Back To School

Eira ended up not going to the rooftop because as soon as she turned to Liam, he stalked towards her, collected the gun, and handed it to the old woman, who looked at him in surprise while he apologized to her.

The old woman had asked if he knew her, and Liam had told her that she was his patient. After one more apology, he grabbed her and led her out of there. Then, he interrogated her when they got to her room. In conclusion, he had asked her not to mess with just anyone and to exercise patience in such situations.

It was a surprise he didn't ask how she knew how to handle a gun.

"What a pity," Eira sighed as she styled her hair into a high ponytail, strands falling over her face.

She had really wanted to get some fresh air on the rooftop.

"Why are you sighing, dear?" Elma's voice snapped Eira out of her thoughts. "Is everything alright?"

Eira mimicked one of the sweet smiles Ephyra used to give her nanny. "It's nothing. I'm simply going to miss everyone here."

"And why are you saying that like we won't see each other again?" Eira heard Nurse Rain's teasing voice and turned to the door to see her following Liam in.

"Ephyra, here," he stretched out his hand and handed Eira a small bag. "I made sure to collect it from the police before you left."

Hurriedly, she collected the bag, opened it, and took out its contents. There was the school uniform Ephyra had worn on the day of the accident, and beside the uniform were two pieces of paper. One was the letter Ephyra had written to Alan, and the other was Alan's reply, which Eira knew was not written by him.

How did she know? Let's just say Ephyra had seen her stepsister's handwriting before, and the system immediately recognized it.

Myra had done a lot of things, but the first thing she would have to pay for was being one of the causes of Ephyra's death. Alan wasn't exempted either. He may not have participated in Ephyra's death, but he had caused her pain by not trusting her, ignoring her, and insulting her, despite how much she had loved him. So, he was also going to pay.

"Since the police couldn't find the culprit, nor could they find anything related to the accident in your belongings, and since you were adamantly requesting your things… they released them. Happy now?"

Eira glanced at him. "Mm."

"Hey… I'm going to miss you so much," Rain said as she pulled Ephyra into a tight hug.

"Oh!" Eira smiled before hugging her back. "I will miss you too."

"Okay, okay! You're going to be late for school." Eira watched as the nurse hurriedly pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"Doctor Liam, have you called the cab?"

"Yes, they're waiting outside."

"Then let's hurry!" Nurse Rain pulled Ephyra, who barely had time to grab the bag, before leading her outside.

…

They all stood beside the cab as Elma handed over two bags to Ephyra. "Here's your bag, and this is your lunchbox. I prepared it when I went to the mansion this morning. Make sure to eat everything, okay? And don't forget to wear your jacket when you're feeling cold. Also, be careful and—"

"Yes, Nanny, I will do everything you say and look after myself, so don't worry, okay?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you…"

"Nanny, what are you saying? Nothing is your fault."

"No, I should have protected you. I shouldn't have told you to be kind to the people who hurt you or to ignore their insults. You shouldn't have to." She tightened her hold on Ephyra and stared into her eyes. "Listen to me, don't ignore or let people insult you. Don't be kind to anyone who hurts you, especially Myra and her mother. Don't let them control you anymore! You have rights, and that's as the true daughter of the Allen family, not as a bastard. D-don't let them take what belongs to you—"

"Nanny Elma, ever since the day I died and came back, I'm no longer the person I used to be. I won't let them insult me, not to mention get away with it. And I won't give anyone what belongs to me. I promise you, so you don't have to worry." She grinned. "Mm?"

"Okay." Then they both turned to Liam, who had been silently watching them.

"Thank you for everything you've done, Sir Liam. I don't know how I could repay you, especially for the hospital bills," Elma continued, her voice filled with genuine gratitude as she looked at Liam.

Liam gave a small, dismissive wave. "It was nothing, Elma. I'm more than happy to have helped." His gaze flicked to Eira. "Take care, Ephyra."

Eira grinned as she opened the car door and waved. "See you later, doctor."

With that, she got in, and the car started, but before it could drive off, she heard Nurse Rain's voice.

"I will call you later! Make sure to pick up my call, okay?" she called out, her voice laced with both sadness and excitement.

Eira leaned out of the window, giving a final wave. "I will! Don't worry!" she promised, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

———

"Wow! I don't think there is any high school in the world as huge and grand as this one," Eira murmured as she looked out the window, her eyes trailing over the extensive building that looked like it had come out of a storybook. The intricate architecture, with towering spires and grand arches, gave the school an almost castle-like appearance. Beautifully manicured gardens surrounded the entrance, and the golden gates at the front gave an air of exclusivity and prestige.

[What did you say the name was again?]

[Master, it's on the gate in front of you, your shirt badge, and in your memory. You just have to—]

[Well, I don't fucking want to, so tell me the name.]

[Okay, Master. The name is St. Aldric's Academy for the Elite.]

Eira scoffed as the words settled in her mind. Elite.

The cab came to a halt at the gates, and she stepped out of the car, swinging the bag carelessly over her shoulder. She took in the grandeur before her. It was hard not to feel small in the face of such a massive, ornate structure. But small wasn't a feeling Eira entertained.

As the car pulled away, she made her way toward the entrance. Students in perfectly tailored uniforms, hair in different styles and shades of colors milled about, chatting and laughing as they began their day. The whispers started as soon as they noticed her, heads turning, eyes following her every move.

"Ephyra Allen's back?" she overheard someone whisper. "I thought she was…?"

"Yeah, me too."

"She looks different…"

"Yeah, she definitely didn't look like someone who almost died."

Was someone who almost died supposed to have a certain look? Fucking dead-brains.

[Master, perhaps they thought you'd return looking fragile or broken, like someone who narrowly escaped death.]

Eira chuckled darkly at the voice in her head, her steps steady as she made her way deeper into the school grounds.

"Is that Ephyra?"

"Huh? What—the dork's back?"

"Do you mean Myra's bastard stepsister?"

"Yeah…"

"She should have just died or not come back here. Seeing her face disgusts me."

"Hahaha, you're right. She looks so stupid sometimes!"

"Duh, you mean all the time?"

Eira's expression didn't change as she walked past the group, their mocking laughter trailing behind her. Before the accident, Ephyra had tolerated their insults, quietly suffering the constant barrage of taunts.

[Master, shall I make a note of their names? You can deal with them later.]

[No need] Eira replied, [They're too insignificant. Not worth my time… yet.]

As she reached the grand entrance of the school, a tall, lean figure appeared in her path. Alan. He stood there, his eyes widening slightly when they met hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke. There was a flicker of emotion in his gaze—perhaps surprise, or guilt—while Eira had to stop herself from rolling her eyes before she turned on her heel and walked away.

This not only surprised Alan but everyone else.

"How unlucky," Eira whispered under her breath as she walked through the hallways towards her class.

Reaching her class which was the Silver Senior class, which came after the Gold Senior class in terms of academics and grandeur, she saw that only quarter of the class had arrived. Her seat was in the last row, in the far back.

Perfect.

She moved to her seat, sat down, and pulled out her notebook, skimming through its pages.

Fuck! It was still boring as hell.

[Master, that's because you've been reading this book for a week now, and you understand everything in it. You should read some—]

[Shut up.]

Not sooner than a minute more, she was already asleep. But her nap didn't last even five minutes before a loud bang resounded through the room, followed by someone yelling her name.

"Hey! Ephyra! Wake the fuck up, you bitch!"