RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
That night, the cafeteria felt quieter than usual. Only the clatter of trays and the faint hum of voices filled the space, but at our table, it was just me, Lovely, Kate, Allie, and our praciens. The others weren't here-Dylan and the JAZA had chosen to push themselves harder, asking for extra time with close-combat training.
"They said it's to prepare for the worst," Allie muttered earlier, balancing her spoon across her glass. "If the Deorcanen Clan really does use mnarill-nullifying tools, they'll need to rely purely on their bodies."
The thought lingered in my head even now as I poked absently at my food. I could almost imagine them in the gymnasium-Justin's serious face as he sparred, Andrew's heavy swings, Ace's agility, and Zen, stubbornly trying to keep up even if he stumbled here and there. And Dylan, standing at the center of it all, calm yet commanding, the only one who could really push them past their limits.
Lovely's laughter pulled me back. She had both elbows on the table, grinning like she'd just discovered the juiciest secret. "Honestly, did you see Zen earlier? He tripped during sparring-tripped! And he still tried to act like it was part of his strategy. The look on his face was priceless."
I bit back a laugh, but Kate didn't bother hiding her irritation. She groaned and dropped her head into her hands. "I've had enough today. My instructor paired us for mental drills, and I swear, my brain is fried. If I have to hear everyone's thoughts echoing inside my skull one more time, I'll collapse."
Lovely burst out laughing again. "Oh, come on, Kate. Isn't that a dream?"
"More like a nightmare," Kate shot back, glaring at her.
They reminded me of Xyrille and Jean. I miss them.
Allie had gone quiet, her eyes fixed on her glass of water. With a slow, controlled movement, she extended her fingers just above the rim. The surface of the water rippled, and then a sliver of ice pushed upward, forming into a needle-thin spike. It gleamed under the cafeteria's light, so delicate it looked like it could vanish with a breath, yet looked sharp enough to pierce skin. Then she spoke, her voice steady, almost too calm. "If I can compress an ice spike thin enough-like a needle-it could be deadly. The sharper it is, the more precise. A single strike could obstruct a blood vessel or go straight through the heart."
Lovely froze mid-bite, her fork suspended in the air. "Seriously, Allie? You're talking about stabbing hearts while I'm trying to eat?" She shoved her plate away with an exaggerated grimace.
Kate muttered something under her breath about losing her appetite, too.
I just sat there, watching the three of them bicker, but my thoughts drifted again. No matter how much I tried to laugh along, I couldn't stop wondering how the training was going. I imagined Dylan demonstrating a move with that effortless precision of his, the boys copying him with determination burning in their eyes.
And though I tried not to admit it-not even to myself-I kind of wished I was there with them instead of here, stuck listening to dinner banter that didn't quite fill the space inside me.
The cafeteria is warm, noisy, and alive. But I'm nervous and... scared.
I was woken up by a strange, icy sensation wrapping around my right hand. At first, I thought it was just the chill of the night seeping through the thin blanket, but when I lifted my hand into the moonlight streaming through the window, my heart lurched.
The skin had turned black.
A sharp breath tore from my lungs, and I bolted upright on my bed, staring in horror at the spreading shadow crawling up my wrist. But when I blinked-just once-the darkness was gone. My hand looked perfectly normal again, pale and slender under the silver glow.
I swallowed hard. My chest tightened as I flexed my fingers, half-expecting them to crumble to dust. Nothing. Just... my hand.
"Damn," I whispered under my breath, pressing the trembling hand to my chest. "Am I hallucinating?"
The thought kept circling in my mind, restless and heavy, until I knew there was no hope of falling back asleep. My body might have been exhausted, but my mind refused to surrender.
I glanced across the dorm. Forelody lay curled on her perch, her feathery body rising and falling gently, oblivious to my unease. My roommates were all deep in slumber as well, their breathing steady, their faces softened by dreams. The silence of the room pressed against my ears, suffocating.
Quietly, I slipped from the bed. My bare feet touched the cool floor, and I moved with careful steps, making sure not to wake anyone. With one last glance at Forelody-peaceful, trusting-I pulled on a cloak, opened the door, and slipped out into the night.
The air outside was crisp, filled with the faint scent of damp earth and the rustling of leaves. I walked until I reached one of the great oak trees near the academy's courtyard. Its branches stretched wide, like a guardian watching over the grounds. I leaned against the trunk, letting the cold night wind kiss my skin, trying to calm the frantic beat of my heart.
What was that? What did I see? The image of my blackened hand refused to leave me.
I hugged myself tighter, whispering to the shadows, "I can't tell anyone. Not yet..."
"Couldn't sleep either?"
The voice made me flinch.
I spun, and there he was-Dylan, emerging from the dim light like he'd always been there, leaning casually with his hands in his pockets. His white shirt caught the moonlight, his hair slightly tousled as though sleep had rejected him, too.
My breath steadied just a little at the sight of him, though my heart continued its uneven rhythm. "Dylan," I muttered, trying to sound casual. "You scared me."
He raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You? Scared? That's rare." His tone was light, teasing as always, but there was something in his gaze that wasn't laughter. Something heavier.
He walked closer, until he was just a step away from me. "So... what's keeping you up?"
I pressed my back against the tree, looking away, afraid that if I met his eyes for too long, he'd see through me. See the fear, the trembling hand I was still hiding under my cloak.
"Nothing," I lied softly. "Just... couldn't sleep."
He studied me for a long moment, quiet, like he didn't believe me but wouldn't press the question-at least not yet. Then he sighed and tilted his head back, looking up at the sky.
"Well," he said, his voice gentler now, "if you can't sleep, I'll keep you company. Better than letting the night swallow you whole, right?"
I almost laughed, but the sound caught in my throat. Instead, I nodded, grateful for the way he spoke-like he knew I was carrying something heavy, but he wouldn't force me to share it until I was ready.
I felt the restless storm inside me quiet, if only a little.