‘Ugh, I feel terrible…Looks like I’m alive though…’

When I open my eyes, I am met with a familiar ceiling, one I hadn’t seen in a long time. Even if I have not laid on it in years, I also recognize the softness of the mattress supporting me. The voices around me are anxious, some panicked even, and the ones they belong to seem to be running around frantically. My mind is still hazy, but the realization comes quickly, this is a place I know very well.

‘When was the last time I was sent to the DaiKar infirmary… I’m almost feeling nostalgic.’

Another voice, this one especially familiar, breaks through the fog in my mind. “You are unbelievable.”

I instinctively attempt to turn my head toward the voice, but I find my body to be unresponsive. Clearly, the damage I sustained in my fight against Selena still lingers. To confirm, I try to do the same with other parts of my body. My fingers twitch, and my feet move, but the rest is much harder to command, my torso feeling as though it’s encased in stone. Still, I give it my all, and barely manage to move my head.

When I complete the motion, a woman with auburn hair and sharp emerald eyes meets my gaze, her hands holding a notebook and a purple colored pen.

Seeing her, I scoff, and a jolt of pain courses through my stomach, forcing a grimace on my face. “...It’s nice to see you too, Lisa.”

She sighs, exasperated. “You should refer to me with more respect… or at least honorifics. I’m your senior, you know?”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard that coming from her. “Do you always have to be so uptight, senior?”

She frowns, and writes something in her notebook, but I’m not sure what. It’s nothing new, she’s done that for as long as I can remember. If it’s not some novel in her hands, it’s that notebook. I tried peeking into it once, and I nearly lost my life, so I've decided to hold onto my curiosity.

Pushing those thoughts aside, my tone darkens, and my expression hardens. “...What happened to that boy, Alden Thorne?”

She stops scribbling for a moment, and she snaps her notebook shut, before looking directly into my eyes. “...The reason you’re in this state? He’s safe.”

“....And the others… any casualties?” I ask.

She does not flinch as she answers, her tone blunt. “Four dead. Thirteen missing, and twenty so gravely injured.”

I close my eyes regretfully as a bitter taste floods my mouth. To think this annual event would turn out like this. I barely manage to contain my anger. “How’s DaiKar handling it… and how’s everyone taking it?”

Lisa’s eyes drop momentarily, and she presses her lips tight. She inhales slowly, and her next words carry an unspoken weight with them. “Terribly, on both fronts. There are nearly no remains for the families of the deceased to bring home.” She clutches her pen, threatening to snap it in half. “....The missing have disappeared into thin air, and the dead…devoured, barely recognizable.”

I can’t help but let out a humorless chuckle, the pain it causes making me regret it instantly. “...The great DaiKar academy, the only [enlightened] training facility in the nation. Home to the best instructors, and to the future of the country itself.” I grind my teeth. “All that… and yet…we can’t even protect a couple of kids…”

Lisa’s pen finally gives, and parts in two with a quiet crack. “Funny, isn’t it?”

Something wells up within my throat, and it tightens. For a second, I find myself unable to speak, unable to say another word. I want to scream, I want to shout, I want to break something, anything to vent out this insurmountable anger within me, but I contain myself. It won’t change anything even if I do throw a tantrum. I’m powerless.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

It takes some time for me to pull myself together. “We can discuss all this depressing stuff later…I imagine you didn’t come here just to keep me company?”

Lisa clears her face of the long auburn hair obstructing it, and she sighs softly. “Somewhat, but I’m also here on behalf of vice-dean Thalia-”

‘Right…’

“The first thing she wanted me to relay is her thanks for responding to the situation despite the potential danger.” Lisa says, shockingly.

My eyes widen. “Seriously? I was certain they’d be harsher.” I exclaim with relief washing over my face.

The relief is short-lived, however. “....I wasn’t finished.” Lisa says, a pause hanging in the air before she resumes. “...The second thing she wanted me to relay is your official sanction for flagrant insubordination.”

