earth."
I didn't know whether to be happy that she had spoken such a long sentence or that she was comparing herself to me. So, I decided to be happy about both at the same time.
"Does the earth speak to you?"
"Wasn't it supposed to be my hallucination?" she asked, making me stop my attack, but Mina hadn't stopped. I staggered after taking a punch under my eye.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine, I was just surprised. If the earth is really talking to you, then unfortunately, yes, it's your hallucination. But if it's trying to tell you something, if it's eagerly waiting for you to use it, and you can feel that, then it's not a hallucination. The same thing happens to me."
"How many princesses are there? Wasn't it just four? But Allison, from the Water Princess lineage, is already at the school." She seemed confused, and it was incredibly adorable.
"As you said, I'm different." I wanted to tell her, but I didn't. Eventually, when all four elements awakened, she would inevitably learn the truth.
"Does this have anything to do with me being drawn to you?" she asked, and I froze, hiccupping at the same time. I was sure I had taken another punch to the same spot, and it was definitely bruised now.
"Why do you suddenly stop?" Could a person yell in a whisper? Yes, Mina was a living example of it.
"Hope isn't drawn to me. Neither is Daisy." This time, it was Mina who blushed.
When we took a break, Hope appeared at my side instantly, making my earlier statement seem like a lie. Luckily, Jess and Daisy were with her.
"Rachel, your face!" Hope shrieked, which meant it was probably worse than I thought.
"I was careless, it's nothing serious."
"Mina got a good hit in too," Jess said with a laugh.
"Yeah, it was amazing." I turned to look at Mina, who had lowered her head. I couldn't read her emotions since I couldn't see her face.
Hope then gasped dramatically. "Oh my God! Looking at us like this, this group—" she circled her hand around us, "is the strongest team here."
"There are three princess bloodlines, Hope. What were you expecting?" I said, laughing.
"Heh, when your other elements awaken, we won't even be able to stand against you," she added, but then faced Mina's furrowed brows and Daisy's raised ones. She quickly covered her mouth before continuing.
"Hiii, I let it slip, Rachel, I'm so sorry."
"They were going to find out eventually, Hope, it's fine."
"But Liz said no one should know. I didn't say it, okay? Jessie said it, okay?"
"Why am I being dragged into this?" Jess said before kicking Hope in the leg.
Both of them looked at me expectantly, waiting for an explanation. The break was almost over, so I didn't have time to explain everything in detail. If we started talking, the conversation would spiral all the way to my dreams about the princesses, and Hope would never stop asking questions.
"Come to our room after dinner, and we'll talk then. The break is over," I said, sending them away.
"What do you mean, 'the other elements'?"
I had gotten used to Mina attacking while asking questions. "I'll explain in the evening."
"How many?"
"How many what?"
"Elements. How many will awaken?"
"All of them." At that moment, she stopped, but I couldn't control myself. My kick landed right on her waist. She should have blocked it with her arm.
"Are you okay? Mina, are you okay?" I asked worriedly, stepping closer to her. She placed a hand on her waist and bent over at a ninety-degree angle.
"I'm fine. I think I understand how you feel now."
"I think we should stop talking before we hurt each other even more."
"I agree," she said, nodding.
When all the lessons were over, we collapsed into our room, exhausted. Our bodies, sprawled across the beds, seemed to beg us not to move. I needed to take a shower, but I had no energy to get up.
"I'm taking the first shower," Hope said, but she hadn't even lifted herself a millimeter from the bed.
"It's all yours," Jessie said.
"I'm going to sleep. Wake me up half an hour before dinner," I said, closing my eyes. I could sleep for three whole hours.
I opened my eyes in a dark void. I was probably about to meet another princess. I waited excitedly to see which one it would be. As soon as the darkness lifted, a massive gust of wind surrounded me. A huge tornado stood in front of me. I tried to plant my feet firmly on the ground because if I lifted them even a little, I would be flung several meters backward. My face started going numb from the wind, and God only knew what had happened to my facial features.
When the scene changed, a gentle breeze brushed against my skin. I saw people, plants, and animals around me, but none of them seemed to notice me. As I focused, I realized they were all breathing in sync. The plants looked more vibrant.
