The flashlight beam turned toward the stairs.
Maria froze. No escape. The light was getting closer.
No cover. No time.
SCREEEAM!
A loud, ear-piercing scream was heard from the upper floor (third floor).
"HEEEELP! My ankle twisted! Ouch!"
The guard paused. He took his light off the stairs and aimed it up.
"What's going on up there?!"
"Help! I fell!"
The guard ran hurriedly toward the upper floor, without glancing down.
Maria looked up in surprise.
In the shadow of the third-floor railing, a girl in pajamas stood, putting on a loud, theatrical show of being hurt.
She hadn't stayed in the room. She had followed Maria.
And now, by endangering herself and drawing the guard's attention, she had opened the way for Maria.
Maria gave a faint smile.
Crazy...
Maria seized the opportunity and reached the empty lobby.
She reached the large, carved wooden door that was the way to freedom.
She pressed the handle gently. Locked.
Mechanical lock. Easy.
She pulled her dagger from its sheath and inserted its narrow, sharp tip into the keyhole. She closed her eyes and focused her sense of touch on the tip of the dagger. With the skill she had from her previous life, she found the lock pins one by one.
A delicate turn.
Click.
The sweet sound of the lock latch releasing echoed in the silence of the lobby.
Maria smiled and opened the door slightly. The cold, fresh outside air hit her face.
The creature, sensing the scent of freedom, jumped out from under Maria's coat with delight.
It put its head out the door to run toward the forest when suddenly...
A dry spark cracked through the air. A blue light appeared in the doorframe, and the creature was thrown violently back inside, rolling on the lobby carpet.
Maria quickly closed the door so the protective light wouldn't be seen.
The creature whimpered and backed away.
"Damn... the protection system isn't just on the windows. The entire outer shell of the building is sealed."
The lock had yielded. The barrier hadn't yet. They were in a cage.
Bootsteps thudded from the upper floor. Sarah couldn't act and buy time forever.
Maria scanned around the lobby with her sharp eyes.
This system must have a power source or local control. It can't be directly connected to the administration office.
Her gaze locked on a dark corner of the lobby, behind a large decorative vase.
A weak red light was blinking there. Rhythmic and regular.
Maria lunged toward it.
A small metal box was installed on the wall. It read: "Environmental Control Panel - Zone 3".
Bingo.
She slid her dagger under the metal frame and popped the cover open with a push.
Inside was a tangle of crystals, silver wiring and intertwined circuits.
For an ordinary student, this was just a bunch of glowing stones. But for Maria, who worked on circuits in Varon's lab, this was a blueprint—though a completely unfamiliar one.
Her eyes frantically traced the silver lines.
Green feels stable... Lighting? Yellow is warm... Heating? Her eyes locked on the pulsating blue line. That one carries the heavy load. It has to be the Defense System.
It was a gamble, but she had no time to verify.
She put her finger on the blue line. Wanted to cut it but quickly changed her mind and stopped.
If I cut it, it'll probably trigger an alarm.
The guard's voice was coming.
"Miss? Are you okay?"
Sarah's voice came from above, trying to stall the guard:
"Yeah... my ankle just hurts..."
Maria had no time.
Think, Maria... I don't know the deactivation sequence... but the flow logic should be universal. I have to 'Bypass' it.
She pried the transfer crystal loose.
Two wires — switch them.
She held her breath, waiting for an explosion or a siren.
The blue line died and blinking red light became steady.
It worked.
Maria turned and opened the door.
"Go! Fast!"
The black creature, waiting for the chance, shot out like a released arrow. It passed through the door, jumped down the entrance stairs, and disappeared into the absolute darkness of the night in a fraction of a second.
Free.
Maria exhaled her held breath forcefully.
She swung back toward quickly. Returned the wires to their original state and inserted the crystal.
The blue light turned back on. The blinking red light returned to normal rhythm. The system reactivated as if nothing had happened.
She closed the metal frame and wiped her fingerprints with the hem of her coat.
