As the weeks passed, our post-class training at the facility became harsher, more demanding, pushing us further than before. The instructors weren't holding back anymore, and neither were we.
At first, the exhaustion had been overwhelming—the relentless combat drills, magical endurance exercises, and strategic planning sessions—but over time, we adapted.
We had no choice but to.
And I could feel it.
We were getting stronger.
Claire had become faster, her wind magic sharper and more instinctive.Tessa had improved her fire magic control, using it more efficiently rather than purely for destruction.Diana's healing magic was becoming second nature, her stamina holding up longer in battles.Lillian's light magic was becoming more refined, her battlefield awareness unmatched.Camille's ice magic had become terrifyingly fluid, her attacks seamless and nearly impossible to predict.
It should have been comforting to know we were improving.
But something felt off.
And I couldn't explain why.
Maybe it was the silence.
There had been no new reports from my parents about the North Gate.
No urgent letters. No warnings.
Nothing.
That was strange.
Even the original Sera Vandren hadn't appeared in my dreams recently.
For weeks, she had been a constant, her presence lurking at the edges of my thoughts, whispering fragments of memory, of power.
But now?
Nothing.
Like she had simply vanished.
And I didn't know if that was a good thing.
The only thing that remained the same was the people around me.
Claire, Camille, Lillian, Tessa, and Diana.
They were acting normal.
If—of course—you could call them normal.
Because, in reality?
They were far from it.
"I have an idea!"
I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Claire's voice, turning to look at her.
She was grinning wildly, her violet eyes practically glowing with excitement.
That was never a good sign.
I narrowed my eyes, still carefully watering the garden. "Shouldn't you be managing Student Council work, President?"
Claire pouted dramatically, placing a hand on her hip. "Excuse me? I worked very hard this past week! I deserve a little break."
Tessa—who had been quietly tending to a row of herbs—snorted. "More like slacking off."
Claire gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "How dare you accuse me of such things?"
Camille, not even looking up from the flower bed she was tending to, calmly added, "Because it's true."
"BETRAYAL."
Lillian, who had been watching this entire interaction with the faintest trace of amusement, let out a soft hum, brushing a strand of pastel pink hair behind her ear. "Oh, Claire. You have such a creative way of describing your procrastination."
Claire huffed, crossing her arms. "You're all so mean to me."
Diana, sipping elegantly from the cup of tea she had somehow brought to the garden, gave her a sly smile. "I would say it builds character."
I sighed, setting the watering can aside and rubbing my temple. "Claire, what exactly is this 'idea' of yours?"
Claire perked up immediately, her previous dramatics completely forgotten.
"Oh! Right! So, I was thinking—"
Tessa groaned, already regretting hearing her out. "I hate that sentence."
Claire ignored her. "We should go out this weekend!"
I blinked. "Go out?"
Claire nodded eagerly. "Yeah! A break! Some fresh air! We've been stuck in the academy and the facility for weeks. I say we go somewhere fun before we all lose our minds."
Diana tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "I must admit, that does sound enjoyable."
Tessa, however, was less convinced. "We get two days off, and you want to waste it on a trip?"
"Not waste! Experience!" Claire corrected, pointing at her dramatically. "You, my dear Tessa, need to learn how to have fun."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "I know how to have fun. I just don't think I'd survive a full day of whatever your idea of 'fun' is."
Claire placed her hands on her hips. "Tessa, please. We all need this. Sera, back me up here!"
I hesitated.
A break…
It did sound nice.
But something about it felt… strange.
Like we were too relaxed.
Like something was lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for us to let our guard down.
I glanced at Lillian, Camille, and Diana.
Lillian was watching me carefully, like she already knew I was overthinking.Camille was calm as ever, her expression unreadable.Diana was waiting, clearly entertained.
I let out a slow breath.
Maybe I was overthinking.
Maybe…
Maybe it really was just a chance to breathe before everything spiraled again.
"Fine," I said. "We'll go."
Claire cheered.
Tessa groaned. "I regret this already."
Diana smirked. "I'm sure it'll be entertaining."
Lillian, watching me with soft amusement, simply murmured, "It'll be nice to see you relax, Sera."
Relax?
I wasn't sure I knew how.
Not when there was still so much unanswered.
Not when I still felt like something was about to change.
But for now…
For now, I would try.
The weekend arrived faster than expected, and before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of the academy gates, utterly regretting my life choices.
"Why do I feel like this was a mistake?" I muttered, adjusting my coat.
Claire, practically vibrating with excitement, threw an arm around my shoulder. "Because you overthink everything, Sera! Just let loose and have fun!"
Let loose. Have fun.
Right.
Because that was so easy when five incredibly persistent women were constantly making my life impossible.
Tessa sighed, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "I still don't know how I got roped into this."
Diana smirked. "Oh, don't be like that, Tessa. I'm sure you'll find our little adventure… stimulating."
Tessa shot her a flat look. "That doesn't sound reassuring coming from you."
Camille, as usual, was quiet but present, adjusting the cuffs of her coat as if this was just another day for her.
Lillian was her usual composed self, offering me a faint smile. "It's good for all of us to step outside the academy for a bit. A change of scenery can do wonders."
I wasn't sure if she meant that literally or metaphorically.
Still, as we stepped through the academy gates and into the bustling streets beyond, I had to admit—the fresh air was nice.
The city was alive with movement, students mingling with nobles and merchants, carriages rolling smoothly down the stone-paved roads. The scent of freshly baked bread and spices drifted from nearby stalls, mixing with the laughter and chatter of passing crowds.
For a brief moment, I let myself relax.
Maybe Claire had a point.
Maybe I did need this.
