You must take revenge

Her face was horrified, and color drained from her face. As she glared at the rigged belongings, she swore she had never felt so empty and angry in her entire life.

She sharply looked at her torn bag; the money she had inside was gone, and only shreds of the bag were scattered. Her belongings were crushed, and all her books were on the floor with their pages flying around. 

Her body froze. She couldn't comprehend why someone would even do such an ungraceful act toward her. 

"Luiza! Are you not going to go home?" Nellie asked, walking closer as she saw the stagnant body of Luiza. 

Other times, Luiza would have given a sweet smile and gazed at her, but something was wrong, Nellie guessed. As she paced closer, she felt infuriated. Nellie saw the horrendous words written on the desk, the shreds of paper in Luiza's book, and the ripped sight of the bag. 

"How could you?" Nellie mumbled under her breath. In a sudden aggression, she fiercely exasperated, "We are going to complain about it! Let's head down the stairs." 

Nellie's hand intertwined with Luiza's, and she tried to pull, but she did not move an inch. Instead, she mockingly spoke, "But will they help me? Do you think a teacher like them could help me? They would be more than willing to turn a blind eye to this as if it never happened."

"BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU?! It's only your second day, and you are being mistreated! How long will you last for the next four months? It's IMPOSSIBLE. So, we must go." She once again tried to pull her by her shoulders, but she did not move even a bit. 

"I will manage somehow. Maybe. Just leave me be!" She took all her tattered belongings with her and quickly headed downstairs. Her head was buried down with her belongings; she wished to be left alone. Hael waited there patiently when he saw her gleaming eyes, reddish nose, and cheeks run past him.

He quickly stood and walked beside her when he saw Nellie shouting, "LUIZA!!! LISTEN TO ME!" 

But she did not. Her feet did not halt, and she met eyes with no one. Nellie, who followed Luiza, was later surrounded by students for the upcoming programs and lost her friend's silhouette.

In the silent woods, she stomped her foot. Her eyes were teary, and all she could think of was to go home and cry. So, what if she complained? What difference would it make? She forgot that Hael watched her from the side. 

People only ever sought out themselves and never thought for others. Her teachers were no less than the appalling nobles she'd known. The selfishness: she had known it all too well, and now she only had a few gold coins left. She felt foolish. She felt idiotic, and if she could, she would take her life. 

"Luiza," Hael called her out.

Wiping her face with her hands, she tried to be the dignified woman she was taught to be but had miserably failed to have that mask. 

"Yes," she said, giving him a haunting smile. She had a tear-stained eye and the most legit smile, almost as if she were never sad. 

"Stay close to me." He held her arms, and although she felt reluctant, she let him have his way. Through the teleportation spell he had gotten from his master, they now arrived at the beautiful and vast top of a hill. 

She saw the beauty of the majestic mountains, and underneath them were the beautiful, thatched houses and a chapel of Goddess Diana. She was speechless. The tiny houses started to glow in with the dim orange lights, and as she staunchly watched life unfold, her heart felt calm. 

The tiny people with heartfelt smiles returned to their loved ones and mingled with their families, perhaps carrying their hard work home. A simple life she loved. 

"Tell me what happened truly," he asked, but in a softer manner. His hollow eyes stared at her lively ones, which started to glisten under the dim orange light. 

"Someone… Someone tore my bag, ripped it into shreds, and took all my coins. They wrote horrible things on my desk, and I feel helpless. That is all." She gave an unhinged smile, burying all the pain. 

Hael took her hands and gently carried the backs of her hands. "And what did Nellie ask you to do?" 

"She—she just wanted to help me," she broke down. Her hands covered her crying face, while Hael remained calm and patted her head gently. That moment, she turned her head around and cried in his warmth. 

She did not show her face, but rather the explosive turmoil of everything had burned her out. How was she supposed to stay still? She wept until his vest had a few tear stains.

He did not hug her or wrap his arms around her but simply caressed her shoulder. She was slightly fringed at the beginning, but then she did not complain. 

After a long cry, she whipped her eyes open and stepped away from him. 

"A handkerchief, please?" He gave her his embroidered one, and she whipped her tears and snouts and then stared back at the village. It was calm and peaceful. 

"You know, whenever I would feel stuffy inside my house, I would run away here. The scenery here remains unchanged, but that's what makes it so beautiful. I've spent my coldest nights here whenever Master would get angry at me, and I did not wish to return. I stayed here from dusk till dawn, but in the middle of the dark, he would always come to get me," he spoke, recalling his past. 

Luiza swore she saw his eyes twinkling, and the slight smile on his lips made him so much more beautiful. 

"Did you spend your childhood here?" She meekly asked, and his blue eyes suddenly changed into blue and black. Her eyes undoubtedly changed into green ones, but she did not mind. 

"I did not. But I was here for my academy before enrolling in the capital, just like you." The cool breeze passed by then, which fluttered her hair and took away her burdens. 

"Stand up against those who wrong you. Show them that they have wronged you." He gently whispered almost to her ears, but rather than revenge, it felt too sweet—a sweet retribution. She closed her eyes.

She did not wish ever in her life to break down in front of a stranger or let her guard down, but she did. And his words and actions were much more comforting than she had ever known.