Goodbye, buddy.
Now she just had to disappear before the guard reached downstairs.
Maria opened the room door and entered.
Sarah, who had also just returned, stood in the middle of the room, panting.
Maria locked the door.
"Sarah... you saved our lives. If you weren't there..."
Sarah turned. Her eyes were full of tears and anger.
"Why do you always leave me out?!"
Her voice trembled but was firm.
"Why do you think you have to solve everything alone?"
Maria was startled.
"I... didn't want you involved. It was dangerous."
Sarah took a step forward.
"I'm not afraid of danger, Maria! I stood up to Varon and that monster that day! I stood up to the guard tonight!"
A tear dripped from her cheek.
"I don't care about the danger. What scares me is that I don't matter to you. That you don't trust me"
Silence.
That was the first crack in Maria's armor. A blow struck not with a sword but with emotion.
Sarah asked with a choked voice:
"What exactly is our relationship, Maria? Are we friends, or am I just an annoying roommate you have to protect?"
Hearing these sentences, Maria felt a heaviness in her heart. She remembered Lucy who ran away. Remembered Catherine who betrayed.
But Sarah... Sarah hadn't run away. Sarah had made herself a shield.
Maria lowered her head.
"I... I don't think you're annoying."
Her voice was calm and honest.
"I'm afraid of pulling you into the dark with me. Afraid I won't have enough power to protect you and you too... will get hurt like the others."
Sarah wiped her tears. Her tone softened, but remained firm.
"I don't need you to protect me. I choose whether to be in danger or not. And I chose to be by your side."
She went forward and took Maria's hand.
"We're a team, Maria. Whether you like it or not."
A warm silence filled the room.
Maria gaze fixed on Sarah's warm hands.
A team...
Maybe Sarah is right. Maybe solitude had stopped being protection.
Sarah smiled, a smile that melted ice.
"Promise..."
"Hmm?"
"Next time... before you jump into fire alone or go out the window... tell me. Maybe I can keep watch."
Maria hesitated for a moment...
But she realized some people weren't meant to leave her; they were meant to fight beside her.
She looked into Sarah's brown, determined eyes.
For the first time, she stopped resisting.
"Okay. I promise."
The lights went out.
That night, Maria slept without nightmares. Because she knew she was no longer alone; someone had her back.
***
Maria gave a short yawn and descended the stairs of the dormitory.
She threw her bag over her shoulder. Today, finally, she had no remedial or disciplinary classes. A normal weekend.
I'll go to the library. Need to read more about those security system circuits.
But when she reached the landing of the ground floor... she stopped.
The dormitory lobby was unusually crowded.
Students had gathered around the entrance. Whispers, excited laughter, and glances constantly returning to the entrance door.
One said excitedly:
"Is it really him? Why did he come to the girls' dorm?"
Another:
"Oh my God! He's so handsome!"
Maria frowned slightly.
What happened here? Damian came to show off again?
She passed through the crowd. Her shoulder bumped into a few people. She caught a few irritated mutters but ignored them.
She approached the exit door.
The crowd parted, as if making way for a queen.
And she saw.
Beside the entrance door, in the clear morning light...
Stood a man in the formal white and gold uniform of the Royal Court. His cape draped elegantly over his shoulder, and his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
Calm. Dignified. Powerful.
His gaze was directly on Maria.
Edward.
Commander of the Royal Guard.
It took her a moment to register what she was seeing.
A sharp beat struck behind her ribs.
Edward? Here? Did they find out? Had he come about the creature?
Edward took a step forward.
He gave a gentle smile that made his eyes kind.
"Good morning, Miss Alessandra."
He paused briefly to let his words have more effect.
Then, with a voice the entire lobby heard, he added:
"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Prince Arthur, wishes to see you at the Palace today. The carriage is waiting."
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then the whisper exploded.
The name of the Crown Prince echoed in the air. Envious and astonished gazes locked onto Maria.
Maria's thoughts stalled mid-breath.
"Arthur...?"