Though most trainees left quietly, some still stayed behind. A few girls rushed toward Livienne almost immediately. They surrounded her in a loose circle, their voices overlapping as they praised her singing and asked questions excitedly.
"You sounded amazing."
"Can we train with you later?"
Livienne smiled calmly, as if she were used to this kind of attention. She stood straight, her posture perfect, her chin slightly raised. There was no rank or grade in the training school, but talent spoke louder than rules, and Livienne carried herself like someone above the rest.
"You may," she said gently. "If you don't mind staying a little late."
The girls lit up at once, nodding eagerly.
Elara watched from a short distance away. She snorted quietly. Livienne turned to look at her at the same time. Her eyes shifted toward Elara sharply. She excused herself from the group and walked over, her admirers following her closely, sticking behind her like a shell clinging to a turtle's back.
She stopped right in front of Elara.
"You've improved a lot," Livienne said, her voice smooth and pleasant. Elara looked at her. She did not lower her head or smile.
"I have to, the competition is coming."she said calmly.
The girls around Livienne frowned at once.
"What kind of attitude is that?"
"She thinks too highly of herself."
"Livienne, don't bother with her."
Elara heard them clearly but she kept quiet.
Livienne raised her hand slightly, stopping them. Her expression did not change. She still looked calm, graceful, and patient, like a perfect model student.
"Then work harder," Livienne said to Elara, her tone gentle. "And… best of luck."
She smiled again and then walked past Elara, the group moving with her, leaving behind whispers and glances.
Elara stood still, her chest tightening. She remembered that in her past life, she had sung terribly that day. Her voice had broken and her face had burned with shame. When Livienne told her she was improving, Elara had believed it.
She had bowed and thanked her. When Livienne invited her to train together that night, Elara had gone gladly, thinking she was being helped. That night, she had been laughed at. Mocked. She only watched as her mistakes were pointed out again and again. Livienne had stood there the whole time, smiling kindly, while her words cut deeper than open insults.
Elara slowly clenched her fists. This time, she understood and she would not walk into the same trap again.
–
That night. Lyra was already asleep on her bed. She slept in a strange way, one arm hanging off the side, one leg bent awkwardly. Elara glanced at her once and then turned away.
She stood near the window with her music sheet in hand and practiced softly.
She didn't want to wake Lyra so she tried to sing quietly. She focused on her breathing and keeping the sound steady. But when she reached a higher note, her throat tightened and the sound cracked. Elara stopped at once. Her hand curling round the paper tightly.
She tried again.The same thing happened. Her heart sank. This is bad.
She swallowed and rubbed her throat gently, her brows drawn together.
"Don't panic," she whispered to herself.
She was so focused that she didn't notice that Lyra had woken up.
Lyra sat up on her bed. Her hair was messy and her eyes were half-open. She blinked a few times, then stood up quietly and walked towards a drawer. Elara turned only when a small bottle was suddenly held out in front of her.
She startled slightly. "Lyra?"
Lyra yawned. "Use this, I take it when my throat feels strained. It's not magic or anything, but it helps a bit." She said sleepily.
Elara stared at the bottle. It was small and plain, with no label.
"…Thank you," she said softly.
Lyra nodded, already turning back. "Don't sing too loud," she muttered, then climbed back into bed. In only few seconds, she was asleep again.
Elara looked down at the bottle hesitantly. She opened it and sniffed it. It didn't smell bad anyway. She took a small sip. The liquid was warm and bit bitter, contrasting with the slightly sweet smell.
After a few moment, her throat still hurt, but she noticed that the tightness had eased a little.
Elara let out a quiet breath. "At least it helped in any way it could…"
She stood there thinking, her mind full again, suddenly—
Thud.
Elara's heart skipped in fear, but she didn't flinch. She turned around just in time to see Lyra sprawled on the floor beside her bed, one leg still tangled in the blanket.
"…Lyra?", she exclaimed taking a deep breath to ease the tension in her chest.
Lyra didn't reply. She didn't even move.
Elara sighed. "Your sleeping habits never changed."
She walked to her bed and pulled the blanket down gently to cover Lyra properly, then stepped back. She's too tired to carry her back onto the bed again.
Elara walked back to the window and cleared her throat softly. She hadn't started singing when someone knocked on the door.
She froze. Her heart skipping once.
She walked to the door and opened it slightly. A trainee stood outside, looking a little uncomfortable. "Livienne asked me to tell you she's practicing tonight. She invited you to join."
Elara answered right away.
"I'm not feeling well, please tell her I can't come." She said.
The trainee nodded and left quickly. Elara closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, her eyes lowering. Then she walked back to the window to keep revising...