The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 3

The day unfolded with a flurry of activity that left you breathless but exhilarated. The School for Evil was a world of its own—dark corridors alive with secrets, ominous gargoyles perched on archways, and lessons that challenged everything you thought you knew about magic and morality.

By the time you reached the cavernous classroom for Special Talents, exhaustion had begun to creep in, but you forced yourself to remain alert. The room was shrouded in shadows, illuminated only by the flickering light of candles suspended in midair. Your classmates, a mix of eager and sullen faces, were scattered across the room, whispering nervously as they waited.

And then, the door swung open.

Lady Lesso strode into the room, her crimson coat billowing behind her like a trail of fire. The tap of her cane echoed in the silence, each step deliberate and commanding. Her mere presence seemed to drain the room of its light, leaving only her piercing emerald gaze to illuminate the space.

"Welcome to Special Talents," she began, her voice smooth and cutting. "Here, we will determine whether you possess the unique qualities that separate true villains from mere misfits. If you fail, you will serve. If you succeed, you will lead."

Her words sent a shiver down your spine, and you weren't the only one. The room buzzed with tension as students straightened in their seats, eager to prove themselves—or perhaps too afraid not to.

Lesso paced the room, her cane tapping rhythmically as she surveyed the class. "Power is not just about strength," she continued. "It is about control. Control over yourself, control over others, and most importantly, control over your magic."

She stopped abruptly, her gaze locking onto a boy sitting near the back of the room. He was slouching, his expression bored, but when Lesso's eyes bore into him, he sat up straight, his face paling.

"You," she said sharply, pointing her cane at him. "Stand."

The boy scrambled to his feet, his hands trembling. "Y-yes, Lady Lesso?"

"Show me what you can do," she demanded, her voice a challenge wrapped in silk.

He hesitated, glancing around nervously. With a shaky hand, he extended his fingers, and a small, flickering orb of shadow appeared in his palm. It was weak and unsteady, barely more than a wisp of smoke.

Lesso raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Pathetic," she said coldly. With a flick of her wrist, the orb disintegrated, leaving the boy standing there, humiliated. "If that is the extent of your power, I suggest you find a new ambition—perhaps cleaning floors."

The boy sank back into his seat, his face burning with shame.

"And this," Lesso said, turning to the rest of the class, "is the fate of those who lack conviction. Power is not given; it is taken. If you cannot rise to the challenge, then you will fall. It is as simple as that."

Her gaze swept the room, daring anyone to defy her. And then her eyes landed on you.

"You," she said, her voice slicing through the air. "Step forward."

Your heart leapt into your throat. Every eye in the room was suddenly on you, and you could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on you. But there was no escaping it—not when Lady Lesso was looking at you like that, her emerald eyes sharp and unyielding.

You stood, your legs feeling like lead, and stepped into the center of the room.

"Let's see if you have what it takes," Lesso said, her tone unreadable. "Show me your magic."

You swallowed hard, trying to steady your trembling hands. You hadn't practiced much since arriving at the school, but you could feel the raw energy pulsing beneath your skin, waiting to be unleashed. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath and focused.

The air around you seemed to shift, growing heavier as you called upon your power. Slowly, tendrils of dark energy began to swirl around your hands, growing thicker and more defined with each passing moment. You could hear gasps from your classmates, but you didn't dare open your eyes.

"Interesting," Lesso murmured, her voice low but intrigued.

Encouraged, you pushed harder, channeling everything you had into the spell. The tendrils coalesced into a single, writhing mass of shadow that hovered above your palms, crackling with an almost electric intensity. You opened your eyes, and for a moment, you felt a surge of pride.

But then, the shadow began to tremble. You could feel it slipping out of your control, growing wilder and more unstable. Panic set in as the mass started to expand, threatening to consume the room.

"Enough!" Lesso's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. With a flick of her cane, she dispelled the energy, leaving you standing there, breathless and shaken.

"Impressive," she said, though her tone was laced with disapproval. "But dangerous. You lack control, and without control, power is nothing but chaos."

Her words stung, but there was something in her eyes—a flicker of recognition, maybe even respect—that softened the blow.

"Sit down," she ordered, turning her attention back to the class. "And let this be a lesson to all of you. Power without control is not strength—it is weakness."

You returned to your seat, your cheeks burning with embarrassment but your heart pounding with something else entirely. You had caught her attention, and for reasons you couldn't fully understand, that felt like an accomplishment.

As the lesson continued, you couldn't help but steal glances at Lesso. She was captivating—ruthless, intelligent, and impossibly elegant. And though you would never admit it, part of you wanted her to look at you again, to acknowledge you, to see you.

By the end of the class, you were exhausted but determined. If this school was a test, you were going to pass. And if Lady Lesso was the judge, you were going to make sure you were worthy of her approval—even if it killed you.