Chapter 17 Own The place
THE NEXT DAY
Echo and Lyra walked side by side through the crowded school courtyard. Students hurried in every direction, carrying books, laughing, whispering, rushing to different places. The afternoon sun shone softly through the old stone arches, making the place look even more magical. Lyra was still thinking about her classes and what she would do with Echo later when she suddenly stopped.
Someone familiar was walking ahead of them.
Echo blinked first. Lyra blinked next.
Both girls froze for one heartbeat—then ran.
“HUNTER!” Echo cried.
Lyra reached him first and threw her arms around him tightly, her small frame pressing into him as if she feared he would disappear again. Her eyes sparkled with relief, almost shining.
“I thought I lost you,” Lyra whispered, her voice trembling. “I went to your room and your roommate said you weren’t around…”
Echo’s eyes filled with tears too. “We went to the healer’s hall. They said you weren’t there either. Hunter, where did you even go?”
Hunter looked at the two girls, completely overwhelmed by their tears and affection. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Can you two stop? You’re drawing attention,” he muttered, though his cheeks were slightly red. “I’m fine now, okay? No need to cry like this.”
Lyra pulled back slightly and stared at him, suspicious. “Where have you been?”
Hunter swallowed, glancing around nervously. “Hmm… I was, uh… recuperating. You see? I’m good now, right?”
He forced a smile that fooled no one.
Lyra leaned in, ready to hug him again, but then a collective gasp erupted among the students. The ground vibrated slightly. Everyone turned their heads at once.
Beautiful floating carriages huge, elegant, glowing faintly with golden symbols were descending slowly toward the school grounds. Their wheels never touched the ground. Each carriage looked like it was crafted from moonlight and old magic.
Lyra’s eyes widened. “What… is that?”
Students were already backing away, bowing their heads with trembling respect as the carriages landed one by one.
Hunter grabbed Lyra’s head and gently pushed it down. “Bow.”
“Why?” she whispered.
Echo’s voice trembled with awe. “Those are the rulers of the kingdom… King Arcturus and Queen Seraphina. And the heads of every tribe. This is a full council visit.”
Lyra’s eyes widened even more. She slowly lifted her head just enough to look.
The king stepped out first, tall and incredibly young-looking despite the thousands of years he had lived. His long dark cloak swayed behind him. His expression was stone cold, distant, unforgiving, the type of face that didn’t blink before ending lives.
Lyra shivered. “He looks… cruel,” she whispered softly.
“And powerful,” Hunter added, still bowing.
Behind him came the queen, soft, gentle-faced, glowing like calm moonlight. She looked like she could soothe storms with a touch completely opposite her husband.
Two figures followed next.
Kael and Damon.
They walked with the same cold grace as their father, though Kael’s eyes were sharper, more dangerous, while Damon carried a quiet strength. Students whispered and bowed even deeper.
Lyra stared, feeling something cold slide through her chest when Kael’s eyes swept the crowd. Even from far away, she could feel the chill in that gaze.
She opened her mouth to say something but—
BOOOOM!!!
A loud echoing sound rang through the entire courtyard.
The emergency alarm.
People gasped.
Hunter immediately grabbed Lyra’s wrist. “Come on. Let’s go! We have to be in the main hall before the horn sounds again!”
Lyra’s heart raced as she followed him, Echo running on her other side. Behind them, the king and all the tribe leaders entered the academy, their presence heavy enough to make the air colder.
Something big was happening.
Lyra could feel it.
And she wasn’t ready.
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When Lyra, Echo, and Hunter entered the huge hall, the entire place was already packed with students. The hall’s tall golden pillars shimmered faintly, the ceiling carved with ancient runes glowing like distant stars. Everyone was whispering, confused and curious, the tension so heavy it almost felt like the air itself was waiting for something.
At the front near Master Gael stood the selected elites.
Juniper, Azania, Sirena, Damon, and Xavier.
Juniper’s cold silver eyes drifted toward the entrance the moment Hunter walked in. Her expression didn’t change, but Hunter stiffened immediately. He looked everywhere left, right, up, down except at her. But he could feel her stare burning through him, and it made his stomach twist strangely.
Echo didn’t notice any of that because her own eyes were glued to Damon. He was standing beside Azania, leaning a bit as he whispered something to her. His smile was bright, the type that softened his sharp features. Echo’s heart skipped. She didn’t even blink. She didn’t even breathe. She just stared, completely lost in the sight of him smiling so freely.
Azania sense Echo staring though she couldn't see her and sent her a small, warm smile. Echo’s cheeks turned red instantly.
Sirena, however, was not smiling.
Her arms were folded tightly over her chest, her perfectly shaped brows low in irritation. Her eyes locked onto Lyra like fire, sharp, hateful, almost trembling with anger. She could not believe Lyra was still alive. She could not believe the girl walked around the school like nothing happened.
Xavier stood beside Sirena but barely noticed anyone. His mind was restless, foggy. He still couldn’t understand why he couldn’t remember anything from last night. Every time he tried, his head hurt. His eyes drifted to Lyra from time to time with suspicion… and something else he couldn’t explain.
Then—
Kael entered.
Immediately the entire hall fell into silence.
Every head turned.
Every girl froze.
Even the candles flickered as if bowing to him.
Kael walked in with his usual cold, dangerous expression, sharp eyes, unreadable face, posture relaxed but threatening. His presence alone forced respect. And yet… there was something intoxicating about him that made the girls in the hall blush and tremble with excitement.
Hunter leaned toward Lyra and whispered, “Why does he walk like that? Like he owns the whole world.”
Echo elbowed him. “He kind of does.”
Lyra didn’t respond. She stared at Kael with a stiff expression, remembering how he pinned her earlier, how he claimed to own her. She looked away quickly, annoyed at herself for remembering.
Once Kael took his place beside his brother and Juniper, Master Gael stepped forward.
His deep voice filled the hall.
“As many of you have noticed,” he began, “the King, Queen, and all the kingdom leaders are here. They will be staying in the academy for some days.”
A wave of whispers surged through the hall.
Master Gael raised a hand.
“I want you all to behave well. Tonight, there will be a grand celebration. The council wants to see how much talent this generation holds. Impress them.”
All students bowed respectfully as Master Gael dismissed them.
Lyra, Echo, and Hunter stepped out of the hall together, still talking.
“Why are they here?” Lyra asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” Hunter said. “This has never happened before.”
Lyra tightened her fist at her side, her nails digging into her palm. She kept a smile on her face, but deep inside something dark burned.
This is the same king who destroyed the fairies.
The same king who ruined their kingdom.
She could feel her heart beating faster. Not in fear but in quiet, rising rage.
I won’t stand still until I return everything you did to us… to you.
Elsewhere, Sirena walked toward her room with a bright, determined smile. Her heart was racing with excitement. This was her moment. Her opportunity. The King and Queen were here… the parents of the man she loved obsessively.
Tonight she will shine.
Tonight she will prove herself worthy.
If she impressed them, if she showed them she was strong, talented, graceful, they would see her as the perfect future queen.
She would make sure of it.
Even if she had to manipulate the king.
Even if she had to trick the queen.
Even if she had to destroy anyone in her way.
Her smile grew even wider, almost wicked.
“Tonight,” she whispered to herself, “my new life begins.”
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