The next day, Elia faced something she hadn't prepared for: Physical Education. At Georia, every student was required to wear the standard PE uniform a plain, dark outfit that stripped away individuality, including the simple shorts and shirt.
Elia Gundred held the uniform in her hands, inspecting it carefully. Is this what I'm supposed to wear?
"Teacher… excuse me," she asked quietly, her tone calm but tinged with curiosity. "Do I have to wear this?" Her pale face tilted slightly, white hair brushing her shoulders, eyes wide with subtle confusion.
The teacher glanced at her with mild surprise. "Yes, Elia. Everyone wears this for PE. It's mandatory."
Elia studied the uniform again, then nodded slowly. "I see… very well." She changed into the uniform with deliberate, careful movements. Every adjustment, the sleeves, the hem, and the shorts was precise, almost ritualistic. Even forced to conform, she retained an eerie elegance.
She paused for a moment, glancing down at her neatly folded bonnet. "Can I still wear the bonnet?" she asked softly, tilting her head.
The teacher gave a small sigh, trying to suppress a smile. "It's not suitable for PE, is it? I mean… who wears bonnets while playing dodgeball? Also, please tie your hair up, Elia Gundred. Long, untied hair could get caught or cause accidents."
Elia nodded once, almost imperceptibly. "Very well." She carefully tied her hair into a high ponytail, keeping it neat, yet some strands of white still fell gracefully around her face. Even restrained by rules, she somehow made the practical look feel elegant.
When she stepped into the gym, the students immediately noticed. Her dark PE uniform was plain, but the slow, deliberate way she moved, ponytail bouncing gently with each step, drew curious eyes and whispers.
"She's… even in PE clothes, she's… different," a boy muttered.
"She's so calm… like she's in her own world," a girl added.
The teacher clapped hands to get attention. "Alright, everyone! Today we're playing dodgeball. Elia, you'll join a team."
Elia nodded once, her voice calm and soft. "Very well." She walked to the team line slowly, each step measured, her movements eerily precise, drawing curious glances from the other students.
The game began. Balls flew through the gym, students dodging, shouting, and laughing. Most ran and leapt with chaotic energy but Elia moved differently. She did not rush. She glided across the court with slow, calculated steps, her ponytail swaying gracefully behind her.
A ball came hurtling toward her. Time seemed to stretch. Elia tilted her head slightly, eyes tracking the ball. With an almost imperceptible sidestep, she avoided it effortlessly. Calm, deliberate, almost unnervingly precise.
"She… she dodged it without even trying!" whispered a girl.
Another boy laughed nervously. "It's like she's predicting everything!"
Elia's voice broke the tense silence. "Is the objective to avoid being hit… or to strike others?" Her tone was curious, neutral, and calm. The classmates froze for a moment, surprised she had spoken.
"Uh… both?" someone replied awkwardly.
Elia nodded once, as if she had accepted the rules. Then she continued moving slowly, deliberately, catching balls effortlessly or stepping aside with elegant precision.
By the end of class, students were exhausted and laughing, panting from exertion. Elia, however, stood almost untouched. Uniform neat, hair tied, movements deliberate. The gym buzzed with chatter:
"She's impossible to read."
"Even in PE clothes… she's still different."
"And the way she moves… it's like she's floating."
Even in something as ordinary as dodgeball, with the plain uniform and tied hair, Elia Gundred left a mark, stoic, graceful, and eerily unforgettable.