When it changed again, I found myself suspended in the air. There was nothing beneath my feet, yet I was standing upright. I was flying! No, not exactly flying. I was kind of floating. Whatever it was, I was hanging in midair.
A silhouette started to take shape before me. As the gray-haired woman in a cloud-like dress fully appeared, I smiled.
"You are as beautiful as Dohyek said," she said, smiling back. So Dohyek was the Water Princess's name.
"You were about to start a fight among us," she laughed. "Dohyek was praising how beautiful you are, but then Dohsen jumped in, saying the girl from her lineage was even more beautiful. The conversation shifted away from you entirely. They started listing different qualities, turning it into a competition. The last I heard, Dohyek was proudly talking about Allison." I remembered the name Dohsen. She was the Earth Princess. Instantly, Mina came to mind, and her name slipped from my lips with a big smile. "Mina."
"Dohfor, however, just lowered his head in sadness."
"Dohfor?"
"The Fire Princess." As soon as she said that, Hope came to mind, and I let out a laugh. "I take it you know all the princesses now. How's my little angel?"
"Daisy?"
"She's still very young. But the power inside her was immense, and it was time for her to awaken. I had no choice but to wake her up."
"She'll be fine," I said reassuringly.
"As long as you're with her, I'm sure of it." I just smiled in response. The look in my eyes was full of confidence.
"You adapted to water quickly, so I expect you to adjust to air just as fast. If you hadn't accepted water so easily, I wouldn't have been able to come this early.
"Air is everything, my child. Never forget that. Air is breath. Air gives life. Wherever there is air, there is also life. But just as it gives life, it can also take it away. Air can be as strong as a tornado, as full of life as a breath, or as harmless as a gentle breeze. But be careful when using it, my child, because air can be extremely dangerous when desired."
She had said the same thing as the Water Princess.
"Our time here is coming to an end. I am entrusting my little angel to another angel. Take care of her, will you?"
"Of course." She stepped closer and kissed my forehead. Just like with the Water Princess, a warm sensation spread across my skin.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes.
"I was going to wake you up in ten minutes, but you woke up on your own," Hope said, pouting. I had a feeling her version of 'waking me up' wasn't going to be gentle.
I was still breathing. I was allowing the air to fill my lungs completely. From the outside, it might have looked like I was having a panic attack because I wasn't exhaling. The air didn't want to leave my body!
"Rachel, are you okay?"
As the two of them bickered, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I stripped off my clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket before turning on the water to fill the bathtub. My third day here had fallen on a weekend, and Hope had taken me to the city to help me buy a few clothes. We had been shopping so much that we had lost track of time. We never got a chance to explore the city, so Hope promised to take me sightseeing next time.
After soaking in the water for a while, I got out. I didn't just feel physically clean but spiritually refreshed as well. It was as if the water had washed away all the impurities. Water truly gave me a sense of peace.
Wrapping a towel around my chest, I stepped out of the bathroom and went to my assigned wardrobe to get dressed. Since we were only going to dinner and then returning to sleep, it was best to wear something comfortable. I put on cotton shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt. I wasn't sure how the island's weather changed, but it seemed to have remained the same temperature for days—neither too hot nor too cold. Still, it felt warm to me.
Thinking that I might want a soda later, I grabbed some spare change. When Jess saw me taking money, she did the same so that we wouldn't have to rely on Hope. Otherwise, she would make us beg her for money and never let us hear the end of it.
I braided my damp hair into a fishtail. I had learned all kinds of braids in case I ever needed to do Dani's hair, but it turned out I was only braiding my own.
When we arrived at the cafeteria and saw the long line, we sighed.
"I need to get into the top 10 as soon as possible," Jess grumbled. She was already very close to ranking up, and it wouldn't take her long. She had been working tirelessly for it. I truly admired Jess. She was hungry for knowledge, constantly researching and trying to learn new things. She practiced her element at every opportunity, in every place where it was allowed. She was also a walking encyclopedia.
