The next morning, school continued as usual.
Students filled the hallways, laughing, chatting, rushing to classes as though nothing strange had happened the night before.
Corelia stood quietly by her locker, pretending to search through her books while secretly unfolding the small map she had been working on. Her eyes moved carefully over the markings, mentally tracing possible locations where Araxie's scale might be hiding.
From across the hallway, Chloe and her minions appeared.
From across the hallway, Chloe and her friends suddenly appeared.
The moment their eyes landed on Corelia, they froze, shock spread across their faces.
She looked… perfectly fine.
No fear.
No trauma.
No sign that she had spent the night locked inside a supposedly haunted abandoned dormitory.
"She's… fine?" Kaylie whispered.
"That's impossible," Stella added quietly.
Chloe narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed.
"How is she standing like nothing happened?"
"We locked her inside," one of them muttered.
Chloe shot them a sharp glare.
"I told you idiots to make sure she stayed there."
"We did!" Kaylie whispered defensively.
"The door was locked!"
"Well clearly your brains were not," Chloe snapped.
Her jaw tightened as she glared at Corelia one last time.
"Useless," she muttered before turning away angrily, her friends quickly following behind her.
Corelia didn't even bother looking up.
She already knew they were responsible.
Just as she resumed studying the map, Mishell approached casually and leaned beside the locker.
"So," Mishell aaked quietly, "what's the next step?".
Corelia folded the paper slightly.
"We move to the next phase."
Mishell sighed.
"There is no active magic in the music room".
"I suspected" Corelia replied calmly. "But the dance studio…"
She paused slightly.
"The last time we were there, I felt something unusual."
Mishell raised a brow.
"Emotions?"
Corelia nodded.
"Strong emotion leaves traces. If magic passed through there before, we may be able to detect it."
Mishell gave a small nod.
"Then we try again."
Suddenly–
A sharp pain struck Corelia's side.
Her breath caught, the pain was deep and sudden, forcing her hand to grip the locker slightly for balance.
Mishell noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Corelia replied quickly.
Mishell's eyes narrowed, her eyes quickly moved to where Corelia had gotten hurt.
Then she noticed it.
A faint red stain slowly spreading through Corelia's shirt.
"…Corelia." Her voice lowered. "You are bleeding."
"It is fine."
"No, it is not fine," Mishell said firmly.
She grabbed Corelia's wrist and pulled her toward the restroom. Inside, Mishell locked the door quickly before lifting Corelia's shirt slightly.
The bandages wrapped around her ribcage were completely soaked.
Fresh blood had spread through the fabric.
Mishell's expression changed instantly.
"Why are you not healing?"
"I am healing," Corelia replied calmly.
"No," Mishell said, shaking her head.
"Even in human form, our healing should not take more than five hours." Her voice grew more serious. "It has been more than five hours, what is going on?"
Corelia avoided her gaze.
"It is just taking longer than usual."
Mishell clearly didn't believe her.
Still, she carefully removed the soaked bandage and cleaned the wound again.
"This is not normal," she muttered.
She wrapped fresh bandages firmly around Corelia's waist. "You should rest I would handle everything."
"No," Corelia said immediately.
Mishell sighed.
"Of course you would say that."
"Please just let's just continue ok, I promise it would heal".
Mishell gave up trying to convince her, she knows she won't easily give up.
"Alright, don't strain yourself focus on healing".
Corelia nodded, Mishell helped her clean up and they both prepared themselves for the class.
The dance studio was moderately busy when they arrived. Music played softly as students practiced their routines, stretching or chatting quietly. Corelia and Mishell blended in easily, taking their positions without drawing attention.
To anyone watching, they simply looked like two normal students preparing for class. But quietly, both of them began channeling small amounts of magic, carefully searching for traces of dark energy.
Thirty minutes later, the atmosphere shifted.
The Q4 arrived.
This time, there was no screaming crowd or chaotic fans. Security guards stood firmly at the entrance, allowing only registered students inside. The group entered calmly, clearly here to inspect the studio and possibly practice later in private. Some students whispered excitedly, but everyone remained composed.
Then Mr. D clapped his hands.
"Alright everyone, today we try something different," he announced.
Groans and curiosity filled the room.
"You will all choose partners."
Students immediately began pairing up.
Then suddenly—
"Wait."
Jax raised his hand, Everyone paused.
Even his members looked surprised.
