CHAPTER TWO
Author
How are you cuties ?
Hayara
Okay wait—
If you're seriously doing this…
Nissa
*smirks mid-eyeliner stroke*
I am.
Hayara
Then I’m coming too.
Not like with you… I’ll just hide somewhere nearby.
Just in case.
Nissa
*pauses, glances up*
You’d actually sneak out just to be my backup?
Hayara
Duh. What if you get cursed, kidnapped, or kissed?
Nissa
*chokes laughing* KISSED?!
Hayara
Hey, you’re walking into a Circle of secretive magical seniors.
Anything is possible.
Nissa
*pretends to think deeply*
I mean… if it’s Aether, I wouldn’t object—
Nissa
Fine.
If you want to lurk in the shadows for my safety, I approve.
We’re officially a duo now.
Hayara
Good.
But we make a deal —
We go, we look, you say a few vague mysterious things, we see Aether, and then we’re done.
Nissa
*nods solemnly*
No drama. No soul-binding. No sudden prophecy awakenings.
Nissa
Cool.
Then after that we sneak back into this cursed dorm, pretend nothing happened, and eat cinnamon rolls in victory.
Nissa
*sticks out pinky*
Pinky swear?
Hayara
*hooks it*
Pinky swear.
__________________________
~PERSONAL CHAT WITH NISSA~
Nissa
Alright. I’m here.
They’re waiting.
Hayara
Stay calm.
I’m behind the archway. I can’t see them—what do they look like?
Nissa
It’s dark, but… yeah. They’re all in black. One of them is glowing slightly??
That’s probably Sylas.
And one guy just turned—wait.
Holy sh*t. That’s definitely Aether.
He’s staring straight through people.
Hayara
Don’t panic.
Say the line. Walk slow. Be weird.
Nissa
Already halfway there. If I die, tell my diary I lied about everything.
Hayara
*Step out from behind the stone wall, trying to get a better view*
The mist thickens. The wind stops.
Then—
Something grabs you.
A hand slams over your mouth.
An arm wraps tight around your waist.
You're yanked backward, off your feet.
Into a stone room. The door closes with a low thud.
Dark coat dragging like storm clouds, jaw sharp, expression unreadable. The air around him feels colder, like the shadows listen to his breath.
Aether
*voice low, velvet steel*
You shouldn't be here.
Hayara
*heart racing*
I wasn’t trying to interrupt—
I just followed my friend. I didn’t want her to be alone.
Aether
So you followed her into our circle?
Uninvited. Unprotected. Unseen.
Hayara
She’s my roommate. She’s not from your world.
I wanted to make sure she was okay.
Aether
You think we’re careless with the ones we let close?
Hayara
No. But you’re… a mystery.
And mystery doesn’t always mean safe.
Aether
*staring straight into you*
Neither does' loyalty.
Hayara
So what now?
Are you going to hurt me?
Aether
If I wanted to…
you wouldn’t still be standing.
A pause. Tension thick. But his hands aren't on you anymore — and his voice is quieter now.
Aether
You followed her…
But somehow I ended up finding you.
Hayara
I wasn’t trying to be found.
Aether
Maybe not.
But you didn’t run, either.
Hayara
Maybe I don’t run from storms.
Aether
*steps even closer, voice low*
Maybe you should.
Hayara
I was only trying to protect her.
Aether
And I protect mine.
That’s why you’re not going back to her. Not when she’s with us.
Hayara
You can’t decide that.
The door behind you creaks open—on its own.
Aether steps back into the shadows, eyes never leaving yours.
Aether
Go.
Before I change my mind.
The candle still flickers behind him. He hasn't moved.
You don’t, either.
Aether
*voice cold, unreadable*
One condition.
Hayara
*eyes narrowing*
What?
Aether
You don’t speak of this.
Not to your roommate. Not to anyone.
Not a whisper.
Hayara
Why?
Afraid your perfect circle will ask why the storm let a stranger go?
Aether
*steps forward again, tone sharper*
No.
I simply don’t like loose ends with loud
Hayara
*fighting the shiver*
I’m not scared of you.
Aether
*leans slightly closer, voice like ice*
Then you’re either brave… or stupid.
He watches you for a long second — studying, calculating, unreadable.
Aether
*quietly*
Get out.
And stay out of our shadows.
You turn, but not before catching the flicker of something in his eyes — not warmth. Not softness.
Just confusion.
Like you’re the one riddle he wasn’t prepared to meet tonight.
Nissa
Where were you?!
I turned around and you were GONE.
Hayara
Long story.
Don’t worry. I’m fine.
Just… a little off-track.
Nissa
Wait, why are you shaking?
Nissa
You are.
What happened??
Nissa
Okay that was… weirdly smooth?
Nissa
They didn’t question me much.
Ravyn just kinda stared. Sylas whispered something weird.
And Caelum kept circling me like I was some rare potion ingredient.
Hayara
They didn’t do anything?
Nissa
No.
They said something like “we just wanted to see the girl behind the bird.”
Then Lyra nodded…
And they let me go.
Hayara
Just… wow.
That’s… lucky?
Nissa
They’re weird but honestly?
I think they were relieved. Like, “okay she’s harmless, let her go.”
Nissa
Wait.
Now that I think about it…
Nissa
Aether wasn’t there.
Like… at all.
The others stood in a perfect circle, but there was an empty spot behind Lyra.
The kind of spot people don’t stand in unless someone important is missing.
Hayara
Maybe he was… doing storm-boy things?
Nissa
Maybe.
Still weird.
He was the one I wanted to see most.
Kinda disappointed.
*pause*
Anyway, they think I’m you now.
Nissa
Because they trust “you” now.
And “you” isn’t me.
Nissa
But they still don’t know who the real girl behind the bird is…
Hayara
Exactly.
And that makes me a variable.
One they can’t control.
Hayara
Which makes me dangerous.
Hayara
*Looking at the ceiling*
Hayara
(Great.
I didn’t even come here for boys, and somehow I’ve already collected the worst one.)
Author
Thank you for reading!! 🧚🏻♀️
Author
LIKE COMMNET AND SHARE 🪄💖
Comments
Shinichi Kudo
Don't ever doubt your writing talent, you have a bright future ahead!
2025-06-15
1