Walking out of the lecture hall, every step Yvonne took felt heavier than the last.
Dark Ember beast?! Why does everything surrounding her comes with danger and instant death? Surely, she didn't commit a horrible crime in her past life to deserve this!!!
"Alessandra!"
Yvonne turned turned to see two girls walking towards her. A cheerful green-haired girl and a stern faced girl. If she remembered correctly, this two are Amanda and Gabriella.
"Hello?"
Yvonne greeted somewhat hesitantly. She don't think Alessandra is close with this two. Infact, is Alessandra even close with anyone?
"Hi!" Amanda beamed. "I'm Amanda."
She nudged the serious-looking girl beside her.
"And this grumpy person is Gabriella."
Gabriella sighed.
"I'm not grumpy."
Amanda laughed. "See?"
"Nice meeting you two." Yvonne greeted back.
"How is your arm?" Gabriella asked.
"It's fine, thank you." Yvonne answered, smiling. At least, someone cares.
"Here." Amanda said, handing out a glowing orb. "Rub it on the wound and it leaves no scares."
Taking it, Yvonne smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
"You know, I like this new you." Amanda said honestly.
"Yeah. You look mature and bold now." Gabriella supported. "Unlike before. You used to be timid... and honestly, a little irritating."
"... Thank you."
"Don't take offense. I just says my mind." Gabriella said.
"It's okay." Yvonne answered. It's not like she herself likes Alessandra original personality either.
"Wow..."
Amanda clasped her hands dramatically.
"I like this version of you."
This makes Yvonne felt somewhat shy.
"Yeah. Way better than Cassandra. " Gabriella commented nodding.
"Ewww. Don't mention that two faced girl. Phew." Amanda gagged animatedly as Yvonne let out a soft chuckle.
Her hesitant and weary behavior gradually eased away. At least, no one finds her strange anymore. Yvonne thought.
"What do you say?!"
Turning to the sound of the voice, they all saw a very angry Cassandra and her entronge.
Ahhh... Speak of the devil.
"How dare you speak so badly about Cassandra behind her back?" Bianca rebuked angrily.
"Cassandra's back?!." Amanda scoffs crossing her arm. "Fine, I will say it to your face then. Cassandra, you're a two-faced bitch."
"What??!!."
"Are you guys deaf or something? Needs her to repeat herself?" Gabriella taunt.
"Alessandra! How can you mingle with people like them? Now I see why you have been led astray, you've been keeping a bad company all this while." Cassandra rebuked righteously.
"What?! Bad company?" Yvonne scoffed. "If anyone is keeping a bad company here , it's you. Those insects you insist on calling friends."
Both Amanda and Gabriella chuckled while Kaylyn exacalmed angrily. "What??? Us...PEST?!!!''
"Yes. You pest! Need definition of pest?." Amanda retorted.
"You! How dare you!" Lilith cursed.
"What? You wanna fight?!" Gabriella said taking a step out.
"Alessandra! Do you realize you are disgracing our family name with this attitude and company of yours?!" Cassandra said angrily.
Hmph! Disgrace?!
"Please, spare me the family stuff by shutting your stinking mouth off." Yvonne said rolling her eyes.
"YOU..." Cassandra face went red from anger.
"What's going on here?" Eric looked at the two groups of women who looked seconds away from having a great battle.
His gaze stopped on Yvonne.
"...Again?"
"Eric!" Cassandra cried justicely as she marched towards the latter. "Eric, Alessandra...."
"Tsk. tsk. Can't even handle a small insult and already running off to complain. What a vain!." Trancy said, cutting Cassandra complain off.
"You..." Cassandra was rendered speechless, her face flaming up.
Coming to her aid, Lilith replied. "If she didn't complain, then what should she do?."
Amanda tsked. "Now I just understand what they said about birds of same feathers flock together."
"Exactly. Throwing herself into a man's arms. I wonder who was the it that complained about someone being shameless and who was now acting it herself." Trancy said, fanning the insult.
Crossing her arms, Gabriella added. "Obviously, everyone knows Eric now belong to Alessandra."
Yvonne: "...."
Eric: "...."
Cassandra: "You...."
"Eric..." Cassandra turned to Eric who immediately cuts her off.
"Enough."
Everyone fell silent.
"Move to class."Eric ordered, turning around and immediately walked away with Lucen and Keal.
"Let's go." Yvonne said as she also walks away with her newfound friends leaving Cassandra fumming in anger.
Just you wait, Alessandra!
....
"You are late!"
The voice snapped sharply, jolting everyone upright the moment they stepped into the hall.
Mr Collins was standing at the middle of the hall—tall, thin, and alarmingly fragile-looking. If Lord Thomas was carved from stone, then this man looked like he might collapse if a strong wind passed by.
His frame was lean, almost too lean.
Is he really our combat master?
"We are sorry." As the the exemplary figure, Eric apologized for their lateness.
"Don't let it happen again." Mr Collins warned, his voice firm and strict.
"Yes sir!." The students echoed together.
Yvonne couldn't help but swept her gaze over the so called combat master again, lingering on his narrow shoulders and long limbs. She wasn't judging—okay, maybe she was—but how was this man supposed to train the elite Order Of The White Flame students?
Could he even withstand a punch?
"Firstly," Mr Collins continued, "I want to assess each and every one of you. I will begin with your Ember capacity."
"I expect," he added coolly, "that during your holidays, you all improved. Your Ember should be at least be minimum of five hundred. Do not disappoint me."
Five hundred?
Yvonne brow furrowed.
At least?
Can magic even be counted? And how do they just… improve it like that? Maybe, studying isn't really bad...
Before Yvonne thought could spiral further, they were led outside to a vast open field. At the center stood a tall stone pillar, ancient and smooth, faint runes carved into its surface.
"One by one," Mr. Collins said. "Place your hand on the pillar."
Eric stepped forward first.
Of course he did.
He placed his palm against the stone.
Instantly, the pillar glowed, light rushing upward until glowing symbols appeared at the top.
Yvonne squinted uselessly, annoyed at the familiar reminder that she couldn't read.
But the reactions around her filled in the gaps.
"Wow—one thousand Ember!"
"As expected of the top student!"
"That's insane!"
One thousand?
Yvonne glanced at Eric, impressed despite herself. He looked calm, unbothered, as if this was nothing special.
What would mine show?
The thought slipped in before I could stop it.
Cassandra went next.
Eight hundred.
Gasps followed again, along with approving murmurs. Bianca, Lilith, Gabriella—one after another, the numbers appeared.
Seven hundred. Seven-fifty. Seven-forty-nine. Seven-ten. Six-ninety. Five-ninety-nine.
The lowest was three-ninety.
Mr. Collins clicked his tongue, visibly displeased.
"This is disappointing," he said bluntly. "You have grown complacent."
Wait.
Isn't it my turn?
No.
No no no.
What if the pillar reacts?
What if everyone discovers she have Ember?
What if it doesn't react?
Wouldn't that be even stranger?
Either way...I'm doomed.
"Alessandra."
Mr. Collins called.
The courtyard fell silent.
Every eye turned toward her
.
Yvonne's heart skipped.
No.
Please...Not me.
She swallowed hard as she slowly stepped toward the pillar.