Sitting by the long and rectangular table were eight students, four of them being Noelle, Minerva, Meredith and Damon. Noelle sat on the head narrowest side against the windows, the last three sat beside each other, the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Undefeated on the other side, and the Eighth Undefeated mirrored Noelle.
This was their usual sitting arrangement, and none of them had any complaints about it.
"Thank you all for assembling here at short notice, I just found something very.. Interesting." said the intrigued Noelle, placing down a scroll on the table. "Meredith received a letter not long ago, stating a certain someone enrolled in this academy."
They all leaned closer, their ears open and attentive.
"I'll let only one volunteer for this mission, and that is.."
Her beating around the bush left a frown to a few of them, who preferred not to waste time like this and get straight to the point.
"Keeping a close eye on Sévir van Doren."
Everyone, save for Noelle, Minerva and Meredith froze, their eyes and mouths widened. They were speechless, as if what they just heard was something they never ever expected.
Damon slammed his hands on the table, the chair grinding backwards as he stood up. "Sévir van Doren!? He's alive!?" Each corner of the room heard his voice, attesting to the shock and disbelief he felt.
"The Pariah Prince.." the blonde Fifth Undefeated clasped his hands together. "What if he's a fake?"
Minerva shook her head. "I doubt anyone would impersonate him, he's a literal pariah."
Noelle raised her balled hand, the room went silent straight after. "I see not a sliver of benefits impersonating him. Whatever the truth may be, we must retain vigilance amidst our eventual and discreet attempt in digging out possible information from him." She glanced at everyone, her chin resting on her knuckles. "It won't do having all of us trying to get him within our grasp, therefore I'm assigning Minerva for the mission."
Their glances landed on her, yet not an inkling of pressure could be seen within. "I have no objections, Ms. Trysta."
"Then it's settled, I won't be hearing any objections from the rest of you." She clapped her hands twice. "Everyone but Meredith, dismissed."
.
The room went silent as the last to leave closed the door, leaving Noelle and Meredith behind, their gazes locked on each other.
"Is there something the matter, Ms. Trysta?"
"Why were you the only one who received this letter?" Her straightforwardness was one Meredith expected, who prepared a reply, free of anxiety.
"I simply requested to be the one to receive any news from here, I didn't want you to be swarmed by information that might not even be relevant especially when you're hard at work."
Noelle nodded, though her silence hinted at slight suspicion. "Understood. You're dismissed."
Meredith sighed and leaned on the closed door. I sensed her suspicion.. Am I in trouble?
She looked down, glancing between a golden necklace that hung from her neck and held a small emerald in the center, and a ruby circled by small and black diamonds that poked out a golden ring.
Right, I have to find him! Reminded through the jewelry, a surge of resolve engulfed her heart, bringing her feet forward in search of him.
.
As Meredith descended the spiral stairs, her steeled resolve marched along her through the suffocating sea of students, their voices combined as loud as gunshots. Such a stir for a sole person.
With a few more pushes, she escaped with a sigh of relief. Let's see.. She was quick to return to work, her gaze up the signs above the doors.
I know it's been years, but I'm sure some things haven't changed about that guy. She halted in front of the sign "5-1", slowly pushing its door open.
Met with gazes of a few students that decided to stay in the classroom, she ignored them and observed the area. As quick as she peeked open, she closed it and left. Not here.
.
She gazed down the open and elevated hallway that exposed the majority of the huge cafeteria, yet not a single sign of him showed up within the crowd that sat and walked around, their trays in hand.
.
Come the end of lunch, her focus sailed away from all afternoon lessons, her luck topping out as the professors asked her nothing.
.
Come dismissal and the slow sinking of the sun, she found herself everywhere–the dorms, stadiums, theatre, library, and excess rooms which students often occupied for leisure. Her mind was dismayed, yet her heart ventured on.
God, my feet hurt.. How long have I been walking? She wiped the sweat off her forehead with slow and consistent puffs escaping her mouth.