We waited in line, got our meals, and found a table. The people cutting ahead of us didn't bother me as much anymore because I had realized that even waiting in line with the girls was fun.
We sat down to eat. I wasn't too hungry, so I ate slowly, while Hope was devouring her food like she had been starving for days. Hope was one of those people who ate endlessly and never gained weight. Otherwise, there was no way she could eat so much and still have a perfect figure.
As we ate, another tray was placed on our table. When I saw Daisy, I smiled. The Air Princess immediately came to mind. Daisy was looking at us as if waiting for approval.
"Sit down, Daisy," I said, inviting her.
"Solom," Hope attempted to speak with her mouth full. "Hope!" Jess scolded her.
"Tomom bo," she said before returning to her meal.
When another tray was placed on the table, our eyes widened in shock because it was Mina. I felt a hiccup coming on and cursed inwardly. Even Hope's food got stuck in her throat, making her start coughing.
Jess took the opportunity to go behind Hope and slap her back repeatedly. With every slap, Hope whimpered in pain. "Enough!" she finally said. "You'll leave a mark, you jerk."
"Serves you right," Jess said, sitting back down.
"You're standing, Mina. Please, sit." The girls looked at me in surprise at my politeness.
"Rachel actually knows how to say 'please,'" Hope squinted her eyes suspiciously. Ah, this was going to be trouble for me.
"Thank you," Mina said politely.
"It's nothing," I replied.
"You two can communicate?!" Hope practically shouted across the cafeteria. Now even those who weren't looking at us before turned to stare.
"Mina isn't mute. She just speaks very softly, almost in a whisper. But I can hear her," I explained.
"We thought you couldn't talk," Hope said bluntly, shocking all of us. Realizing her mistake, she blushed in embarrassment. "Uh, I'm sorry," she said, lowering her head.
"It's fine. Everyone thinks that. I'm used to it. Sometimes, even I think that."
"She said it's fine, Hope, lift your head," I told her. But deep down, her words had burned a hole in my chest, setting my heart on fire. I chose not to share that part with the others.
We all focused on our meals. I could feel all eyes on us. But one gaze was different. It was as if they were trying to understand this small group of ours. My eyes immediately found the owner of the gaze, and I fixated on her blue hair. Allison.
She was the only princess-blooded girl I hadn't met yet. She was sitting at her own table but watching us carefully. It seemed like she was trying to figure out why we were all together. There was curiosity in her eyes.
"Do any of you know Allison?" I asked the group.
"I do," Daisy said. "When I first arrived at school, I felt like a complete outsider, and she helped me. She's really nice. I'd even say she's a beacon of kindness. But she's also very powerful, really powerful. Even in her first year, she never lost her place at the top. That's why most people fear her and her abilities. I think she's the strongest water-wielder among the princess lineages so far."
"Then she should be part of our conversation too," I shrugged. A voice inside me told me she needed to know as well.
"What are we supposed to say? 'Hey, wanna join us for a little meeting?'" Hope quipped as usual.
"No, Hope. Daisy will go and invite her to talk with us. If she wants to join, she will. If not, she won't," I responded.
"Me?" Daisy asked in surprise.
"If I'm not mistaken, you've interacted with her the most among us."
After glancing at all of us, she sighed. "I guess I can do it."
By this point, we had finished our meals. As we stood up simultaneously, all eyes turned to us again.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this. Their stares feel so intense," Daisy muttered.
"You'll get used to it, beauty, don't worry. We've been dealing with this since the beginning of the year. After a while, you even start enjoying it," Hope said cheerfully.
"So you enjoy it?" Jess asked.
"Well… uh… a little," Hope admitted.
"We don't need to go to our room. Let's meet by the vending machines. I feel like drinking strawberry soda," I suggested.
"I want cola," Jess added.
"I forgot to bring money," Hope groaned, searching her pockets. Jess and I exchanged mischievous looks before saying in unison, "Beg."
"I'll buy drinks for you guys," I said. "Do you want something, Daisy?"
"Cola sounds good, thank you."
As we headed toward the door, Daisy separated from us. I saw her walking toward Allison. I was glad they got along.