CHAPTER 32: TROUBLE IN THE CLASS

Lumina sat on her bed, fingers brushing gently along the embroidered edge of her robe, a habit she had cultivated when bored. She was into it until she felt the presence of someone behind her.

Then the familiar warmth danced in the silence as she recognized who this person was.

"Aunt Seraphina!" she called out with a wide, beaming smile. Her heart lifted the moment she felt that soft swirl of presence.

Seraphina’s quiet laugh followed, seeing how she had sensed her in seconds of her appearing here.

"You keep getting better at sensing me," Seraphina said, her voice bright as she stepped fully into the room. "What other improvements have you made?"

"Nothing," Lumina replied flatly, standing from her bed, her face calm and unreadable.

Seraphina paused, brows lifting slightly. "You are hiding something from me?"

She reached out, taking Lumina’s hands gently. The younger girl only smiled in return.

"You entered Drakonis way too easily," Lumina murmured. "Like someone who’s been here before... Or more like you are used to coming here."

Seraphina’s hands stilled and her smile wavered. She took a step back, lips parting as if caught off guard.

"You... Your powers are back?"

"No," Lumina said with a small sigh. "Not yet... but it doesn’t take power to see clearly. You get news about this realm faster here than in any other realm."

Seraphina didn’t respond right away. She only laughed softly and looked away, shaking her head as if caught.

"You want something from me," she said finally, her voice low but teasing as she tried to divert the topic.

Lumina nodded slowly. Her lips parted to speak, then closed again.

A long silence passed before she spoke again. "Do you think it’s wrong that I want the throne of Drakonis?" she asked quietly.

Seraphina stopped and the playful smile faded from her face and was replaced with something sharper now admiring the once little girl that she knew.

"I knew it," Seraphina said, a slow smirk lifting one side of her mouth. "It only took dragging you down here to awaken it... You are just like your mother." Lumina exhaled, frustration flickering at the edge of her face and the sadness appearing on her face didn’t go unnoticed.

"Then tell me...what position looks useless but holds enough weight to control the realm beneath? One that gathers allies without drawing attention and also that keeps the crown within reach without chasing it blindly."

Seraphina was silent, watching her with narrowed eyes before she finally answered.

"There is one..." she said finally, her voice thoughtful. "But it’s not a title easily claimed. It’s earned. With influence." She paused, staring at her a weird feeling caving in her heart but she knew she must give answers else Lumina wouldn’t let her be.

"The one who becomes the Coven Leader of the Inner Flames... She walks beside royals but is never seen as a threat. She shapes war councils, advises kings, trains noble daughters, and names heirs before they wear their crowns."

Lumina’s lips slowly open in a whisper. "Does this role still exist?"

"In secret," Seraphina replied. "The last was assassinated during the last war causing the council to get scattered, and ever since then the seat remains unclaimed."

"How do I find them? How do I start?" Lumina asked quickly, stepping forward.

"That... is not something I can say out loud. You will have to earn your way close enough to uncover it." Lumina noticed everything started moving again and sensed she was about to leave.

"Aunt, wait..." Lumina reached out, but Seraphina only smiled, her form breaking into shimmering fragments and then she was gone. The room was quiet once more.

Just as Lumina lowered her hand, the door creaked open.

"My lady," Stella called gently as she stepped inside, her voice warm and familiar. "It’s time for your class."

She nodded her head slowly and trailed behind her when they got to the hallway she paused.

"Why haven’t I seen Ashen around?" Lumina asked softly. Every morning before class, he would wait for her by the hallway, trailing after her and he would always find new ways to tease her, whispering ridiculous things just to see her blush or raise her chin in pride.

"He left the chambers early this morning," Stella replied gently.

Lumina tilted her head, confused. "He doesn’t have anything important to do... why would he be out?"

She murmured the words beneath her breath, the edge of annoyance creeping into her voice.

She didn’t like the feeling of not knowing where he had gone, not when he had become the only consistent part of her mornings.

"Let’s leave for class," she finally said, brushing the thought aside.

Stella smiled and adjusted the fall of her gown before guiding Lumina toward the class.

The path was familiar now, and Lumina’s steps were better, trusting Stella’s presence beside her.

But just as they were about to enter, Lumina stopped the oblivious Stella with her arms.

"Crown Princess... She’s such a blind and sick little thing, always scoring the highest. Don’t you think it’s time someone put her in her place?" One of the noble’s daughters whispered inside, her voice sharp with jealousy.

Lumina couldn’t tell which of them had spoken. "You know her?" Lumina asked in a whisper.

Stella glanced forward and nodded slowly. "It’s Lady Mirelia."

The other voice followed, "I wouldn’t advise hurting her. She is my older sister after all..." Mirelia scoffed, not in support of Rhynera’s choice.

Lumina pushed the door open and silence fell like a dropped veil. They knew they had been heard, but Lumina said nothing. Until one of the girls recovered and called out.

"Hey! You are late."

Lumina only smiled faintly, walking in with Stella’s help. But as she reached for her seat, Lady Mirelia hit the chair sharply, and Lumina lost balance.

She fell hard to the floor.

"My Lady!" Stella gasped in horror, rushing to help her, but Lady Caelia’s hand shot out and grabbed her arm.

"Don’t you help her," she said coldly.

The other girls joined in, closing around her and deciding to bully her instead.

"Blind bat," one of them sneered.

"You think you are better than us because of your stupid scores?" Lumina looked up irritated and she was forced to talk.

"Then you should do better if..." Her words were cut short when a sharp smack landed across her face, and a laugh followed it.

Rhynera was still in her seat, but her smirk stretched wide across her face.

"She always pretends she’s the only one who matters," another one whispered with a satisfied look.

"Since you can’t even see us... and you feel too disrespectful. Maybe we should remind you who has power here."

Stella in anger pushed Caelia away rushing towards Lumina, "My lady..." but two more girls tried to pull Stella despite her struggle she wasn’t letting go.

Rhynera decided to use this opportunity, she stood from her position suddenly, playing her role to perfection. She rushed forward, putting on a look of horror and concern as she reached for Mirelia.

"Please... don’t hurt her. Lady Mirelia, stop. You will get into trouble."

Her fake pleading almost made Lumina sick. "Let my lady go!" Stella screamed, trying to push Caelia away, but this time around Caelia was too strong. Just then, the door opened.

A smirk slowly appeared on Lumina’s face as she tilted her head, listening closely. She counted each step as they entered. One... two... three. That walk could only belong to the Queen.

While everyone was distracted, Lumina quietly stretched out her hand in Mirelia’s direction.

Her fingers moved gently, almost like a passing breeze. She brushed against the edge of Mirelia’s styled hair, and without anyone noticing, a silver hairpin loosened and slipped into Lumina’s waiting palm.

She closed her fingers around it, calm, her face still blank. Then a sudden force swept through the room.

The hairpin flew from her hand like a flash of light so fast. It didn’t make a sound. One moment it was in her palm, the next, it pierced through the air.

The sharp hairpin scraped across Princess Aurelia’s cheek, leaving a thin, bloody line on her smooth skin. She gasped and stumbled backward, holding her face.

The Queen froze in place, eyes wide now followed by Princess Aurelia’s screams.

Then a small smile touched her lips, "That is a smooth one," she thought.