Selene walked into my room without waiting for permission, like she owned the place.
She always did.
She carried two academy uniforms neatly folded in her arms, her expression bright and innocent, like she was doing me a favor.
"Elara," she said with relief. "You scared me. I thought you were sick again."
Again.
That word stung.
Because in my past life, she always used my weakness against me.
She placed the uniform on my bed and smiled.
"I brought your clothes. I knew you would forget them. Honestly, what would you do without me"
I forced myself to smile back.
My fingers trembled slightly, but I hid it by adjusting the sleeves of my night gown.
"I would probably die," I whispered.
Selene laughed.
If she knew how true those words were, she would have choked.
She sat beside me like a caring sister.
"You look strange," she said, tilting her head. "Did you have another nightmare"
Nightmare.
That was what she would call my death.
"Yes," I said softly. "But I am fine."
Selene reached out and brushed my hair behind my ear, her touch gentle and familiar.
And I almost flinched.
Because I remembered that touch.
She touched me the same way on the day of my execution.
Right before she whispered that my bloodline belonged to her.
"You know today is the aptitude ceremony, right" she asked.
I nodded.
How could I forget.
Today was the day Selene became the academy's golden girl.
Today was the day I became her shadow.
Selene clasped her hands together dramatically.
"I am so nervous," she said. "What if my bloodline is not strong enough What if I disappoint everyone"
Her voice shook.
But her eyes did not.
She was not nervous.
She was hungry.
In my past life, Selene's bloodline should not have been strong enough to glow golden.
Not naturally.
She stole power from others.
Little by little.
I swallowed my rage and kept my expression calm.
"You will be fine," I said.
Selene smiled warmly.
Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"Elara," she whispered. "Promise me something."
"What"
"If your rank is low today, do not feel bad," she said gently. "Not everyone is meant to be special. Some people are meant to support others."
There it was.
The poison she always delivered with kindness.
The reminder that she was above me.
That I was nothing.
In my past life, I would have nodded and apologized for existing.
But now, I smiled.
"You are right," I whispered.
Selene's eyes softened with satisfaction.
She loved hearing that.
She stood and clapped her hands.
"Come on. Let us go before the bell rings."
I reached for the uniform she brought.
As I unfolded it, my eyes caught something shiny tucked inside the fabric.
A small silver needle.
Thin.
Sharp.
Almost invisible.
My heartbeat slowed.
So she had started already.
That needle was not decoration.
It was a blood extractor.
If I wore the uniform, it would prick my skin and steal a drop of blood during the ceremony.
A single drop was all Selene needed.
In my past life, she used my blood to strengthen herself.
She used it to impress the elders.
She used it to take Lucien.
My fingers tightened around the fabric.
I lifted my head slowly.
Selene was watching me.
Pretending she was not.
"Are you okay" she asked.
"Yes," I said softly.
Then I did something I never did before.
I reached for Selene's hand.
Her fingers were cold.
I squeezed gently and smiled at her.
"Thank you," I said. "You always take care of me."
Selene's face brightened instantly.
She loved being needed.
"Of course," she said. "That is what friends are for."
Friends.
I almost laughed.
We left the dormitory together.
The academy hallways were crowded with students rushing toward the ceremony hall. Noble girls wore expensive cloaks embroidered with their family crests. Some boys walked with servants carrying their books.
As I walked beside Selene, whispers followed us.
"Elara is coming."
"That useless girl again."
"She is always behind Selene."
"I heard she has no talent."
I kept my gaze low like the old Elara would.
But inside, I was calm.
Because my bloodline was awake.
And it was waiting.
The ceremony hall was enormous.
Black stone walls. Crimson banners. A raised platform for the elders. And in the center stood the Bloodline Crystal.
A towering pillar glowing faintly like a sleeping heart.
Students lined up based on noble rank.
Selene was close to the front.
I was close to the back.
As usual.
Then the hall fell silent.
Because he walked in.
Lucien Valemont.
Even at seventeen, he looked like a prince carved from darkness. Tall, broad shouldered, his black hair tied neatly behind his head. His silver eyes were cold and unreadable.
Every girl in the hall held her breath.
Even Selene.
She leaned close to me, excitement trembling in her voice.
"Elara," she whispered. "Lucien is here. They say he is already an Elite blood mage."
I clenched my jaw.
In my past life, those same eyes watched me burn.
I did not look at him.
"I do not care," I lied.
Selene giggled.
"You always say that. But I know you like him too."
If she knew what I truly felt, she would run.
The testing began.
One by one, students stepped forward and placed their palm on the crystal.
The crystal glowed pale for weak bloodlines.
Blue for average ones.
Gold for rare ones.
When Selene stepped forward, the entire hall watched.
She placed her hand confidently.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the crystal burst into bright golden light.
Gasps filled the room.
The elders leaned forward.
Selene covered her mouth like she could not believe it.
But I knew the truth.
She had already stolen power before today.
The crowd erupted.
"Golden rank"
"She is gifted"
"She will be chosen"
Selene turned toward me, grabbing my hands dramatically.
"Elara," she whispered, breathless. "Did you see that"
I nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her eyes sparkled.
Then she leaned close again.
"If your rank is low, do not worry," she whispered sweetly. "I will protect you."
Protect.
That was her favorite lie.
The line moved.
Soon, it was my turn.
The moment I stepped forward, laughter rippled through the hall.
Whispers became louder.
"Why is she even here"
"She will embarrass herself again"
"She is Selene's pet"
I ignored them and walked toward the crystal.
But just before I touched it, I felt a sting against my waist.
The needle.
Selene's trap.
It pricked me through the uniform.
A drop of blood spilled.
And immediately I felt it.
A pull.
Like something invisible trying to steal my blood away.
Selene was activating the extraction ritual from where she stood.
My lips curled slightly.
How foolish.
I placed my palm against the Bloodline Crystal.
At first, it was cold.
Then it began to heat.
A pulse shot through my arm.
The hall fell silent.
The crystal did not glow pale.
It did not glow blue.
It did not glow gold.
It turned red.
Deep crimson red.
A heartbeat echoed through the hall.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The crystal began to shake.
Cracks spread across its surface.
The elders stood up.
"What is this"
I heard Lucien's sharp inhale.
I turned my head slightly.
He was staring at me.
His eyes widened, just for a moment.
Then the crystal exploded with crimson light.
The entire hall was flooded with red.
Ancient runes appeared above me, spinning like living flames.
Students dropped to their knees without understanding why.
Even nobles trembled.
Even the elders stepped back.
And Selene screamed.
Because the blood she tried to steal did not enter her.
Instead, it snapped back to me like a chain.
And it dragged something else with it.
Something sealed.
Something ancient.
Selene clutched her chest.
Her golden aura flickered violently.
Cracked.
Then vanished.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
"Selene's aura is gone"
"She is losing her rank"
Selene looked at me with pure terror.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Fear.
Because she finally realized something.
I was not her weak little friend anymore.
I smiled at her calmly.
Then I whispered, loud enough for only her to hear.
"Thank you for helping me awaken."
Selene's knees gave out.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Above my head, the runes formed a symbol.
A crown made of blood.
The elders froze.
One of them whispered with a shaking voice.
"That mark."
Another elder stepped back, face pale.
"It cannot be."
Lucien's voice cut through the silence.
"Elara Nightborne," he said slowly, his tone filled with disbelief.
"What are you"
Before I could answer, the High Elder pointed his staff at me.
"Seize her," he commanded.
"Before the Forgotten Queen returns completely."
And in that moment, I understood.
This rebirth was not just about revenge.
It was about a crown they were terrified of.
And a power they had tried to bury forever.