"Alright!" Claire clapped her hands together. "First stop—food! We need energy before we do anything else."
Tessa raised an eyebrow. "You just want an excuse to eat, don't you?"
Claire gasped. "Tessa. How could you? Food is a sacred experience. This is about survival."
Camille, not missing a beat, said, "You just want sweets."
Claire pointed at her. "You understand me perfectly."
Diana chuckled. "I wouldn't mind indulging in something sweet before the day begins properly."
Lillian nodded. "It would be a good way to start."
I sighed, giving in. "Fine. But let's not spend the entire day at one café."
Claire beamed. "Sera, you say that like I don't have an entire itinerary planned."
I stopped walking.
"…You what?"
Tessa groaned. "Oh no."
Diana lit up. "Oh, how delightful. Do tell, Claire."
Claire pulled an actual list from her coat pocket and waved it proudly. "I made sure we hit all the best spots in the city! Cafés, shops, sightseeing points—"
"You planned a full-day date for us." Camille said, deadpan.
Claire winked at me. "A group bonding experience, my dear Sera."
I stared at her. "…This is a trap."
Claire grinned. "And you fell for it. Now, let's go!"
She grabbed my hand and dragged me forward, leading the group toward the nearest café.
The café was warm, the soft chatter of customers blending with the gentle clinking of porcelain cups and silverware. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sugar-dusted pastries lingered in the air, and for a moment, I allowed myself to think—just for a moment—that this was normal. That we were just a group of students on a simple outing, not entangled in a growing mess of secrets, rivalries, and an ever-looming conflict beyond the North Gate.
That thought lasted about five seconds.
Camille, who had been silent up until now, stepped ahead of me and pulled out my chair before I could do it myself.
I blinked at her. "…Thanks?"
She gave a small nod, waiting until I sat down before taking the seat next to me.
Across the table, Claire—who had been in the middle of scanning the dessert menu—slowly lowered it, staring directly at me.
I knew that look. It was the look of someone about to start trouble.
Before I could stop her, she gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if she had just witnessed the most romantic thing in existence. "Oh my gods, Camille, was that—was that an act of pure chivalry?!"
Camille took her tea and sipped it calmly. "I don't see the issue."
Diana, who had been watching with great amusement, leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "My, my. How charming. I didn't realize you were such a gentleman, Camille."
Camille set her cup down, not even sparing her a glance. "I'm not."
Then, in a completely unbothered, matter-of-fact tone, she added, "It's just for Sera."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Claire's eyes went comically wide, her hand slamming against the table.
Diana's lips curved into the sharpest smirk I had ever seen.
Tessa, who had been in the middle of reaching for a sugar cube, froze mid-motion.
And Lillian—Lillian's fingers barely twitched against the handle of her teacup.
I wanted to die.
"Camille!" Claire wailed, nearly shaking the table. "You can't just say things like that with a straight face!"
Camille took another sip of her tea, completely unaffected. "I don't say unnecessary things."
"That makes it worse!"
I sank further into my seat, willing myself to vanish. Camille's words had been so simple, so casual, but the implications were enough to make my head spin.
Diana, clearly enjoying this way too much, chuckled softly. "Well, well. I do believe that means the rest of us need to step up our game, doesn't it?"
Tessa groaned. "Oh gods, not this again."
I immediately shot Diana a glare. "No. Absolutely not. No one is 'stepping up' anything."
Diana merely smirked, her emerald eyes glinting with mischief.
I had no time to argue because, before I could react, she suddenly reached out—her fingers brushing lightly against my temple as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
My breath caught in my throat.
"There," she murmured, tilting her head as if to admire her own handiwork. "Much better."
The table fell into another silence.
Claire gasped. Again.
Lillian's grip on her cup tightened.
Camille, still outwardly composed, set her teacup down with just a little too much control.
Tessa just sighed and muttered, "Here we go."
I jerked back so fast I nearly knocked over my drink. "Okay! Okay, no. We are not turning this into a contest!"
Diana's smirk widened. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't believe you have a say in the matter anymore."
"I—What?! Yes, I do! It's my lap we were fighting over this morning, wasn't that enough?!"
Claire practically vibrated with excitement. "Oh my gods, no. This is getting even better! Sera, they're actually competing for your affection now!"
"NO, THEY'RE NOT!"
Lillian, who had been completely silent through the entire ordeal, finally spoke. "If anything, Diana's actions were quite bold."
Diana turned to her, still smiling. "Oh? Do you disapprove, dear Lillian?"
Lillian took a slow sip of her tea, setting the cup down before responding. "Not at all." She tilted her head ever so slightly. "But if we are stepping up our game, I suppose I should claim my turn."
I stopped breathing.
Claire squealed so loudly that nearby customers turned to look at us.
Tessa groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I want to go home."
Diana laughed, eyes filled with amused intrigue. "Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do, Lillian?"
Lillian met her gaze calmly. "That's for me to decide."
I stood up immediately. "Nope. We're leaving."
"Sit down, Sera," Camille said, effortlessly gripping my wrist and pulling me back into my seat.
"Let me go," I hissed.
"No," she said simply.
"Traitor!"
"You brought this upon yourself."
Diana looked far too entertained. "Come now, darling. Don't run away. This is just harmless fun."
"It is NOT fun."
Lillian simply smiled. "You seem flustered, Sera. Perhaps you need to relax."
"You are all evil."
Camille, taking another bite of her pastry, finally looked at me and said, "Finish your drink before it gets cold."
"How am I supposed to drink anything when you're all—like this?!"
Diana laughed, Claire was practically rolling in her chair, and Lillian just looked satisfied.
I sank into my seat, utterly defeated.
The worst part?
The day wasn't even half over yet.