As the illusion faded, the students stumbled out of the training ring and collapsed onto the ground, battered, bruised, and covered in dust, dirt, and blood.
"Damn! I can't feel myself anymore." Priscilla complained, leaning on her twin.
"I think my spine is broken." Samantha laid down on the ground, spread out like a starfish while Kaylyn rested her head on her stomach, clung to her like a parasite.
"Now, I understand what they said about hearing is different from experience." Lilith said, burying her head into the sand.
"Congratulations on completing your test trial as an Order Of The White Flame students. I truly commend your efforts." Mr Collins said, standing in the training ground podium.
"After having a close call with death. Yeah." Kael comments, his hands wrapped around Amanda waist who was leaning on him.
Mr Collins continued ignoring Kael comments. "What you are feeling now, is the least of what Order Of The White Flame members felt. This is the beginning."
This is the beginning?! Yvonne felt like laughing but the pain she was currently experiencing does not permit her to.
"You all should move to the Infirmary to take care of your wounds. After that, I will give you all the results of your trial."
Having said this, Mr Collins had the infirmary staff take the students to have their wounds treated.
Everyone was in bad shape. Even Eric was not spared and have to be taken in stretcher.
"You lost too much blood." The healer attending to Yvonne said, helping her drink a bitter medicine. "You will have to stay here for a few days to monitor your condition."
I knew it. Yvonne thought. It's a miracle she didn't die in there.
They all were asked to stay in the Infirmary for some days because of their injuries, which Mr Collins agreed readily.
And before leaving, Mr Collins walked to Yvonne bed, saying. "You really have fallen behind Alessandra. After your recovery, Eric will personally train you to whip you back into shape."
Before Yvonne could even process Mr. Collins' words, Cassandra's face stiffened.
"Sir," she said, unable to hide the disbelief in her voice, "why Eric?"
Mr. Collins looked at her calmly.
"Because he achieved the highest score in this trial."
Cassandra bit down on her lip. "But surely another instructor—"
"This decision has already been made."
What the....! This walking stick of a man! Yvonne cursed angrily in her head, blushing furiously from anger but have no choice to bite down her tongue.
"You angry?" Eric asked, his deep eyes stared at Yvonne red face.
"What do you think!." Yvonne snapped angrily, intending to vent her anger on him but Eric just smiled in reply, turning his head away.
Falling to vent her anger, Yvonne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. In no time, falling asleep deeply.
*
"Sister! Sister!"
Yvonne turned toward the sound and saw Nathalie and Nathaniel running down the downtown riverbank, their laughter echoing as they chased each other, voices bright and carefree.
The riverbank...?
Yvonne froze.
Wait.
What was she doing here? Was she not sleeping in the infarmy after the near death attack with the Watchers?
She clearly remembered that terrifying feelings of being close to death. But this… this was familiar.
Too familiar.
The spell.
The swap.
Alessandra.
The trial.
Order Of The White Flame.
Was it all a dream?
A laugh bubbled out of Yvonne, shaky and relieved. Thank the blessed gods of Valeria. It was all just a nightmare.
Yvonne ran toward her sisters, calling their names.
And they both ran toward her too—
And passed straight through her.
Yvonne stumbled, spinning around just in time to see them crash into someone else's arms.
Her arms.
No.
Not hers.
Her's —but not Yvonne's own.
"What on earth…?"
Yvonne stepped closer.
Her sisters were hugging another version of her, laughing, clinging tightly.
She reached out—
Her hands passed straight through them.
Cold.
Empty.
Was she dead?
Did she die...? Of blood loss?
Was she a ghost now?
No. No. That can't be.
How can she died without knowing the mystery surrounding all this Appearance swap. She refused to accept it.
But then... who is she?
This scene… it felt painfully familiar.
"How are you, my sweeties?" the other Yvonne asked warmly.
"Not fine!" Nathalie pouted. "Nathaniel keeps disturbing me. I was trying to build a mansion for us, but she kept destroying it!"
"I didn't!" Nathaniel protested. "I was just trying to explain that we can't live in a sand house!"
"Liar! I was going to make it big!"
"Still not big enough!"
"It would be!"
"It won't!"
"It would!"
"It won't!"
"Yvonne!" Nathalie turned, eyes glassy. "Get justice for me!"
"Stop that irritating face," Nathaniel scoffed. "It won't work anymore."
"It's not irritating—yours is!"
"Yvonne!"
"Alright, alright," the Yvonne laughed. "I understand. Nathaniel, apologize."
"Hmph! I won't!"
"Nathaniel."
"I'm still not wrong!"
"If you don't," Yvonne said calmly, "I won't buy your favorite buns when I collect my wages."
Nathaniel gasped like she'd been stabbed.
"You're wicked! How can you threaten me with food?!" She turned away dramatically. "…Sorry."
Yvonne smiled and turned to Nathalie.
"Forgive her."
"No!"
"Nathalie."
"I don't need your forgiveness either!"
"Both of you…" Yvonne sighed fondly.
Nathaniel glanced up. "Are you collecting your wages today? Isn't it early?"
"Yes today," Yvonne replied, rubbing their heads. "I heard it's the owner's birthday, so, he decides to give us our wages early. And I have a big surprise for you both."
"Really?!" they squealed.
"Yes. Just wait a little longer."
Yvonne smiled.
She hadn't realized how much she missed this.
The laughter.
The arguing.
The warmth of home.
For the first time since waking up in Alessandra's body...
She wanted nothing more than to stay here forever.
She missed this.
But then something struck her.
This—wasn't this the day before everything went wrong?
The day before she went to collect her wages?
Before the spell.
Before the swap.
Before everything fell apart.
The river shimmered.
The laughter grew distant.
Her sisters' voices slowly faded into silence.
Then...
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Yvonne..."
It wasn't Nathalie.
It wasn't Nathaniel.
Someone...
Was calling her back.