She hands me a letter, but she rapidly understands that I do not have the strength to hold it. Instead, she brings the piece of paper to her eyes and prepares to read it for me.

‘Who even uses paper these days…?’

She clears her throat and begins.

“Official Disciplinary notice

This official document of DaiKar academy is addressed to Instructor Lauren Flake, faculty representative of Lauderdale Academy.

Following thorough review by the DaiKar disciplinary committee, Instructor Lauren Flake has been found to have violated the code of Conduct of the academy, making this her second offense. According to this institution's regulations, this behavior is grounds for termination of the contract with the aforementioned employee, as stipulated in Article 3 clause 7 of the DaiKar rulebook for instructors.”

I nearly shout at the mention of that last sentence. If I could sit up in outrage, I would. “Termination?!!” I exclaim.

Lisa raises her hand, indicating that I should wait for her to finish. Begrudgingly, I shut my mouth and let her continue.

She clears her throat once more.

“...However, in light of the support from her peers, the disciplinary committee has exceptionally decided to take into account the intent of the accused. After much deliberation, considering the achievements, reputation, prior history, and perceived character of the accused, the committee has elected to make an exception.

Thus, if the accused wishes to maintain her position, she will comply with the sanction described below:

* Once she has fully recovered, Instructor Lauren flake is to be on house arrest for the next fourteen days, secluded within her quarters at DaiKar academy. She is not to leave for any personal or professional reasons.

* Her personal instrument is to be confiscated, alongside any artifact, or weapon of any kind. She is to hand them to the relevant personnel of her own free will. Should she be found to not have relinquished everything fitting that description, she will be immediately terminated.

* Finally, for the duration of her house arrest and an additional fourteen days, her pay is to be suspended and any privilege she possesses to be revoked, including but not limited to - access to training facilities, means to contact the outside world, and instructor meals.

Signed,

Vice Dean - Thalia Ravencrest

Dean - Orion Thunderblade”

“Wow… they really went all out huh…”

She folds the letter back into the envelope and places it on the shelf next to me. “It could have been much worse. Count yourself lucky I advocated for you.”

I smirk. “I never told you this, but you were always my favorite, you know?”

Sitting up straight, Lisa crosses her arms. “You have told me this before, and there’s no use in sucking up to me, Lauren. Your sanction won’t get any lighter.”

I’d shrug if I could. “Heh, worth a shot.”

Intruding on our conversation, one of the nurses hands Lisa an apple, alongside a plate, and a small knife. Lisa gratefully accepts the items, and thanks the nurse, who immediately scurries away, blushing slightly. Then, with grace, she starts to peel the apple. She does not rush, each motion deliberate, slowly cleansing the apple of its skin. When it’s perfectly white, she cuts it into a dozen or so equal parts, itching falling onto the plate resting on her knees.

She impales one of the apple slices onto her knife and holds it up to me. “Open wide.” She says.

I beam at the gesture. “You’re seriously feeding me!? Should I get hurt more often?!”

She rolls her eyes. “Be quick before I change my mind.”

I don’t waste another moment before opening my mouth and allowing the apple slice in. “Shank yew!” I say, still chewing.

Lisa is not one to smile, or at least she hasn't in recent years. However, at that moment, the corner of her mouth softly curls upward. “...You’re welcome.”

Again, she spears another apple slice on her knife and brings it to my mouth without a word. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a moment… just the two of us.” She speaks softly, fixing her hair. “...Anything new?”

“....It has been a while, big sis. We’ve been busy haven’t we?” I look to the ceiling, pensive. “Well…there are some things I should share…For example, [...]”

For the next hour, the world falls away. It feels as though we are once again the little girls who would braid other’s hair back at the orphanage, sitting cross-legged on the cold wooden floor. The two girls who would babble on and on about anything and everything. Before [enlightenment], before the war, before DaiKar, before everything got so… complicated.

***Change of POV***

‘Ouch…everything hurts….’

I look around, the room unfamiliar, but spotless.

‘Where am I?’

A voice resonates not too far from me. “Finally! You’re up!”