The first thing I registered was the smell. It wasn't the familiar scent of my dorm room, faint traces of old parchment, the sterile, sharp scent of antiseptic and dried herbs.
I opened my eyes to a white ceiling, the stone blocks cool and impersonal. I was lying in a narrow bed with crisp, white sheets. A soft blanket was draped over me, embroidered with the crest of the Luminara Magic Tower.
The infirmary, I realized, blinking away the grogginess.
"Finally. You're awake."
I turned my head to the side. Elara sat in a chair next to my bed, her grey eyes filled with relief. She was leaning forward, her hands clasped in her lap.
"Elara?" I croaked, my throat dry.
She immediately reached for a glass of water on the bedside table and handed it to me. I sat up slowly, my muscles still protesting from yesterday's training, and took a sip.
"Here," she said softly. "Drink."
I swallowed the cool water, feeling it soothe my throat. As the fog in my mind cleared, the memories slammed into me with the force of a physical blow.
The upperclassmen. The pressure. The blood.
The disintegration.
I gasped, nearly dropping the glass. "Valerius... the blood..."
Elara's hand shot out, resting gently on my shoulder. "Calm down, Bell. You're safe."
I looked at her, my heart hammering against my ribs. "What happened? Is Kaelen okay?"
"Kaelen is fine," Elara assured me, her voice steady. "He's been pacing outside the infirmary for hours. I told him to go rest, but he refused."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, slumping back against the pillows. "Good. That's good."
Elara sat back, her expression turning serious. "The nurse checked you over. It was just extreme shock to your system. Your mana channels were strained from the pressure, but with a day of rest, you'll be back to full health."
I nodded, pulling the blanket tighter around me. "And... Valerius? What happens to him?"
Elara's face darkened, a shadow passing over her features. She let out a soft, frustrated grumble. "That's the problem. Because of Valerius Thorne's actions, there's a massive political mess brewing."
I tilted my head. "He killed them. In front of everyone. Surely he'll be charged with murder?"
Elara looked at me directly, her grey eyes locking onto mine. "Bell, do you remember when I told you that the King gives him full authority and exceptions to nearly all rules?"
I nodded.
"I meant that literally," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Valerius operates under the King's direct jurisdiction. If Valerius wanted to commit mass murder in broad daylight, he might get a slap on the wrist, but nothing else. The law doesn't apply to him the way it applies to us."
I gulped, the memory of the red mist flashing before my eyes. "That's... terrifying."
"It is," Elara agreed. "However, this incident won't just disappear. The people he killed were part of important noble houses and subordinates of Prince Arcturus. This is a direct challenge to the Prince's authority."
I leaned forward, curiosity overriding my fear. "Why does Prince Arcturus hate his own younger brother so much?"
Elara sighed, crossing her arms. "Even I don't know everything. My father, the Tower Head, keeps me informed, but royal secrets are tightly guarded. The most basic consensus is that Arcturus is mad at Valerius for 'stealing' the title of sole heir.""
I nodded slowly, processing this. "So, this incident will just make things worse."
"Much worse," Elara confirmed. "But for now, you need to focus on resting."
We sat in silence for a moment before I swung my legs over the side of the bed.
"I feel fine now," I said, standing up. "I want to go back to my room."
Elara looked skeptical, but she didn't stop me. "Alright. But take it easy. No training today."
I promised I would, and with Elara's help, I made my way out of the infirmary. The hallway was quiet, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the floor.
As I approached the junction near the dormitory wing, I spotted a familiar figure leaning against the wall. Kaelen stood with his arms crossed, his silver hair catching the light. His emerald eyes shadowed with worry.
When he saw me, he straightened up immediately.
"Bell," he said, his voice rough.
"Kaelen," I replied, smiling. "Elara told me you've been waiting."
He nodded, stepping closer. "Are you okay? You looked... pale earlier."
"I'm fine," I assured him. "Just a bit shaken. But I wanted to thank you. You helped me when the pressure hit. I don't think I could have stood without you."
Kaelen shifted his weight, looking almost embarrassed. "It was nothing."
"It was something to me," I said firmly. "And... I know we didn't get to train today, but I'm still willing to tutor you. I promised, didn't I?"
Kaelen shook his head. "No. You need to rest."
"I'm fine, really—"
"Bell," he interrupted, his voice taking on a stern edge. "You fainted. You were bleeding. You need to rest."
I opened my mouth to argue, but I stopped. The look in his eyes and it was filled with genuine concern.
