Unaware Lifestyle.

Chapter 31: The beauty of betrayal.

Weeks turned into months, and Ella's relentless bullying showed no signs of abating. She continued to taunt Lyra, refusing to back down, and Lyra's slow-burning rage grew with each passing day. Ella would often destroy Lyra's belongings, doing unpleasant things to provoke her, but Lyra issued warnings, her patience wearing thin.

One fateful day, in the dining room, Ella's cruelty reached new heights. She poured Lyra's food on the floor, splattering rotten eggs and fish everywhere, and sneered at Lyra, asking if anyone else noticed the "stench" coming from her direction. As Ella laughed, she warned Lyra to never cross her again, threatening to unleash her worst wrath.

But Lyra had had enough. As Ella turned to leave, Lyra stood up, her eyes blazing with determination.

"Do your worst,"

She challenged Ella, her voice steady.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and the other students exchanged nervous glances. They sensed a storm brewing, and some feared for Lyra's safety. Ella paused, her eyes flashing with anger, and Lyra repeated her challenge:

"Let's settle this once and for all... with a fight."

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two girls. The students were scared, sensing that Ella might lose control and harm someone. The air was thick with anticipation, and it seemed as though the very fate of the school hung in the balance.

Lyra's eyes locked onto Ella's, her voice firm and resolute.

"Apologize to them,"

She said, nodding towards the other students, "and surrender, or we'll sign a contract to unleash the worst in us."

Ella laughed, incredulous.

"Why would I apologize and surrender to anyone?"

She sneered.

Lyra's gaze never wavered.

"Because you're scared,"

She said, her voice dripping with conviction.

"You don't want to be humiliated publicly."

But Ella's bravado was crumbling, and her girls sensed it. They pleaded with her to retreat, to avoid unleashing the "beast" in Lyra. Yet Ella's pride wouldn't let her back down. With a snarl, she grabbed Lyra's hair, and the two girls crashed into a fierce fight.

The students watched in awe as Lyra's hidden strength emerged, her fists flying with precision and power. Ella was no match for her, and soon Lyra knelt beside her, ready to deliver the final blow.

But as she raised her fist, something inside Lyra shifted. She remembered her people, tormented and suffering, and her anger surged anew. With a fierce cry, she poured all her aggression into Ella, her punches raining down like a storm.

Just as Lyra seemed about to deliver the killing blow, one of Ella's girls tried to intervene. But Lyra's heart suddenly chimed in, a voice of reason piercing the chaos. She collapsed beside Ella, unconscious, as the students screamed in shock and disbelief. The fight was over, but the consequences were only just beginning.

As Lyra regained consciousness, the students cheered and rushed to her aid. They hailed her as a hero for taking down Ella, but Lyra's first question was,

"Where's Ella?"

Her friends told her that Ella's girls had whisked her away, and Lyra's gaze scanned the room, searching for any sign of her adversary. That's when her eyes met Erica's, and a spark of understanding passed between them.