Wicked Academy

29

The Lacunae wrapped around Stella like a comforting cocoon, its magic seeping into her skin, calming her every muscle, every thought. The fairies, with their gentle hands and graceful movements, worked tirelessly to ease the pain from Stella's body. Soft, melodic whispers filled the air as the fairies massaged her muscles and applied delicate elixirs to speed her recovery, an infusion of magic and healing that seemed to drain the exhaustion from her body, replacing it with a soft warmth, a sense of ease she hadn't felt since the arena.

She sank deeper into the soothing embrace of the Lacunae, the gentle hum of the air weaving through her senses like a lullaby. Each breath she took seemed to untangle the knots of tension that had coiled within her, the weight pressing on her chest easing with every exhale. It wasn't just her body that longed for rest–it was her mind, too. The chaos and violence of the arena had taken a toll on her, and here, in this sanctuary of quiet magic, she could momentarily surrender to peace. The noise of the world outside, the confusion, the fears, all slipped away. For just a brief moment, there was only stillness; everything faded away, replaced by a calm that held no questions, only comfort.

Her thoughts drifted, each breath growing slower, deeper, until she felt almost weightless. But the magic of the Lacunae couldn't erase everything. The weight of Ruby's gaze anchored her back into reality. Ruby noticed the limp, of course. It was impossible to hide the way Stella favored one leg, the slight strain in her movements. But Ruby said nothing at first. Her eyes, full of concern, spoke louder than words ever could.

The questions came later, over coffee, as they sat together in the bistro. Ruby's voice had a note of worry as she asked what had really happened, but Stella only smiled. She lied, a lie so simple, so smooth, it slipped from her lips without a second thought. But inside, her chest tightened.

Ruby didn't understand. The odd way Professor Johnson had paired her with Jason, the strange training sessions that felt more like something else entirely, the hidden library–it was all too much to explain. So, Stella didn't. She couldn't. It was easier this way. Safer.

Ruby's brow furrowed as she asked why Professor Johnson had put them together for training. The question was innocent, but to Stella, it felt like a trap. It was too close to the truth, too close to something she wasn't ready to tell. She could sense Ruby's curiosity intensifying, the unspoken doubt in her eyes as she processed the information.

But Stella didn't let Ruby see the unease creeping up on her. Instead, she laughed, a little too brightly, a little too carefree. She kept her answers deliberately vague, steering the conversation away from anything too revealing. She let Ruby cling to the version of events she'd crafted–a version where everything was fine, where nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.

Ruby didn't press her any further, and Stella was relieved. She couldn't bear to let her see the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. The danger, the parallel world, the way her and Jason's paths seemed to intertwine–it was all too much for Ruby to comprehend. And Stella wasn't ready to explain.

So she let Ruby believe the lie. And for a brief moment, Stella allowed herself to pretend everything was normal. But beneath the surface, there was a storm brewing. The magic of the Lacunae had healed her body, but it hadn't healed her mind.

The afternoon drifted seamlessly into evening, time feeling almost irrelevant in the magical embrace of the Lacunae. The air was thick with enchantment, the atmosphere alive with the quiet hum of the space as the girls practiced their movements. The factions had gathered to perfect their dances, each performance a unique representation of their group's identity. It wasn't simply choreography; it was magic in motion. The steps they took and the turns they made were expressions of who they were, their faction's soul poured out with each twirl.