Back at St. Edward's Academy, Desi woke up and saw that Liam and Gazi were also awake. He went to refresh himself, and as the trio prepared to head to the cafeteria for breakfast, they heard a knock on their door. They exchanged glances, finding it odd for someone to knock this early.
Desi opened the door to find a guard standing there. "You are to assemble at the grand hall in ten minutes, or you will lose points," the guard announced before walking away.
Desi turned to Liam and Gazi, who were now fully alert. "Guess we better hurry," he said, and they quickly made their way to the hall.
The grand hall was an impressive sight, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and grand chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room. Rows of students were already lining up, whispering amongst themselves. Desi spotted Leonor and waved her over.
"Do you know why we're here?" Leonor asked as she joined them.
Desi shrugged. "Not sure. Maybe it's about the test results?"
Just then, the principal, Ms. Davenport, entered the hall along with Mr. Alejandro Navarro and Mr. Alexander Reynolds. Their serious expressions silenced the murmurs in the hall. They moved to the stage, where Mr. Alejandro Navarro stepped forward to speak.
Mr. Navarro's eyes scanned the assembled students, pausing momentarily on Desi. Desi, feeling the gaze, nudged Leonor. "What's up with that old man? I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to stare."
Leonor scoffed, trying to hide a smile as Desi's cheeks turned red.
Mr. Navarro cleared his throat and began his speech. "Congratulations to all of you. You have passed the tests," he announced, causing a wave of relief and happiness to spread through the students.
"But," he continued, and the room fell silent, "these tests were just a preliminary selection process. You will now be enrolled in the real school."
The students exchanged confused and shocked glances. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the hall until a brave student raised his hand and asked the question on everyone's mind. "Aren't we already in the school?"
Mr. Navarro chuckled. "My boy, this is merely a passage to the real school. What you have experienced here is nothing compared to what awaits you."
Desi and his friends looked around, trying to process the information. If this luxurious academy was just a preliminary stage, what could the real school be like? Desi's mind raced with thoughts of hidden chambers, advanced technologies, and unimaginable training grounds.
Mr. Navarro's voice broke through their thoughts. "You will be transported to the real school shortly. Your luggage has already been packed. We will depart now."
The students barely had time to react before Mr. Navarro gave a wide grin and said, "Goodbye, and have a nice sleep."
In a dimly lit room, the sound of showering echoed softly. Inside the bathroom, a teenage girl with wet, long blue hair stood beneath the cascading water. Her blue eyes, matching the hue of her hair, were void and lifeless. The water trickled down her smooth skin, revealing a slender waist and an hourglass figure.
She turned off the shower and stepped out, reaching for a white towel. As she dried herself in front of the mirror, her eyes remained dark and vacant.
While drying her right arm, a long, terrifying scar came into view. It stretched from her wrist to her elbow, a jagged reminder of a deep, sharp cut. The scar looked as though it had been inflicted by a cruel, sharp object.
Seeing the scar, the lifelessness in her eyes deepened, and a hint of melancholy clouded her gaze. She placed her hand over the scar, her fingers trembling slightly. Gritting her teeth, she muttered, "If only I wasn't weak."
In a sudden outburst of frustration, she punched the mirror with her scarred hand, shattering the glass into jagged shards. Blood began to drip from her hand, pooling on the floor. She watched the crimson droplets fall, a haunting expression on her face.
"If only I wasn't weak," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own breathing. "Desi would still be alive."
The room fell silent, the shattered mirror reflecting her fragmented image, each piece capturing the pain and regret that consumed her.