Siena's desperate wish was in vain — the situation inside her stomach was growing worse by the minute.
By the time she opened her Foreign Language test booklet, her vision had begun to blur. Cold sweat gathered along her back.
'Focus, Siena. Just hold on a little longer.'
She bit down hard on her lower lip, tightening her grip on her pen.
She had worked so hard for this day. She couldn't give up now.
She wasn't the only one who had struggled — her teacher, her uncle, and her mother had all helped her prepare for this moment. Their efforts couldn't be allowed to go to waste.
But no matter how wide she opened her eyes to read the passages, none of it made sense anymore. She could remember exactly which points her teacher had emphasized, but her mind was as blank as a white sheet.
'Ah, what should I do? I can't hold it anymore.'
When she finally reached the history section, tears welled up in Siena's eyes. She had reached her limit.
Tears began to drip onto her test paper. It felt miserable and unfair.
As her body trembled, the Female Supervisor approached.
"Are you all right, student?"
Siena shook her head weakly. The supervisor handed her a handkerchief.
Her previously cold tone had softened with concern.
"If you're not feeling well, you should step out and visit the infirmary. You can retake the exam next year…"
Next year? Falling behind by an entire year — she couldn't bear the thought.
But her patience had reached its end. The urge to bolt for the restroom overwhelmed her.
After a moment's hesitation, Siena hastily filled in the remaining answers at random.
She raised her trembling hand.
"I'll… step out."
"Once you turn it in, you can't make any corrections. Do you agree?"
"…Yes."
"Go to the infirmary, take some medicine, and rest before the interview."
Tears pooled on Siena's chin and fell to the floor.
Across the room, Lucas was watching her with worried eyes. Their gazes met.
'Are you okay?'
Her face flushed red. She didn't want him to see her like this.
Siena shot up from her seat and rushed out of the classroom. The moment she reached the restroom, she burst into tears.
"You're pathetic! Absolutely pathetic!"
She glared at her reflection in the mirror, shouting at herself.
Even after emptying her stomach, her chest felt tight and queasy.
"This is all because of that stupid pill! That stupid, useless Clearheart!"
Siena berated herself again and again for being so foolish.
She should've trusted herself more, just as her teacher had said.
Eleanor had told her repeatedly — that even nervousness was part of the test, and she needed to embrace it.
But it was too late for regrets. Siena had completely ruined the exam.
Failing one subject meant failure overall — that much was obvious.
Stumbling out of the restroom, Siena sank down on the stairs, burying her face in her knees.
'It's over. Everyone's going to be disappointed.'
It felt like the entire world had ended. She'd never once imagined something like this could happen.
"I want my mom…"
As soon as she thought of her mother's face, fresh tears poured down her cheeks.
Siena had never met her father. He'd died in a carriage accident while her mother was still pregnant.
"My sweet Ena. If only your father could've been here too."
"It's okay! I have you, and Uncle, and Teacher!"
Though she never said it aloud, Siena didn't really miss the father she'd never known.
He had passed early, but she'd been surrounded by love — her grandparents, her uncle, and her mother. She'd grown up cherished and grateful.
But her mother still grieved for her father's absence. Siena often heard her crying alone late at night.
'I'll make her happy. I'll be the daughter she can be proud of.'
The Academy entrance exam had been her chance to make her mother proud. That was why she'd studied so fiercely.
And now, she'd ruined it completely.
At that moment, the bell rang to signal the end of the exam. Voices and footsteps began to stir outside.
Siena stood up, brushing off her skirt. The other students would soon pour out, and she couldn't let them see her like this.
"Ena!"
A voice called out behind her.
It was Lucas.
Siena hesitated. She didn't know whether she wanted to see Lucas and Damian, or hide from them forever.
Before she could decide, Lucas caught her arm.
"Are you okay?"
Maybe running away would've been better.
As soon as she met his violet eyes, something hot welled up inside her.
Then Damian rested a hand on her shoulder. Tears fell from Siena's eyes once again.
"I want to go home…"
Seeing her cry made Lucas's eyes glisten, and Damian sniffled beside them.
"Idiots! Why are you crying? You didn't even fail your test!"
Lucas rubbed his eyes roughly with the back of his hand.
"Are you an idiot? We're crying because you are."
