The infirmary was quieter than usual. The soft hum of the overhead lights buzzed in the background, mixing with the gentle sounds of Dragonir's breathing. I sat beside his bed, trying to calm my racing thoughts, but my mind wouldn't stop spiraling.
What had Eleri done? Why had she done this?
I shifted in my chair, wrapping my arms around myself as the weight of everything started to press down on me. Dragonir's bruised and broken body was a testament to how close we had come to something much worse. And then there was Eleri — the tangled mess of emotions that bubbled up every time I thought about her.
I stood up, pacing the small room. My heart raced, the memory of her twisted smirk flashing through my mind. There was a knot in my stomach, something dark and confusing, something I couldn't quite shake.
Despite everything she had done—despite the torture, the control, and the twisted games—there was something about her that lingered inside me. A part of me that almost… enjoyed the attention, the intensity of her gaze, the way her touch had sent shivers down my spine. The worst part of it all was that I didn't hate it. Not completely.
I stopped pacing, leaning against the windowsill as I stared out into the freezing night beyond the academy walls. Snowflakes danced in the wind, swirling in the bitter cold. It felt fitting, somehow. This icy landscape matched the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
"How could I feel this way?" I whispered to myself, hugging my arms tighter around me. "After everything she did... why can't I just hate her?"
The door to the infirmary creaked open, and I jumped, my heart skipping a beat. But it wasn't Eleri. It was one of the healers—a woman with tired eyes and a kind smile. She looked at Dragonir's still form, then at me.
"Is he... stable?" I asked, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.
The healer nodded. "He'll recover, but it'll take time. The bruises, the broken bones… he's lucky to be alive."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Relief, tinged with guilt. "Thank you," I whispered.
She gave me a sympathetic smile before leaving the room, closing the door softly behind her. I turned back to Dragonir, sitting beside him again. His face, still swollen and battered, seemed peaceful in his sleep.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, my hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair from his forehead. He didn't stir, just continued to breathe steadily, his chest rising and falling in rhythm.
"I shouldn't have dragged you into this. Any of this."
A lump formed in my throat as I sat back down. Eleri had taken so much from both of us. She had twisted our lives, and now, even though we were free, her shadow loomed large. The worst part was, I wasn't sure what I would do if she came back. Would I fight her? Would I try to stop her? Or would I... fall under her spell again?
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. Focus, Seraphina. You can't let her win. Not again.
But how? How could I fight something I wasn't even sure I understood? How could I stop Eleri when part of me... didn't want to?
The door creaked again, this time with more urgency. I spun around to see the dean entering. Her face was stern, lined with disapproval as she crossed the room, her steps echoing ominously in the silence.
"Seraphina," she said sharply. "You've caused enough chaos for one night."
I stiffened, standing up as her presence filled the small infirmary. "I was protecting Dragonir. And myself. Eleri—"
"Eleri is a problem we will handle," she interrupted, her voice cold. "You should've reported this immediately, not tried to solve it on your own."
"Reported it?" I almost laughed. "You didn't care when I came to you. You told me to go to the infirmary like it was nothing!"
The dean's eyes narrowed. "This academy does not tolerate recklessness. There will be consequences for your actions."
Consequences. Always consequences. I clenched my fists, biting back a retort. Dragonir was still unconscious, still bruised and beaten, and the dean stood here lecturing me like I'd done something wrong.
"I did what I had to do to survive," I said through gritted teeth.
"And now you will deal with the repercussions," the dean said, her voice harsh. "We'll be holding an inquiry into what happened with Eleri and your part in it. Until then, you are to stay away from her."
"Stay away from her?" I echoed, my anger flaring. "She's the one who did this. She tortured Dragonir—she could've killed him!"
"That's enough," the dean snapped, her tone final. "Return to your quarters, Seraphina. We will contact you when the inquiry is ready to begin."
I stared at her, seething. She wasn't going to help us. Not really. They never cared—none of them cared. This was just another problem for the academy to sweep under the rug. But I couldn't risk pushing further, not yet.
With one last look at Dragonir, I nodded. "Fine. But if Eleri comes for him again, I won't just stand by."
The dean's face remained impassive. "We'll ensure that doesn't happen."
As if that meant anything. I left the infirmary, the cold academy halls swallowing me in their emptiness.