The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 23

The oppressive silence of the school was unnerving, a strange tension filling the air. Whispers of something dark stirring beyond the walls had begun to spread, carried on uneasy voices in the corridors of both Good and Evil. Even the torches in the Hall of Shadows burned lower than usual, as though the very essence of the schools sensed a shift in balance.

But for now, you sat in Lady Lesso's study, the warmth of the small space a stark contrast to the dread creeping outside its walls. The crimson drapes cast an amber glow over the room, and the faint scent of parchment and cinnamon tea hung in the air.

Lady Lesso was perched in her usual chair by the fire, her sharp gaze fixed on you. You had come to her office under the pretense of discussing your recent performance in class, but the way her eyes lingered on you made it clear she was digging for something deeper.

"You're unusually quiet today," she observed, breaking the silence.

You shifted in your seat, staring at your hands. "Just tired," you muttered.

Her lips quirked into a faint smirk. "I don't believe you."

You sighed, the weight of the past few days pressing heavily on your shoulders. "I'm fine," you said, though your voice lacked conviction.

Her expression softened, the sharp edges of her demeanor rounding slightly. "You've been carrying something lately, something more than the trials or this school."

You hesitated, feeling the lump in your throat grow. You hadn't told anyone about your past, not in full. It felt too raw, too personal, but the way Lady Lesso's gaze held yours made it impossible to keep the words bottled any longer.

"I was thinking about my past... My mother left me," you said quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "When I was barely old enough to remember her face. One day she was there, and the next...she wasn't. No note, no explanation. Just gone."

Lesso leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable, though you thought you caught a flicker of something in her eyes—sympathy, perhaps.

"And your father?" she asked.

"He died not long after," you continued, your voice steadier now. "I don't even remember him, not really. Just vague flashes—his laugh, the way he'd carry me on his shoulders. But it's all a blur now."

Her gaze remained steady, unflinching. "So, you were alone."

You nodded, swallowing hard. "I was passed around from caretaker to caretaker, but no one wanted to deal with a child who...who had my tendencies."

"Tendencies?" she echoed, a brow arching.

You hesitated, shame clawing at your chest. "The magic. It started young, and I couldn't control it. Fires, storms, things breaking for no reason. They said I was cursed, that I'd bring ruin wherever I went. So they sent me here, to see if I could at least be useful to Evil if I couldn't be anything else."

Lesso was silent for a moment, her fingers steepled beneath her chin. Then, softly, she said, "You've carried a heavy burden for far too long, Y/N. And yet, here you are—stronger than they ever gave you credit for."

The sincerity in her voice caught you off guard, and for a moment, you felt the sting of tears threatening to surface. You quickly blinked them away, unwilling to appear weak in front of her.

"I don't feel strong," you admitted.

Lesso leaned forward, her gaze intense. "Strength isn't about how you feel, it's about what you've endured—and what you've built from it. You've survived things that would have broken most people, and that's not something to dismiss so lightly."

Her words hit something deep within you, stirring an ache you hadn't realized was there. You didn't respond, but the gratitude you felt toward her in that moment was almost overwhelming.

The quiet was interrupted by a soft knock at the door.

"Enter," Lesso called, her voice regaining its usual sharpness.

The door creaked open, and Professor Dovey stepped inside. Her golden aura seemed dimmer than usual, a worried frown creasing her face. "Leonora, may I have a word?" she asked, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

Lesso glanced at you briefly before nodding. "Y/N, stay here," she said, rising from her chair.

Dovey hesitated, her gaze flickering to you. "This may concern them as well," she said.

Lesso's expression tightened. "Then speak."

Dovey's eyes softened as she addressed you. "There's been...disturbances. Dark forces stirring in the woods near the school. Forces unlike anything we've encountered before. It seems...targeted."

"Targeted how?" Lesso asked, her tone sharp.

"We don't know yet," Dovey admitted. "But it's growing. If we don't act soon, it may reach the schools."

The weight of her words settled heavily over the room. You felt a chill run down your spine, though you weren't entirely sure if it was from the looming threat or the way Lady Lesso's expression darkened.

"We'll deal with it," Lesso said firmly, her gaze hardening. "Whatever it is, it won't touch my students."

The way she said it, with such unwavering certainty, sent a strange warmth through you. She wasn't just speaking as a dean—there was something personal in her tone, a fierce protectiveness that made your chest tighten.

Dovey nodded but didn't look reassured. "Be careful, Leonora. This isn't like the trials or even the Storian's tests. This is something...older."

With that, she left, the door clicking shut behind her.

Lesso turned to you, her eyes lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary. "You'll stay close to me," she said finally.

It wasn't a suggestion, but you didn't mind. For the first time in a long while, the thought of someone looking out for you didn't feel suffocating—it felt safe.

And as the shadows outside the school deepened, you found yourself trusting Lady Lesso in a way you never had before.