It was still dark outside when Alex was jolted awake by a sharp cramp in her lower abdomen. She hissed under her breath, groaning as she sat up in bed. The others in the room were still asleep, the hum of the air conditioner the only sound.
Alex slipped on her flip-flops and padded to the bathroom quietly, clutching her stomach. A few minutes later, she realized her period had started. She cleaned up quickly, placed a SON pad into her underwear, then stood in front of the mirror, pressing her palm against her lower belly, trying to breathe through the discomfort.
She stepped out into the room again and looked over at Sevira's bed.
Empty.
Alex frowned.
"Again?"
She checked the bathroom. Nothing.
She even peeked into the hallway. No Sevira.
The panic came slowly, spreading like ink in water. This wasn't the first time Sevira had disappeared without saying anything—but at this hour? Again?
"Where the hell did you go now?" Alex whispered to herself, grabbing a hoodie and hurrying outside.
The early morning chill greeted her, brushing against her legs. The sky was still dark, barely showing hints of light on the horizon. As she rushed toward the back of the hotel, her eyes scanned every shadow. That was when she saw him—Scott.
He was standing near the edge of the field, still wearing the same clothes from last night, his shoulders slightly hunched as if the weight of the world was sitting on them.
"Scott!" Alex called out.
He turned around quickly, eyes wide, like he hadn't expected anyone to be awake. The dark circles under his eyes were obvious—even in the dim light. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"She's gone again," Alex said breathlessly, panic cracking her voice. "Sevira. She's not in the room. I looked everywhere. She's just… not there."
Scott didn't respond at first, but the way his jaw clenched said it all.
He'd already noticed.
"I was hoping she went out for air or something," he said, voice low. "But I've been out here a while. Nothing."
Alex stepped closer, crossing her arms. "Why does she keep doing this?"
Scott didn't answer.
"Do you think she's in the woods again?" she asked.
He hesitated. "Maybe… but at this hour?"
"She's not scared of it, remember?" Alex murmured. "Last time, she went there without flinching."
Scott turned and started walking fast, eyes locked toward the forest line. "We need to check."
Together, they ran. Alex tried to keep up, but part of her mind wasn't focused on Sevira—she was watching Scott. Watching how his breath caught. How frantic he looked. How his eyes kept darting between trees, as if terrified they were already too late.
"He really cares about her," she thought. More than he knows.
Branches cracked under their feet as they entered the woods. It was dim and hushed, like the trees were holding their breath. Their flashlights swept over bushes and trunks, searching, praying.
Scott tripped over a stone, stumbled, but didn't stop. He pressed forward, brushing dirt from his hand.
Then he froze.
A faint, soft glow shimmered ahead.
"Do you see that?" he whispered.
Alex stopped beside him, eyes wide. The light was pale and ethereal—pulsing like a heartbeat in rainbow colors, blending blue, green, and soft violet across the darkness.
They moved forward slowly, barely breathing.
And then they saw her.
Sevira was standing alone, her arms folded gently across her chest, her eyes closed. The strange glow was coming from her—from the mark on her neck. It illuminated the air around her, making her look like something out of a dream. Or a prophecy.
Scott stared, stunned.
"What… is this?" he whispered.
Alex didn't move. She couldn't. She was just as frozen.
The colors shifted again—like something alive was beneath her skin. The birthmark glowed in hues of sunrise and moonlight. And Sevira… she looked peaceful. Still. Lost in something neither of them could hear.
"She's not here," Alex murmured. "Not really. She's somewhere else in her mind."
They didn't realize it, but Sevira was deep in a trance. In her thoughts, she wasn't standing in the forest. She was speaking to Kazov again, the mysterious presence that had been guiding her through silent whispers and flickers of light.
She'd come into the woods searching for answers. For her parents. For the pain that had been clawing at her chest since this trip began. How to go back to Kerion to save them.
But now—something felt different. Like the forest was listening back.
She whispered into the air, "Tell me what I need to do. Tell me how to save them. How to save myself."
The breeze picked up, rustling the trees.
And then—
Her eyes snapped open.
The light vanished. Completely. The glow dissolved as if it had never been there at all.
Sevira looked around, dazed, slowly realizing she wasn't alone.
Alex took a step forward. "Sev…"
Scott was already walking toward her. She looked up at them, startled. Eyes wide. Lips trembling.
"They saw."
She wasn't sure if it scared her more… or comforted her.
Sevira's hands were still trembling even after the magic had faded. The rainbow glow from her birthmark was gone, but the intensity in Scott and Alex's eyes remained. They stood in silence for a long while. The air was heavy, filled with unspoken fears and questions. Sevira stared at the ground, her lips pressed together, her thoughts spiraling. She didn't want to lie—but the truth sounded insane.
