Trouble!

She didn't know where, nor she knows how. She just let her feet take her anywhere… just anywhere away from this damned place!

The wind whistled and trees waved, the faint cry of birds in the distance drew her to a sense of nostalgia as she stopped. A hollow look in her eyes. No one, just by herself—alone. She collapsed on her knees; all burdens seem to have weighed more than usual. Wet salty tears burst like a dam inside her and she clutched the bricks, banging it as her knuckles until it bled red.

Her desperate angry punches turned soft and helpless, sliding her back down on the wall. She sniffled, letting out an agonized chuckle before taking a deep breath to compose herself. "Dear celestials, I'm so hopeless."

It's a good thing you are aware. If only Moon was here, she would have spoken those exact words.

Minutes passed. A gentle breeze caressed her cheek. She looked up at the sky in thought. "I wonder what time it is. Classes is starting already."

Standing up, she wiped the remaining tears and fixed herself properly. She doesn't want to be seen as tardy nor she wanted for people to think worse of her. You know how their minds work—one wrong move was all it takes.

"My eyes must be red right now." She felt its puffiness and hoped that no one would notice.

A sigh escaped her lips as it reminded her of the exhausting things she would have to go through again, and it's just her first day. Imagine going through it for the rest of the school year. Pain.

While on her way to class, she couldn't help but internalize. What could she do to get it back? They hammered a deal, but she was left with unclear instructions. Wouldn't it mean he would return it once she was able to gather information?

"But that would take so long!" she complained.

She arrived the tall double doors of her classroom. She let out a sigh of relief when the teacher hasn't arrived yet and quietly got inside minding her own business. The stares on her back burned holes however, making her squirm in discomfort.

"May I sit here?" she forced a smile. Bridget stared at her and nodded with saucer eyes. She scooted to the side while Adeleine slid in the seat while the doors opened again, this time, it's their instructor.

Time passed by endlessly and the students lazily stared at the instructor, either trying to make sense of what he's saying or letting the words pass from one ear to another. Adeleine jotted down notes with a bored expression. She just doesn't feel any energy today.

The bell ringed, signaling them that second subject of the afternoon is, finally, over.

"Class dismissed."

Adeleine gathered her notes and cleaned her desk. Next to her, Bridget did the same.

"Um, what are you doing for…" the rest were incoherent whispers.

"What?"

"For break." Bridget said, a little louder this time.

"Ooh…" Realization dawned on her. "Oh. I don't know. What do you do?"

"I…eat."

Adeleine blinked.

"Eat?" her eyebrows creased. "But I didn't bring food with me."

Bridget looked down on the small food she brought. It wouldn't be enough for both of them. They could go to the cafeteria, but she didn't like crowded places. She bit her lips, hard in thought.

She hid the packet behind her back and softly smiled at Adeleine. "We can buy in the cafeteria if you want. It's- it's my treat," she looked away shyly.

The letherian girl scrunched up her nose in scrutiny. But then again, Bridget said it's her treat, she couldn't let good food pass up. Adeleine can't think of anything this girl would do to her. She looks too pure-hearted.

Looks could be deceiving, she once again countered herself. Well, she'll just have to see if it's genuine or not.

The corner of her eyes were wet as she sniffled. "Oh my gosh! Really? You're so sweet and nice. I don't know what to say…"

"Uh! Umm! Please stop crying." Bridget didn't know what to do seeing her tear up from a simple act. It made her had the urge to cry to.

Tears prickled her eyelashes, her nose slightly red. People passed by them, either throwing a weirded glance or just plainly ignored them as they minded their own business. She started quietly bawling her eyes out while Adeleine panicked.

Clandes grimaced. "Get out of the way, crybabies." He stood behind them with a scowl on his face. This made the two scuttle to the side with Bridget wiping her wet cheeks. "Embarrassing." He walked past the two, casting them a cold side-glance.

Both of them flush red as Adeleine sent him a glare. People can't really help but be pricks, "Maybe it's ingrained in your Adhelian blood," she spat behind him but he was already out by the door.

"Wahh, I'm sorry. I was just overwhelmed." She sniffled and smiled. "It really feels like I just gained a friend."

Adeleine looked at her and said nothing.

They almost reached the cafeteria's main entrance and you could hear the noisy chatters once they rounded the corner. Adeleine had tasted the food Kellie offered, would they taste the same as well?

