95. Between Truth and Truce

95. Between Truth and Truce
The afternoon at Arkanum Academy was strangely serene. The sky tinted with a soft golden color, filtered by lazy clouds that crept above the enchanted towers. Amy was walking towards the central lake to take a breath, when she heard a voice behind her.

"Amy... wait a second?"

She turned. It was Thiely. Alone. Ghoul’s expression was restrained, but her blue eyes seemed hesitant, as if she was swallowing her pride just by calling.

"What’s up?" asked Amy, defensive, crossing her arms.

"I wanted to talk. Just... talk. No magic, no needlestick, no third emotional war. Just the two of us."

Amy arched an eyebrow. The request was unusual coming from the more sarcastic Ghoul of Arkanum, but something in her posture seemed genuine. She took a deep breath.

"All right. But if you’re setting something up... " she said, still skeptical.

"I’m not. Let’s go to that corner there?"

Thiely pointed to a stone bench shaded by enchanted willows, away from the main path. Amy nodded, walking alongside the rival with cautious steps.

When they sat down, there was a long silence. The sound of leaves in the wind seemed to want to fill the space where neither of the two still knew how to start.

"I don’t usually do that," said Thiely, staring at the ground, "to open my heart. It seems dangerous. Like undressing me in an arena. But... with you, I feel I need to."

Amy stared at her, her heart racing a little. She didn’t know if it was anger, expectation or nervousness.

"I know you hate me," Thiely continued. "And maybe with reason. I was... arrogant. I played low, and made a point of teasing you. But what I feel for Pandora... is no joke."

Amy took a deep breath.

"I never hated you, Thiely. I just... hated the way you showed up, took space, and turned everything upside down. I’ve been trying to build something with Pandora since the beginning. Then you come up with your sarcasm, your mystery and..."

"And the perfect hair" completed Thiely with a skewed smile.

Amy rolled her eyes, but laughed against her will.

"Yes, even the fucking perfect hair."

"Amy..." Thiely straightened, and her voice sounded lower "...I don’t want to take it away from you. I know she’s not 'mine', nor yours. Pandora is free. But I love her, and I can’t pretend otherwise."

Amy felt something loose in her chest. An old and tense knot that gradually gave way to understanding. It still hurt, but... made sense.

"I love her too," Amy said, her eyes searing. "But I don’t want to be anyone’s enemy because of that. It’s not what she deserves. And honestly... it’s not what I want to be."

"So... can we make a truce?" Thiely reached out.

Amy hesitated but shook her hand. Thiely’s fingers were cold, as if they revealed the truth that she so much hid: behind the sharp tongue and taunting smiles, there was a frightened girl wanting to love and be loved.

"Truce" repeated Amy.

"But let’s be clear... I’ll still fight for it. Just... with less poison. And without going over your head."

"And so do I. Fight with dignity," said Amy, steadfast. "And if she ever chooses me... I hope you will respect it."

Thiely looked at her with something like respect. Not friendship, yet. But perhaps the first step to something less toxic.

"Agreed to."

The two stood there for a while, in silence, just listening to the wind. And, for the first time, they shared the same space without rivalry, only with the truth... even if incomplete.

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The night sky began to spread over the Arkanum Academy like a starry tapestry, when Persephone, lying on her bed, turned between the sheets with a slight smile on her face. He took the crystal communicator that he used only with the family and, with a magical touch, the connection was established.

"Hello?" said a jovial voice from the other side.

"Lyanna!" exclaimed Persephone with excitement.

"Hello, little sister! It’s been ages since you called me. What happened? Did some magic tragedy happen? Did the director’s dragon run away? Did Thiely turn into a monster?" joked Lyanna, with her crystal laugh echoing from the artifact.

"Worst... There will be a party in the Arkanum. The one that celebrate the conjunction of the Star Veil with the Scarlet Moon, remember?"

"Of course I remember! It’s like... the event of the year. And are you excited?" asked Lyanna, with a mischievous tone.

"Actually, yes. I think it will be a great opportunity for... get closer to Pandora," said Persephone, a little lower, almost as if she was confessing herself.

On the other side, Lyanna blew a whistle.

"Look who decided to declare for fate! Finally, right? I thought I would die of old age before you admit that you are in love with her!"

"I didn’t say that," Persephone countered, laughing, but the heat on her cheeks denounced her.

"Oh, sure... you just want to be 'close' to her under the light of the Scarlet Moon, with enchanted wine and slow music, because you’re so good friends, right?"

"Lyanna!" grumbled the older sister, but she couldn’t hide her smile.

"What about Thiely? Will you let her? Or will she stick to Pandora again like a possessive magic gum?"

"If she stays away for five minutes, I think I have a chance." Persephone sighed.  " But the way they walk... even to conjure shadow, Pandora calls her."

"Funny you talk like that," said Lyanna, with a softer tone. "I remember when you and Thiely were inseparable. You even said she was your 'chaotic half'."

The speech fell like a bitter potion into Persephone’s throat.

"That was... a long time ago. Today’s Thiely is not the same anymore."

"And are you?" asked Lyanna fondly. "Because sometimes change is only part of the way. But the feeling that existed there may still be in some corner."

Persephone bit her lip, thoughtful. For a moment, he thought of laughter exchanged in the hallways, of complicit glances during alchemy classes, of nights at night plotting magical antics with Thiely. But also remembered the sorrows, distance and growing rivalry.