"Lory, I thought we both agreed to eliminate Nasrin, why is she still alive?" Said the girl with a lukewarm voice yet her deep blue eyes showed endless coldness and darkness.
Lory, the woman beside the girl was as cold and as indifferent as well. "You think I didn't do anything to her, do you, Kendra?" Lory replied dangerously with a slight tone of threat.
Kendra didn't respond; she only squinted the lids of her eyes at Lory, and Lory narrowed her eyes back. Even though the current weather was serene, the atmosphere between the two ladies made the passerby feel otherwise.
Like a storm during the winter season.
Cold and chilling.
Meanwhile, the crowd who noticed the silent war between the two ladies didn't dare raise their eyes; they all hurriedly scattered away. As if feeling goosebumps on their skin; they look away in instinct dissipating curiosity that was growing on their hearts.
After a long silence, the staring contest between the two ended, and the first to break away from the contact was Lory.
"I put poison in her tea last night," Lory said, looking suspiciously at a certain person lined up on the registration lane at the academy.
Kendra also turned to gaze at where Lory was staring at, then she scoffed, "yet she's here, looking alive and well. You said that you put poison, but perhaps you let her live because you still have a grudge against me, right, sister..."
"You don't understand anything, Kendra," Lory interrupted; her violet eyes seething in anger.
"Then enlighten me, aren't we supposed to be sisters?" Kendra replied, squinting her eyes.
Lory narrowed her eyes at the girl, and with a deep threatening voice, she sneered, "careful sister, people might think that we are relatives, who knows if your princess Clio was just somewhere listening to us, aren't you afraid that she would gaze at you disgustingly again..."
"Enough," Kendra warned in a lukewarm voice. "Speak to me about that bastard again and I..."
Kendra bit hard on her lower lip, swallowing the words in her throat; not wanting to continue as she kept a cold glare at Lory's smirking face.
"You will what sister? Cast me aside? Disowned me?" Lory muttered, smiling disdainfully.
Kendra pursed her lips, keeping her silence. She averted her gaze, looking down as she hid her guilty eyes.
Lory rolled her eyes then she glanced at that person again. That person, Nasrin Urduja, was lined up with the other youths with a stiff nervous face and awkward posture.
"I really did put poison on her tea last night," Lory started solemnly. "I also went and sneaked in after a few hours to check her vitals...I was so sure she had no pulse when I left, so..."
Lory's messy brows crumpled as she continued. "Believe it or not, I have no idea how she's still alive. That poison could kill an S-Rank adventurer, could kill a mythic grade monster, and could even kill a poison master," Lory explained.
Kendra remained silent as she became lost in her own thoughts. She suspiciously stared at Nasrin's face. Nasrin was a tall, slender girl. Long lashes, thick straight heroic eyebrows, bright brown eyes, jet-black hair, and fair skin. That familiar face was the face who haunted her. Looking at that face again; Kendra only felt deep hatred in her heart.
Among all the youths that had lined up, Nasrin had the most pretty face she ever saw even during her original time. [Too bad that this pretty fellow would kill many innocent lives in the future.] Kendra thought regretfully as she looked at Nasrin's face.
However, Kendra soon erased those feelings as she remembered those memories. That Nasrin turned her life to hell, and in this life, Kendra doesn't want to experience that again.
"Lory," Kendra called the attention of the woman beside her.
Lory glanced at Kendra.
"From now on, I'll handle everything from here," Kendra stated calmly yet her deep blue eyes showed determination; that she wouldn't take no as an answer.
Lory stared back at the girl's deep blue eyes. "Why? Afraid that people would once more discover that we're half sisters?" Lory spat with some resentment.
Kendra shook her head lightly and replied, "No, I just..."
[Don't want you to always do the dirty work for me.] Kendra completed the remaining words in her head. Instead of saying that, Kendra said, "you're right, it would trouble my future goals, so..."
"Alright," Lory interrupted with an indifferent voice. "I understand," she said, turning around as she sauntered her legs towards the luxurious carriage.
With a complicated gaze, Kendra looked away and went in the opposite direction where people lined up.
Kendra stared intensely at Nasrin's back as she recalled those memories.
In her original time, Kendra discovered that her father was the secret leader of the Rebel Army, and she only came to discover the truth about it after Nasrin killed her father. This person tried to kill her many times, and every single time that Kendra is on the verge of death from Nasrin's hand; someone who is close to Kendra would always sacrifice their life to protect her.
However, the one who ended up killing Kendra at the end of her life was that bastard princess. That scumbag put Kendra on a blazing fire, burning her alive along with her half-sister, Lory.