"You want to partner?" Jeremy asked, amused.
Jax nodded slightly, scanning the room.
The girls nearby immediately blushed, whispering excitedly among themselves.
Mr. D smiled.
"And who is your choice?"
Jax scanned the room quickly with his eyes then pointed directly at Mishell.
The room became noticeably quieter.
Mishell slowly looked at him with an expression that clearly said:
Do you have a death wish?
Jax remained completely calm.
"Yes," he said simply. "I choose her."
Mishell immediately shook her head.
"No."
Mr. D chuckled awkwardly.
"Come on, it's just practice."
Mishell crossed her arms.
"No I am not interested."
"What? Are you insane? Rejecting him". Lydia said.
Corelia spoke quietly beside her.
"You have to, if you don't we might be thrown out. So please just endure."
Mishell looked at her suspiciously.
"I don't want to dance with him".
"Please".Corelia begged giving a small nod.
Reluctantly, Mishell stepped forward.
Jax was already standing in the middle of the room waiting for her, he had a serious expression on his face as if he was trying to study something important. Mishell walked up to him and he stretched forth his hand to receive her, she groaned while others envied her.
The music began slowly, their movements were controlled, precise.
A mix of slow rhythm and sudden sharp transitions, their grace blending with strength.Their chemistry was undeniable
Even though Mishell stared at Jax like she might attack him at any moment.
Their movements aligned perfectly, Jax studied her reactions carefully.
Most people would feel nervous dancing with someone from Q4. Some would blush, Others would become distracted.
Mishell did neither.
Her expression remained calm.
Focused.
Deadly.
Completely unaffected.
Jax found that…strange but interesting.
Very interesting.
Across the room, Corelia stood still smiling, but soon after she stepped aside and quietly whispering under her breath as she attempted to detect magical traces.
Her fingers tightened slightly, then suddenly— A metallic taste filled her mouth.
Blood.
She coughed lightly.
Lydia, standing nearby, noticed immediately. "Corelia?"
Another cough escaped her lips.
This time, small droplets of blood followed, Concern spread quickly.
"What's wrong?" Lydia asked urgently.
Corelia tried to steady herself, but the dizziness returned stronger. Her vision blurred, her breathing became uneven.
Then suddenly— Her body gave out.
She collapsed.
Students gasped as people quickly gathered around her, Lydia was kneeling beside Corelia screaming.
Mishell rushed forward instantly.
"Corelia!..Corelia!".
For the very first time, she looked scared and tears was gathering up in her eyes as she held her friend.
Vic stepped closer, gently placing a hand near her forehead.
"She's burning up," he said seriously. Without hesitation, he lifted her carefully.
"We're taking her to the infirmary."
Mishell and Lydia followed quickly.
Jeremy shook his head slightly.
"She was in the pool last night, right?"
"Probably caught a cold," Foxy added casually.
"She is bleeding, I don't think its just cold". Jax replied them.
Corelia was rushed to the Infirmary, seeing the current situation the nurses worked quickly, checking her temperature and replacing the bandages once again.
But something felt wrong.
They couldn't properly identify the cause.
"How did she get this injury?" one nurse asked.
Mishell spoke calmly.
"She fell."
The nurse didn't look convinced, but continued treatment anyway.
The Q4 had to leave after a short while, Mishell was too distracted to even thank Vic especially.
After some time, Corelia was placed on the bed. Sweat covered her skin as she shifted slightly, her breathing uneven.
Her fingers twitched faintly, her eyes moved behind closed lids as if she were seeing something disturbing.
"She is not stable," Lydia said quietly.
Mishell's expression remained tense, the only way she can detect what's wrong is by using one of the portions locked in their room.
"We need to take her back."
"Take her where? What are you talking about? this is the best place for treatment," Lydia insisted.
Mishell shook her head.
"They cannot help her, I am the only one that can and before that, I have to know what's the cause of all this. So help me carry her back to the room"
Lydia crossed her arms.
"I don't know what you are talking about she needs medical attention."
"Look I don't know how to explain it to you but please trust me she has to leave this place".
"How? The treatment would take effect soon, let's wait".
Mishell didn't argue further, there was no point. Instead, she quietly whispered a spell.
A soft glow surrounded them briefly.
Then—they disappeared.
Lydia gasped softly as the environment changed instantly.
They were now inside their room.
Lydia looked around in shock.
"…What just happened?"