Then again, we are back to square one.
The grand hall of Thornwood Academy was a cauldron of tension as Raena and Vladimir stepped through its towering doors.
The ceiling stretched far above them, adorned with ancient tapestries and glowing chandeliers, but none of that grandeur could mask the undercurrent of hostility that rippled through the room.
As always, whenever Raena was in the room, whispers flitted from student to student, carried on a current of malice and envy.
"There she is, the failure..."
"Girl could not even finish a single trial exam?"
"Thinking she could ever stand with the elites."
"Oh, this witch still has a face?"
"Yeah? A dumb one."
"Better rot in bed than see her again."
'This... again?'
Raena's heart hammered in her chest, her skin prickling with the sting of their words. She is tired of all of this. If they could give her one single break from all the same things she hears from them... What a wonderful experience it would have been at Thornwood!
But no, they will never stop toying with her around, won't they?
Raena sighed.
She felt Vladimir's hand tighten around hers, his silent promise to protect her offering little solace.
The walls seemed to close in on her, the weight of the judgmental stares bearing down like a crashing wave. Every step forward felt like a struggle, her legs heavy as if she were wading through quicksand.
"Just breathe, Raena," she told herself, forcing air into her lungs. "It's almost over. You did your best."
But deep down, a knot of dread twisted in her stomach.
The uncertainty gnawed at her, threatening to unravel the fragile threads of hope she clung to. What if it wasn't enough?
The din of whispers grew louder, more aggressive, until Zelbus, the imposing headmaster, stepped forward.
His presence commanded silence, and the students fell quiet as if a spell had been cast over them. His eyes, sharp and discerning, swept across the room, ensuring that all attention was focused on him.
"Enough of this nonsense," Zelbus declared, his voice resonating with authority. "It is time to reveal the final rankings."
Professor Elara, with her calm and collected demeanor, took her place beside him.
Here we are. This is what we are waiting for!
She raised her hand, and the large screen at the front of the hall flickered to life, the names of the students appearing one by one in a slow, deliberate reveal. The tension in the air was palpable, every student on edge as they awaited their fate.
Raena held her breath, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.
She dared to glance at Vladimir, who met her gaze with a reassuring nod.
"Whatever happens, Raena, remember that you're not alone," he whispered his voice a balm to her frayed nerves.
The rankings began to fill the screen:
1. Lucius (Crusader) - 2000 points
2. Serena (Duke) - 1500 points
3. Vladimir (Duke) - 1450 points
4. Jaime (Duke) - 1400 points
5. Jaun (Duke) - 1350 points
6. Ivana (Duke) - 1300 points
7. Zorina (Elite) - 990 points
8. Cleagor (Elite) - 990 points
9. Gale (Elite) - 950 points
10. Ferina (Elite) - 950 points
11. Aurora (Elite) - 920 points
12. Talon (Elite) - 910 points
13. Cirana (Elite) - 905 points
14. Fern (Elite) - 870 points
15. Moss (Elite) - 830 points
16. Raena (Footmen) - 560 points
Vladimir was wrong.
Heck, talk about not being alone... Raena, the princess of Ravenscroft, the beloved of the Shadowlands, clearly is the only Footman!
"Wh...what...?"
Raena's name appeared last, and her score was painfully low.
The moment it registered, it felt as if the world had been ripped out from under her.
The ground seemed to tilt, and she swayed on her feet, the breath knocked out of her lungs. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, and she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
"No… this can't be right," she thought, her mind struggling to comprehend what she saw.
Her eyebrows curled, teeth all gritted at the thought of losing.
I.. I don't understand!
"I… I gave everything… How could this happen?"
And what pained her the most was everyone was celebrating. Around her, the hall erupted into a cacophony of voices. Some cheered for their victories, while others murmured in disbelief.
Even Vladimir, for all he deserves, coming right next to Lucius! Of course, who would not even be happy about that?
But all Raena could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat, pounding in her ears like a drumbeat of despair. She felt the sting of humiliation, the weight of failure pressing down on her shoulders like an unbearable burden.
"I'm nothing… I'm worthless…"
The thoughts spiraled through her mind, a torrent of self-doubt that threatened to drown her. She had tried so hard and fought fiercely, only to be met with this cruel betrayal.
If this is the case, don't you think what the others told her must have been true...
"Why am I even here? Why do I even try?"
Vladimir was wrong. She was all alone.
Tears streamed down her face, and she struggled to keep her composure.
The room seemed to spin around her, the faces of her peers blending into a distorted, mocking blur. She looked up at the screen again, hoping—praying—that somehow, it was all just a terrible mistake.
But the numbers remained unchanged, her name fixed at the bottom like a mark of disgrace!
She is nothing!
NOTHING!
But is this it?
Is this how we end things?
Her... crying, every single time!
Raena took a massive gulp as she closed her eyes. "No..."
That is right, Raena. This... this can't be right!
With trembling hands, she wiped away her tears and forced herself to look at Headmaster Zelbus. Her voice, when she finally found it, was broken and raw. "Headmaster Zelbus… I don't understand… Why is my score so low? I did everything I could… I gave it my all…"
Before Zelbus could respond, Lucius's cruel laughter cut through the air like a dagger. He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.
"Oh, Raena," he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "Did you really think you stood a chance?"
Raena darted her eyes to the handsome heir, whose charm always died out because of his dogshit mentality! "You..." the witch princess hissed daringly. "What have you done?!"