"Okay," I said softly. "I'll rest."
Kaelen seemed to relax, a tension leaving his shoulders. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be forceful. I was just—"
"It's fine," I cut in, smiling. "I understand."
I turned to my door and reached for the handle, and said "Come in," opening the door. "I'll cook us something to eat. You look like you haven't eaten either."
Kaelen hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
I led him into my room and immediately headed for the small kitchenette. I pulled out ingredients, eggs, vegetables, rice, and began to chop with practiced efficiency.
As I cooked, I felt Kaelen's eyes on me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him sitting at the table, his posture stiff. He was staring at me, but his gaze was fixed lower, on my hips.
I looked down at myself. I was wearing a loose skirt and a fitted top, and as I moved around the kitchen, the fabric shifted with my movements.
Is he looking at my butt? I thought, a strange heat rising in my cheeks.
I turned back to the stove, focusing on the sizzling pan.
Behind me, I heard a sharp intake of breath.
I glanced back again. Kaelen was sitting in a weird angle, his legs crossed tightly. His face was slightly flushed, and he was looking anywhere but at me.
"Kaelen?" I asked, tilting my head. "Are you uncomfortable?"
He stiffened. "No. It's nothing."
"You're sitting strangely," I pressed, narrowing my eyes.
"It's just... the chair," he stammered. "It's hard."
I looked at the wooden chair he was sitting on. It looked perfectly normal.
"Alright," I said slowly, though I was suspicious.
I finished cooking and plated the food. We sat at the table and ate, the silence comfortable but charged. As we talked, I noticed Kaelen seemed distant, his eyes unfocused as he stared at his plate.
KAELEN'S POV
I watched Bell's cute face as she ate, her movements delicate but my mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the day.
Can I ever beat him?
The thought circled in my head like a vulture. I had always prided myself on my physical strength. I was the top in the physical assessment.
But Valerius Thorne...
I thought about what I saw in the classroom. Valerius hadn't even tried. He hadn't thrown a punch. He hadn't cast a spell. He had simply walked past those upperclassmen, and they had exploded into red mist.
I thought I would be able to beat him physically, I thought, my grip tightening on my fork. But what I saw today... I don't know if I can.
I felt a loss of confidence, a rare and uncomfortable sensation. I was strong, but was I strong enough to stand against a monster like Valerius?
Suddenly, I felt a soft hand on my face.
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. Bell was leaning across the table, her face inches from mine. Her pink eyes were filled with concern.
"What are you worried about?" she asked, her voice gentle.
I looked at her, seeing the genuine care in her expression. I decided to be honest.
"I'm at a loss," I admitted, my voice low. "I saw Valerius today. I thought I was strong, but... I don't know if I can reach that level."
Bell's expression shifted. The concern vanished, replaced by a fierce determination. She pulled back, her eyes narrowing.
She stood up, walked to a nearby chair, and climbed onto it. Now, she was looking down at me, her small frame silhouetted against the light.
"Kaelen," she said, her voice commanding. "What did I say yesterday?"
I was confused. "What?"
She didn't let me answer. "I said, 'I will surpass everybody! No matter who!'"
She leaned down, her face close to mine again. "But I need one thing to succeed."
She grabbed my large hands, her small fingers wrapping around my wrists. "I need you."
I blinked, stunned. "Me?"
She nodded, her grip tightening. "You have the strength, and I have the smarts! If we are together, we are unstoppable!"
Her tone was cheerful, bright, and infectious. She smiled, a radiant expression that lit up her entire face.
"So," she said, her eyes shining with excitement. "Are you willing to help me achieve that dream? To rise together?"
I stared at her, my heart skipping a beat. She was looking at me with such hope, such belief, that the doubts in my mind melted away.
"Yes," I said, the word leaving my lips before I could think.
Bell's face lit up even brighter. "Really?"
"Really," I confirmed.
She let out a happy sound, bouncing on her toes. "Yes! We're going to be unstoppable!"
Seeing her excited face, her cheeks flushed with joy, I couldn't help the words that slipped out.
"You look cute."
The words hung in the air between us.
I froze.
Bell's eyes widened, her face turning a deep shade of red and her ears flushed a vibrant pink.
"T-thanks," she stammered, looking down.
I felt my own face heat up, and I quickly looked away, clearing my throat.
"Anyway," I said, trying to regain my composure. "We should finish eating."
Bell nodded, sitting back down, though she kept stealing glances at me.