What’s Going On
🎶This chapter has a song.
“Hands on me” by Vanessa Carlton.
Play it now.
I picture Ria’s voice similar to this🎶
~Euphoria~
This feeling came whenever patients at the hospital needed support, when they were dying or grieving the loss of someone they loved.
People always said my singing made everything feel bearable, even if only for a little while.
Something inside me told me it would work here too.
I pushed myself off the ground.
Then I let my voice rise.
“I first saw you at the video exchange.
I know my heart and it will never change.
This tempo would be alright if you call me.
I lie awake at night for you.
And I pray…”
The cheering from the crowd gradually faded.
The thick, suffocating air hanging over the classroom began to thin, and my voice naturally grew stronger in response.
A strange lightness settled over me, followed by an overwhelming sense of freedom.
“We cross the deepest ocean,
Cargo across the sea.
And if you don’t believe me,
Just put your hands on me.”
I let everything pour out.
The grief I’d carried since losing my family.
The uncertainty of starting over at a new school…
in an entirely new world.
The anxiety.
The fear.
And something else building deep inside me.
Something I still couldn’t name.
At some point, the room had fallen completely silent.
Every pair of eyes was on me.
No shouting.
No arguing.
No murderous intent.
Only listening.
By the time the final note left my lips, a peaceful stillness had settled over the classroom.
Then applause erupted.
The Dragon Prince and the Fox Prince simply stared at me, their mouths slightly open in what looked like genuine disbelief.
For a long moment…
No one spoke.
I slowly lifted my head and spotted the black-haired man from yesterday.
The one who had taken me to the infirmary.
Oh goodness…
What was his name again?
“What the hell is going on in here?”
His deep voice shattered the silence.
His expression remained unreadable, yet somehow commanding.
“Amos, what are you even doing in here?” Prince Aries and Prince Artemis asked in perfect unison.
“I’m attending.”
For some reason, having him standing behind me gave me a sense of safety.
Which was ridiculous.
I’d only met him once.
Still…
The feeling remained.
“Oh…
um…
hello again,” I greeted quietly, my voice still shaky after singing in front of so many strangers.
Warmth rushed into my cheeks.
Did he hear all of that?
What if he thought I was a terrible singer?
What was I thinking?
Who just…
starts singing in the middle of a classroom?
I wanted to disappear.
Find a hole somewhere.
Hide there.
Possibly forever.
Unfortunately, my feet refused to cooperate.
“You know him?”
“He knows you?”
Again.
Perfectly synchronized.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“How?” they both asked together.
I couldn’t help it.
A laugh escaped me.
“You two behave like twins.
For just a second…
The classroom disappeared.
The crowd disappeared.
It felt like only the four of us remained.
Even then, I could feel something brewing between the three princes.
Some invisible war.
Part of me wanted to run as fast as my legs would carry me.
But another part…
Wanted to know just how dangerous this situation could become.
Absolutely not.
Get yourself together, Euphoria.
“Don’t compare me to him.”
They spoke together again.
Then immediately looked at one another.
“Stop saying the same thing as me.”
“No, you stop.”
Once again…
Exactly the same.
It was strangely adorable.
Prince Amos cleared his throat.
“Are the two of you finished?”
Before either prince could answer, the professor finally entered the classroom.
“What is the meaning of this?” His eyes swept over the overturned desks and scattered chairs.
“Are the three of you already fighting on the first day?”
Do they do this often?
That sounds exhausting.
“You know what?” He sighed.
“Don’t answer that.
Clean this room up and take your seats.”
Prince Artemis and Prince Aries restored the classroom almost instantly, moving with supernatural speed.
The rest of the students quickly returned to their desks.
Prince Amos led me toward a table near the back where two other students were already seated.
I carefully sat down.
Prince Amos took the seat beside me.
“Move.”
Prince Artemis stopped beside another student’s desk.
The young woman frowned, muttering something under her breath.
“Now.”
His voice carried unmistakable authority.
“Yes, Prince Artemis.”
She immediately stood, surrendering her chair without another word.
