The arena grew even busier by midday, the air thick with the sharp scent of metal, the crackle of spells being tested, and the hurried shouts of crew members rushing to finalize the stage setup.
High-profile officials from Lysoria had begun arriving, stepping out of sleek, black vehicles with tinted windows, their tailored suits crisp, their movements precise. They moved through the chaos with the sharp, calculated precision of seasoned strategists, their security teams flanking them in matching dark suits, their eyes constantly shifting, scanning the crowd with a sharp, unrelenting focus. The faint glow of enchanted communication runes etched into their collars pulsed softly as they coordinated their movements, their low, murmured voices barely audible over the noise of the arena.
Zarich even dropped by, cutting a striking figure as he strode through the chaos, his tailored coat draped perfectly over his broad shoulders, his eyes sharp and focused, his presence commanding immediate respect from everyone around him. He exchanged a few brief words with the Lysorian officials, his tone low and firm, his expression unreadable as he moved through the throng of crew members and students, his gaze constantly sweeping the arena, his sharp, calculating mind clearly already a few steps ahead of everyone else.
I spotted him near the main stage, his tall frame a familiar, comforting sight amid the chaos. He caught my eye, his lips quirking into a small, reassuring smile as he made his way over, his hands slipping into the pockets of his coat, his gaze never leaving mine.
"Thought I'd drop by and see how you're holding up," he said, his tone light, his eyes flicking over my face as if checking for signs of exhaustion or stress.
I let out a small, tired laugh, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my face. "Barely holding it together, if I'm being honest," I admitted, glancing around at the chaos, the hurried movements of crew members, the sharp commands echoing off the metal scaffolding, the air crackling with nervous energy.
Zarich's lips quirked into a small, knowing smile, his eyes softening as he took a step closer, his voice dropping a little lower. "You'll be fine," he said, his tone confident, reassuring. "You've got this, Athena. You always do."
I felt a small flicker of warmth spread through my chest, his steady presence like a grounding force amid the chaos.
"Thanks," I said, meeting his gaze, the corner of my mouth lifting in a small, grateful smile.
He reached out, his hand brushing my shoulder briefly, a rare, comforting gesture from someone who usually kept his distance, his touch warm, steady, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer before he straightened, his professional mask slipping back into place.
"If you need anything, just call," he said, his tone shifting back to its usual, businesslike edge, his eyes already scanning the crowd, his sharp mind clearly moving on to the next problem.
I nodded, my pulse still a little quicker than usual, my mind still buzzing with the weight of everything that had been thrown at us in the past few days. "Will do," I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady, my shoulders straightening as I watched him disappear back into the chaos, his coat billowing behind him as he moved with the quiet confidence of someone used to being in control.
I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself, when I heard the unmistakable, smooth, slightly arrogant drawl of someone I really didn't want to encounter right now. Calder.
I stiffened, my pulse spiking, my jaw tightening as his voice cut through the noise of the arena. I didn't have to turn around to know he'd spotted me. I could feel his gaze on my back, sharp and unrelenting. "Athena," he drawled, his tone dripping with smugness. "Didn't expect to see you here, all alone."
I forced myself to turn, already bracing for whatever game he'd decided to play this time.
He stood a few feet away, his tall, lean frame perfectly relaxed, one hand shoved casually into the pocket of his fitted black trousers, the other holding a small, flickering holographic screen. The shifting light cast sharp shadows over his sharp jawline, his brown eyes locked onto mine with that unrelenting intensity that always felt a little too invasive, a little too calculating.
"Calder," I said, my tone sharper than I intended, my eyes narrowing slightly as I forced my shoulders to relax, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. "What do you want?" He slipped the holographic screen back into his pocket, his eyes never leaving mine, the corner of his mouth twitching up into that familiar, infuriatingly confident smirk.
"Just checking on you," he said, his tone dripping with mock concern, his head tilting slightly as he took a slow, deliberate step closer. "Wouldn't want you getting overwhelmed before your big moment."
I forced a tight, humorless smile, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes never leaving his. "I can handle myself, thanks," I shot back, my tone sharp, my pulse still racing, my mind already calculating the fastest way to end this conversation.
