Another week had passed, the Alignment a mere seven days away.
The blank photo from Morgan's note, dipped in chronothite, now showed a quarter of an image—blurry shapes hinting at a figure or place, teasing secrets tied to the clocktower rift.
Asher, Rowan, Theo, and Nico balanced classes and training, their powers exacting a toll: Asher's scars burned faintly, Rowan's nose bled from freezes, Theo's head spun with dizziness, Nico's hair grayed from fast-forwarding time.
The academy thrummed with anticipation, lanterns strung across courtyards, whispers of legendary alumni attending the Alignment spreading like wildfire.
Lira stood in the greenhouse, watering plants under the soft glow of hanging lanterns, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers.
Darel walked in, his steps quiet, his prefect badge glinting as he scanned the thriving plants.
"These have grown well," Darel said, pausing by a cluster of moonflowers, their pale petals catching the light
"They only bloom at night, yeah? Acidic soil, low water. Tricky to keep alive."
Lira looked up, surprised. "You know your flowers. I thought they needed more water to thrive."
"Nah," Darel said, touching a petal gently.
"Overwater them, and they rot. I used to help in the gardens back home. Starlilies, though," he nodded to a vibrant patch glowing faintly, "they're tougher. Alkaline soil, full sun. My ma swore they kept bad spirits away."
Lira set down her watering can, a smile breaking through. "Starlilies for spirits? That's new. I always liked them for their glow.
You know more than me, Darel. I'm impressed."
Darel shrugged, a faint grin softening his usual edge. "Just picked it up over time. You're not bad yourself—these plants look healthy."
"Thanks," Lira said, her voice warming. "The quiet here helps. Makes the visions feel… farther away, you know?"
"Yeah," Darel said, his tone softer. "My ma said gardening grounds you. Keeps the chaos out."
Lira nodded, brushing a leaf. "She sounds wise. I could use some of that grounding."
Victor stepped into the greenhouse, sketchbook tucked under his arm, but froze when he saw Darel.
He turned to leave, his shoulders tense, but Lira called out, "Victor, wait! Come join us."
"I don't want to interrupt," Victor said, his voice tight. "I'm going. Bye."
"Stay," Lira insisted, stepping toward him, her eyes pleading.
"Bye," Victor repeated, turning away.
Darel stepped forward, his voice low. "Victor, hold up. I know you're leaving because of me.
I think I should've done a long time ago, I want to apologize. I'm sorry victor."
Victor spun around, fury blazing in his eyes. "So what am I supposed to do, hug you and become friends?"
Darel froze, words failing him.
"I know it's hard, but maybe we could forgive him," Lira said softly, her voice steady.
"No—no, never," Victor said, pointing at Darel. "You made my life hell, I was already dealing with a lot, trying to heal from some things. I seriously don't know what I did to you,"
"That's why I'm apologizing," Darel said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Can't you just move on?"
Victor turned, lifting his shirt to reveal a jagged burn scar, shaped like a pressing iron. Lira gasped, and Darel's face paled.
"Do you remember this?" Victor asked, his voice breaking, tears welling.
"I begged you and your friends to stop. I looked you in the eyes, Darel, and begged.
But you had no pity, just rage in your eyes. It reminded me I had nobody. If one of your friends did this, maybe I could've understood you better, but you did this."
Darel's hands clenched, his throat tight.
"So what if you're a better person now?" Victor continued, wiping his face to hide tears.
"I should just forget and move on? I'm glad no one else has to go through that, but not everything broken can be fixed."
"Victor," Lira said, reaching out to console him, her voice trembling with empathy.
Victor walked out, his shoulders rigid, leaving silence in his wake.
Darel stood frozen, his voice barely audible. "I—that was my past."
"I'll do my best to talk to him," Lira said, her tone firm but gentle. She hurried after Victor, her steps quick in the dim light.
The cafeteria buzzed with the clatter of trays and chatter, the air thick with the scent of baked bread and stew.
Asher walked in, his tray loaded, scars tingling faintly under his sleeve as he sat with Nico and Theo, who were digging into lunch.
Theo eyed Asher's tray, grinning. "Yo, swap me that bread for my apple. You never like it anyway."
Asher rolled his eyes, sliding the bread over. "Fine, take it. I hate that stuff."
Nico bit into his avocado and gagged, spitting it out. "This is rotten!"
Asher moved to toss his, but Theo grabbed it and Nico's.
"No wasting of food." He took a bite, chewed, then spat it out.
"Nope, that's bad. Gross."
Nico laughed. "You're nasty, Theo."
Asher grimaced, his face sour, when Rowan walked in with his tray.
"Why do you look like a mashed potato?" Rowan asked, eyeing Asher.
Rowan sat, about to bite his avocado. Theo opened his mouth to warn him, but Asher shot him a look.
"What happened?" Rowan asked Theo.
"Erm..I just wanted to say, uh…" Theo stalled, glancing at Rowan's hair. "I love your hair, yeah, your hair."
"Thanks?" Rowan said, confused. He bit into the avocado, the others watching for his reaction.
"This is actually good," he said, chewing happily, nose still faintly red from a freeze.
"How?" Asher yelled, incredulous.
"Ours tasted rotten," Theo said, shaking his head.
"New batch," Rowan explained, grinning.
"Wait, you weren't going to tell me, were you?" He laughed, mocking their failed prank.
The laughter faded, and Theo leaned in, his voice low.
"I was thinking since we've got nothing going, I thought we could visit the clocktower."
"No," Rowan countered, his tone sharp. "I thought we were waiting for the photo to reveal."
