Chapter 13 Cunning Fairy
Her mother nodded, proud of her honesty. “Good. Keep it that way. Don’t let them see your power. They should see you as weak and harmless. Do not give them a reason to suspect anything.”
Lyra’s fingers tightened slightly around the crystal ball.
Her mother continued, her voice steady and commanding, like a queen giving orders. “You know why you’re there. You know the purpose of entering that school. To get the Heavenly Pearl. To restore the fairies to glory. To regain our throne.” Her eyes sharpened. “Do not trust anyone. Not humans. Not demons. Not wolves. Not even fairies.”
Lyra nodded. “I won’t.”
“Lyra,” her mother said again, softer this time, “always report everything to me. Don’t keep any of it to yourself.”
Lyra swallowed. “I won’t,” she said again, her voice quieter now.
Her mother smiled finally, proud and satisfied. “Good girl.”
Slowly, the glow inside the crystal ball began to fade. Her mother’s face blurred until it disappeared completely. The ball dimmed and turned dark again, silent and still.
Lyra gently placed it back on the table.
The room felt colder now.
She lay back down, staring at the ceiling. Her chest felt heavier than before. She replayed everything that happened tonight, Kael’s unreadable eyes, the fight, his cruel smirk, the unknown deal she was forced to make, her kneeling in his room… everything.
She didn’t know what he would ask of her tomorrow. She didn’t know how much he saw through her or how much he was planning to use her.
She turned to her side, pulling the blanket around herself, and closed her eyes.
But sleep didn’t come.
Not with Kael’s voice still echoing in her head.
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Hunter groaned softly and turned to his side, snuggling deeper into the sheets. The bed felt… different. Softer. Warmer. Like he was wrapped in clouds. The pillow under his head wasn’t the usual rough school pillow, it felt like silk, smooth and cool against his cheek. A faint sweet aroma drifted around him, something like roses mixed with lavender and something icy. It smelled nothing like his room.
Still half-asleep, he tried stretching his leg out, but the bed was too big. Much bigger than his small one. His brows pulled together even in his sleep.
Where was he?
His eyes snapped open suddenly when the realization hit him.
This wasn’t his room.
He shot up from the bed, sitting upright immediately. His mouth dropped open as he looked around like someone placed in a different world.
The room was enormous. Elegant, dimly lit by dozens of glowing candles placed around on golden stands. The candle flames danced gently, filling the air with a beautiful fragrance. The curtains were a deep red color, almost touching the ground, swaying lightly as if the room itself was breathing.
Hunter swallowed hard. He had never been inside a place this beautiful. Not even close.
Then his memory came rushing back.
Kael’s hand gripping his neck. The blows raining down on him. The crowd watching. The pain. Lyra screaming. Echo crying. Everything turning blurry. The darkness swallowing him.
His heart beat fast, and he instinctively raised his hands to check the wounds.
But there were none.
His eyes widened. He lifted his shirt and stared at his skin. It was clean, smooth, no blood, no bruises, not even a scratch. Like nothing ever happened.
“What… what is going on?” he whispered to himself, voice shaky.
That was when he heard it the soft, graceful sound of footsteps approaching.
He froze.
The steps were calm, slow, almost floating. Whoever it was didn’t walk like a student. They walked like royalty.
The door opened gently.
Hunter’s breath got caught in his throat.
Juniper walked in, her presence so powerful yet so elegant that he immediately lowered his gaze. She was wearing a beautiful light red gown that hugged her body perfectly, the fabric flowing behind her like soft flames. Her long silver hair fell down her back in smooth waves, reaching her waist and glowing softly in the candlelight.
She looked like a goddess stepping into a mortal’s world.
Hunter instantly bowed his head, shaking uncontrollably. His palms were sweating, and his heart hammered so loudly he was sure she could hear it.
Why was he here?
Why was he in her room?
Why did she save him?
He didn’t understand anything.
Juniper walked closer, her steps almost silent, and Hunter felt the bed shift slightly as she reached him. Before he could even gather enough courage to speak, he felt her cold hand gently touch his cheek.
He shivered at the icy yet soft touch.
“Raise your head,” she said softly.
