A week.
That was how long it took Yvonne to get out of the Infirmary.
Seven long, painfully polite, mentally exhausting days of arguments, endless discussions, soft pleading, firm refusals, dramatic sighs, strategic silence, and one particularly memorable moment where Raphael stood by Yvonne bed with folded arms and said, "Absolutely not," like a wall that had learned how to talk.
Yvonne stretched with a smile. A cool, refreshing breeze swept past her. "Finally." She breathed out.
She had nearly gone mentally drained in that infirmary, stuck with only four white walls and nothing else except being occasionally visited by Amanda and the rest. She would rather be in Alessandra's old dull room than the Infirmary.
Four weeks. She had been stuck in there for a whole month! Calculating it, it has been more than a month since she had been stuck in Alessandra's life.
I have been here for far too long. Yvonne thought dryly.
"Finally!!! Alessandra is out!!!"
A gentle smile graced Yvonne lips as she turned to the culprit Amanda who was practically bouncing toward her while Trancy and Gabriella trailed behind her.
"How are you feeling?" Gabriella asked.
"Mentally drained." Yvonne admitted.
"I know that feeling." Trancy smiled. "It's exhausting."
"Yeah! But still, it is quite a blessing." Amanda said smiling.
Stunned, Yvonne asked. "Blessing?"
"Yes. Not being able to attend class for a whole month." Amanda said cheerfully rendering Yvonne speechless. "That's the answer to every student's prayers."
"Anyway. Now that you are out. Lectures resumed back." Amanda chirped linking her arms with Yvonne's own. "But first, it lunchtime. Let's replieshed our energy."
Shaking her head, Yvonne followed her to the dining hall and met with Cassandra and her entronge who gave her a look before walking away which surprised Yvonne.
After all, meeting with Cassandra meant arguing.
Turning to Amanda, Yvonne asked. "Did anything happen while I was gone?"
"You mean Cassandra behavior?" Amanda asked and Yvonne nodd in reply.
"Well, we can't say for sure but she has been keeping her actions in check recently." Trancy answered.
"But something really do happen." Gabriella spoke up.
"What is it?." Yvonne asked curiously.
"News came from the capital.'' Gabriella answered
"Capital?"
"Yes. They said there have been sightings of second tier Dark Ember beasts." Trancy replied with a sigh.
"Second tier Dark Ember Beasts? What's that?" Confused Yvonne asked.
"You remembered those Watchers and Suckers lesson we took?." Amanda asked.
Nodding, Yvonne answered. "Yeah. Those are Dark Ember Beasts of the lowest rank right?"
"They're all Third-Tier Dark Ember Beasts—the weakest tier." Amanda can continue "According to reports from the Red Legion, creatures stronger than them have appeared. Second-Tier Dark Ember Beasts."
"... What?" Yvonne asked lost.
Gabriella added. "Which means... if there are Second-Tier beasts... First-Tier beasts must exist too."
"No one even knows what First-Tier Dark Ember Beasts look like." Amanda answered with a dread expression. "Meaning First Tiers Dark Ember beasts are legendary we don't even know what they are."
"Everywhere is tense right now." Trancy added. "Honestly. To say we are not scared right now is a lie. We don't even know what we are fighting against anymore. The Dark Prince fraction was just getting stronger."
Sighing deeply, Gabriella said. "Though no one has seen the Dark Prince himself, but I heard his Ember is far stronger than anyone of us could comprehend."
"Training has been hard on everyone. So, everywhere is tense right now." Amanda said.
Hmmm.... Yvonne sighed deeply.
Second tier Dark Ember Beasts
Third tier...
First tier....
I see.
"I have a question." Yvonne said. "Is there a place where someone could sneak out of the school?"
"Sneak out? You want to sneak out?!" Amanda asked eyes wide
"Why?" Gabriella asked and before Yvonne could reply, Trancy said
"Was it because it's too stuffy here? I get you. It would really feel nice to sneak out and unwind."
Trancy continued, "But, the route we used to sneak out has been discovered last semester. There is no other route."
"There isn't even one?" Yvonne asked
"None." Trancy answered.
"Actually, there is one." Samantha answered walking up to their table and sat down with her lunch.
"Hi. I'm Samantha. But you can call me Sam." She introduced herself.
"Hello..." Yvonne answered unsure of this new friend.
"You said, there is a way to sneak out?" Gabriella asked, ignoring the familiarity introduction.
"Yes." Samantha replied with a nod. "It's the waterfall."
"Waterfall? The academy has a waterfall?" Confused Yvonne asked. She had never seen any waterfall in the school.
"Yes. There is. But it is behind the school." Amanda answered.
"I once tried sneaking out but..." Samantha stopped having the group attention before continuing. "The problem is, you won't be able to sneak back."
"I knew it!" Amanda said. "Who can climb a waterfall? It's useless."
Useless? It's the most useful thing I've heard so far! Who wants to come back here anyway?
Yvonne almost grinned out but stopped herself. "So, where exactly led to this waterfall?''
"The stream runs through a narrow tunnel beneath the academy wall. Follow it, and it'll take you straight to the waterfall." Samantha answered.
"Give up the idea, Alessandra." Gabriella said. " It's risky."
"Yeah. You were just recently found below the Listener's Cliff. If anything were to happen to you while trying to sneak out. It will be disastrous." Trancy added.
"I agree." Samantha included, "When I tried sneaking out through that place once, I discovered that it is uninhabitable and the forest is dense. There may be several wild beasts lurking around there."
"Also, the rocks beneath the water may be sharp and you don't have any powers to support yourself. So just let it be." Amanda said. "Endure a bit longer. We will soon be on vacation."
"Vacation in the second month of resumption?." Trancy rolled her eyes. "Don't give false hope. "
''What? Then should I advise her to risk her life?." Amanda snapped.
Yvonne fingers unconsciously curled beneath the table.
Finally.
After weeks of pretending.
After surviving monsters, training, and endless lectures...
She had finally found a way out.
"I understand what you mean. It's just... Forget it. Alessandra. Abandon the idea of sneaking out. Instead, we should focus on our training."
Focus my ass! Yvonne cursed. I am escaping tonight.
Waterfall right? Just what I need. All I have to do was activate my water manipulation and I am gone.
YES!!!!!
Nathalie, Nathanial wait for me.
Your sister is coming.