She took in a shaky breath, nails biting into her palms as she clenched her fists.
Scott's voice cut through the air, soft but firm. "What are you?"
It wasn't an accusation, just confusion—desperation masked in curiosity.
Alex took a cautious step forward, her brows furrowed in concern. "Sev, please. Say something."
She slowly looked up at them. Her eyes were glassy, a storm brewing behind them. The silence broke as her voice cracked into the morning air.
"I'm sorry… for hiding the truth. I didn't know how to explain. I'm not who you think I am." Her voice quivered, but she kept going.
Scott raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not from this world," she said softly, barely above a whisper. "I come from a place called Kerion—an underground world. My parents are there… and they're not safe. None of my people are."
Alex blinked, clearly shaken. "Wait… underground world? Sevira, what are you talking about?"
Scott stared at her, his jaw clenching. "Are you feeling okay? Did you fall? Hit your head or something?"
"I'm not sick," she replied firmly. "And no, I didn't hit my head. I was born to protect Kerion. It's a magical world, and… I have powers. Real ones."
Scott let out a soft, nervous laugh, like he didn't know if he should take her seriously or call a doctor. "So what? You're saying you're some kind of—what—magical princess from a fantasy land?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "And everything I've been hiding… it's because I've been afraid. I didn't know if you would believe me, or think I'm crazy, my people are dying."
Alex looked from Sevira to Scott, and back again. "If this is some kind of joke, it's going way too far, Sevira. You're scaring me."
Scott's expression was unreadable now. "If you're really telling the truth," he said slowly, "then prove it."
Sevira hesitated only for a second. Then she raised her hand toward a nearby tree. A soft shimmer lit her fingertips, and with a sharp motion, she flicked her wrist. A thick branch snapped clean off and dropped to the ground with a loud crack. The leaves rustled to a still hush.
Alex gasped.
Scott stepped back, stunned. His mouth opened, but no words came.
"I made that happen," Sevira said, her voice steadier now. "I'm not lying."
Silence fell again as the weight of the truth settled in.
"You have powers too?" Scott turned to Alex. "What does that make you?"
"She doesn't." Sevira said and he turned to look back at her. "Alex and I are not related. They found me, saved me and adopted me. I'm so grateful, without them don't know how I would have turned out."
Scott processed all she said. They are not related by blood?
Alex blinked again, trying to process it all. "This… this explains everything. The car accident, the weird things that always happen around you…"
Sevira nodded. "I never wanted to keep it from you. I was just scared. Of what you would think. Mom. Dad. Was scared of losing you."
Scott stepped closer. He didn't speak at first. Then he gave her a half-smile and said, "You're magical… and you're still Sevira. That's what matters."
Alex wiped a tear from her eye, moving to hug her. "You should've told us sooner. You don't have to go through this alone."
They held her close. She was overwhelmed—not by fear this time, but relief. Her secret was no longer hers alone. At least two people now knew the truth, and they didn't run away.
Sevira whispered, "Please don't tell the others. Not yet. I need to be ready."
"We won't," Scott said softly. "It stays between us."
After a few more minutes under the trees, they turned back. The woods no longer felt so heavy with secrets. The truth had been laid bare. And now, with Scott and Alex beside her, Sevira felt a little stronger.
As they walked back toward the hotel where the other students were just beginning to stir, Sevira glanced up at the sky—its soft pink hue signaling dawn.
Maybe the worst was behind her.
But the real battle was just beginning.
——————-
Sevira's fingers clenched at her side, the cold breeze brushing over her arms like tiny invisible needles. She had no sleeves, but she barely felt the chill. What pierced deeper was the way Lizzie's hands lingered on Scott. The way her words rang—"you want to be partner with this fake girl"—they dug under Sevira's skin like thorns.
Her breath hitched.
Scott's face was a blend of shock and disgust, his voice sharp as a blade.
"Don't lay your hands on me for any reason," he had snapped.
The anger in his voice wasn't just about Lizzie touching him—it was about Lizzie disrespecting Sevira.
That one sentence… made her heart skip.
Scott turned to Sevira as Lizzie stormed off, her heels clicking furiously against the floor. For a moment, he didn't say anything. The fire in his eyes slowly cooled into something softer, gentler.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Sevira blinked, but nodded faintly.
Kyle nudged Sky playfully, whispering,
"Well, that was awkward."
Sky grinned.
"More like desperate," he replied under her breath.
Emma came to Sevira's side, placing a jacket over her shoulders.