He gently wiped her tears away — clumsy but full of warmth.
"It's not over yet. Don't act like it is."
His tone was firm. Damian nodded in agreement.
"There's still the interview, and the practical test too. You worked so hard for this."
He fixed Siena's ribbon with care.
"No one's prepared harder than you. You know that."
"Our teacher said it too — once you start something, you have to see it through."
Both boys held out their hands toward her.
"So come on, Ena. Let's go back."
Siena bit her lip as she looked at the two small hands extended toward her.
They were no bigger than her own, yet somehow felt stronger than anything in the world right now.
The darkness before her eyes brightened. She'd thought everything was over, but she still had a fight left to win.
Giving up now wouldn't be like her at all.
Siena nodded slowly.
"Okay. Let's go."
She clasped Lucas's hand with her left, and Damian's with her right. Between them, a bond of comradeship seemed to bloom.
"It's not over yet."
The interview classroom loomed ahead. Siena paused at the door, taking a deep breath.
Having poured out all her fears, her heart now felt clear and light.
'I can do this. I just have to do my best.'
When the previous student stepped out, Siena entered.
One chair stood before three examiners seated at a distance. Siena bowed politely and sat down.
Two of them were unfamiliar — a kindly elderly man and a young scholar-looking professor, both smiling warmly at her.
The third was the Female Supervisor from the written test. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Let's begin with your self-introduction," said the elderly examiner.
Thus began the interview.
The questions were all ones Siena had practiced countless times with Eleanor.
Though her voice trembled, she answered each question clearly and steadily.
From time to time, satisfaction flickered across the examiners' faces.
The young professor who'd asked a current affairs question gave her an approving nod.
"You must have prepared very thoroughly. I'm impressed."
"Thank you, sir."
"Please do your best on the final question as well."
"Yes, I will."
Siena straightened her posture, ready for the last question.
If she could answer it well, she'd finish the interview without any major deductions.
Then, the examiner who'd been mostly silent raised her hand — the Female Supervisor.
"Professor Graham, may I ask the final question?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
The woman looked at Siena intently. Her gaze was quiet but piercing. Siena stiffened.
"I heard you struggled during the written exam earlier. Are you feeling better now?"
Struggled during the exam.
Siena flinched at the blunt phrasing. The memory she'd tried to suppress resurfaced.
Steadying herself, she replied softly, "Yes… I feel better now."
"When you left the room mid-exam, you were shaken — completely broken down. Yet during this interview, you've remained composed throughout."
At that, the other two professors' eyes brightened. Siena swallowed hard.
"How did you manage to regain your composure?"
Thankfully, it wasn't a difficult question. Siena answered,
"My friends helped me a lot. They told me it wasn't over yet — to keep doing my best until the end. Without them, I don't think I could have recovered so quickly."
"But you couldn't finish one of your exams. Even if you did perfectly on the rest, there's no guarantee you'll pass, is there?"
The follow-up question was sharp, designed to unsettle her.
Stay calm. Don't be shaken. Don't panic.
Siena took a deep breath. Though her heart pounded, she didn't cry this time.
Instead of answering right away, she thought carefully.
'What would my teacher have said?'
Then she raised her head and met the examiner's gaze.
"Even if I don't pass," she said quietly, "I believe the experience of doing my best will still remain."
She clenched her trembling hands tightly.
"I want to be someone who gives my all in every situation."
The examiners said nothing. Siena couldn't read their faces, and anxiety crept in.
"Thank you. That will be all."
Siena bowed and rose from her seat.
'I did everything I could.'
The moment she stepped outside the room, relief flooded through her.
For a fleeting instant, she thought — no matter the result, it's okay.
'Good job, Siena.'
And with that, Siena had grown just a little bit more.
Thud, thud, thud.
Eleanor stirred awake, blinking drowsily.
She had tried so hard not to fall asleep, but apparently, she had anyway.
'I thought I heard something in my sleep… was it just my imagination?'
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. Her mind still foggy.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sound came again. Not a dream.
"Ah, it must be Lian."
Fully awake now, Eleanor hurried to the door, unlatched it, and swung it open.
"Lian, you're here—?"
But the person standing there wasn't Lian.
Startled, Eleanor froze.
A brief silence fell before the visitor spoke.
"…Eleanor."
It was Kaidel.
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