With her feet sore from continuous expedition, she threaded the cobblestone path that led to a bench, stopping on her tracks midway. Her heart froze as did her body, her eyes as wide as can be. She could feel the sheer redness looming within her ears and cheeks as she stared down at a figure unaware of her presence.
I–Is that.. Not even her mind could utter properly, for her heart sped up and took over, bringing her weak on the knees and warm everywhere.
She hid her lips and gripped her chest, even she could feel her heart's desperation to leap out. It's him..
"My prince.." Her voice, dreamy as if she fell in love at first sight, matched the sparkling eyes that radiated the blend of feelings her mind struggled to keep up with.
.
A silver-haired student poured sprinkles of water down the colorful line of flowers through a metallic water can, his teeth gritted as much as his brows furrowed. Why did that witch have to assign me here out of all duties?
"Sévir!" A girl's voice excitedly exclaimed, her run halting as she wrapped her arms around him.
It was as if time stopped just for the two of them, their surroundings turning as white as snow, with not the roads, nor the bench, nor the trees, nor the sun, nor anything, were in sight–just the two of them.
Nothing emitted but their loud and racing hearts, and the girl's sob.
Meredith..? Sévir looked down, his eyes widened as much as his brows raised in sheer surprise.
For a moment, he could've sworn seeing the little him and her hugging, only to disappear upon blinking once.
She looked up, her sparkling grape-violet eyes locking with his ginkgo-golden pair, a slight hint of cracks growing within its impregnable wall. "..I knew you were alive.. I just knew it!"
Whether due to pure joy or to catch his attention, or both, she tip-toed closer to his level, cupping his cheeks and merging her lips with his. For once, my patience ripened the fruit.. Words could never express how every fibre of my being is enjoying this moment.
His heart stopped, a single tear flowing down his left cheek. All the memories of them resurfacing as if rising from the dead, six feet under. ..What.. Why..–Why can't I pull out of this..? The kiss was long and sweet, and as if he was steadily losing control over himself, his arms extended little by little to hug her back, much to his brain's protest. No.. This can't be.
He bended his heart's will to his brain, retaking control over his arms and using it to nudge her off, much to her confusion. "Sévir..? What's wrong?"
He felt his lips on his fingertips, then shook his head. "Meredith.. This is wrong."
Her entirety froze, confusion and disbelief spilling everywhere. "..What..? How is this wrong..?" She pulled herself together and stepped closer, grabbing his hands. "Sévir, how is this wrong? Are we not engaged? Are we not lovers?" Desperation loomed within her voice; she wanted not his rejection, but acceptance–his love, not his distance.
Sévir pulled his hands away, digging them deep in his pockets. "..People might see and–"
"Bullcrap!" she exclaimed, her brows knitted. "Do you know how long I waited for this moment, Sévir?" Her desperate hands gripped his sleeve "To finally meet you again.. To take your surname as mine! To be yours and only yours, and you to be mine.. And only mine.." The shakiness of her voice attested to the growing storm stirring within her heart.
His heart dropped to the deepest pits of hell in realization. She was this.. Committed..?
"Sévir.." She looked up, her gaze as broken as her heart. "Do you not love Meredith anymore..?"
He opened his mouth, yet nothing came out. As a last ditch effort, he grabbed her wrists and pulled them off of his sleeves. It wouldn't take an ear enhancer to hear how Meredith's heart was in shambles, shattering inch by inch every second.
"Sévir–"
"I'm sorry, Meredith." he dug his hands again and walked past her, his pace faster than normal.
At last, tears escaped her eyes, not of joy, but of sorrow.
Their white space disappeared, bringing her back to reality.
The sun was never as bright, its very last inches sinking from the academy's mountain view as darkness grew.
Her mind was never as chaotic.
Her heart was never as broken.
Her spirit was never as wounded.
Her dreams were never as shattered.
Believing is gambling.