Chapter 137 136: Choice, Cost & Conversation

Chapter 137 136: Choice, Cost & Conversation
The halls of Aetherborn Academy felt quieter than usual.

Or maybe Seraphine only noticed the silence because her heart refused to stop pounding.

She walked slowly toward the Four Lodge, her fingers twisting together nervously. Every step felt heavier than the last. The decision she had made - agreeing to attend the Moonlight Ball with Lucien - now carried consequences she hadn't fully prepared for.

She pushed open the tall doors.

Alaric was already there.

He stood near the window, pale silver light spilling over him as if he belonged to the night itself. A book rested loosely in his hand, though he clearly wasn't reading it.

He looked up the moment she entered.

"Seraphine."

Her name sounded softer than usual. Hopeful.

And that made this harder.

She swallowed. "Alaric... I came to tell you something."

He closed the book slowly, sensing the weight in her voice. "You've decided."

It wasn't a question.

She nodded, unable to meet his eyes. "I... I won't be going to the Moonlight Ball with you."

Silence filled the room.

For a moment, Alaric didn't move. The only sign of emotion was the faint tightening of his jaw.

"With Lucien," he said quietly.

"Yes."

The word felt like breaking glass.

Alaric exhaled slowly, turning toward the window again. Moonlight reflected in his eyes, hiding whatever storm lived behind them.

"I see."

She waited for anger. Accusation. Pain spoken aloud.

Instead, he gave her dignity.

"If that is your choice," he said gently, "then I will respect it."

His calmness hurt more than shouting ever could.

"I didn't want to hurt you," she whispered.

A faint smile touched his lips - sad, restrained.

"You didn't," he said. "Not intentionally."

But the pause afterward said everything.

His heart had broken quietly.

Seraphine felt it.

And she hated herself for it.

"I hope he makes you happy," Alaric added, though the words clearly cost him.

She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. So she nodded and left before her guilt could root her to the floor.

⸻

Outside, cold air hit her face.

One conversation down.

Two more to go.

⸻

She found Kade near the training grounds, leaning against a stone pillar, arms crossed. The moment he saw her approaching, something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

"So," Kade said before she could speak. "You chose."

Her steps slowed. "You already know?"

He let out a humorless laugh. "News travels fast when three supernatural idiots are competing over the same girl."

"Kade-"

"We moved too fast," he interrupted, voice quieter now. "I know that."

His gaze softened briefly, and that almost broke her.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I never meant to confuse things."

He nodded once, accepting but not healed.

"If you want Lucien," he said, pushing himself off the wall, "fine."

The words were calm, but his eyes weren't.

"But understand something, Seraphine."

He stepped closer, voice low.

"I don't do halfway. And I don't stand around pretending I'm okay watching someone choose someone else."

Her chest tightened.

"So... we won't be close anymore."

The finality in his tone struck harder than anger.

"Kade, please-"

He shook his head gently, already stepping away.

"Take care of yourself, Sera."

And then he walked off, leaving her standing alone beneath the fading light.

Her heart felt unbearably heavy.

Two hearts are hurt because of her choices.

Now only one remained.

Damien.

The thought made unease crawl through her stomach.

Unlike the others, Damien didn't hide his emotions well. And lately... something about him had felt different. Distant. Watching.

She turned toward his lodge, unaware that somewhere within the academy shadows, plans were already moving against her.

And that Damien was no longer waiting for her answer out of love-

But because he believed he was about to save her.

Seraphine searched nearly half of Aetherborn Academy before finally giving up.

Damien was nowhere.

The training fields were empty. The dragon tower stood silent. Even the courtyard where he usually watched the skies held no sign of him.

It was unlike him.

He had said he would return for her answer.

And Damien Drakaris was not someone who forgot promises.

Maybe he would come to her instead.

That thought followed her back to her lodge, settling uneasily in her chest.

⸻

The next day arrived wrapped in excitement.

The Moonlight Ball.

Students rushed through the halls carrying gowns, enchanted masks, glowing ribbons, and floating decorations that drifted like tiny stars overhead. Magic hummed through the academy as preparations reached their peak.

Tonight, when the moon rose fully, the ball would begin.

But by afternoon, Seraphine still hadn't seen Damien.

Not once.

A strange unease crept into her thoughts.

⸻

She sat on her bed, surrounded by Lyra, Mina, and Caleb. Dresses and accessories were scattered everywhere as they prepared for the evening.

"So," Mina said, grinning knowingly, "you actually chose Lucien."

Seraphine nodded slowly.

None of them looked surprised.

Caleb shrugged. "Honestly? We saw that coming."

Seraphine blinked. "You did?"

Lyra smirked. "The tension between you two could power the academy."

Despite herself, Seraphine laughed softly - until she noticed Lyra's expression change.

The smile faded.

"There's... something weird though," Lyra said.

Everyone turned toward her.

"I saw Elera earlier."

Seraphine tilted her head. "And?"

Lyra hesitated. "She walked past me like she didn't know me."

Mina frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I called her name," Lyra continued, confusion still clear in her voice. "And she looked straight at me and said-"

Lyra's voice dropped.

"'Who are you?'"

The room went quiet.

Seraphine sat upright. "That doesn't sound like Elera."

"I thought she was joking," Lyra said quickly. "I told her, 'Babe, what's wrong with you?' and she just... stared at me. Like I was a stranger."

"What happened next?" Caleb asked.

"She said she was busy and would get back to me later... then she ran off."

Lyra wrapped her arms around herself. "It didn't feel like acting. It felt wrong."

Caleb waved a hand dismissively. "Maybe she's planning something dramatic for the Moonlight Ball. You know how she is."

Lyra forced a small smile. "Yeah... maybe."

But uncertainty lingered in her eyes.

And somehow, Seraphine felt cold.

Before she could respond-

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

All four of them turned toward the door.

"I'll get it," Seraphine said.

She opened it.

No one stood outside.

Only a box rested neatly on the floor.

A soft glow leaked from its edges.

Her heartbeat quickened as she carried it inside and placed it on the bed.

"What is that?" Mina whispered.

Seraphine opened the lid.

Inside was a delicate glass cage.

And within it-

A butterfly made of shimmering light, its wings glowing silver and gold as if woven from moonbeams themselves.

A folded letter lay beneath it.

Seraphine picked it up and read aloud:

It is time. Release the butterfly. It will guide you to me. I await your answer.

Her breath caught.

"Damien," she whispered.

Lyra leaned closer. "That's romantic... and slightly mysterious."

But Seraphine felt something else.

Urgency.

He had been waiting.

She had kept him waiting too long.

"It's time," she said quietly.

She opened the tiny cage.

The butterfly fluttered free instantly, circling her once before flying toward the open window.

It paused, almost as if checking she would follow.

Then it flew out.

Seraphine grabbed her cloak.

"I'll be back soon," she told her friends.

"You want us to come?" Caleb asked.

She shook her head. "No. I need to tell him myself."

She stepped outside and followed the glowing butterfly as it drifted across the academy grounds.

Past familiar paths.

Past student dorms.

Past the safe parts of Aetherborn.

The air grew colder.

Quieter.

The
butterfly continued forward, leading her toward the older section of the academy, a place students rarely visited.

Ahead, dark trees surrounded ancient ruins swallowed by vines.

Seraphine slowed.

"Damien?" she called softly.

The butterfly hovered above a broken archway.

And beyond it lay the forbidden grounds of Melinda.

A faint chill ran down her spine.

She didn't know-

That Damien wasn't waiting to hear her answer.

He was waiting to change her fate.