The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 11

The days that followed the Pit trial passed in a haze of uncertainty. The school seemed quieter, as if even the walls were holding their breath. The tension from that day had hung in the air like a storm waiting to break, and though the trials continued, there was an undeniable shift. Everyone in the school knew that Lady Lesso's gaze now rested on you.

You couldn't help but wonder what she saw when she looked at you.

It wasn't until several days later, during a break between classes, that you found yourself unexpectedly summoned to Lady Lesso's office.

The summons had come without warning—a simple note slipped under your door. It read: Report to my office at dusk. We need to discuss your progress.

The message was direct, devoid of any warmth, but there was something about it that sent a shiver of anticipation down your spine. Lady Lesso wasn't the kind of person who wasted words, and when she called you, it wasn't to pat you on the back.

The walk to her office felt like an eternity. The stone halls of the School for Evil were particularly unnerving in the dim light of dusk, and every shadow seemed to whisper secrets that You weren't ready to hear. You couldn't shake the feeling that you were walking into the lair of something dangerous, and yet, it felt strangely inevitable.

The door to Lady Lesso's office creaked open at your knock, and you stepped inside, your heart pounding in your chest. The room was just as imposing as you remembered—heavy velvet curtains darkened the space, and the air was thick with the scent of incense that curled in wisps through the dim light.

Lady Lesso stood at her desk, her back turned to you, looking out of the large, arched window that overlooked the darkened grounds of the school. The flickering torches cast shadows that danced over her crimson cloak, making her appear like a figure of fire and shadow.

"You're late," she said, her voice cool and measured, though there was an edge to it that you couldn't ignore.

"I wasn't aware I was on a schedule, Lady Lesso," you replied, you voice steady despite the fluttering in your chest.

She turned to face me, her piercing gaze immediately locking onto yours. There was something unreadable in her expression, a strange mix of authority and something else you couldn't place.

"Sit," she commanded, motioning to the chair across from her desk.

You obeyed, sitting stiffly, your mind racing with possibilities. What did she want from me? Was this another test? A reprimand for my actions in the Pit? Or had she simply decided that I was someone worth investing her time in?

The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, as though she were searching for something in my very soul.

Finally, Lady Lesso spoke again, her voice softer but no less commanding. "You have shown potential, Y/N. I've seen it in your actions, in your ability to lead when others falter. But potential alone is not enough. Not in this school. Not in this world."

You swallowed, unsure of where this conversation was headed. "What do you mean?"

She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the stone floor with a rhythmic, deliberate sound. She leaned over her desk, her face mere inches from yours, and for the first time, you saw something flicker in her eyes—a faint glimmer of something human beneath the icy exterior.

"Power," she whispered, her voice almost hypnotic, "isn't about strength alone. It's about control. Over others. Over yourself. Over the chaos that surrounds us." Her gaze sharpened. "And you, Y/N, have a way of controlling the chaos."

You stiffened. "What are you asking of me?"

Lady Lesso didn't immediately answer. Instead, she moved back to her desk, her fingers tracing the edge of a large, ornate book that sat open on the surface. The flickering candlelight cast shadows over the pages, making the words seem to dance just out of reach.

"I'm not asking," she said finally, her voice low and serious. "I'm offering."

"Offering what?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

"An opportunity," Lady Lesso replied, looking at you with an unreadable expression. "An opportunity to learn what true power is. To stand by my side, to understand the lessons that the School for Evil can only teach to those who are truly worthy."

You breath caught in your throat. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This wasn't just about passing trials. This was something much larger.

Lady Lesso was offering you a place at her side.

Her gaze held yours, steady and unwavering, as if she was daring you to refuse.

"I know what you're thinking," she continued, her tone almost affectionate. "You think I am testing you. But this is not a test. This is a choice."

You swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing on you. You had spent so much time trying to prove yourself, trying to keep your head above water in this school of monsters and dark magic. But this... this felt different. It felt like a crossroads, a moment that could change everything.

"Why me?" you asked, your voice hoarse.

Lady Lesso didn't answer right away. She merely regarded you with those intense, penetrating eyes, as though she were considering the depths of your soul.

"Because," she said slowly, her voice quiet but firm, "you have the potential to become more than what you are. You've already taken the first steps. Now, the question is: will you let me guide you the rest of the way?"

You felt your heart pound in your chest. The room seemed to close in around you, the weight of her presence filling every inch of space. This was it—the moment where your future here at the School for Evil could be decided. Where you could choose to follow her, to learn from her, to become what she knew you could be.

But you also knew the cost. You had seen the way she ruled. The way she commanded respect through fear, through control. There was no mercy in Lady Lesso's world. No room for weakness.

It wasn't just a choice of power. It was a choice of who you were willing to become.

You met her gaze steadily, your heart beating like a drum in your chest.

"I'll learn," You said quietly. "I'll learn from you."

Lady Lesso smiled, a small, almost imperceptible curl of her lips. It wasn't a smile of joy, but something far more dangerous. Something far more knowing.

"Good," she said. "Then let us begin."