"Wh..what happened?" Wren managed to ask, her voice hoarse and low, like she had been screaming for hours. She was perplexed, everything was a blur, like she was trying to piece together a puzzle with missing fragments. She wondered if everything was a dream, Kai's different personalities, the fangs, the eyes. She wanted answers to her question, and she looked at Kai with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"You fainted," Kai started off, his voice calm and collected, like he was reciting a well-rehearsed script. "Maybe because of exhaustion, you fainted after the competition. I was about to leave the changing room, then you came from nowhere and bumped into me before you then collapsed." Kai explained, but Wren felt something was wrong, like there was a disconnect between her memories and Kai's words. His explanation didn't quite add up, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was hiding something from her.
Yet, it was only a visible reason to explain why she fainted and was in the hospital. Could she believe the vampire part of the story? Hell no. The last thing she wanted was mingling with a vampire. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a wave of unease wash over her.
Their eyes met, and Wren shivered, feeling like her thoughts were read by Kai, like he could see right through her. He got up, his movements fluid and effortless, like a predator stalking its prey. "The nurse said when you wake up, you can go to the dorm. I'm leaving," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
As Kai left, Wren felt a sense of relief wash over her, like she had been holding her breath for too long. It was surprisingly the longest conversation she had with Kai without fighting or arguing, and it felt awkward and weird, like they were two strangers navigating uncharted territory.
But Wren, who didn't like the smell of hospitals or clinics, got up, wore her sandals, and left the clinic right after, the bright sunlight and fresh air a welcome respite from the sterile environment of the hospital. As she walked out, she took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze fill her lungs, and she couldn't help but wonder what had really happened, and what Kai was hiding from her.
As Wren walked back to the dormitory, her feet seemed to move of their own accord, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the library and the books she needed to study.
But just when she was about to take the route to the library, a sense of déjà vu hit her, like a cold breeze on a winter night. She shivered at the thought, feeling like she had been in this situation before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on when or why.
Shrugging off the feeling, Wren took a deep breath and continued on her way to the dormitory, her heels clicking on the floor like a metronome. When she arrived, she was relieved to find that everyone was quite, except for Ashley who was hospitalized. The room was quiet, with everyone looking exhausted, like they had been running a marathon.
As the night wore on, everyone went early to bed, leaving Wren to her thoughts. She lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts of Kai, the academy, and the strange dreams she had been having. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, like she was living in a dream world that wasn't quite her own.
The next morning, Wren and Kinrara walked to the Academy hospital, determined to visit Ashley who was going to be discharged. Wren had brought her snacks from their local supermarket, a thoughtful gesture that she hoped would brighten Ashley's day. Kinrara, on the other hand, had brought her noodle soup to recuperate, the savory smell wafting from the container like a warm hug.
As they walked to the third floor, Ashley's room floor, Kinrara and Wren walked in silence, the only sound being the soft rustle of their clothes and the beeping of machines in the hospital. The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to hum, casting an eerie glow over the hallway.
When they reached Ashley's room, Wren knocked softly on the door, like she didn't want to disturb anyone. "Come in," Ashley's voice called out, weak but cheerful. Wren and Kinrara exchanged a smile, and they entered the room, their faces breaking into wide smiles as they saw Ashley sitting up in bed, looking a little pale but otherwise okay.
After talking for a while, the nurse came to discharge Ashley. The three girls walked back to the academy building, enjoying the fresh air and the warm sunshine.
As they walked, they chatted about their classes and their plans for the day, their laughter and conversation carrying on the breeze.
When they reached the academy building, they separated to their normal classes, each one heading to their respective classrooms with a sense of purpose.
Back in her class, Wren was tasked with various complicated missions as part of her training.
She excelled in these missions because she had tested the virtualization of the outside world, and she had a good understanding of the terrain and the tactics that worked best. She was busy "brushing the tail" of their group's horse, a powerful Arabian stallion named Thunder, its coat gleaming in the light. Thunder was known for its speed and agility, and Wren was determined to master the art of riding it.
As she worked, a girl approached her, her long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, her eyes fixed intently on Wren.
Wren recognized her as Sophia, who was in Kai's group and really good at archery. Sophia competed with Lesa for the position of best archer in their class, and the two girls seemed to be like opposite ends of a magnet, always repelling each other.
Any enemy of Lesa's was likely a friend to Wren, and she felt a sense of curiosity about Sophia.
"What can I do for you, Sophia?" Wren asked, looking up from her task. Sophia's eyes seemed to gleam with a mixture of curiosity and calculation, and Wren wondered what she wanted.
Sophia glanced around the place, making sure no one was listening, before leaning in close to Wren.
"I've heard you're quite resourceful," Sophia said, her voice low and conspiratorial.
"I was wondering if you could help me with something." Wren raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Sophia's request.
"What do you need help with?" she asked, her voice neutral. Sophia hesitated for a moment before speaking, her words barely above a whisper.
"I need help taking down Elsa," she said, her eyes flashing with determination. Wren's eyes widened in surprise, but she felt a spark of interest ignite within her.
She had never liked Elsa, and the thought of taking her down was tempting. "Tell me more," Wren said, her voice low and intrigued. Sophia smiled, a plan forming in her mind.
"Let's talk," she said, her eyes glinting with mischief.
After the day Elsa had beaten Ashley to a pulp, Wren's dislike for Elsa had multiplied, and now she wanted to show Elsa the taste of her own medicine. Even if that meant getting her hands dirty. Wren's anger and frustration towards Elsa had been building up for a while, and she was eager to take action.