The bustling energy of the marketplace plaza surrounded us as we made our way through the crowd, the vibrant chatter and flickering lanterns painting the night with warmth. But the throng was dense, and no sooner had I turned to share a smile with Adrien than a sudden shift in the crowd pulled me apart from him and Cassianus.
I stumbled slightly, searching desperately through the sea of bodies, but their familiar shapes were nowhere to be found.
"Adrien? Cassianus?" I called softly, my voice swallowed by the hum of festival-goers.
Pushing against the pressing tide, I tried to navigate my way through, but the crowd seemed to tighten around me, every step harder to take.
A weight settled over me—an unexpected loneliness in the midst of celebration. For a heartbeat, I hesitated, overwhelmed by the sheer expanse of unfamiliar faces.
Then, steadying my breath, I reminded myself that this was only temporary. They were out there—and I would find them.
With renewed purpose, I began moving carefully through the lantern-lit plaza, my eyes searching for the glint of Adrien's mischievous grin or Cassianus's calm presence.
Navigating carefully through the lantern-lit marketplace plaza, I made my way toward a slightly less crowded corner—a small gathering near one of the food stalls. Just as I took a breath to steady myself, my eyes unexpectedly met a familiar figure standing quietly among the throng.
There was Elian.
Taking a steadying breath, I offered a cautious smile. "Elian. It's been a while."
His eyes narrowed, and a cold smile flickered across his lips. "Cut the act, Quincey. Don't pretend you don't know why we're really here."
A flicker of confusion crossed my face. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.
Elian's gaze hardened, his smile slipping into something sharper, more dangerous. "You know exactly what I mean. Don't play innocent with me." The warmth in his eyes was replaced by a cold, calculating glint. "How did you get so close to Adrien and Cassianus? They should be mine." His voice dropped, low and possessive. "Their attention, their loyalty—it's supposed to be for me, not for some outsider like you."
I steadied my breath, feeling the weight behind his words—the way he claimed them not just as allies, but as if their hearts and affections belonged to him. "They're my friends," I said firmly.
He stepped closer, eyes flashing. "Don't lie to me. You think I don't see the way you move between them, how you capture their attention. Adrien and Cassianus aren't meant to be yours."
His possessiveness hung heavy in the air, more threatening than any outright threat. The calm mask Elian wore cracked to reveal a ruthless hunger for control, a desire to dominate not just alliances, but hearts.
I met his gaze squarely, refusing to back down. "I'm not here to take anything from anyone. I'm just… living my life."
Elian's smirk twisted darkly. "Be careful, Quincey. Some lines, once crossed, don't go unnoticed."
Just then, Elian's eyes flicked toward the far end of the plaza. "Looks like the Prince is coming this way."
Before I could react, Elian suddenly stumbled backwards, his fall sudden and exaggerated. "Whoa—hey! Watch it!" he gasped loudly, casting a sharp glance at me. "You pushed me!"
Almost immediately after, Prince Indraneel reached us in long strides. Without warning, he shoved me with a force that made me stagger. I lost my footing, stumbling backwards until my left hand slammed against a sharp stone on the ground. A searing pain shot through my palm as a deep wound opened, and warm blood began trickling steadily down my fingers, staining the ground beneath. The sharp sting was overwhelming, but Indraneel's furious glare kept me rooted in place, oblivious to the injury.
His eyes locked onto me, blazing with anger. "You! How could you hurt Elian?" he demanded.
I opened my mouth to protest, still trying to steady myself, but his accusing glare held me silent. Elian rose with a practised grace, feigning pain as he added, "I barely managed to keep my footing—Quincey was rough with me."
Indraneel sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. "Haven't you gotten over it yet, Quincey? I told you—I would never love you."
The crowd around us grew tense, the festive warmth of the night now overshadowed by cold accusation and bitter memories.
My tears fell silently, each one a cold track through the warm festival lights. My heart ached, the pain far deeper than the wound in my palm. Elian's accusations, Indraneel's harsh words, the sting of being wrongfully accused—it all bound me tight.
Then, familiar voices cut through the haze. Adrien and Cassianus were there, concern etched on their faces. Adrien helped me to my feet, his presence comforting.