Long tables lined in rows occupied by rowdy students and boisterous laughter had the spacious room bursting with energy. But when they stepped in, loud mouths were noticeably replaced with hushed murmurs as eyes darted to their direction. Adeleine could practically feel the unwelcomed-ness from their burning stares.

Bridget shrunk at the attention and clung at the other's sleeve. "We could head out..." Adeleine, who also felt the discomfort and pressure, agreed.

"Yeah. We should head out."

They swiftly turned around. In a blink of an eye, Adeleine felt sticky liquid oozing down her face. A tray hit against the tiles, resonating an ear-piercing clang, and all the other plates spilled over the floor. Everyone fell silent and turned their heads curiously towards them.

She found herself on the floor in a scattered mess. "Huh?"

"You're really wearing my patience!"

Hera sat across her, glaring at the letherian girl who was too shocked to respond. Sticky little sliced corns ornament her locks like some sort of fancy hair glitter. She grimaced in disgust when she caught scent of her hair smelling like their lunch porridge, her face slightly tainting green. A moment of silence before the students burst into laughter and hollered at the two.

Hera's faced reddened in humiliation and rage. Her teeth chattered as she clenched her jaws that Adeleine swore she could hear it grinding.

"Look at Hera making a fool out of herself!" One of the students exclaimed.

"Thanks," Adeleine grumbled while Bridget helped and pulled her up on her feet.

"Damn fiend, you really have no shame! Admit it! You used your dark magic to get into this academy!" Hera fumed, jabbing her index finger at Adeleine accusingly. "How else were you able to get in here?"

The girl snapped from her stupor and looked at Hera with a scowl. This morning, a while ago, and now—she's tired of this brat's attitude.

"I wouldn't even want to be here," Adeleine bit, grabbing the other's wrist that kept jabbing her chest. She glared at her.

This action took Hera aback but she snarled, pulling her hands away from Adeleine's grip. She grabbed the girl's collar, dragging her up with her surprisingly strong power. Her hands clenched to fist as she pulled it back, about to strike. "I'll kill you," she growled as her face darkened that made Adeleine break into a cold sweat.

She swore that she could see imaginary flames rising up from the blonde's head. Seeing Hera visibly shaking and her breathing heavy, the ever loud pounding in her chest quickened.

Students started circling them, the tension rising even more as they chanted. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Bridget was pushed in the back and the cheers drowned her voice of protests and concern. Adeleine's guts told her to run, but it wasn't possible as Hera was holding her up in a tight grip.

"My, my," whimsical laughter came from the entrance. "-what a show!"

Everyone was startled. He was like Moses parting the sea, the crowd parted for the man to walk in. Eyes followed him and each step he took was like a heavy atmosphere pushing them down. The sound of a pin drop would echo in the silence. They do not dare ever stand in the way of the headmaster.

"Although we encourage duels, we do not tolerate violence outside the controlled environment." He had his usual smile, but his voice cuts through the thick tension in the air, adding a lace of uneasiness among the student body. "Undisciplined students shall be punished, Hera."

Bridget breathed a sigh of relief. Adeleine, nonetheless thankful, had her wrinkles deepen at the sight of his appalling grin.

Hera scowled. "I don't care."

But of course, he wasn't done. "However, you are allowed to use the arena." He chuckled, his smile stretching further. "We would never hinder the desire of our students to grow."

Hera rolled her teal-green eyes.

"Today's schedule is full so, it would take around two day from now."

The angry blonde pushed Adeleine harshly with murderous eyes and turned around to leave, with the latter reciprocating her animosity.

"Leaving already?" he asked with a hint of mockery. Adeleine turned her attention towards the head, an already boiling ire caught in her chest. It's already clear to her about his intentions with his…provocative tone. She had a bad feeling.

This made Hera stop. Like an arrow piercing her chest, his words aggravated a scratch to her pride. With a tight jaw, she faced the letherian girl again. "I, Hera Perrat!" Grabbing something from her collar, she showed them a golden badge with resolve. In a shape of an armor, green linings bordering the edge and two antlers at the middle. "-will challenge you into a duel!"

Headmaster Verkel hid a knowing smile as she shot daggers at him. 'I freaking knew it! Scheming bastard!'

Hera stepped closer and taunted, "Don't die before the match starts. I would be the one finishing the likes of you."