Before he could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise, a touch of genuine warmth breaking through the tension.
"Athena!" I turned, my shoulders relaxing slightly as I spotted Zayn weaving his way through the chaos, his broad shoulders cutting easily through the crowd. He reached me in a few quick strides, his face breaking into a wide, relieved grin as he pulled me into a brief, tight hug, his arm wrapping around my shoulders for a moment before he stepped back, his eyes flicking over my face, his smile still bright.
"Hey, long time," he said, his tone warm, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he took a step back, his hands settling in his pockets, his posture relaxed, comfortable.
Calder's smirk widened, his eyes flicking between us, his head tilting slightly, a hint of amusement sparking in his gaze. "Wow," he said, his tone dripping with exaggerated disappointment, his hand pressing to his chest in mock offense. "Don't I get a hug too?"
I rolled my eyes, his intense gaze prickling uncomfortably against my skin. I glanced around, instinctively searching for Riven, my chest tightening at the thought of Calder even trying to touch me. But strangely, he was nowhere in sight. Maybe he was backstage, lending a hand to the crew.
Zayn shot me a small, slightly awkward smile. "You don't hang with us anymore," he said, his tone light, but with a hint of genuine curiosity.
Calder's smirk grew, his head tilting slightly, his eyes still sharp, still locked on me. "Yeah, Lara said you were busy," he added, his tone deceptively casual, but his gaze a little too intent, his words lingering in the air like a challenge.
"Oh, she said that?" I replied, arching a brow, my tone sharper than I intended. "Can't even remember the last time we had a decent talk for her to know anything about my business or what I've been up to lately."
Calder's smirk faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing, the sharp edge in my voice clearly catching him off guard. Zayn glanced between us, his brows furrowing, a flicker of unease crossing his face as the tension in the air grew thicker. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to unclench my fists, trying to steady my racing pulse.
"Sorry," I added quickly, exhaling slowly, my shoulders dropping as I tried to soften my tone. "Some shit happened with Lara, and talking about her just puts me on edge."
I shifted my gaze to Zayn, his jaw tightening, his eyes dropping briefly to the ground before flicking back up to meet mine. "I don't even know what happened between you guys, why you even broke up," I said, my voice a little quieter, a little more genuine. "But I think you might understand my position here."
The tension between us lingered for a moment, a heavy, unspoken weight settling over the small space between us. "Well," I said, straightening, forcing a small, tight smile. "It was nice seeing you... both. Catch you later."
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel, slipping back into the chaos of the arena, my pulse still racing, my mind still spinning with the weight of the conversation.
I pushed through the crowded, bustling space, weaving between crew members hauling equipment and tech teams adjusting the massive, rune-etched screens that framed the stage. The sharp crackle of enchantments and the low hum of levitating platforms filled the air.
I spotted Rey near one of the lighting rigs, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, her hands moving quickly as she adjusted the holographic blueprints hovering in front of her, her sharp, focused expression a stark contrast to the chaos around her.
"Hey," I called as I approached, forcing my voice to sound steady, "Need a hand?" Rey looked up, her eyes brightening as she caught sight of me, a small, relieved smile breaking through her otherwise focused expression.
"Actually, yeah," she said, gesturing for me to join her. "These lights are being a pain in my ass. Come help me sort this out." I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as I stepped up beside her, my fingers already moving to adjust the flickering holographic projection, the steady, familiar rhythm of work slowly pulling me back into focus, the chaos around me fading into the background.
As the sun started its slow descent, casting long, golden shadows across the arena, everything finally began falling into place. The massive LED screens flickered to life, their rune-etched frames glowing faintly as they synced with the main stage control hub. The holographic displays shifted and pulsed with vivid, ever-changing visuals, casting sharp, colorful reflections across the polished stage floor.
The enchanted stage elevation platforms hovered in place, their runes glowing a cool, steady blue as they responded to the touch of the crew members, rising and falling smoothly, ready to carry performers to their marks at precisely the right moments.
