Frozen Fire - Volume One: Fragments

11: Back In The Ice

The Commemorative Wing, Amber soon found, took the form of a long corridor lined with various portraits of former students. The walls were a deep burgundy, reminiscent of the Academy uniform, with dark laminate flooring stretching the whole length of the hall. Amber was quite certain there may have been a lower level, another corridor beneath this one, given the Academy's vast history.

"I was surprised when I got your message." Elizabeth said, her voice light and pleasant. Amber watched the girl's expression, noting the delight and almost pride the Number One felt as her eyes scanned the various photos they walked past.

"Yeah, well..." Amber hummed, "I saw Sylvie in here the other day." Elizabeth nodded.

"She was by herself?" Elizabeth raised a brow, "I thought we're to keep a close eye on her." Amber shrugged before letting herself giggle.

"Sylvie likes being by herself, I don't want her to feel coddled or suffocated by people. She's safe in the Academy, and I make sure I know where she is." Amber let out a sigh, "Her life's been upended by all this. It's only fair to have some boundaries and privacy."

Elizabeth wondered if these boundaries were part of the reason Sylvie hadn't been as harsh to Amber as she had others. Elizabeth had seen how terrified some staff were to even be around the girl with how cold her words could get, yet she always seemed... softer around Amber. More careful with her word choice. "She came in here the other day..." Amber's voice trailed off.

Amber peered around the corner, eyebrows furrowing as she watched Sylvie's figure. The girl had walked into a wing Amber wasn't too familiar with, and had stopped in front of what seemed to be one of many portraits. She couldn't make out the girl's expression, but as she narrowed her eyes, she swore she saw the girl's jaw clench, the way her balled up fists shook. Anger?

No, as Amber paced closer, she saw the watery appearance of her eyes, as if the girl was holding back tears. Sadness? "Sylvie..." Amber started, attempting to keep her voice gentle and barely above a whisper. Despite it, Sylvie still seemed startled, giving a slight jump as her eyes went wide. Amber then thought back to the last time she found Sylvie in a corridor alone, memories of the usually cold girl sobbing came to her at once.

Amber put a hand on Sylvie's arm. "Do you want to go home?" She asked, and Sylvie didn't protest at all, only asking for a moment to compose herself.

As Amber recalled the experience, she noted the way Elizabeth's brows furrowed and the way her jaw clenched. "I think I know who she was looking at..." Amber's curiosity melted into concern as she eyed the Number One. She watched Elizabeth's body shake slightly before the older girl gave a sigh and crossed her arms, her gaze sharpening momentarily before her eyes returned to their usual gentler expression.

As the girls continued to walk, Amber looked at the portraits to her side. "Who are these people anyway?" She questioned. The word 'Commemorative' sounded all too mournful for Amber's mind, and she'd hate to imagine all these students with such bright and determined expressions were all... gone.

"Former Number Ones," Elizabeth started, "This wing is one of the oldest in the Academy's history, it's why it's always getting renovations and being expanded and refurbished." Amber nodded. "It's a way to pay homage to the way they led the student body." Elizabeth turned, and let out a light chuckle at the way Amber's eyes now sparkled with awe.

"Every student here you see left their mark on the Academy and the students at the time, one way or another." As Amber let her momentary glances turn into prolonged stares, she could decipher hints of other emotions in the portraits. Some emanated an air of smugness, whilst others seemed far more gentle. She realised not every Number One was likely as kind as Elizabeth was.