He obeyed immediately, lifting his face, although his eyes trembled. When he looked at her, she was already leaning closer, studying him with an unreadable expression. Her gaze lowered to his lips, then back to his eyes, and Hunter’s breath stilled. He didn’t dare move.
“Mistress… Juniper,” he whispered, voice cracking.
A small smile touched her lips.
“I saved your life,” she said calmly, her fingers brushing down from his cheek to his chin, then drawing slow patterns on the skin of his neck. “So now… you are mine.”
Hunter’s eyes widened slightly, but he couldn’t speak. His voice felt trapped somewhere inside him.
Juniper continued, her cold fingers sliding down to his chest, resting lightly over his heartbeat.
“I get to do anything I want with you,” she added, her voice low and smooth.
Before he could think, she climbed onto the bed fully, joining him. Hunter froze as her knee pressed beside his leg, the mattress dipping slightly. His fists clenched tightly, but he didn’t resist. He couldn’t even breathe properly.
She pushed him back gently, making him lie down, her eyes locked on his as she leaned over him. He felt his heart almost burst from fear, confusion… and something else he didn’t understand.
Juniper lowered her head slowly, her lips brushing his neck. Hunter inhaled sharply. Her cold mouth touched his skin, pressing a soft, lingering kiss, almost like she was claiming him.
Her teeth grazed his neck, giving him a small love-bite, and his whole body shivered uncontrollably.
He wanted to push her away.
He wanted to speak.
He wanted to escape.
But he didn’t.
He just lay there, silent, overwhelmed, fists clenched tightly by his sides, unable to stop her.
Juniper smiled against his neck.
“You’re mine now,” she whispered.
And Hunter couldn’t deny it.
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The instructor walked into the garden with the group of fairies following behind him. Their steps were light, and the morning sun glowed softly over the place. Everyone expected to see the same quiet, normal garden they left yesterday.
But the moment they reached the clearing, gasps filled the air.
Everywhere, every single plant was covered in colorful flowers. Bright reds, soft pinks, glowing blues, golden petals that looked like they were touched by sunlight. It was as if the whole garden woke up overnight and decided to celebrate.
The fairies stood frozen.
“W–What happened here?” one whispered.
“This… this wasn’t like this before,” another muttered.
Even the instructor looked shocked, his eyes widened in disbelief. He stepped forward slowly, touching a bloom so delicate that it seemed unreal.
His gaze lifted immediately to only one person.
Lyra.
She blinked innocently, her face blank and confused like she didn’t even understand why he was staring at her.
“Lyra,” the instructor called.
“Yes?” she replied softly, tilting her head like a lost puppy.
“Did you… do this?”
“Do what?” she asked again, her eyes wide and pure. It was almost too perfect.
The instructor frowned, then sighed deeply. “Come here,” he ordered.
Lyra stepped closer, clutching her hands behind her back.
“Make a flower bloom again,” he said calmly.
She nodded, as if she was ready. She placed her hand gently on a nearby plant. The fairies around her held their breath, waiting.
Lyra closed her eyes and concentrated.
Nothing happened.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
The instructor’s shoulders dropped in disappointment.
The other fairies, especially the group that always mocked her, burst out laughing immediately.
“She’s useless!”
“I knew yesterday’s one was a mistake!”
“She can’t even grow a simple flower!”
Their leader, a pretty fairy named Melia, smirked and folded her hands across her chest. “Some fairies are just born weak,” she said loudly so everyone would hear. “Maybe you are just a decoration, Lyra. Not a real fairy.”
The girls around her laughed even harder.
Lyra lowered her head sadly, pretending she was hurt. She bit her lip, her shoulders trembling slightly. The instructor shook his head and left the garden, too disappointed to continue the lesson.
One by one, the fairies walked away.
When Melia turned to leave, Lyra slowly lifted her finger and whispered a tiny spell under her breath. Her voice was so soft that even the wind couldn’t catch it.
Suddenly—
Splash!
Melia’s feet slipped, and she fell straight into the mud, face first.
The loud sound echoed through the garden.
The girls screamed in surprise, rushing to help her up as she cried in anger. Lyra stood there, acting shocked like she had no idea what happened.
“I–I didn’t see anything,” she whispered to herself, turning her head away.
When the bullies finally left, Lyra relaxed her shoulders and released a small sigh.
Her eyes softened.