Raena felt the same comfort on her back, which seemed to be her usual thing in her days at Thornwood.
The young princess moaned as her body felt stiff again. "Did I... pass out?"
There was a hint of disappointment in her tone, knowing how she had been passing out straight for the past few days. It has been terrible, really!
"Ugh... really..."
Raena stirred awake in the familiar, sterile environment of the infirmary, a place she had grown to despise.
The crisp white sheets, the smell of antiseptic, and the soft hum of the magical wards that surrounded the room were all too recognizable.
She blinked a few times, disoriented, before the frustration set in. "Why... God, why...?"
She was supposed to be strong, to prove herself, but once again, she had failed and ended up here instead of in the dorms she had never even seen.
"Why am I always here?" she muttered to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper.
The memories of the trial came flooding back—Lucius, Zorina, and Cleagor's betrayal, the sting of their laughter, and the coldness of the ground as she lay there, defeated. Her fists clenched the sheets as she fought back the tears.
Before she could sink further into her despair, a gentle voice interrupted her thoughts. "You're awake. How are you feeling, dear?"
Raena looked up to see a woman with vibrant green hair that twisted and coiled like living snakes. Wait... aren't those actual snakes?!
The woman's face was kind, with a warm smile, but her eyes betrayed a weariness that Raena couldn't help but notice. She wore the robes of a Thornwood professor, and the insignia on her chest indicated her status.
"I'm Professor Laurel, head of the infirmary," the woman introduced herself, her tone gentle as she approached Raena's bedside. "You seem a bit distant. It's alright, take your time."
Raena's curiosity piqued, but she kept her distance, merely nodding in response.
There was something about this professor that felt different—more genuine, perhaps, than the others she had encountered. Yet, Raena wasn't ready to let her guard down.
Laurel seemed to sense Raena's hesitance. She offered a soft chuckle, glancing at her own reflection in the polished surface of the nearby cabinet. "I suppose it's the snakes, isn't it? They do have a way of making people wary."
She gently patted one of the serpents, which responded with a contented hiss. "I'm from the Vingroves if you couldn't tell. It's a family trait."
Raena's eyes widened slightly.
The Vingroves were known for their unique abilities, particularly their connection to nature and creatures like these serpentine locks. She had heard stories, but meeting someone from the Vingroves was rare... except Moss and Fern, of course.
Raena shook her head a little bit to get away from her nonsensical train of thought.
'Of course, I haven't been outside the Shadowlands, I'd be surprised.'
Still, Raena remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
She does not know how to respond fully to the Professor. All these kind words are making her weary. After all, she could only hear these words from Vladimir alone! The rest were mean. Super mean.
Her uncle might also be an exception, but that guy was a different case. He never showed up once again. It was weird.
Professor Laurel, sensing the tension, took a seat beside Raena.
"It's alright to be scared, to be frustrated. Thornwood is a cruel place, especially for those who stand out. But I've been here a long time, and I've seen students like you before."
She paused, her voice growing softer. "Are you having a hard time, little girl?"
The question hit Raena like a tidal wave.
All the emotions she had been suppressing since the trial, since the moment she stepped foot in Thornwood, came rushing to the surface. Before she could stop herself, tears began to fall, and she broke down in a fit of sobs.
'If... If only someone... someone knows...'
The witch could not help it as if her heart was crushed to hear the question from someone with a motherly voice. She could not help but to break into tears...
"They're so mean to me," Raena cried out, her voice shaking. "No matter how hard..."
"Why? No matter how hard I try, they always find a way to make me feel like nothing. I was so close, and they just... they just took it all away."
Laurel listened quietly, her heart aching for the young girl. When Raena finally stopped to catch her breath, Laurel spoke again, her voice calm and soothing.
"Life here is harsh, Raena. It's a place that challenges you, pushes you to your limits, and sometimes breaks you. But you have to remember why you're here."
Raena looked at her through tear-filled eyes, confusion and sadness mingling in her expression. "You wouldn't know... you have no idea what I'm going through!"
To her disbelief, Laurel chuckled.
"Oh... oh girl, that is where you are wrong."
"Huh?"
"I wasn't always the head of the infirmary. When I was a student, I was bullied too! They called me a freak because of my hair, because of my connection to the snakes. But I had to keep going, not for them, but for myself and for my region. I had a mission, just like you do."
As she spoke, one of her serpentine locks moved closer to Raena, almost as if trying to comfort her. Raena watched it, her breathing slowing as she listened to Laurel's words.
"You have something special in you, Raena," Laurel said gently. "Something that they can't take away, no matter how hard they try. But you have to be strong enough to hold onto it, to fight for it, even when it feels like the world is against you."
"You... you mentioned you have a mission as well?"
Laurel looked away, staring into the void. "The shadowlands may be the place for the banished, but that does not mean there is no other place that is neglected in this corrupt Kingdom."
Raena's eyebrow curled, and her intense curiosity picked in. 'Corrupt...?'
"A few years soon, and I might never know. Perhaps the huge, prevailing trees of the Vingroves might be as good as dead as the ones from your region, poor girl."
Just then, the door to the infirmary creaked open, and Vladimir entered.
Oh, please. Why does this knight of dark shining armor always come in between the story lore?
Nevertheless, the confused face on Raena was instantly erased the moment she found the charming face of the Darkbane heir. What can she say? His charming personality really makes her heart go nuts!
His eyes immediately found Raena, and a look of relief washed over his face.
He crossed the room in a few long strides and, without hesitation, pulled her into a loving, tight embrace.
"V-Vlad?"
'What... What is this... guy doing?!'
She thought, although she might be a good liar, that she actually enjoyed feeling the man's biceps and toned chest near her body. Haha.
Either way, let's give the princess the benefit of the doubt.
Raena stiffened at first, surprised by the sudden closeness, but then she melted into his arms, burying her face in his chest as fresh tears began to fall.
Vladimir held her beautifully as if he never wanted to let go, his hand gently stroking her hair.
"I was so worried about you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner."
Professor Laurel stood up, giving them a small, knowing smile. "I'll leave you two alone," she said quietly, slipping out of the room to give them some privacy. "God... kids these days. They're literally having a hard time, but they always find time to toy with love around."
Raena clung to Vladimir, the warmth of his embrace chasing away the cold that had settled in her heart. After a few moments, she pulled back slightly, looking up at him through tear-streaked eyes.
"What happened? You know... after that?
Vladimir hesitated, a pained expression crossing his face. "You won! Hehe, actually," he admitted, "but Lucius... he didn't include your name in the victory report. He claimed you were a 'failure,' and the school agreed."
Raena could barely even gulp. It was as if her whole life at Thornwood Academy had been so long, and everything did not go well with one another! Nothing... nothing seems to be right at all!
Raena's heart sank even further. It was like a knife twisting in the wound.
"So I'm nothing again," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Vladimir cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "No, Raena. You're not nothing. You're stronger than any of them give you credit for."
"Oh please..."
"Plus! I'm here with you..." Vladimir held her tightly, his gaze piercing into her eyes. "Raena, no matter what."
His words were like a balm to her wounded spirit, and for the first time since the trial, Raena felt a small spark of hope.
She nodded, leaning into his touch.
"We need to go back to the main hall," Vladimir said gently. "They're announcing the final rankings soon."
Raena bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Can I... can I visit my dorm after? I've never been there."
Vladimir smiled softly. "Of course. After the rankings, I'll take you there myself."
Raena nodded, taking a deep breath as she steadied herself. She wasn't sure what the future held, but with Vladimir by her side, she felt a little less afraid. Together, they left the infirmary, heading towards the main hall where their fate awaited them.