Sonera was hesitant in her step that morning, her wounds still healing from the day before. On any other day, she would bear through the pain and sit at the table for breakfast like any other girl. But things had changed.
Lunae.
"Hello Sonera," Lunae simpered as she brushed against her friend's shoulder. "Sleep well?"
Sonera didn't really have to say anything. She never had a problem with sleeping, regardless of her perturbed mind. The real issue was keeping her cool after a battle or when she felt betrayed. But at that time, Sonera struggled with something else entirely.
She was nervous around Lunae. That girl was downright gorgeous, and seemingly becoming more so by the day. Her long, blue hair shimmered like the moonlight as she playfully nudged herself against Sonera.
"We...should eat." Sonera tried to move away, taking a seat in the dining hall.
As if to come and rescue her, Lila appeared at her side with one of her dorky smiles.
"Doing alright?" Lila giggled. "You seem to have a fan."
Lunae ignored that comment, choosing the seat next to Sonera with obvious deliberation.
"I'm well." Sonera smiled. "And you?"
"Listen, girl, don't worry about me." Lila put her hands up defensively. "You've done more than enough already. I can't thank you enough for standing up for me, I just wish that..."
"I hold no hostilities." Sonera clarified with her steely gaze. "If you can manage to calm her worries. I will accept her as my friend."
Lila beamed with excitement. "Really?"
"A friend of my friend...is a friend."
"Yeah. Were it so easy."
Lila turned to see Ivy, sitting alone in the corner of the room. Yrix had gone out of her way to prepare warm soup that day, handcrafted with seasoned noodles and pork. If only its flavor could penetrate the lingering tension in the room.
"You." Rena hissed as she approached Ivy, the heiress staring silently at her soup as she stirred it around aimlessly. "You need to hear what I have to say."
Ivy shrugged. She didn't really care anymore. Or at the very least, she lacked the energy to fight back.
"So," Rena continued. "You lost. You lost badly. You got turned over like a beachside whore. And you cried like a baby. In case you forgot. I won't rub it in forever, not after I say this one simple thing. And I hope you remember it. You aren't any better than any of us. Meat. That's all you are."
Ivy looked up from her soup with contempt.
"You think I don't know that?" The heiress scoffed. "I am meat. My father made that very clear. But as meat...I'm pricier than you. And I always will be, even as a corpse. Turns out even failures aren't made the same."
Rena ignored the insult as she focused on one word. "Father?"
"You heard me." Ivy glowered.
Rena clenched her fists. She wanted badly to kill the weakened heiress right then and there. But it wasn't right. It wasn't good enough.
"When you mentioned family. I thought...the business. Callisto. All you white haired freaks are part of a 'family'. But are you telling me...you're her?"
Ivy clutched her brooch as a response.
"Algernon's very own daughter." Rena fumed.
"His youngest." Ivy retorted.
"Well then. I suppose I'll still treat you like a human when I say this." Rena's stare zoned in on Ivy like a killer. "During Yrix's next trial. You die. I don't trust the Consortium to do it. No. Your father has to know it was me."
"For what?" Ivy shrugged. "What happened happened. We're all failures no matter what we do."
Rena took a deep breath, speaking calmly with determination. "What your father put me through...killing you quickly is forgiveness."
Rena wouldn't kill Ivy at that time, not with Yrix so close. But what she could do, just to send a message, was to overturn the stifling hot breakfast right into the heiress's face. It was a solid plan, and would have worked if not for the hand that held the bowl in place.
"Rena." Lila appeared suddenly as she looked her friend in the eye. "No."
Rena's eyes reeked of betrayal and pain. Her voice hitched as she spoke, hiding none of her feelings. She was disgusted by Lila.
"You'd defend her? And to think, I beleived you were a decent person. I, honest to God, considered you a friend minutes after meeting you."
"It's just not right. Not here." Lila shook her head as Ivy stared at her with a bewildered expression. "Not after what Yrix has done to us all."
"Why? Cause she's pretty? Cause she stares at you every time your back is turned?" Rena laughed with morbid amusement.
"Shut up," Ivy growled.
"Or what?" Rena raised a fist.
"Or I'll stop you," Lila interjected. "You were talking about honest intentions, right? That's mine."
Rena's eyes began to water. To feel like the villain, when faced with a monster, churned her insides. She didn't have the heart to argue any further.
"When the time comes, Lila," Rena muttered, turning to leave. "Don't get in my way. Please. Just don't. I have a million souls to avenge."
Ivy sat in silence for some time, trying not to stare at Lila as she stood a mere foot away from her.
"What's she talking about? What did you do?" Lila questioned. "I mean-."
"Go," Ivy spoke softly, restraining herself from screaming at Lila or slapping her across the face. "Please. Leave me."
"Huh?" Lila's eyes widened with shock. "But I thought we were."
"Better? We are. I'm not mad, Lila. Just...go away."
Ivy got up and pressed three fingers against Lila's chest before forcing them deep into her flesh. The movement was as guttural as it was blunt, essentially removing Lila from the scene in a maneuver filled to the brim with disdain. She wanted that girl gone.
"Okay, okay." Lila sniffled, losing the hope she had gained that morning. "I'm going."
"Wait," Ivy whispered tentatively. "This morning. Did you...feel or remember anything?"
"Not really." Lila shrugged. "I could just...feel things were better between us. Guess I was wrong."
Ivy wanted to tell her she was the one with the false delusions. Things had changed. But the heiress could never admit it.
_________________________________
"Very well then," Yrix announced, summoning the girls to the front of her office. "The next trial. Due to the extended nature of this new challenge, upon completion, you will receive a week of leisure time. Think of it as a reward. In that time, I may tend to your needs and answer your questions."
"Good news first, huh?" Lila whispered to Lunae, who seemed to be back to her usual frightened self.
Yrix deepened her voice. "As for the trial itself."
Yrix raised one finger, raising the blinds on the left side of the room to reveal the blue skies of the Aerie. Behind those transparent windows, the girls could see a massive ship looming overhead, its ominous trajectory indicating its arrival.
"You will face that." The Arch-Flayer pointed towards the vessel. "The Prudent Reverary. A Super Heavy Prominence-Class Carrier staffed with a full crew. You must survive it for two days within the Crimson Forest just outside the Aerie. Within a set perimeter, which I will place you inside, the trial will begin. Survive or die, there is no other objective."
It was only then, at that moment, did the girls realized the absurdity of Yrix's mentorship. She would never allow them to feel comfortable. Nor would she ever permit a moment of safety or assurance. Her students would be sharpened against only the sharpest of blades, till they broke.
Or in other words, things weren't going to get any easier. And there was no way out.
Not while Yrix was still living.