"Rowan, I know you're lying," Luna said, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. I tensed up, feeling my heart race. She wasn't one to bluff. "I checked your room last night. You weren't here."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. "Luna, I was here all night," I lied, hoping my voice didn't give me away.
Her eyes narrowed, not buying it. "Fine. But then, where were you during school today? I came back early and checked again. You weren't in your room. How did you get in without anyone noticing?" She was relentless. I could see it in her eyes—she had pieced together far more than I'd anticipated. If I didn't give her something soon, she would figure out everything on her own.
A sigh escaped my lips, the weight of her persistence bearing down on me. "Alright, fine," I said, giving in. I sat up straighter and, with a flick of my fingers, summoned the system screen, allowing it to hover in the air between us. "Here. Happy now?"
Luna's eyes widened, but the surprise was quickly replaced by something that looked a lot like... jealousy? "A system?" she scoffed. "I never thought someone as dumb as you would have one. This explains how you pass exams—always stealing my spot at the top."
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep calm. "I don't use it for exams," I said defensively, disabling the display with a quick gesture. "It was a gift from Elder Elowen, she—"
"Wait," Luna interrupted, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Did you just say Elder Elowen gave you that? But she only trusts her most promising students with such powerful tools. What makes you special?"
I shook my head, frustrated. Luna was taking our school rivalry far too seriously. She had always been competitive, but now it seemed like she was trying to undermine me at every turn.
"I didn't just meet her," I said with a sly smile, deciding to reveal a bit more. "I'm her successor."
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I braced myself for disbelief or mockery. Instead, she quietly sat down beside me, her demeanor shifting from competitive to contemplative.
"I suspected as much," she admitted, surprising me. I blinked, taken aback. "Wait—how did you know?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"At first, it was just a hunch," Luna began, her voice low and steady. "You've been acting strangely for months now. So, I started looking into your background. Your father's death fifteen years ago... it happened on the same street where Lucius attacked, trying to eliminate the next Diviner. The only casualty was your father. That couldn't have been a coincidence."
I stared at her, floored. No one had ever connected those dots before. How could she have figured that out on her own?
"But there's one thing I still don't understand," Luna continued, leaning closer, her eyes locking onto mine with a sharp intensity. "The Diviner's successor was supposed to be a child that night. So, why did Lucius kill your father instead of you? How did you survive?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. I hadn't anticipated this level of scrutiny. My mind scrambled for an answer, and for a moment, I considered lying—saying my father had begged for my life. But before I could speak, Luna's eyes lit up with realization.
"Maybe... your father was a shape-shifter," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "He must have shifted into your form to protect you, trading his life for yours."
I was stunned. Her theory was frighteningly close to the truth. "That's... correct," I finally admitted, though it felt like more than I should reveal.
Before Luna could press further, my mother walked in, breaking the tension.
"How was school today, Luna?" she asked warmly.
Luna offered a polite smile. "It was fine, thank you."
Turning to me, my mother's expression shifted slightly. "And how are you feeling, Rowan? Is the... illness getting better?" Her tone was carefully measured, as if trying to communicate something without giving away too much.
I nodded, understanding her unspoken message. She was trying to protect me, even now.
But Luna, never one to miss a beat, let out a frustrated sigh. "Mrs. Elwood, it's okay. I already know the truth. No need to hide it anymore."
"Luna, just drop it!" I snapped, my voice sharper than intended. My mom gave me a look of gentle reproach, a small smile playing on her lips, as if to say she understood why I was on edge.
"Luna, why don't you help my mom in the kitchen while she prepares dinner?" I suggested, trying to sound polite but desperate to get her out of my room. She narrowed her eyes but reluctantly agreed, leaving me to gather my thoughts.
---
The Next Morning
I arrived at school earlier than usual, thanks to Luna's persistence in waking me up. She had insisted that I stick to a strict workout routine, saying it would "clear my mind." Honestly, it was more of an excuse to pester me further about my secrets.
In class, the teacher announced, "We'll be splitting into groups today. Each group will receive assignments, and marks will be given based on your teamwork and results."
As she pointed out the group leaders, I noticed Luna was among them. An idea sparked in my mind, recalling Thomas's advice about forming a council—a team of loyal allies to support me in my role as the next Diviner. This could be the perfect opportunity to start gathering potential members.
"Luna," I called out to her as we began organizing our groups, "we need to talk about something important."
She shot me a curious look but nodded. "Fine, but this better not be another attempt to dodge my questions," she teased.
I couldn't help but smile. Little did she know, I was about to bring her into something far bigger.