Ashley's thoughts jolted when Wren and she walked back to the dormitory.As Ashley walked into the dormitory with Wren, the atmosphere was lively. Kai and Kelvin were engrossed in a heated game of board, their competitive spirits on full display. Meanwhile, Elsa was focused on her dart game, the sound of darts hitting the target punctuating the air.
Wren trudged over to her bed, exhaustion etched on her face. She stretched out her limbs, letting out a deep sigh before collapsing onto her bed. Ashley's eyes widened as she noticed Wren's book. "You're reading that?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Wren looked up, her eyes slightly glazed over from fatigue. "Yeah, I borrowed it from the library. It's written by one of the academy's founders."
Ashley's interest was piqued, and she walked over to Wren's bed. "Let me see," she said, sitting down beside Wren. Together, they began to flip through the pages, absorbing the words of wisdom from someone who had a deep understanding of the academy's inner workings.
As Wren continued reading, the words on the page began to blur together, and her head started pounding with a dull ache. She winced, rubbing her temples in an attempt to massage away the discomfort. Despite her struggles with reading, the snippets of information she absorbed seemed to stick in her mind like glue, a trait that had always made her sister a little envious. Ashley, on the other hand, was still engrossed in the book, her eyes scanning the pages with an unbridled fascination. The content seemed to be a treasure trove of knowledge, blending together the various classes and disciplines offered at the academy.
Just as Ashley was about to turn the page, Wren suddenly muttered, "Which dorm is Kinrara in? I miss her." She leaned in close to Ashley, her voice barely above a whisper. Ashley instinctively replied, "She's in the fourth block," her eyes still fixed on the book. "And she's in the swordsmanship class," she added, her tone matter-of-fact.
Wren's gaze lingered on Ashley's face for a brief moment before she responded, "Let's visit her one of these days." Ashley's head jerked up slightly, and she nodded, though her eyes betrayed a hint of uneasiness and hesitance. It was clear that the thought of visiting Kinrara brought up mixed emotions, and Ashley wasn't entirely sure if she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
**"
It was 6pm
All the students came out of the dormitories when they heard the sound of the academy's bell, its deep, resonant tone echoing through the grounds. Wren, Ashley, and Elsa walked towards the bathhouse, the warm sunlight casting long shadows behind them. On the way, Elsa was deliberately trying to provoke Wren by kicking pebbles at her or stepping on her boots as she walked, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. Having had enough, Wren turned her petite body at Elsa with a sarcastic smile, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "What is your problem, Elsa?" she asked, her voice laced with irritation.
Elsa smiled deviously and retorted, "You are obscuring me." Her tone was snide, and her words seemed to drip with malice. Wren rolled her eyes at Elsa, her exasperation evident. "Oh! Is that another name for 'you hate me'?" she shot back, her voice heavy with sarcasm. Elsa sneered, her face twisting into a scowl. "Of course, do you think I like you or something?" she spat, her words venomous. Ashley watched the exchange, her eyes darting between the two girls, wondering what had sparked such intense animosity between them.
Ashley knew that Elsa disliked her, but she didn't know why Elsa had grown animosity towards Wren. Wren rolled her eyes at Elsa and stuck out her tongue before walking away, the gesture a mixture of childishness and defiance. At the bathhouse, surprisingly they bumped into Kinrara, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she noticed them. Her eyes became crescent-shaped as she smiled, and she quickly closed the distance between them.
Kinrara threw her arms around Wren, hugging her tightly. "Missed you so much," she said, her voice filled with genuine affection. Wren replied, hugging her back, "I missed you too." As they parted, Kinrara turned to Ashley and hugged her as well. Ashley hugged back, but Wren could feel the tension between them. It was as if they felt awkward with each other around, their usual ease and comfort slightly strained.
Wren asked, "So, how is your dormitory like?" .
"Well, the usual, just that the kids there are fiercer and more competitive. Something that I can deal with," Kinrara replied with a cunning look, her eyes glinting with a competitive spark. She really loved the challenge, having been built and raised in a home where everyone was a competitor. That was why she and Kai were not on good terms, their competitive natures often clashing.
After bathing, the three girls walked to the cafeteria to grab their dinner, the aroma of food wafting through the air, making their stomachs growl with anticipation. On their way, two boys interrupted their conversation, their eyes filled with mischief as they gazed at Wren. "Hey cutie," they said in unison, their voices dripping with flirtation.
Wren glanced at the boys, having remembered them as the boys who were with Kai earlier. She rolled her eyes, not ready to interact with people related to Kai Blackwood. The boys continued to taunt her, their words laced with condescension. "So fierce, so adorable, so cute she looks like two." "Yeah, are you still on diapers." "Haha, she might be on one."
Wren's gaze turned icy, her eyes flashing with annoyance. She fixed the boys with a death glare before replying, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "At least I don't look like a grandfather." The boys looked taken aback, their faces falling as they gazed at each other in outrage.
Their expressions quickly turned menacing, their eyes narrowing as they took a step closer to Wren. "You? How dare you? Do you know who you are messing with?" one of them growled, his voice low and threatening. Wren's response was immediate, her voice unwavering. "Do I look like I care?" she shot back, her eyes flashing with defiance. The boys' faces darkened, their anger palpable, but Wren stood her ground, refusing to back down.