"She's trying too hard," Emma said with a shrug. "Lizzie's not used to being ignored."
Scott looked at Sevira, his eyes locking with hers.
"What she said back there… it's not true," he said gently.
"I know," Sevira whispered.
————-
The morning sun filtered through the towering trees as students gathered, excitement thick in the air. It was the Forest Challenge—one of the most anticipated days of the term. Each pair of students had been assigned a map and a satchel, then divided and scattered into the woods.
Scott was paired with Sevira.
Alex moved alongside her partner, Sky, her boyfriend.
Kyle was teamed with Emma, who was already scribbling notes on a page.
Others followed in pairs—each duo expected to locate ten item hidden deep within the enchanted forest.
Sevira's eyes scanned the forest edge. The trees looked beautiful, but something about them felt… aware. Watching.
"We better stay alert," she said softly, unfolding their map.
Scott chuckled.
"Scared already?"
"I'm not scared," she replied, sharp-eyed. "I'm focused."
Ahead, Alex paused, her face tightening. One hand dropped to her lower abdomen.
Sky noticed instantly.
"Babe? What's wrong?"
"Cramps…" she whispered, bending slightly. "They just hit so hard all of a sudden."
Sky stepped closer and gently wrapped an arm around her.
"Hey, hey… sit for a second. Don't push yourself. I've got you."
She nodded, clearly in pain, and leaned into him as he guided her to sit on a flat rock. He took off his jacket and draped it over her lap.
"You should've stayed behind," Sky murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"And miss this? No way," Alex whispered back. "I'll be okay."
He pulled out a small water bottle and handed it to her, eyes never leaving hers.
"You don't have to prove anything. If it gets worse, we leave."
"I know. But… I want to try."
Nearby, Scott had noticed the moment, glancing toward them with a small frown of concern. But Sevira tugged his sleeve.
"Focus. We need to move fast before the others find all the items."
They moved deeper into the forest, leaving behind the comforting sound of the group. The further in they went, the quieter it got—unnaturally quiet. The light barely pierced the thick canopy now.
Sevira suddenly stopped, pointing up.
"There's one. See that shimmer? It's hanging on that branch."
Scott squinted. A small orb pulsed with violet light, swaying gently from a vine-wrapped limb.
"Got it."
"Be careful," she warned, watching his every move.
"What should I be careful about?" Scott grinned as he climbed. "You're the one always causing trouble."
Just as he reached for the orb, his foot caught on a hidden root.
He slipped.
"Scott!" Sevira shouted.
He crashed to the ground hard, the orb in hand—but their map slipped from his pocket and fluttered into a gully below.
Scott groaned, clutching his leg.
"The map!" Sevira panicked, running toward the edge.
"Forget the map," Scott muttered through clenched teeth. "My leg—damn it—it's bleeding bad."
Sevira knelt beside him, inspecting the injury. Blood soaked through his pants.
"You're lucky that root didn't snap your bone in half," she scolded, her voice tight. "I told you to be careful!"
"Oh, great," Scott groaned. "You're more worried about the map than me bleeding to death."
"Don't be dramatic."
"You really hate me, don't you?"
Sevira met his eyes, serious now.
"If I hated you, I'd leave you now."
He tried to laugh but winced in pain.
She exhaled, raising her glowing hands.
"Hold still."
"Wait—are you about to—"
A soft shimmer bloomed around her fingertips. As she whispered an incantation in the ancient tongue of Kerion, her hands hovered over his leg. The wound glowed briefly… then vanished.
Scott blinked, stunned.
"You're seriously magic," he muttered.
"I told you," she said with a smirk. "Kerion doesn't play around."
"Tell me about your world again," he asked as they both sat, catching their breath. "Where did you say you were from—Kimon?"
"It's Kerion," she corrected. "A realm of living forests, crystal lakes, and ancient magic. My parents left me there when I was young…saying I will make them proud."
He watched her face soften, her tone shift.
"Do you remember their names?" he asked gently.
"Zena. The warrior princess. And Afroda… my mother's partner. They were both strong. Brave. I used to cry for them to come back for me. But now… I just want to make them proud."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly.
Scott placed a comforting hand on hers.
"You will. I promise."
Just then, a loud screech shattered the moment.
A vulture dove from above, black wings slicing the air.
"Duck!" Scott shouted, pulling her down just in time.
The vulture swooped low, its claws grazing Sevira's shoulder. She screamed as she lost her balance, falling into Scott's arms.
"I've got you," he said, holding her close.
"Thank you." She whispered. "Scott you know our map is gone. We are—"
"Lost." He completed using his eyes to search the environment.