Beyond the Veil

Chapter 33

The next day, Sera went to school. She walked through the corridors of the courtyard, the cantankerous chatter of students' conversations vibrantly filled the air.

Clutching her backpack tightly, she felt a sense of unease gnawing at her. Finals were just around the corner, and she knew she needed to focus.

She chided herself for being so distracted and letting her academic responsibilities slip through her fingers. School was first. Finals were coming up next week, and she knew that her future depended on her performance. She berated herself for allowing her priorities to shift so drastically, for letting the allure of the unknown overshadow the practicalities of her life. Now she only has 7 days to study.

She would have to make use of it.

As she settled into her first class, Sera tried to immerse herself in the lesson. She really did. The teacher's voice became a distant hum as her mind wandered. She couldn't help but replay the events of the previous day—the revelations about the portal, the spirit world, and Saul's sacrifices.

Sera's pencil hovered over her notebook as she stared at the equations on the board. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Focus, Sera," she whispered to herself.

But despite her best efforts, the questions that plagued her mind seemed far more pressing than any classroom lecture. How could she concentrate when the fate of her world seemed to hang in the balance?

The bell rang, signaling the end of the first class. Sera gathered her books and joined the flow of students heading to the next lesson. The students chatted animatedly about their study plans and exam strategies, but Sera's thoughts were still with Saul, a literal forest guardian fighting against the looming threat of the weakening portal. He was probably working on it right now, while she sat in a plastic chair listening to a review on kinematic motion. It was an unwelcome moment of sonder.

As Sera sat in the courtyard, in contemplation about her next move, Quinn approached her with a cheerful smile.

"Hey, Sera!" Quinn greeted her, taking a seat on the bench next to her. She slouched down and took a sip of her iced coffee. "I can't even believe the semester ends next week. Being a senior sucks, because like, there is only one semester left after this. What's going to happen after that?"

Sera sighed, her mind still tangled in a web of thoughts. "I know, it's all happening so fast."

Quinn nodded, her eyes gleaming. "Well, you know what they say: 'Time waits for no one.' But not to worry, I'm going to get the club back together and we are going to survive these exams."

Sera couldn't help but smile at her friend's casual approach. "You mean the club we haven't contacted since the beginning of the semester?

Quinn shrugged, "it'll be fine, we'll get a pizza. Everybody loves pizza."

Sera immensely enjoyed Quinn's laissez faire mentality, "Quinn, we never even registered with the SGA."

Quinn gave her a wink. "Life's too short for all that. I'll just stick it on my resume anyway, who is going to check?"

Sera couldn't help but laugh. "You do have a point there."

Quinn grinned. "Exactly! So, what do you say about some last-minute cramming?"

Sera smiled and agreed. She was determined to make the most of the time they had before the exams. Sera couldn't help but appreciate the balance that Quinn brought into her life.

They parted ways and Sera left for her final class of the day. By the time the final bell rang, Sera felt mentally exhausted, but she needed to see if Saul made any progress on the portal. With her school bag slung over her shoulder, she headed to the parking lot, where her car awaited.