We ran through our stage practice, moving carefully around the floating platforms, the wind from their movements whipping at our hair and clothes as they shot up into the air, the sharp crackle of active spells and the deep, resonant hum of enchanted machinery filling the space around us.
Our stage props, now fully assembled and activated, pulsed with faint, magical auras, their edges sharp, their surfaces polished to a mirror-like sheen, each piece meticulously crafted to reflect the ethereal, otherworldly vibe of the performance we had planned.
Despite the exhaustion creeping into my bones, the ache in my muscles from hours of practice, and the lingering tension in my mind, I couldn't help the small, excited spark that flared in my chest as I hit my final mark, my breath coming in sharp, exhilarated bursts, my pulse racing with anticipation.
It was just us performers who stayed back for our last rehearsal, the atmosphere electric, the air buzzing with the high of a well-executed run-through. Despite being from different schools, everyone hyped each other up, shouts of encouragement echoing off the towering stage platforms, claps and cheers breaking out as we nailed our final formations.
Quinn and Ms. Evira gave us one last pep talk for the night, their voices sharp but proud, their eyes bright with that same, shared anticipation that crackled through all of us.
I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder as I made my way toward the exit, joining Ezzy and Jade outside. I checked my phone, my pulse skipping slightly as I saw a message from Riven.
Riven: Something came up. I had to go. I'll call you when you get home.
I tried not to dwell on what might have come up, forcing myself to focus my energy on tomorrow, on the performance we'd worked so hard for, on the adrenaline still buzzing in my veins. Zarich pulled up a few minutes later, his sleek, black car gliding to a smooth stop in front of us, the engine barely making a sound. I hugged my girls goodbye, their sweaty, exhausted embraces a comforting reminder of the bond we'd built over weeks of late-night rehearsals and shared nerves.
"Get some rest," Ezzy said, her grin wide. "Don't overthink it," Jade added, her eyes sharp, her smile wicked. "We've got this."
I smiled, my heart swelling with a mix of nerves and excitement, before slipping into the passenger seat, pulling the door closed behind me.
Zarich glanced over at me, his sharp eyes flicking briefly over my face, a small, amused smile pulling at his lips.
"Tired?" he asked, pulling away from the curb, his hands steady on the wheel as the car slid smoothly into the flow of traffic.
I let out a small, breathless laugh, my head falling back against the headrest as I closed my eyes for a moment, my pulse still racing, my muscles still buzzing with the leftover adrenaline from the final run-through.
"Completely drained," I admitted, a small, tired smile pulling at my lips. "But it's a good kind of tired."
Zarich chuckled, the sound low and warm, his eyes flicking back to the road as he navigated the maze of winding streets leading back to Lowmere.
"You did good today," he said, his tone genuine, his eyes never leaving the road. "The whole team did. You're ready for this."
I felt a small, warm spark flare in my chest, my exhaustion briefly forgotten as his words sank in, the familiar, reassuring presence of Zarich beside me settling the nervous energy still buzzing in my veins.
"Thanks," I said, my voice a little softer, a little more genuine. "That means a lot."
When we reached home, Zarich pulled smoothly into the driveway, the car gliding to a silent stop. I reached for the door handle, already thinking about a hot shower and collapsing into bed, when Zarich's hand slipped into his coat pocket. He pulled out a small, glass vial, the liquid inside a shimmering, iridescent blue, flecks of silver swirling lazily in the thick, glowing potion.
He held it out to me, his sharp eyes softening slightly as he met my questioning gaze.
"Let me guess," I said, a small, grateful smile pulling at my lips as I took the vial from his hand. "Safyrr?"
Zarich chuckled, his lips quirking into a small, knowing smile as he leaned back in his seat, his eyes still locked on mine.
"Yeah," he said, his tone light, his expression fond, the usual sharpness in his eyes softening for a moment. "She said to take this before you go to sleep. It'll hide the marks on you. For one day."
I felt my throat tighten, a sudden, unexpected wave of emotion swelling in my chest, my fingers tightening around the cool glass of the vial as I stared down at the swirling, shimmering liquid, the soft, faintly pulsing glow casting a faint, silvery light over my hands.
