Students had begun to gather across the courtyard, their voices weaving into the usual morning noise—laughter, gossip, footsteps against stone.
The campus looked normal.
But Lira didn't feel normal.
Too much had happened already.
Her family's warning.
Ronan's secret.
Both sat heavy in her mind.
Then she saw Joy.
Lira straightened immediately.
Joy's nose was wrapped in a bandage, her eyes swollen and shadowed like she hadn't slept.
There were faint bruises along her cheekbone.
Lira stood. "Joy—what happened?"
Joy didn't meet her eyes. She forced a small shrug. "It's nothing. Really. Nothing to worry about."
Before Lira could press further, Joy moved away and sat down near the boys' side of the courtyard.
Far from the others.
Lira watched her go, unease tightening in her chest.
Not far away, Lucien stood beneath the shade of a tall oak tree.
White hair.
Pale as winter moonlight.
He ran a slow hand through it before pulling his black hat lower and adjusting the mask over the lower half of his face.
His shirt was perfectly smooth, like he had just stepped out of a painting.
Elegant.
Cold.
He turned his head slightly.
Two figures sat on the ground before him.
Marissa and Ivan.
They looked ruined.
Bruises darkened their faces, their clothes dusty, their hands trembling as they tried to hold themselves together.
Lucien crouched down slowly.
Even with the mask, his presence pressed down on the air around them.
His red eyes glowed faintly beneath the brim of his hat—deep, predatory crimson.
Marissa tried to look away.
Lucien's hand shot out.
Long pale fingers caught her chin, lifting her face toward him.
His touch looked almost gentle.
His eyes were not.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," he murmured.
His voice was soft.
Too soft.
Ivan visibly shuddered.
Lucien tilted his head slightly, studying them both like a cat studying injured prey.
"You seem confused," he said quietly. "So I'll say it once."
His red gaze sharpened.
"Stay away from Lira."
Marissa's breath hitched.
Ivan nodded quickly, fear written across his face.
Lucien leaned a little closer, the movement slow, deliberate. For a moment the mask shifted just enough—
Sharp fangs caught the light.
"Yesterday," he continued calmly, "Joy and I only beat you."
The words were spoken like a casual observation.
Ivan swallowed hard.
Marissa started crying again.
Lucien's eyes gleamed.
"The next time," he whispered, "you won't breathe."
Silence wrapped around them.
Ivan nodded so fast it looked painful. Marissa nodded too, tears streaking her cheeks.
Lucien held her gaze for one more long moment.
Then he released her chin.
He stood smoothly, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve, elegance returning to every movement.
"Go," he said.
That was all.
Marissa and Ivan scrambled to their feet and fled, nearly tripping over themselves in their hurry to escape.
Lucien watched them disappear across the courtyard.
Then he tilted his head slightly, white hair shifting in the breeze, red eyes dimming back to something almost human.
Calm again.
Untouchable.
Without another word, he turned and walked back toward the others—like a creature stepping out of shadow and into daylight.
As if the monster had never been there at all.
Lucien returned to the courtyard as if nothing had happened.
Students filled the space now—voices, laughter, movement—but his eyes moved through the crowd with quiet purpose.
They landed on Joy.
Across the yard, she met his gaze.
A small nod from him.
Joy understood.
She pushed herself up and walked straight toward Lira. Without warning, she caught Lira's wrist and gently but firmly pulled her toward the middle of the courtyard—right between the boys' building and the girls' building.
The busiest place.
"Joy—what are you doing?" Lira asked, startled.
Joy didn't answer right away. She simply stood beside her, arms folding slowly.
Then the crowd shifted.
Two figures stepped forward.
Marissa.
Ivan.
They looked wrecked.
Their eyes were swollen, lips split with dried streaks of blood, hair messy like they had barely held themselves together long enough to get here. Their expressions were glossy with humiliation and fear.
Whispers rippled through the courtyard.
Marissa stopped in front of Lira.
For a second, Lira just stared.
Confused.
Embarrassed.
Shocked by the attention suddenly aimed at her from every direction.
Then Marissa bowed.
Slowly.
Deeply.
"I'm sorry," she said, voice trembling. "For everything we did."
Ivan bowed too. "We shouldn't have treated you like that."
The entire courtyard had gone quiet.
Lira felt heat creep into her face. She hadn't expected this—hadn't wanted it like this. Everyone staring. Everyone watching.
"I… it's okay," she said awkwardly.
But when she looked at them closer, something in her chest twisted.
They looked terrified.
Not just sorry.
Terrified.
Pity rose in her chest. She stepped forward instinctively and reached out to touch Marissa's arm—
Marissa flinched violently.
Her hand slapped Lira's away.
She stumbled back two steps, eyes wide like she'd almost touched fire.
"I'm sorry!" Marissa blurted immediately, bowing again, shaking. "Please forgive me."
Lira blinked, stunned.
"…Okay," she said quietly, still confused.
From the edge of the crowd, Ronan watched.
Silent.
His gaze moved slowly across the courtyard until it found Lucien.
Lucien stood several meters away, arms crossed, white hair bright under the morning sun. His head tilted slightly as he watched the scene unfold.
Their eyes met.
For a long moment, neither looked away.
Then Ronan broke it first, glancing aside with a faint breath.
"…Caelen's not here to witness all that," he murmured under his breath.
Marissa straightened suddenly.
Without another word, she turned and ran from the courtyard.
Ivan bowed once more to Lira, stiff and hurried, before turning and following her.
The tension snapped.
Students began scattering, conversations erupting everywhere as the moment dissolved into noise again.
Joy sighed beside Lira, still unimpressed.
Then someone approached.
Keiran.
He walked over lazily, a crooked grin already forming. As he passed Joy, he lightly ruffled her hair.
"Hey—!" Joy snapped, swatting his hand away.
Keiran chuckled, glancing toward the direction Marissa had run.
"Yesterday she was so confident," he said casually. "All loud and proud."
He shrugged, amused.
"Where'd all that confidence go?"