When I came to, the world was a blur of white light and pain. My body felt like it had been chewed up and spat out by a god with bad manners.

For a few seconds, I didn't move just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering if this was heaven, hell, or the nurse's office. Then the door creaked open, and a familiar voice dragged me back to the land of the living.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up."

Nora.

I turned my head and saw her leaning on a pair of crutches, snow-white hair spilling over her shoulder, her blue eyes glinting like she owned the world. She looked far too pleased for someone who was supposed to be injured.

Behind her came Annalise, Xavier, Kent, Lillith… and, of all people, Liam.

"Two weeks," Xavier said with a grin, hands behind his head. "You were out for two weeks, man. We were about ready to build a statue."

"Made of what? My ashes?" I rasped.

Kent snorted, giant dark circles under his eyes. "Would've been more of a smear than a statue."

Nora chuckled. "He's got a point. You should've seen yourself, collapsed on the ground, bleeding out like a melodramatic hero.

Your attack barely scratched me, but you…" She trailed off, smirking. "You looked like a squished tomato."

"Yeah?" I shot back. "Because that 'barely scratched' chest wound didn't look too pretty either."

She raised an eyebrow. "Still less dramatic than you exploding your own arm."

"That was strategy," I muttered.

"Strategy?" she teased. "Oh right, I forgot. The 'blow yourself up to impress your opponent' tactic. Very advanced."

Xavier whistled low. "Man, she's not letting that one go."

"Never will," Nora said sweetly. "After all, I won the duel."

I blinked. "You what now?"

"Technically," she said, grinning wide enough to make my teeth itch, "you passed out first. So… I win."

I stared at her. "You're limping."

"And you're missing half your blood. Still counts."

Before I could fire back, a seductive voice joined in.

"My, my," Lillith purred, violet hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned against the bedframe. "I didn't know I'd walk in on a lover's quarrel. Maybe I should've brought wine."

"Lillith," I sighed, "don't you have someone else to flirt with?"

She smiled like a cat with cream. "I in fact don't."

I groaned and rubbed my temples. "Wonderful. I'm surrounded by idiots and bastards."

Then my eyes landed on Liam.

He stood near the back, silver hair catching the light, purple eyes calm. My chest tightened, an instinctive, ugly heat rising before I even knew what to call it. I didn't hate many people. But I hated him.

I kept my voice even. "What's he doing here?"

Liam blinked, looking faintly taken aback. "I just came to see if you were alright," he said quietly. "We were… worried."

"'We,' huh?" I said. "Since when were you part of 'we'?"

A beat of silence passed, the air taut.

Then Xavier clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "Alright, alright, let's keep the post-near-death drama light, people. Sebastian's alive, Nora's walking, and Lillith hasn't propositioned anyone yet oh wait, never mind."

Lillith winked. "You're next on the list, Xavier."

He paled. "I'm good."

Nora laughed, the sound soft but genuine. For a brief moment, the room felt… normal. Like my body didn't enjoy a trip to hell two weeks ago.

But as I looked at Liam again, that flicker of rage still whispered beneath my ribs.

I forced a smile anyway. "Thanks for checking on me," I said. "Really."

He nodded. "Of course."

And as he turned away, my fingers twitched against the sheets, just a little.

The thought came unbidden, dark and quiet:

If only you knew what you did.

---

I leaned back against the pillows, the sheets cool against my skin. "How long've you been awake?" I asked, glancing toward Nora.

She tilted her head, a smug little smirk plastered on her face. "Just a day."

"Of course you have," I muttered. "You always have to make everything look easy."

She grinned. "Maybe if you stopped blowing yourself up, you'd wake up faster."

I rolled my eyes and looked up at the white ceiling of the infirmary. It was spotless. The kind of sterile perfection that almost mocked you for being alive.

"Two weeks…" I murmured. "That's two weeks of lectures, drills, and combat evaluations I need to catch up on."

Nora blinked, amused. "That's what you're worried about?"

"Yes," I said flatly. "Because unlike some people, I actually plan on being the best in this academy."

That earned me a few chuckles. Lillith giggled behind her hand, Xavier smirked, and even Kent cracked a tired grin. I didn't bother to return it.

I let out a long sigh and gestured lazily toward the door. "Alright, party's over. You can all get lost now, I need rest."

They didn't even argue. They'd already learned that I wasn't exactly the warm and fuzzy type.

Lillith pouted as she stood. "Such a shame. I was hoping to nurse you back to health."

"I'd rather die again," I said without missing a beat.

Her laugh trailed off as she sauntered out, hips swaying like she owned the place. Kent followed, muttering something about needing coffee. Xavier threw me a salute, Nora flashed a peace sign, and soon enough the room was quiet again, except for one lingering presence.

"Annalise," I called.

She paused at the door, turning back with a faint frown. "Yeah?"

"Stay," I said simply. "If you can."

Her eyes softened, and she nodded before walking back to the chair beside my bed. She sat gracefully, folding her hands in her lap, quiet as moonlight.

I caught a movement in the corner of my vision, silver hair and a pair of violet eyes peering from behind the doorframe. Liam.

He was still there. Watching.

Our eyes met for half a heartbeat.

I didn't say a word. Didn't need to.

He looked away first, disappearing down the hall.

I exhaled through my nose, a faint, humorless smile tugging at my lips. "Unbelievable. Even when I'm half-dead, I still draw a crowd."

Annalise gave me a look halfway between exasperation and fondness. "You're impossible."

"I prefer the term irreplaceable," I said.

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Smart girl.

I closed my eyes, sinking into the quiet hum of mana crystals lining the walls. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and faint lavender, probably the nurses' attempt to make this place less miserable.

I turned my head slightly toward Annalise, breaking the comfortable silence. "How's Belle doing?"

She blinked, a bit surprised by the question, then nodded knowingly. "She's… been off," she admitted. "Spacing out during class, barely glancing at anyone. And as soon as the bell rings, she just vanishes. Didn't even show up for a few days after the duel."

I let out a quiet breath and leaned back against the pillow. For a moment, something warm stirred in my chest, not amusement, not pride. Just… relief.

A small, genuine smile tugged at my lips. "I see," I murmured, voice softer than I meant it to be. "So she really was worried."

Annalise smiled faintly, but before she could say anything, I turned to face her fully.

My expression hardened. The warmth vanished, replaced by that cold edge that someone wore when they meant business.

"Annalise," I said quietly, eyes locking onto hers.

She straightened instinctively under my gaze.

"I need you to do something for me…"

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