As I stepped into my room, my gaze immediately landed on my bag, resting neatly on my bed.
A slow breath escaped me as I approached, my fingers grazing over the familiar worn fabric.
Unzipping it, I found my journal, my iPod, my comm crystal, all neatly tucked inside.
I grabbed my comm crystal first, pressing the power button.
The screen lit up instantly, and my stomach sank at the sight.
Missed Calls (12)
Messages (17)
Lara.
Myrren.
Ezzy.
Jade.
They were all worried.
I sighed, rubbing my temples before unlocking my comm crystal and scrolling through the messages.
Ezzy: I am so angry at Toric right now. Are you okay? Please text back.
Jade: Athena, you better not be spiralling. Where are you??
Lara: Athens, where the hell are you??
Ezzy: Seriously, love you, but we're worried. Just tell us you're safe.
Lara: You have five minutes to reply before I start hunting you down.
Myrren: Come home. We need to talk.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and quickly typed out a response to Jade and Ezzy.
Me:I'm okay. I promise. Just needed space. Home now. Love you.
I exhaled softly. They cared. Even when I felt like I didn't deserve it.
Setting my comm crystal down on my nightstand, I headed straight for the shower.
The hot water did little to wash away the weight pressing against my chest.
I scrubbed my arms, pausing when my fingers ghosted over the rune now permanently etched into my skin.
It was still there. Still pulsing.
Still a mystery.
I let out a shuddering breath and forced myself to finish washing up.
The hot water did little to wash away the weight pressing against my chest.
I scrubbed my arms, pausing when my fingers ghosted over the rune now permanently etched into my skin.
It was still there.
Still pulsing.
Still a mystery.
I let out a shuddering breath and forced myself to finish washing up.
Back in my room, I slipped into a pair of cotton shorts and a loose tank top, then threw myself onto my bed.
Exhausted.
Drained.
I reached for my iPod and plugged in my earbuds, desperate to drown out my thoughts.
The first few notes played, and I stilled.
🎶 I'm standing on a bridge, I'm waiting in the dark… I thought that you'd be here by now… 🎶
A fresh wave of tears welled in my eyes.
I'm with You.
Avril Lavigne.
The song hit differently tonight.
🎶 Nothing's going right, And everything's a mess… Trying to figure out this life… 🎶
I curled into myself, hugging my pillow, letting the lyrics pull out everything I had bottled up.
The humiliation. The loneliness. The weight of secrets I didn't ask to keep.
I let the music carry me.
Because for the first time in a long time…
I felt completely, utterly alone.
As I stirred awake the next day, my stomach grumbled loudly in protest, reminding me of the dinner I had missed the night before. I had cried myself to sleep, and it showed.
One glance in the mirror confirmed the damage: my eyes were puffy, my hair a mess and faint streaks of dried tears clung to my cheeks. I sighed heavily and went through my morning routine, splashing cold water on my face to at least look somewhat presentable.
Throwing on a black tank top and jeans, I ran a brush through my hair and made my way downstairs, following the faint sounds of muffled voices coming from the kitchen.
I rounded the corner and--
"Surprise!"
I blinked.
Ezzy, Jade, and Lara stood in the middle of the kitchen, grinning wildly, each wearing aprons covered in flour and some gooey stuff. The entire counter was a chaotic mess of bowls, enchanted fruits, and glowing seasonings that floated in the air before landing into a mixing bowl with a soft plop.
"What… is going on here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Before I could get an answer, Ezzy and Jade abandoned their spoons and spatulas and launched themselves at me.
"Can't breathe, guys!" I wheezed dramatically as they squeezed me in a tight hug.
"We wanted to make you breakfast," Ezzy beamed, stepping back. "You know… to cheer you up."
Jade huffed. "Yesterday was horrible, Athena. You didn't deserve that."
Ezzy's face darkened. "Honestly, I wanted to kick some sense into Toric for even speaking to you that way."
Jade nodded firmly, placing her hands on her hips. "And you better not take his words to heart. You're an amazing person, Athena."
"Yes, you are," Lara added, her voice gentle.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. They had no idea how much this meant to me.
"Thank you, guys," I whispered. "Really."
Lara clapped her hands. "Okay, enough emotional talk, let's eat! I'm starving."
We piled our plates with everything they had made: enchanted waffles that shimmered faintly, warm honeyed bread, and spell-infused fruit that glowed softly as if pulsing with magic. Myrren even joined us at the table, watching quietly as we ate.
Despite the cheery mood, I could sense their unspoken questions lingering in the air. They were skirting around the real issue, the question I knew was coming.
Why didn't I fight back yesterday?
I saw it in the way Ezzy tapped her fingers absentmindedly against her mug. In the way Jade bit the inside of her cheek as if holding back a question. But they didn't ask.
And I wasn't ready to tell them.
After saying goodbye to Myrren and Lara, we headed to school in Ezzy's car.
The moment we pulled into the parking lot, memories of yesterday hit me like a brick.
As we walked toward the entrance, I heard it.
The whispers. The snickers.
"Pathetic."
"Loser."
"Weak."
I clenched my fists.
Jade squeezed my arm. "Ignore them," she murmured under her breath.
I tried. I really did.
But their words slithered under my skin, coiling like vines, trying to choke me.
In the face of adversity, stand tall.
Myrren' words echoed in my head. Easier said than done.
I forced a brave face, even as the whispers ate away at my resolve.
When we reached the hallway, Jax and Zion were already there, waiting.
For the first time, Jax didn't have a sarcastic remark. No teasing grin, no dramatic greeting. Instead, he looked at me with quiet concern.
"You good?" he asked.
I forced a smile. "I'm fine."
Riven arrived a few seconds later.
I didn't look at him.
Didn't acknowledge his presence.