Lory. Kendra always felt guilty towards her. Not only to her sister but to everyone who protected her.
At first, Kendra wanted to cooperate with Lory since the two of them both got back from that hell together and returned to the past. Kendra doesn't understand how and why it happened, but she and her sister Lory returned to the past; just a week before Kendra got accepted into the academy.
A week before coming here in the academy, Lory came to Kendra and that's how both of them came to understand that both of them time travelled.
Thereafter, Lory suggested to Kendra to kill the young Nasrin in advance, and Kendra agreed.
But Kendra realised that she was being protected again. Lory shouldn't have died with her in that blazing fire, but Lory has always tried to protect her even though she once pushed her away.
In those memories, Kendra was always being protected, so this time she will not let that happen again.
Kendra's deep blue eyes held endless hatred towards Nasrin and to that bastard princess.
This time...it's Kendra's turn to protect. This time; Kendra is the hunter and Nasrin is...her prey.
Her lips curled in a playful smile as she approached that person's back. Kendra fixed the tone of her voice and said, "Excuse me. Is this the registration lane?"
Slowly, the tall slender girl turned around with a cordial smile on her face. Long straight hair tied in a neat ponytail; her side bangs dancing as the gust of the whistling wind passed by around them; it made the face of the girl appear cheerful and fresh.
Especially how those radiant brown eyes glowed like the amiable light of the sunny summer; it made Kendra feel an indescribable warmness in those pleasant eyes.
Bright and carefree were the first few words that Kendra thought, as Nasrin turned around to face her. It was as if the person before Kendra was a completely different person.
[Did I approach the wrong person?] For a while, Kendra doubted whether the person before her was really that Nasrin. But those thoughts soon vanish as Kendra notices that this Nasrin suddenly gazes at her horrified; like Nasrin just saw the queen of hell.
However, Kendra had no idea why Nasrin would be afraid of her. After all, Kendra's identity as of the moment was that of a commoner.
Kendra is sure that she is wearing commoner clothes or at least an outfit that any ordinary omega would wear; shirt, corset, and skirt; everything about it is simple. Meanwhile, Nasrin wore luxurious alpha clothes; pants, shirt, jerkin jacket, and coat; it made the tall slender girl appear even more extravagant and very aristocratic. So there was no reason for Nasrin to give Kendra such a gaze.
Kendra felt curious and wondered why this person was so different from the person she knew.
The Nasrin that Kendra knew always had arrogant eyes; that Nasrin looks at everything and everyone like a worm beneath her; a worm that could always be crushed with one step of her foot. Yet, this Nasrin before Kendra had her eyes wide open as if this person was shocked and scared to see Kendra.
And Kendra could recognize those emotions; that was the gaze of someone afraid of death. [That's strange.] Kendra thought to herself.
In addition, Nasrin should have now embarrassed her in front of the crowd, because that's what happened back in Kendra's original timeline.
Moreover, the Nasrin before Kendra had a stiff smile on her face, which is opposite to the reaction that Kendra was expecting.
The original Nasrin that Kendra knew would never smile at a commoner; even if it was a disgusting smile; the original Nasrin would still rather look down at the other person. Yet, this person that was currently in front of Kendra was smiling at her, a commoner. It was a stiff smile, but it was still a smile nonetheless, which is so unlike the personality of that person she knew.
Perhaps, this is what Lory meant by what she said. Lory told her that Nasrin was acting strange after trying to poison this person to death.
[Did she also return to the past?] Kendra suspiciously thought as she became more aware how terrified this Nasrin was.
[It's not impossible since Lory and I both returned to the past.] Kendra thought further, recalling her memories.
When they both met their end by that scumbag princess; Kendra was in her thirties and her sister was in her forties.
So even though Kendra had the appearance of a 16 year old young girl; deep inside the young exterior body was the soul of a 30 year old woman. Basically, Kendra and Lory return 14 years into the past.
Kendra doesn't know why and how, but perhaps the heavenly being Bathala is sympathising with her and her sister. However, the story is different with this Nasrin. After all, Nasrin had committed many unforgivable sins. If this person had indeed returned to the past, then Kendra would resent and curse heaven.
Despite having complicated thoughts, Kendra remained calm as she kept a friendly smile plastered on her face. "Are you alright? You look like you just died and saw hell," Kendra said in a joking manner, chuckling lightheartedly.
In truth, Kendra is just trying to assess the current situation. Gauge the other party's reaction, so Kendra could ascertain whether her suspicions were right.
At that, Kendra's deep blue eyes intently watched the other party's expression; not forgetting to keep a friendly smile glued on her face. At first, Nasrin showed a stunned face, beaming in delight in those light brown eyes.
