What kind of life is Alessandra living?!
Yvonne had thought that since Alessandra came from a rich family, her life would be comfortable—perhaps even enviable. Not that she intended to stay in her place for long, but at the very least, she expected something better. Instead, it was far worse than the life of a commoner.
Even though she and her sisters were poor, They were happy. Content. They laughed, struggled, and endured together. Every meal they ate, every small joy they found, felt earned. Life was simple but honest. But Alessandra's life… except for the wealth attached to her name, everything else felt hollow. Being bullied was one thing, but this? This loneliness, this cold emptiness, was another kind of cruelty altogether.
Yvonne was even more shocked the moment she entered Alessandra's room.
It was located at the farthest corner of the girls' dormitory, completely isolated from the other rooms—as if it had been intentionally pushed away from human presence. And its condition only made things worse.
The room looked more like a storage space than a living area. True, it was bigger and wider than her small room back in downtown, but that didn't make it better. If anything, it felt like a ghost room.
The walls were painted an emotionless grey, with no hint of warmth or life. The only things inside were a bed large enough for two—perhaps even three—a reading table with a chair and lamp, a small shelf, a wardrobe, and a dressing table.
No decorations.
No colors.
No personality.
Living in this room felt like living in hell—for someone like her, who loved bright, lively, flashy things. How was she supposed to cope with this?
Everything here felt deserted. Lonely. Suffocating.
And somehow, that emptiness reminded Yvonne of her sisters.
Their laughter.
Their shining eyes.
Their happiness.
All painfully vivid, reminding her what real warmth felt like.
She missed them.
How were they doing now? Were they worried about her? Was Alessandra taking care of them? Or… were they looking for her?
Even in her imagination, Yvonne pictured Nathania grinning from ear to ear, shoving her favorite food into her mouth, and Natalie holding a brush with paint smeared all over her small hands. Her chest ached. How many nights had she slept worrying about them, hoping they had eaten, hoping they were safe? And here she was… trapped in this grey, lifeless room, powerless to comfort them.
Sitting down on the bed, her heart heavy, but at least there was one relief—the bed was soft and cozy.
*
Yvonne walked home, tired but happy.
She had just collected her wages and bonus, and the weight of the coins in her pocket made her smile. On her way home, she bought food, clothes, medicine, and other necessities for her sisters.
Nathania would be thrilled—she had brought all her favorite foods. That girl was a foodie through and through.
Natalie, on the other hand, would be delighted by the paints and brushes. She loved painting. Anything she found beautiful, she tried to capture on paper. Despite suffering from a weak heart, she was always cheerful, always smiling.
Feeling accomplished, Yvonne lifted her head and looked at the night sky.
There were no stars—only a lonely crescent moon illuminating the darkness, quietly beautiful in its solitude.
Then…
She felt a presence behind her.
Before she could turn around, everything went black.
*
Snapping her eyes opening abruptly, Yvonne heart raced, only to realize she had been dreaming.
No—
Not a dream.
That was real.
That was what truly happened to her the night before she was found at the bottom of the cliff.
Her memory.
She had been knocked unconscious.
No wonder her mind went blank whenever she tried to remember. But even then, something felt incomplete. There was more to it—something hidden beyond that moment.
How did she end up with Alessandra's appearance?
If only she could remember… even just a fraction.
Sighing deeply, Yvonne stood up, walked toward the window and pushed it open, her breath caught.
She could see almost all of downtown.
Her town.
The town she loved most.
Houses dotted with lights. Street lamps glowing faintly. From this height, they looked like tiny fireflies scattered across the darkness. Even though she couldn't see clearly, just the sight alone filled her heart with warmth.
She might not like this room—or anything about this place—but at least she could still see her home from here.
Yvonne smiled softly as fresh, rain-scented air brushed against her face.
Oh… it rained.
Her body yearned for the freshness, for freedom. She needed air. Space. A moment to think.
Maybe… even clues.
Quietly, she stepped out of the room. Her footsteps were light, almost soundless, as she made her way down the corridor toward the dormitory exit.
The hallway was silent, as if the whole building itself was holding its breath. Each step she took echoed softly, making her hyper-aware of the possibility of being caught.
Each sound of heartbeat drummed in Yvonne ears. She tried to slow it, reminding herself: calm, careful, quiet.
When she reached the dormitory door, her heart sank.
The door was locked with magic.
And unfortunately for her, she didn't possess unbinding magic.
Sighing, she turned around to head back when—her water sense stirred.
Cool, fresh rainwater. Yvonne could feel it clearly, flowing in thin streams along the edges of the building.
That meant one thing.
There was a loophole.
Excitement flickered in her chest as she followed the sensation and discovered a small opening near the corner of the door.
Perfect.
A guard's shadow flickered nearby, forcing her to wait until the path was clear, all the while her heart was hammering.
Smiling, She reached for her second ability.
Water manipulation.
Her fingertips dissolved first.
Then her arms.
Then the rest.
In an instant, Yvonne body dissolved into water, slipping smoothly through the tiny opening and flowing outside.
Freedom tasted like the crisp, rainy air. And even if it was just a small step, it was hers. Her's to control, her's to master.
And she wasn't going to waste it.