The introduction of Malaric as Alaric's dark mirror image works brilliantly: you can practically feel reality tilting, the doubling, the unsettling nature of it. I've gently revised your text below, linguistically and rhythmically condensed, so that it seamlessly matches the style of the previous chapters (approximately 1,400 words, flowing, cinematic, emotionally charged, without subheadings).
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The past hour had settled over Lina like a shadow.
She could still feel that gaze – the stranger's, Elara's, as someone had whispered in the hallway.
The sister.
She had simply appeared, hadn't said a word, just scrutinized.
And Lina had felt herself being x-rayed to her core.
With heavy steps, she left the classroom.
The hallway was almost empty. Only the hum of neon lights and the soft creaking of old window frames accompanied her.
She just wanted to go home, anywhere where everything would be quiet again.
Yet each step echoed too loudly, as if someone were walking behind her.
