RAVENNA

Part 29

Outside, Marcus and Nikolai stood waiting, and soon the others joined them. Gabriel, being Gabriel, was already restless—especially when it came to his precious boba. They ended up sitting on the ground, Rob leaning against a pillar, chewing at the inside of his cheek in silence.

Esme cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Um... I-I don't understand what that lady, Minerva, said. How could she call Nieve... adopted?" Her voice wavered, disbelief heavy in every word.

"She must've meant her parents," Rob suggested hesitantly.

"No," Gabriel murmured, his expression distant, as though turning over old thoughts, he rarely touched. "She had parents." His eyes seemed to look past the group, into memories not meant for them. "After they passed away, Winston got her guardianship."

The revelation landed like a stone dropped into still water. Nieve—without parents. A hush fell, and everyone sat heavy with the weight of it. The shock was sharp, the guilt sharper, especially for Esme. Her throat tightened as she recalled the way she'd treated Nieve before, every careless word now cutting deeper than she thought possible.

Rob, curiosity careful and cautious, asked, "When... when did they die?"

Gabriel was quiet for a long moment. Then he exhaled. "I think she was five. No—six. Yes. She was six. It was my ninth birthday when they moved next door." A small, wistful smile tugged at his lips as he sank into the memory. "I can't forget that day. I tried talking to her, but she always kept to herself. Once, I even snatched her unicorn toy just to get her to say something—anything. But she didn't cry. She didn't even scold me. She just... ignored me."

His voice caught, but he pressed on. "Then, one day, a dog scratched me. I was bawling, blood dripping, and she... she just took my hand. Quietly, without a word, she walked me home. She didn't let go until we got there. And when my mom treated the wound, she stayed. Every time I wailed, she just caressed my head—like some mother would. She was six years old, but in that moment..." He swallowed hard. "She was the strongest person I knew."

Nieve POV

After talking with my grandparents, the conversation drifted back to normal things—my spell practice, my scores, the usual. Thanks to the school's ridiculously fast mailing system, they already knew my grades. My spells, thankfully, were better than my rocky relationship with alchemy. At least I was learning enough—warming charms, channeling crystal energy to heal small cuts. They were proud. I was proud too.

I tried asking them if there was anything else they wanted to tell me about my parents. They shared a little, but... nothing new, nothing I hadn't heard before. Still, I listened. It was late by the time we finally stepped outside.

The moment I crossed the threshold; my "friends" practically swarmed me. And before I could breathe, Gabriel launched himself at me, nearly knocking me off balance. This boy.

"Don't you dare take a word of that full-of-makeup witch to heart; you hear me?" he huffed against my shoulder.

I chuckled, snorting as I pulled back. "Oh please. You think I'm some fluffy little "puppy" like you? Like I'd waste even a sneeze on her. I'm a busy girl—got spells to mess up, alchemy explosions to survive, naps to take."

That got a few laughs, but when I looked at Gabriel properly, my chest tightened. He was sad. And—oh, stars above—crying? Definitely crying. My gaze swept over the others. They were all here. Even Sebastian—him least of all, I expected. I couldn't help but smile.

"You want to stay with them, Nivi?" my grandfather asked gently. "If you do, we'll leave."

"No, no," I yawned so wide my jaw cracked. "I'm sleepy. Totally drained. Lost, like... ninety percent of my magical batteries."