I stared at the vial, my fingers brushing over the smooth glass, and felt a sudden, unexpected rush of emotion swell in my chest. I hadn't even thought about it. I had been so caught up in rehearsals and preparations that the ugly red lashes across my skin hadn't crossed my mind once.
The realization hit me hard, and I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing back the sudden sting of tears. I swallowed down the knot in my throat, blinking rapidly as I looked at the vial again, the soft, ethereal glow reflecting in my eyes.
Safyrr really was something else, always thinking ahead, always making sure I was prepared even when I didn't realize I needed it. My heart melted at the thoughtfulness, the sheer kindness of it. Zarich's gaze softened, and I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "She figured you'd want to look your best tomorrow," he said, his tone light but sincere.
I managed a small, grateful smile, holding the vial close. "She's a real one." Zarich nodded, his eyes reflecting the warm glow of the driveway lights filtering through the car windows. "Yeah, she is."
Before I could second-guess myself, I threw myself at Zarich, my arms wrapping tightly around his neck, my face pressing into his shoulder. He stilled at first, his body going rigid with surprise, his arms hovering awkwardly for a split second before he seemed to catch up to the moment, his arms slowly coming up to wrap around me, his grip firm but careful, his touch warm and steady.
"Sorry," I mumbled into his shoulder, my voice a little muffled, my cheeks flushing with sudden embarrassment. "If this is awkward. I just... I just needed to hug someone right now."
He let out a small, breathless chuckle, his chest vibrating with the soft, unexpected sound, his hand coming up to gently pat my back, his other arm tightening around me in a reassuring, grounding embrace. "It's not awkward," he said, his tone surprisingly warm, his voice a little rough around the edges, like he wasn't used to this kind of closeness. "Not at all."
I took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the moment sink in before slowly pulling back, my hands slipping from his shoulders, my cheeks still flushed, my pulse still a little too fast. I managed a small, slightly embarrassed smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear as I leaned back into my seat, my fingers still curled tightly around the small vial.
"Thanks, Zarich," I said, my voice a little softer, a little more genuine than usual. "Really." He gave a small, understanding nod, his eyes still soft, his expression uncharacteristically warm. "Anytime," he replied, his lips quirking into a faint, reassuring smile.
I reached for the door handle, the cool night air brushing against my flushed cheeks as I pushed the door open. "I'll pick you up at eight," Zarich called after me, his tone back to its usual, steady calm, his eyes catching mine one last time before I slid out of the car, the vial still clutched tightly in my hand.
I gave him a small wave, my heart still a little lighter, my pulse still a little steadier, before turning and heading up the front steps. As soon as I got to my room, I pulled out my comm crystal, dialing Riven's number, my pulse quickening slightly as the line rang and rang, eventually going to voicemail. I frowned, my fingers tightening around the device as I tossed my bag onto the edge of my bed. Maybe he was still busy.
I tried again after my shower, my damp hair clinging to my shoulders, the faint, soothing scent of my otherworldly scent of moonlit aether blossoms body wash still lingering in the air, but the call went straight to voicemail this time.
I felt a small, anxious twist in my stomach, my mind already jumping to a dozen worst-case scenarios, my pulse spiking with a fresh wave of unease. I forced myself to take a deep breath, tapping out a quick text, my fingers moving a little too quickly over the screen.
Me: Just got home. Crashing early. Talk tomorrow? Hope everything's okay.
I hit send, my thumb lingering over the screen for a moment before I locked my comm crystal, tossing it onto my pillow as I sat down on the edge of my bed, my mind still buzzing with a thousand unanswered questions, a hundred unspoken worries.
I reached for the vial Safyrr gave me and drank it all, the cool, slightly bitter liquid sliding down my throat, leaving a faint, tingling warmth in its wake. I set the empty vial on my nightstand before settling into the familiar comfort of my pillows, the soft, worn fabric cool against my flushed cheeks. I waited for my comm crystal to ring at some point but it never did. Exhaustion finally took over, my limbs growing heavy, my mind slowly slipping into the comforting, inky depths of sleep.