I rushed down the stairs, my heart pounding harder with every step. The cool morning air slapped against my skin as I ran straight to the old tree—the place Raven always lingered, watching like a silent shadow. I lifted my face to the branches, my eyes scanning every leaf, every bend of wood.
He wasn't there.
My chest tightened.
I turned and ran again, this time toward the cafeteria. The smell of food hung in the air, students passed by laughing, talking, living their normal lives as if nothing dark hovered among us. My eyes searched frantically from table to table, corner to corner.
Nothing.
"Where are you…" I muttered under my breath.
I left the cafeteria and headed for the classroom block. The hallways were quiet, almost eerily so. I checked one classroom after another—empty desks, silent boards, no sign of him. My anger, my fear, my confusion all twisted together until I could barely breathe.
As I stepped out and turned toward the back of the class building, a voice cut through the silence.
"Are you looking for me?"
My heart skipped so violently I felt dizzy. I turned instantly.
Raven stood there.
For a moment, the world froze. He looked the same—dark eyes, calm posture, that unreadable expression that had once made me feel safe. But now, all I saw was betrayal.
I walked toward him slowly, my hands shaking, my jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
Before he could say a word, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.
The sound echoed.
He didn't flinch. He didn't move. He didn't even blink.
That hurt me more than if he had fought back.
I stared at him, breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling like I had just run miles.
"Raven," I said, my voice trembling with rage, "I promise you… I will kill you."
Still, nothing.
His face remained dark, emotionless, his eyes fixed on mine like he was absorbing every word.
"You talk about trust," I continued, my voice growing louder, sharper. "You preach about protection and loyalty, yet you're nothing but a hiding monster—waiting for the perfect moment to devour innocent children!"
My hands curled into fists. Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"I regret ever saving your life," I shouted. "You monster!"
Something snapped inside me.
I closed my eyes, and suddenly my hands began to rise on their own. I felt it—the surge, the heat, the violent wave building within me, ready to explode and destroy everything in front of me.
Then—
Arms wrapped around me.
Tight. Firm. Warm.
I was pulled into a deep hug, my face pressed against a chest that rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm. My racing breath began to slow without my permission. My trembling eased.
Confused, I opened my eyes.
It was Raven.
I was still in his grip.
"I will kill you myself," I whispered through clenched teeth, even as my body betrayed my anger by calming in his arms.
Before anything else could happen, another hand grabbed mine and pulled me back.
Raven released me immediately.
I turned sharply.
"Minho!"
He stood there, his presence solid, grounding. Relief flooded me instantly. I ran to him, my hands moving over his arms, his chest, his shoulders, checking for wounds, for blood, for anything wrong.
"I'm okay, Jina," he said gently, smiling. "He can't get to me."
He lifted his gaze and fixed it on Raven.
Raven stood off to the side, his hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight.
For a split second, I saw it—his power stirring, something dark and dangerous rising beneath his skin. He lifted his hands slightly.
"Raven, stop!"
Yoon's voice rang out from behind.
Instantly, Raven lowered his hands.
"You can't do that here," Yoon said firmly as she stepped closer.
I turned slowly, my anger shifting direction.
"So you knew," I said, my voice dangerously calm as I walked toward her. "You knew what he was all along."
"Jina—" Yoon began.
"You knew," I repeated, my voice breaking. "And you still lied to me. You still deceived me."
She reached for me, but I pulled away.
"I trusted you," I said, my voice shaking as tears finally slipped down my cheeks. "I trusted both of you. And you played with my emotions like they were nothing."
She tried to speak again, but I raised my hand sharply.
"But now," I continued, my voice hardening, "I promise you—I will kill you both the moment I get the chance."
The courtyard fell silent.
"I advise you," I added, my voice echoing, "to stay very far away from me."
I turned to leave, my chest aching, my head spinning.
"Jina," Yoon called after me, her voice heavy with something like regret. "They've already succeeded in what they wanted. I just hope that when you finally get yourself back… you won't feel lonely. Raven has been the one risking his—"
"Shut up."
Minho's voice cut through hers like a blade.
"Are you not tired?" he snapped. "Can't you people just let her be? She has made her decision. Do what she said—stay far away."
"No," I said suddenly, stopping in my tracks.
Everyone froze.
I turned back slowly, my eyes locking onto Raven and Yoon.
"I don't want you far away," I said coldly.
Yoon's lips curved into a faint, hopeful smile. "Oh, Jina…"
"Hold on," I interrupted.
My gaze sharpened.
"I want you close," I continued. "So it will be easier to kill you. Chasing you would be stressful."
The smile vanished from Yoon's face.
Raven's expression darkened completely, his eyes clouded with something unreadable—pain, anger, fear, maybe all three.
Minho, however, smiled.
I looked straight at Raven.
"Keep watching your back," I warned. "Because I will attack anytime. Any day. Any moment."
With that, I turned and walked away, my steps heavy but determined.
Behind me, Minho stepped closer to Raven, his smile widening into something cruel.
"Master," he said mockingly, laughing softly.
Raven stiffened.
"Are you still trying to save her?" Minho continued. "Are you not tired? No matter what you do, she will never see you. She will never believe you."
He leaned closer, his voice low and poisonous.
"So it's better you give up—or better still, go back to the wizards you belong to."
Minho straightened and walked away.
Yoon stared at Raven in shock.
"Master?" she whispered. "Wizard? What does he mean?"
Raven didn't answer.
His face was darker than the night itself as he turned and walked away without a word.
Yoon stood there for a long moment, then followed him—uneasy, confused.
And somewhere deep inside me, beneath the anger and hatred, something stirred.
Something that promised this war was far from over.