Cassianus's sharp eyes saw the blood soaking my hand. His expression hardened, fury simmering beneath his calm.
"How could you hurt someone so fragile?" he snapped at Indraneel, his voice fierce.
Indraneel glanced at my bleeding hand. For a second, guilt flickered across his face, quickly hidden again.
Cassianus's gaze remained fixed on Indraneel. "This isn't strength, it's cowardice," he said, his voice low but deadly serious. "If you can't see that, you're truly blind."
[ The phrase 4. "That's not strength; that's cowardice." This version accuses Indraneel of lacking courage and resorting to violence against someone vulnerable.
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We didn't say much as Adrien and Cassianus guided me away from the tense scene, their steady hands the only anchor I clung to. My injured left hand throbbed sharply, the deep wound still oozing blood, and every step reminded me how fragile I felt—all tangled up with the ache inside that no wound could fix.
The sounds of the marketplace—laughter, chatter, music—faded behind us, replaced by the hurried rhythm of our footsteps echoing down quiet corridors. Soon we arrived at the academy's infirmary, a cool, sterile place that felt both foreign and strangely calming after the chaos outside.
The academy's doctor bustled forward the moment we stepped inside, taking in the sight of my bleeding palm without hesitation. As she cleaned and dressed the wound, I gripped onto the edge of the single plain bed ,every touch sending sharp jolts through my hand, but also easing some of the tension knotted deep inside me.
Adrien sat beside me, his gaze soft but concerned, while Cassianus lingered near the door, ever watchful. I wanted to speak—to explain, to apologize for troubling them, to say anything that could undo the night's painful moments—but the words caught in my throat.
Instead, I let the silence settle around us, the steady presence of my friends makes me feel I wasn't as alone as I felt before.
The doctor finished wrapping my wounded hand with practiced efficiency, pressing a cool cloth gently against the raw skin. I flexed my fingers carefully, wincing at the burn but grateful for the relief.
Adrien and Cassianus exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening as the door quietly closed behind the healer.
"He's not worthy," Cassianus muttered, voice low and fierce. "Indraneel… he doesn't deserve you, Quincey. If you were mine, I swear I'd treasure you—protect you like no one else could."
Adrien's eyes flashed with quiet fire as he added, "Me too. I'd treat you better than that asshole ever could. I'd never let anyone put you through that kind of pain."
Cassianus nodded sharply. "You deserve to be loved and cared about. Not someone who rejected you and disregarded you instead of appreciating and loving you."
Adrien's voice softened but stayed firm. "No matter what, we're here for you. Always. We'd fight tooth and nail if it meant keeping you safe."
[ Adrien's phrase, "Fight tooth and nail" means to struggle intensely and fiercely to achieve something, using all one's resources and determination.]
I let out a soft, nervous chuckle, brushing it off as a light joke—a way to break the tension. But then I caught the seriousness in their eyes, the unwavering conviction etched deep in their faces.
Suddenly, it wasn't a joke at all.
I sank back against the bed, my gaze fixed on the bandaged hand resting in my lap. Their words echoed in my mind, cutting through the haze of pain and confusion. Loved and cared about… it felt like a distant dream, something I had barely dared to imagine for myself.
For so long, I'd carried the weight of rejection—the coldness of Indraneel disregard pressing down like a shadow I couldn't shake. Not being listened to or believed in had made the world feel even more isolating. To hear Adrien and Cassianus speak with such fierce conviction—it stirred something fragile but real inside me.
Could I believe them? Could I allow myself to hope that maybe, somewhere beyond the scars and the rejections, there was a place where I belonged, where I mattered?
As I wiped the tear from my cheek, I realized more were quietly falling. Before I could stop myself, Adrien gently pulled me into a firm, comforting hug. The warmth of his embrace tugged at the fragile pieces inside me, offering a silent reassurance that I wasn't alone.
"It's okay, Quincey," he murmured softly, his voice steady and kind. "You don't have to be in pain alone in the dark anymore."
Cassianus stepped closer, his expression solemn but unwavering. "He's right. We will always be right by your side."
In that moment, wrapped in their support, the heavy loneliness began to lift, replaced by something I hadn't felt in a long time—hope.With friends like these, maybe the darkness wouldn't be so overwhelming after all.