Chapter 146 145: Moment, Memory & Matters

Chapter 146 145: Moment, Memory & Matters

Soft light filtered through the tall crystal windows of the academy infirmary.

The air smelled faintly of healing herbs and magic.

Seraphine slowly stirred.

Her body felt heavy, like she had slept for a hundred years. For a moment she simply lay there, staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling above her.

Then memory rushed back.

The battle. The AetherCurrent. The Aetherstar.

Her eyes snapped open.

She pushed herself upright too quickly.

"Easy!"

Three voices said at once.

Seraphine blinked in confusion.

Standing around her bed were three very familiar faces.

Caleb leaned forward immediately, relief written all over his face. "You're awake."

Beside him, Mina clapped a hand over her mouth in excitement. "Oh my stars, she's really awake!"

And next to her stood Lyra, whose eyes were already shining with tears.

Seraphine stared at them. "You're... all here?"

Before she could say anything else, Mina threw her arms around her.

"You scared us half to death!"

Caleb laughed in relief.

"You've been unconscious for two days."

Seraphine blinked.

"Two... days?"

Lyra nodded quickly.

"But you saved everyone," she said. "The academy, the students, the entire Aetherborn world."

Mina bounced slightly with excitement. "You're basically a legend now."

Seraphine frowned slightly. "What?"

Caleb smirked.

"You heard her. The whole Aetherborn world knows your name now." He gestured around dramatically. "Seraphine Emberlain - the girl who defeated the Aetherstar."

Seraphine groaned softly and rubbed her forehead. "This is embarrassing."

Mina laughed. "Embarrassing? You're practically a celebrity."

Lyra nodded. "They're only letting us stay because we're your closest friends. Otherwise, this whole infirmary would probably be filled with people trying to see you."

Seraphine shook her head in disbelief. "I didn't do it for attention."

Mina raised an eyebrow playfully. "Well, too late for that."

Caleb leaned against the bed frame. "But seriously... why didn't you ever tell us?"

Seraphine looked confused. "Tell you what?"

"That you were the Aetherborn," Mina said.

Lyra crossed her arms slightly. "We're your friends."

Seraphine sighed softly.

"The Headmaster and Vice Principal warned me not to tell anyone," she explained. "They said the fewer people who knew, the safer everyone would be."

Her friends exchanged glances.

Then Caleb shrugged. "Fair enough."

Lyra nodded. "Yeah... that actually sounds like something they'd say."

The tension eased slightly.

Then Mina suddenly brightened. "Oh! We almost forgot to tell you something."

Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Lyra spoke this time. "It's about Cressida."

Seraphine's expression hardened slightly. "What about her?"

Caleb answered. "The truth finally came out. The council discovered that she had been secretly working with Melinda."

Seraphine blinked. "They proved it?"

Lyra nodded. "Yes."

Mina folded her arms. "They expelled her immediately."

Seraphine was silent.

Lyra continued. "She won't graduate from Aetherborn Academy."

Caleb added, "And without that certification, she won't be able to become an official member of the Aetherborn governing world."

Seraphine understood instantly. In their society, that meant everything.

Mina shook her head. "That's basically the worst disgrace someone can face here."

Lyra added quietly, "Her mother... the noble known as 'The Lady'... was so embarrassed by the scandal that she publicly disowned her."

Seraphine exhaled slowly. Even she hadn't expected things to go that far.

Then suddenly another memory flashed through her mind.

"Wait." She turned quickly toward Lyra. "Elera." Fear crept into her voice. "Melinda took over her body."

Lyra's expression softened immediately. "Oh- don't worry."

Seraphine blinked. "What?"

Lyra smiled gently. "When the Aetherstar attacked Melinda during the battle, the body she was possessing was destroyed."

Seraphine's heart dropped for a moment.

But Lyra quickly continued. "The Headmaster managed to recover the remains and restore Elera's soul into it."

Seraphine stared at her. "She's... alive?"

Lyra nodded. "She's fine. We've already had our reunion."

Relief flooded through Seraphine's chest. "Oh thank goodness."

Mina laughed. "Trust me, Lyra would have burned down half the academy if something happened to her girlfriend."

Lyra rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.

Seraphine leaned back against the pillows "That's really good to hear."

For a moment the room felt peaceful.

Then another thought suddenly surfaced.

Her eyes widened slightly. "The boys." Her voice was quieter now. "What happened to them?"

The room grew strangely silent.

Caleb and Mina exchanged a quick glance.

Lyra's smile faded.

Seraphine noticed immediately. "What?"

Mina gently sat on the edge of the bed. "You collapsed after defeating the Aetherstar," she explained softly. "The Headmaster said you burned almost all of your life essence."

Seraphine's stomach tightened. "And?"

Caleb exhaled slowly. "The only way to save you was for someone to give you their essence."

Seraphine blinked.

Her mind raced.

Lucien.

She was certain it would have been Lucien.

"He... did it?" She asked.

The three friends looked at each other again.

Then Lyra shook her head slowly.

"No."

Seraphine frowned. "Then who?"

Lyra answered quietly.

"Damien."

Seraphine froze. "What?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

Lyra nodded. "He volunteered."

The room seemed to spin slightly.

Then Lyra added gently, "He gave up his essence to save you. He is no longer a dragon... he has given up his right as the heir of the throne to save you."

Seraphine stared at them in stunned silence.

Damien.

The dragon prince.

The future king.

He had given all of that up...

For her.

"But..." She swallowed. "I thought Lucien would-"

Then the infirmary door opened.

Everyone turned.

Nyx Thorneveil stepped inside. Her sharp eyes immediately landed on Seraphine.

For once, the usually stern Vice Principal looked almost... relieved.

"Well," Nyx said calmly. "It seems the Aetherborn has finally decided to wake up."

Seraphine gave a small smile. "I guess so."

Nyx stepped closer to the bed. "How do you feel?"

"A little weak," Seraphine admitted.

"That is expected." Nyx turned toward the three friends. "You've had your visit." Her tone was firm but not unkind. "She needs rest."

Mina immediately stood up. "Okay, okay, we're going."

Caleb gave Seraphine a small grin. "Try not to save the universe again without us."

Lyra squeezed Seraphine's hand gently before leaving. "We'll come back later."

Within moments, the room was quiet again.

Nyx folded her arms slightly.

"You should recover quickly," she said. "Your body is adapting to the full power of the Aetherborn now."

Seraphine nodded slowly.

Nyx then added calmly,

"By evening, you will meet with the Thrones and the High Council of the Aetherborn world."

Seraphine blinked.

"The... Thrones?"

"Yes."

Nyx's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Important people are eager to meet the girl who saved their world."

She paused.

Then added,

"And there are many matters to discuss."

Seraphine had a feeling this was only the beginning.