"We could use the time to find the rift," Theo said. "The book said two to seven weeks for the image. We're not just going to sit and wait, right?"
"I agree with Theo," Nico said, his graying hair catching the light. "But we can't go now or at night—prefects are everywhere."
"Yeah, that's right," Asher said, his scars itching.
"Plan's canceled," Rowan added, frowning.
"But the Alignment," Theo said, eyes lighting up. "Everyone will be focused on the event. We could sneak in then—perfect chance."
"That's right," Nico agreed, nodding.
"There's a problem," Asher said. "I can't go. I'm spying on Blake."
"Then we'll go without you," Rowan said.
"Theo's stuck inside too, so it'll just be me and Nico."
"Damn, I really wanted to come," Theo cursed, his head spinning faintly.
"I know you did," Rowan teased, laughing.
"Now we just wait," Asher said, his voice heavy. "Let's live a bit. Who knows what could happen?"
Lira caught up to Victor in a secluded courtyard, the dusk air cool, the sky bruising purple. "Victor, stop," she called, her voice urgent.
"Leave me alone, Lira," Victor said, not turning, his sketchbook clutched tightly.
"You've got other things to do. Stay with Darel. I can't help you."
"Wait," Lira said, grabbing his arm gently. "I like being around you more, Victo . I feel comfortable around you, Victor. Being around you gives me confidence to face this.
You're a good person, and you deserve to be loved. I want to give you that."
Victor turned, his eyes wide, voice trembling. "Is that really how you feel about me?"
"You're one of the best people I've met here," Lira said, her voice steady. "Truly."
"You don't love me out of pity?" Victor asked, his tone fragile.
"Is that what you think I think of you?" Lira asked, hurt flickering in her eyes.
"That's what I've always thought," Victor said. "Pity love."
"I love your art," Lira said, her voice warm. "I love listening to you. You accept things as they are and grow from them. That's what I like most about you."
"No one's ever said that," Victor said, his voice breaking.
He dropped to his knees, tears spilling down his cheeks.
Lira knelt, embracing him tightly, his head resting on her shoulder.
"You don't deserve to die," she said, holding his hands firmly, her own eyes stinging.
Victor sobbed, his pain raw, his body shaking against her.
The prefect room was a stark chamber, its stone walls lined with lanterns casting sharp shadows over eleven ranked seats.
Gaius (0) sat at the head, his sharp eyes and broad shoulders carrying the weight of leadership.
Alice (1) perched beside him, her quick wit and organized notes betraying her nervous energy.
Vey (2) lounged, his quiet demeanor and sharp gaze hiding a calculating mind.
Mira (3), small but fierce, fidgeted with her badge, her ambition outpacing her rank.
Kael (4), lean and aloof, leaned back with a bored smirk, his disinterest a facade for keen observation.
Seline (6) sat primly, her sharp tongue ready, her elegant posture belying her love for gossip.
Lila (8), bubbly and erratic, doodled on a scrap, her energy grating to some.
Toren (9), broad and hesitant, shifted uncomfortably, his loyalty strong but his words few.
Gavyn (10), silent and wiry, watched the room like a hawk, his thoughts unreadable.
Elara (11), the newest, sat stiffly, her red boots gleaming, her secretive air unsettling.
Yul's seat (5) remained empty, his absence a lingering question.
Alice stood, clearing her throat. "This is it, one week until the Alignment. Legends are attending this year—the biggest event yet."
"Where's Darel?" Kael asked, his smirk fading.
"Probably chasing ghosts," Seline mocked, her voice dripping with disdain.
"He asked me, not you," Alice snapped.
"Darel took an excuse. The real question here is, where's Yul? He's risking his badge."
"He said he'd come," Toren said, his voice low.
"And I came," a voice called from behind.
Yul strode in, his dull eyes sharp, his presence heavy with defiance. "I wouldn't miss the Alignment for anything." He took his seat, slouching.
"Three meetings missed, Yul," Alice said, her voice sharp with annoyance.
"Give me a punishment and stop whining," Yul shot back, unfazed.
"Gaius, say something," Alice said, insulted, her face flushing.
"Do you have any reason for your absence, Yul?" Gaius asked, his tone calm but firm.
Yul said, leaning forward. "Alice talks too much, Seline drags things out, Gavyn and Vey are too quiet, Toren never knows what to say, Lila's annoying, Kael doesn't care, Darel's arrogant, Mira doesn't fit her rank, I know nothing about Elara, and you—you're a scared leader. Isn't that enough to skip a semester of meetings?The only interesting factor in this group is no more"
The room bristled, Seline's eyes narrowing, Lila's doodling stopping, Gavyn's gaze sharpening. Yul didn't flinch, his dull eyes scanning them defiantly.
Gaius leaned back, unfazed. "I'll take it as an observation and let it slide this time. Our real focus is the Alignment.
We've got legends watching, and the academy's reputation is on the line. Alice, run through the duties again."
Alice blinked, stunned. "What? You're letting him off?"
"Focus," Gaius said, his voice cutting through. "Duties, now."
Alice exhaled, flipping her notes. "Security's on Gaius and Kael—patrol the grounds.
Vey and Gavyn, crowd control.
Seline and Lila, manage the singing team.
Toren and Mira, settings. Elara and I handle guest coordination. Yul, you're on standby—prove you deserve that badge."
Yul smirked, saying nothing.
The others nodded, some reluctantly, as tension simmered.
"Meeting dismissed," Gaius said, standing.
The prefects filed out, Yul's words lingering like a storm cloud.