When Eray opened his eyes, the world was still spinning.He could barely move them. The left side of his face felt numb.
The first smell that reached his nose was not the Academy's lavender scent.It was dampness and mold.
He lifted his head slightly.
He was back in that small, stone-walled, miserable room.
Junia was sitting at the edge of the bed.She held a damp cloth and was gently cleaning Eray's swollen eyebrow and split lip.
Junia's face was still pale, but her eyes were filled with pure concern for him.
"You're awake," Junia whispered."Don't move. Aeliana… that woman almost killed you."
Eray tried to sit up, but the pain in his ribs forced him back down.
"Kaelen…" he rasped."How is Kaelen?"
Junia answered with a bitter smile.
"He's furious because you broke his nose.Even the healers couldn't fully fix it.
"But your condition…" she hesitated."Eray, she hit your face with light magic.There are still burn marks under your skin."
Eray raised his hand to his cheek.
It ached when he touched it, but it no longer burned.
"She's not training me," Eray said through clenched teeth."She's punishing me.
"For being a Raider.For being human.And for being her damn 'project.'"
Junia dipped the cloth back into the water.
"We have to escape, Eray.At the first chance.
"This Academy isn't a place of learning.It's a torture chamber."
At that moment, the heavy oak door burst open with a loud bang.
Light flooded the room, blinding Eray.
Princess Aeliana stood in the doorway, wearing a midnight-blue cloak.
Behind her, the guards waited with lowered heads, trembling.
Aeliana stepped inside and looked around.
She examined the damp walls.The cobwebs on the ceiling.The dirty mattress on the floor.
The expression on her face was not the cold princess mask.
It was pure anger.
"What is this disgrace?" she snapped.
Her voice was so dangerous that Junia stepped back without thinking.
Aeliana turned to the guards.
"This is where my 'guest' is kept?Even a stable is cleaner than this."
"Princess…" one guard stammered."It is standard procedure for Imperial humans—"
"Procedure?" Aeliana cut in.
"At dawn tomorrow, this room will be cleaned.I want silk sheets, magical lamps, and a proper bed.
"If I see a single speck of dust when I return,I will make you clean it with your tongues."
"Yes, Your Highness!" the guards shouted, slamming the door shut as they fled.
Silence filled the room.
Aeliana slowly approached the bed.
Eray did not hide the hatred in his eyes.
This woman had beaten him half to death in public.Now she was angry about his room?
Aeliana turned to Junia.
"Leave," she said.Her tone allowed no argument.
Junia hesitated and looked at Eray.
"Leave us alone," Aeliana repeated, softer but more threatening."I'm not going to eat him, little girl.
"I just came to check on… my Eray."
Junia touched Eray's shoulder one last time and reluctantly left.
The door closed.
Only Eray and Aeliana remained.
Aeliana sat on the edge of the bed.
The monster from earlier that day was gone.
She raised her hand.
Eray flinched, expecting another blow.
But Aeliana removed her gloves.
Her delicate, well-kept fingers rested on Eray's swollen cheek.
Her touch was cool.
With her thumb, she wiped the dried blood from the corner of his split lip.
"You are careless," she whispered."I told you to resist magic.Not to stop it with your face."
Eray wanted to push her hand away, but he couldn't.
The tenderness in her touch was too confusing.His body froze.
"Why?" Eray asked.His voice was hoarse.
"Why do you act like this?My executioner by day, my caretaker by night?"
Aeliana smiled faintly.
Not the arrogant, sharp smile.
Something softer.Almost merciful.
"Because you are mine, Eray," she said."And no one else is allowed to hurt you.
"You beat that arrogant fool, Kaelen.I liked that.
"You have potential.But your technique… your technique is raw."
She leaned closer.
The violet scent drowned out the smell of damp stone.
"I hit you because you needed to learn.Pain is the best teacher.
"But…" she brushed his hair back from his forehead,"I'm not sorry for hitting you that hard.
"I just didn't like how your face was ruined.Looking at you should feel like looking at a fine painting.Not a torn canvas."
Eray's heart hammered in his chest.
This woman was insane.
"I am not your painting," Eray said through clenched teeth."I am a human. And I—"
Aeliana pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"You are a Raider," she whispered.
For the first time, she said the word like a title, not a curse.
"And soon…you will be much more."
Then Aeliana leaned down.
As her breath brushed his lips, Eray's mind went blank.
She pressed her lips gently against his injured mouth.
It was a kiss.But it was not passion.
It felt like a magical seal.
The pain in Eray's lip vanished instantly.
Warm, tingling light flowed from Aeliana's lips, wrapping around his wounds.
The swelling faded.The cuts closed.
When the kiss ended, Eray was left breathless.
But the terrible pain on his face was gone.
Aeliana pulled back and licked her lips.
There was strange satisfaction in her eyes.
"Better," she whispered."Now your face looks like a painting again."
She took a small silver box from her pocket and opened it.
Inside was a black gel-like ointment.
"Turn around," she said.
"What?"
"Your back," Aeliana replied."Where I stepped on you. It's probably cracked.
"Junia's primitive cloth won't fix that."
Before Eray could protest, Aeliana turned him gently but firmly.
She lifted his tunic and applied the cool ointment to his bruised back.
Her fingers moved along his spine.
It hurt.
But at the same time… it felt strangely comforting.
"This ointment," Aeliana said as she worked,"is made from a rare plant of the Chaos Realm.
"It removes pain and strengthens flesh.But it leaves a mark."
She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"My mark.
"So every time you look in the mirror,you remember who you belong to."
When she finished, she lowered his tunic and stood up.
"Rest tomorrow," she said, walking toward the door."I'm giving you one day off for defeating Kaelen.
"But the day after that…be on the training field at dawn.
"And this time, learn to protect your face."
She opened the door.
Before leaving, she looked back at Eray one last time.
"And Eray…tell your friend Junia not to be so eager to heal you.
"Trying to do my job…does not please me."
The door closed.
Eray was left alone in the dark.
His back burned.His cheek ached.
But his mind hurt the most.
He hated this woman.
And yet, he felt himself needing her poisonous attention.
This was not training.
It was a siege, slowly taking over his soul.