Instead, I excused myself. "I gotta go. I have to meet Ms. Evira before class."
I didn't wait for them to reply. I left without another word.
The moment I stepped into the dance studio, the weight pressing down on my chest loosened, just a little.
The polished wooden floor glowed under the golden light pouring through the windows, and the faint scent of enchanted oils lingered in the air: a mix of citrus and something faintly floral. This was the one place in Brightforge where the world didn't feel like it was pressing down on me.
I dropped my bag into one of the lockers and pulled out my music sheets, placing them carefully on Ms. Evira's desk.
This wasn't just any piece, it was my final composition for the Cultural Festival. A blend of old and new, past and present, a rhythm born from something deeper than mere sound. I knew every beat in my head, every transition, every shift in tempo.
And now, I just needed to feel it.
I stepped to the center of the room, rolling my shoulders back as I took a steady breath. No music played, because there was none yet.
It existed only in my mind, in my bones, in the pulse of my heart.
I closed my eyes and let it take shape.
The rhythm was deep, earthy, an ancient cadence that resonated through the very ground beneath me.
I started slow, my hips rolling in smooth, controlled circles, arms lifting gracefully before slicing through the air in sharp, precise movements. Fluid, yet commanding.
The beat in my head shifted, faster, livelier, demanding more.
My steps quickened.
A sharp turn, an intricate footwork sequence. A chest pop, a sway, a flick of my wrist.
The dance wasn't just about grace, it was power, control, storytelling. Each movement carried meaning, a silent language woven into the rhythm of my own making.
As the imaginary drums built into a crescendo, I dropped low, spinning on the balls of my feet, my hair whipping around me as I moved, my body syncing perfectly with the invisible rhythm.
Faster. Sharper. Unapologetic.
Every step, every sway, every movement was an expression of something unspoken.
Not a plea. A statement.
My heart pounded as I executed the final move, a sudden, deliberate halt, my arms extended, my breathing heavy, the phantom echoes of the rhythm still thrumming inside me.
A slow clap echoed through the silent room.
I whipped around, startled.
Leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, stood Ms. Evira, a knowing smirk curving her lips.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," she mused.
I ran a hand through my slightly damp hair, exhaling. "You were watching?"
She stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over me like she was analyzing every movement.
"Of course." Her smirk widened. "That dance wasn't just movement, Athena. That was instinct. Connection. You dance like you already know what the music should sound like."
I swallowed, feeling oddly exposed. "I do. In my head."
Her gaze flickered toward the music sheets resting on her desk.
"I take it you finished the composition?"
I nodded, gesturing toward the pages. "Yeah. It's all there, I just need your feedback."
Ms. Evira picked up the sheet, her eyes scanning the notes.
The room held its breath.
Then, she slammed the paper onto the desk.
"Athena."
My stomach clenched. "Yeah?"
A wide grin spread across her face.
"This is a masterpiece!"
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Wonderful! Brilliant!" she gushed, shaking my shoulders. "Quinn has to see this!"
Quinn.
Ezzy's magical music composition instructor. A renowned producer in Elarion's music scene.
Before I could react, Ms. Evira sent a flying message into the air, a glowing wisp that zipped out the door.
Not two seconds later, a tall, elegant woman appeared at the entrance, golden waves of hair cascading down her back, her eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence.
"Show me this masterpiece," Quinn said, her voice smooth and curious.
Ms. Evira handed her the sheet, practically buzzing with excitement.
Quinn's eyebrows lifted higher with each passing second as she read through the composition.
Then, she let out a low whistle.
She lifted her gaze, looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time.
"Damn, kid."
A pause.
"This isn't just good."
She tilted her head, a smirk forming.
"This is perfect."
I barely had time to react before she turned to Ms. Evira with a gleam in her eyes.
"We're producing this track today."
The bell rang, signaling the start of first period. Students filed in, chattering as they took their places in the dance studio.
Jade joined me, her excitement practically radiating as she spotted me still standing with Ms. Evira and Quinn.
"So?" she whispered, her eyes bright with anticipation.
I leaned in slightly, my voice hushed but filled with barely contained excitement. "They absolutely loved it."
Jade's eyes widened. "Really?"
I nodded, grinning despite myself. "We're producing the track today."
Her squeal nearly shattered the mirrors.
"Look at you go!!!" she grabbed my hands and jumped up and down, shaking me in her excitement.
Ms. Evira, amused but composed, clapped her hands once, the sharp sound cutting through the room's energy as the students settled.
"Alright, everyone, listen up." Her voice carried with its usual authority, though there was unmistakable excitement behind it.
"We officially have the music for the Cultural Festival."
Murmurs and whispers erupted among the students, curiosity piqued.
"You will get to hear it next week," she continued, "but today, we begin production. Please give it up for the one responsible for this incredible composition..."
She turned toward me with a proud smile.
"Athena."
I felt the weight of all the eyes in the room turn to me, a mix of excitement, admiration, and curiosity reflected in them.
Some students clapped, a few whispering to each other.
Quinn smirked, nudging my shoulder slightly. "Looks like you've got fans already."
Ms. Evira wasn't finished. "As of next week, rehearsals will begin." She glanced at me with a knowing look.
"Athena will be leading us through the main choreography."
A new wave of murmurs spread. I swore I heard someone whisper, "Wait, she's choreographing the festival dance?"
I exhaled sharply, my heart pounding.
Jade grabbed my wrist and squeezed it. "Oh, this is huge."
Ms. Evira clapped her hands again. "For today, we will focus on footwork and hip sequences." Her gaze landed on me again.
"But first, Athena, go with Quinn and bring this composition to life."
I swallowed hard, my excitement laced with nerves.
Quinn threw an arm around my shoulder, steering me toward the door. "Come on, prodigy. Let's go make some magic."