However, Nasrin's smile disappeared as it was replaced by a frightened face. After a while, the fear was still there, but Nasrin's thick straight brows crumpled together, looking distressed; those bright eyes turned dim, losing its light.
Kendra couldn't help but feel sympathetic for Nasrin's distress expression. Nasrin looks like a lost puppy that was abandoned by her owner.
[It was kind of adorable.] Kendra thought subconsciously. When she realises what she just thought, Kendra quickly admonishes herself in her heart.
[Adorable? Did I just describe this person as adorable?] Kendra disbelievingly asked quietly in her thoughts.
[No, it must have been because I went through so much hell that this Nasrin now appeared quite...] Kendra reasoned to herself as she erased those unwanted thoughts.
Feeling like she's going insane by herself, Kendra awkwardly cleared her throat to get the attention of the person before her.
"Ahem, I was just kidding, anyway, my name is Kendra Salamanca," Kendra said as she offered her hand to test the bottom line of this person.
If this Nasrin was just pretending, then there's no way this person would shake her hand and get acquainted with her; like both of them were equal.
[Soon, this Nasrin will show her true colours.] Kendra thought, waiting how the other person would react to her hand.
[Perhaps, Nasrin would slap my hand then embarrass me in front of the crowd similar to what happened in those memories...] Kendra thought even further as she recalled what happened in those memories.
However, contrary to what Kendra expected, the other party hurriedly shook her hand, warming Kendra's freezing hand.
"Uh...hi Kendra, my name is Nasrin Urduja, and it was nice meeting you, uhm, this is indeed the registration lane, I hope we both successfully enter the academy," Nasrin said, stretching her lips in a nervous smile, shaking Kendra's hand enthusiastically.
Nasrin's light brown eyes were pure. Kendra couldn't see any malice or hostility in those eyes, and instead, it showed visible sincerity. Kendra had seen many eyes when she married the scumbag princess, and the light brown eyes before Kendra are undoubtedly the most clear eyes she ever saw.
What's more, Kendra doesn't know why, but this Nasrin before her seemed to be looking at Kendra in a certain kind of way. Like Kendra was the only person those light brown eyes could see, and everything around them didn't matter.
[Weird.] Kendra thought as she felt warm in her freezing heart.
Despite feeling strange in her chest, Kendra still maintained a friendly smile on her face. "Thank you, let's do our best Nasrin."
Nasrin nodded, then she quickly released Kendra's hand; stiffly turning to face forward.
Seeing the unnatural behaviour of this Nasrin, Kendra stared thoughtfully at this person's back. Kendra recalled their odd interaction earlier. This person was so suspiciously harmonious, and additionally, Nasrin's manner of speaking was so different from what Kendra remembers.
What's more, the Nasrin that Kendra knew behaved arrogantly. Unexpectedly, this person before Kendra acted completely different from the original Nasrin. It almost felt like she was really talking to a different person.
However, based on the other party's reaction; it seems that this Nasrin probably did return to the past; just like her and Lory. But Kendra is only about 20% sure of her theory.
After all, Kendra thinks that the evidence that she has collected so far is not enough to prove and support her assumptions.
[What is it that I was missing? Why does this person seem so mysteriously strange?] Kendra questioned herself in her head.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Kendra saw Lory looking at her from a distance. Yet, the moment Nasrin turned to stare at Lory; Lory then immediately moved her gaze to Nasrin.
Kendra noticed Nasrin giving a light smile to Lory, so Lory nodded and went back towards the luxurious carriage.
Only Kendra knew that Lory probably went to check up on her. However, Kendra is also aware that Nasrin never came to know that the person who killed her was her maid servant Lory.
That's why for Kendra, the interaction was normal, but there is something more to that than what meets the eye. The Nasrin that Kendra knew would never show a comforting smile towards her servant.
At that, the doubts in Kendra's heart grew even deeper.
This Nasrin that Kendra met for the first time after returning to the past was so different from what Kendra remembers.
However, recalling the horrified face of Nasrin earlier still made Kendra confirm that Nasrin had a secret.
If Nasrin was also like Kendra and her sister, then that doesn't explain why Nasrin was so humble. Kendra doesn't believe that Nasrin would suddenly change for the better.
The Nasrin that Kendra knew was an arrogant heartless person. Nasrin killed many people and that is something that would happen in the near future. It is what Kendra wanted to believe as she stared coldly at Nasrin's slender and tall back.
Kendra's deep blue eyes held resentment as deep as the ocean. If Nasrin turned around again, she would be shocked to see the menacing gaze of those deep blue eyes.
Like an endless pool of hatred.