The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 2

"Rise and shine, Nevers!"

The sharp, commanding voice echoed through the dormitory like a whip crack, jolting you from a restless sleep. You sat up in bed, your heart pounding as you scrambled to locate the source.

It wasn't hard to find. Standing at the end of the hallway, framed by the dim torchlight, was Lady Lesso herself. Her presence was magnetic, as if the very air bent to her will. She didn't need to shout; her voice carried the weight of authority, ensuring every word pierced through the grogginess of the waking students.

"You have fifteen minutes to prepare," she said, her sharp gaze sweeping the room. "If you are late, you will regret it." Her lips quirked in a sly smile, as if she was already imagining the punishment.

With that, she turned on her heel, her cane tapping against the stone floor as she disappeared down the hall.

The room erupted into motion. Your roommate—Daphne, a girl with jet-black hair and a perpetually smug expression—rolled her eyes as she hopped out of bed.

"You'd better hurry," she sneered, already tugging on her dark robes. "Lady Lesso doesn't take kindly to stragglers."

You blinked at her, still disoriented, before fumbling to pull on your uniform. The black fabric fit well, hugging your form like it had been tailored for you, but it felt heavy, as if it carried the expectations of this school on your shoulders.

The hallways were alive with the shuffle of boots and whispered conversations as students made their way to their first class. The walls seemed to hum with dark energy, the torches flickering faintly green. You kept your head down, trying to avoid the sharp glances of your peers, but the heavy doors at the end of the hall gave you pause.

A group of older Nevers loitered there, their eyes predatory as they spotted you. "Well, well, fresh meat," one of them drawled, stepping into your path. He was tall, his angular face twisted into a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Leave her alone, Gregor," Daphne snapped, brushing past him. She didn't even spare you a glance as she added, "She's not worth your time."

You felt the heat rise to your face, but you said nothing, hurrying after her. The other students snickered as you passed, their laughter lingering like a taunt.

By the time you reached the classroom, your nerves were frayed. The room was cavernous, its walls lined with shelves filled with strange, dusty tomes and jars of ingredients you couldn't identify. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and something metallic.

At the center of the room stood Lady Lesso.

Her presence was magnetic, commanding the attention of every student who entered. She stood straight-backed, her cane resting lightly against the floor as her sharp eyes swept over the room. When her gaze landed on you, it lingered for just a moment—enough to make your stomach twist—before moving on.

"Welcome to your first class," she began, her voice slicing through the murmur of the room. "Villainy."

The word hung in the air, heavy and deliberate.

"Some of you," she continued, pacing slowly, "have spent your entire lives believing that Evil is nothing more than greed or cruelty. That it is brutish and unthinking." She paused, her emerald gaze sweeping over the room. "You are wrong."

Her cane tapped sharply against the floor, punctuating her words. "Evil is an art. A craft. A game of strategy and wit. Those who wield it clumsily are doomed to fall. But those who master it..." Her lips curled into a smile. "...can bend the world to their will."

You swallowed hard, a strange mixture of awe and apprehension bubbling in your chest.

Lady Lesso turned to the chalkboard, where a single word appeared in elegant, looping script as if written by an invisible hand: Deception.

"Today, we begin with the cornerstone of all great villains," she said, tapping the word with her cane. "Your ability to deceive—your enemies, your allies, and even yourself—will determine your success."

She snapped her fingers, and suddenly, the room shifted. Desks disappeared, replaced by an open arena ringed with torches.

"You will be paired up," she announced, her voice cool and commanding. "Your task is simple: lie to your partner. Convince them of something untrue. If they believe you, you win. If they see through you..." Her smile widened. "You fail."

The students murmured nervously as pairs began to form. You hesitated, unsure of who to approach, when a tall boy with slicked-back hair and a smug expression stepped in front of you.

"Guess you're stuck with me," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "This should be easy."

You clenched your jaw, determination flaring in your chest.

_________________________________

The exercise was harder than it looked.

Every time you tried to fabricate a story, the boy would cut through it with a smug retort, exposing your falsehoods with ease. You could feel Lady Lesso's gaze on you as you faltered, her expression unreadable.

"You'll have to do better than that," the boy sneered, crossing his arms. "Maybe you're just not cut out for this."

The words stung, but something in you refused to back down. You met his gaze, your mind racing. If brute lies wouldn't work, maybe you needed to approach this differently.

"You're right," you said suddenly, your voice steady.

The boy blinked, clearly not expecting you to agree.

"I'm not cut out for this," you continued, letting your shoulders sag. "I shouldn't even be here. I don't belong in the School for Evil."

His smirk widened. "Obviously."

You hesitated, feigning nervousness, before adding, "But you—you're amazing at this. You must come from a long line of villains."

He puffed up at the compliment, his grin turning smug. "Of course. My father's the Black Baron. Maybe you've heard of him?"

You nodded quickly, inwardly fighting to keep a straight face. "Of course! It's obvious where you get your talent."

For a moment, he basked in your flattery, his chest swelling with pride. Then Lady Lesso's sharp voice cut through the air.

"Enough."

You turned to see her watching you, her gaze sharp. "Y/N wins."

The boy's face fell. "What? But—"

"She deceived you," Lady Lesso said coolly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Flattery is as much a weapon as any blade. Perhaps you should learn to recognize it."

Your cheeks burned as she turned her attention to you. For a brief moment, her gaze softened, a flicker of something like approval crossing her features before it disappeared.

"Class dismissed," she announced, her voice ringing through the arena.

________________________________

As the students filtered out, you lingered, unsure why. Lady Lesso approached, her cane tapping lightly against the floor.

"You surprised me," she said, her tone neutral.

You looked up at her, startled. "I... did?"

Her lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Deception is a valuable skill, Y/N. But don't let it become your only tool. A true villain knows when to tell the truth."

You nodded, unsure of what to say. Her presence was overwhelming, a constant push-and-pull between admiration and unease.

"Go," she said, gesturing toward the door. "And don't be late tomorrow."

As you left the room, you couldn't shake the feeling that Lady Lesso saw more in you than you saw in yourself.

And for the first time, you wondered if you might belong here after all.