A loud screech echoed across the room as Prince Aries dragged another chair over and sat directly in front of me.
I looked around.
Prince Amos beside me.
Prince Artemis beside me.
Prince Aries directly across from me.
I was completely surrounded.
This was only going to become messier, wasn’t it?
I sighed inwardly.
“Today is the first day of the academic year,” the professor began.
“Many of you already know one another, while some of you are new.”
He looked around the room.
“I suppose introductions would be appropriate…”
He paused.
“…but frankly, I couldn’t care less.”
A few students laughed.
“Just complete the coursework and pass the class so I don’t have to look at your faces next semester.”
More laughter followed.
Prince Artemis leaned back comfortably, draping one arm across the back of my chair.
I glanced toward him before looking at Prince Aries.
Their eyes never left each other.
Neither one blinked.
It wasn’t simply a stare.
It was a challenge.
A silent dare.
Prince Amos ignored both of them entirely, his full attention fixed on the professor.
The lesson began with the history of the Veil and the Great War.
I truly wanted to pay attention.
I really did.
But the tension surrounding me was nearly impossible to ignore.
“Would the two of you stop your pissing match?”
Prince Amos finally spoke, his brows drawing together in irritation.
“Since when do you care?” Prince Artemis asked with a smug grin.
“Since you decided to sit at my table.”
His voice remained calm.
Cold.
Detached.
“You chose to sit beside my new pet.”
“Your pet?”
Prince Aries’ eyes narrowed.
“Yes.”
“My pet.”
Oh no…
Not this again.
We had just moved past this.
“Um…” I whispered as politely as I could, gathering every ounce of courage I possessed.
“Would you mind continuing this discussion after class?
I’m trying very hard to pay attention, but…
it’s becoming rather distracting.”
The murderous intent pressing against the air made it difficult enough to concentrate already.
“You heard her.”
Prince Amos’ voice dropped into a warning growl.
“Be quiet.”
Prince Artemis huffed.
Prince Aries clicked his tongue.
Neither argued further.
“Thank you…
my princes.” I bowed my head politely, just as I had seen the other beast students do.
“Call me Artemis.”
“Call me Aries.”
“And Amos is perfectly acceptable.”
Each of them said essentially the same thing.
Just in their own way.
“Very well.”
I smiled softly.
“I shall do my best.”
The remainder of class passed in relative silence.
Thankfully.
Because despite the lingering hostility surrounding us, I actually managed to focus on the lecture.
The moment class ended, I gathered my books, slipped them into my worn knapsack, and hurried toward the door.
I made it exactly two steps.
Then three overwhelmingly oppressive auras surrounded me once again.
“You truly don’t have to accompany me,” I said gently.
“I can find my next classroom on my own.”
I wanted to reassure them.
More than that…
I wanted to reassure myself.
I wasn’t helpless.
I could take care of myself…
Although…
The longer I stayed here…
The more I questioned whether that was actually true.
This academy was nothing like home.
Nothing like Alamosa River Village.
“As if I’d let either of these bastards take you anywhere without me,” Prince Artemis scoffed.
“Aries can’t keep his hands to himself, and Amos…” He glanced sideways.
“…he’s unpredictable.
Who knows what he’ll do?”
I didn’t entirely dislike the idea of having someone escort me.
But all three of them?
That felt excessive.
They were princes.
I was…
Just me.
“I resent that statement.”
Prince Aries folded his arms.
“I am perfectly capable of keeping my hands to myself.”
…
Somehow…
I doubted that.
My eyes widened.
Did I really just think that?
Prince Amos, as usual, said nothing.
He simply walked quietly beside me, completely unbothered by the other two continuing their argument.
As we walked through the halls, more and more students turned to stare.
At first, their expressions were merely curious.
Then…
Something darker.
Jealousy.
Suspicion.
Hostility.
It sent a shiver crawling down my spine.
Finally, we stopped outside another classroom.
Prince Amos glanced toward the plaque beside the door.
“Here’s our next class.”
Don’t forget to cast your vote.
Who do you want to win Euphoria’s hand and heart?