The sunlight streaming through the manor's tall windows should've been warm and inviting, but Rae barely noticed it. She sat on the balcony, staring blankly at the horizon. The duel with Greythorne was over, but instead of satisfaction, she felt... hollow. She'd expected it to be more of a challenge, maybe even something to distract her from everything else weighing on her heart. But no—it had been insultingly easy.
The plan had been to play it smart: use her Barrier to study his moves, then rely on Liza's analysis to wrap things up quickly. She hadn't even needed that. The whole thing was over before it started, leaving her feeling more irritated than triumphant. At least it served its purpose. Greythorne was humiliated, and, more importantly, Rae was no longer tied to that ridiculous marriage. She hoped her little "crazy" display—removing one of his eyes for show—would keep anyone else from trying to pull the same stunt.
Of course, she wasn't actually crazy. She knew she could reattach his eye with her light magic anytime she wanted. But they didn't need to know that. Let them think she was a little unhinged. It made her life easier.
Meanwhile, Harold was already scheming. He knew the Greythornes wouldn't take this lying down, and the fallout could be dangerous. He needed a way to protect Rae without stirring up even more trouble. That's when it hit him: the royal academy.
Sending Rae to the academy would kill two birds with one stone. First, it would subtly let the world know she had royal blood without drawing too much attention. Second, it would give her a safe place to train and grow stronger, far from any immediate threats. The trick, though, was convincing Rae. She wasn't exactly in a state to jump at the idea of school. Harold figured a bit of bait would do the trick—like the academy's legendary library. He'd bluff that he heard whispers that it might hold knowledge of resurrection magic. That, he knew, would catch Rae's attention.
The weeks leading up to her enrollment were rough. Rae couldn't stop thinking about Crystal and Merle. Losing them had left a hole in her heart that she didn't know how to fill. Crystal had been a mother to her, and Merle… Merle was the only person who had ever truly understood her. Their deaths weren't just painful—they were soul-crushing.
In her old life, loss had been something distant, something she heard about but never really felt. But now? It was all-consuming. Some days, it felt like her heart had been ripped out and stomped on. The memories she had with them played in her head over and over, a cruel reminder of what she'd lost.
Revenge was the only thing that made sense. It wasn't the kind of thing Rae usually believed in—she used to think it was petty, maybe even a little pointless. But now? It felt like the only way to ease the ache in her chest. So, she promised herself she'd make their killer pay, no matter what it took.
Her training became her escape. She threw herself into it with everything she had, sharpening her skills in swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and magic. Her vampiric powers were trickier to figure out. Sure, the basics like speed, strength, and heightened senses came naturally, but the more advanced stuff was frustrating. She discovered she could compel people if they came into contact with her blood, but the effect was temporary and only controlled their bodies, not their minds.
Magic was another headache. Sometimes, her spells worked perfectly; other times, they blew up in her face. Liza explained that it was probably because of some new energy brewing inside her—something that felt electric. Rae immediately thought it was must be electrons she absorbed when she died. Eventually, her magic stabilized, but fire magic remained a no-go. Every time she tried to cast it, her magic circles collapsed. It was infuriating.
Then there was Eleanor. The vampire stuck around to look after Rae, despite Rae's best efforts to push her away. Eleanor was annoyingly good at reading her emotions, which made it impossible to hide how she was really feeling. Even when Rae acted cold or distant, Eleanor stayed, offering quiet support. It was comforting, though Rae would never admit it out loud.
Harold wasn't about to give up on the academy idea, and Rae wasn't sure why he was so insistent. She brushed him off every time he brought it up, thinking it'd be a waste of time. But Harold knew how to get to her.
He told her about the academy's library—how it was filled with ancient texts, some of which might even contain resurrection magic. That got her attention. If there was even a chance she could bring back Crystal and Merle, she had to take it. But there was another reason, too, one she didn't share with Harold. Rae was still angry—angry at the kingdom of Bermone for failing to send reinforcements during the monster attack. Their inaction had cost her everything. If she went to the academy, she could work her way into their system, rise through the ranks, and eventually take the throne for herself.
The thought of becoming queen didn't excite her, but it felt… right. If the kingdom wouldn't protect its people, then she would. And if that meant tearing down the current system and rebuilding it from scratch, so be it.
So, she agreed to Harold's plan. As she prepared to leave, Rae stood on the balcony one last time, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
She didn't feel whole—probably never would—but she wasn't broken anymore, either. The pain of her loss became something else: a fire burning inside her.
And she was ready to let it burn anyone who stood in her way.