CHAPTER 45: WHEN LIGHT BREAKS

[Euphoria— Morning]

Morning finally came, painting cold and silver ruins over Euphoria— the mist still hanging over the rocky terrain like unfinished thoughts.

Birds perched quietly on the tower rails in their normal early morning routine while distant waterfalls murmured across the ravine.

The entire academy was already awake, training groups forming across the eastern part of the field, weapons clashing far off, sparks of magic fluttering through the air from early warmups.

Combat drills were scheduled for the day, and almost every student was busy adjusting gear, tightening gloves, slinging weapons, and testing their powers.

But at the far edge of the training ground, Valkyrie stood alone beside a stone pillar, quietly fastening the dark metallic bracers on her forearms.

She wasn’t in the mood for much talking today. Her head was heavy, sleep refusing her again the night before— nightmares clawing after her mind, leaving only the echo of a scream she never remembered making.

Her eyes looked darker and restless. Something inside her had been stirring lately— the kind of feeling that made her bones tighten as if they were preparing for war long before she knew why.

She inhaled slowly and pulled the last strap tight. Her jaw flexed with silent determination. Today was not a day for problems but serious business.

But some people woke up praying for chaos, and Stephanie was one of them.

Valkyrie sensed her before she heard her. That bitter aura of arrogance, soaked in perfume and venom. The kind of girl who didn’t need an invitation to pick a fight.

Valkyrie closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. She didn’t need to turn— she could already feel someone approaching her direction.

"Not today. Please, not today." She murmured to herself.

But trouble had a schedule of its own, and today, it arrived right behind her.

"Oh, look. Royalty is up already...Should we bow or just pretend to care?..." Stephenie paused then continued "...You must be exhausted from carrying all that ego around, thinking you run shit over here."

The voice slid into her ear like ice. Valkyrie didn’t flinch, She didn’t react, but her jaw tightened.

Stephanie stepped up behind her, a smug smile stretched across her glossy lips, her long hair pinned to the side, dripping with overconfidence.

"Since when did they start letting charity cases into elite training?" Stephanie continued lazily. "Did they lower the requirements, or did they just get desperate enough to let you in?"

Valkyrie’s hands paused mid-motion. She didn’t turn. She didn’t look at her. She didn’t even give her that satisfaction she was aiming for.

Instead, she muttered. "Get lost, Stephanie. I’m not in the mood for your petty schemes."

Stephanie grinned like a shark. "Aww. Someone didn’t get enough sleep?" She walked slowly around Valkyrie, circling her like prey. "Relax. I’m just trying to figure out how someone like you keeps surviving here when clearly... you don’t belong."

Valkyrie ignored her. She bent to tighten the strap on her boot.

Stephanie leaned closer, folding her arms. "What’s wrong? That stray dog loyalty problem acting up again? Still clinging to trash someone left behind?"

Valkyrie didn’t move, but the anger was beginning to build up at this stage.

Stephanie smirked. She smelled weakness— and she fed on it. That is one of her greatest abilities, sensing emotions and using them for her selfish benefits...

Just a few steps behind them, Soda noticed what was happening. She froze at first, watching, then slowly began walking toward them.

Her wings were faintly visible from behind her jacket, and she looked cautious— like someone approaching a lit fuse.

"Val..." Soda called gently. "You good?"

Valkyrie didn’t look at her but replied "I’m good..."

Stephanie pretended to pout. "Oh no, better leave her alone babes, She might start acting up again."

She reached to Valkyrie’s side and grabbed something that had been resting near her bag.

It was a black leather-bound notebook— worn out and marked with symbols. Valkyrie’s spell practice book.

Her personal one. Pages full of sharpened magic forms, runic alignments, and meditative focussed exercises. She snatched it back instantly.

"Don’t touch that...get away from me" Valkyrie said sharply.

Stephanie scoffed. "Relax girl, I just want to see what kindergarten spellbooks look like."

Then— Suddenly, the did the unthinkable...

She reached out again, faster this time, ripped a page straight from the center— clean and loud, tearing everything Valkyrie had built.

RIIIIIIIIIP.

The world froze instantly and everything in it...

Valkyrie stared at the torn-out page in Stephanie’s hand. Something raw flickered in her eyes. Not sadness nor pain. But something buried deeper. Something dangerous.

Soda stepped forward quickly. "Stephanie. Enough. Don’t do that. It’s training day, don’t make me turn it to assassination day...you’re doing too much now."

Stephanie didn’t even look at her. "Oh, what are you gonna do, Soda? Cry to Principal Camila? This is between me and her. BACK OFF!"

"I’m warning you," Soda said. She wasn’t shouting, but her voice carried force— angelic weight behind it. "Walk away now."

Stephanie smirked and crumpled the page slowly... deliberately... watching Valkyrie’s face the entire time.

"Oops."

She dropped the crumpled sheet to the ground.

And stepped on it. Grinding it beneath her heel.

Valkyrie moved forward instantly— but Soda grabbed her arm. "Val. No."

"Let go, it’s not worth it." Soda said firmly. "You are better than this..."

"No, she’s not," Stephanie sneered. "She’s trash. And trash only knows violence, isn’t that right, Valkyrie?"

Valkyrie closed her eyes. One more step. One more insult and she would....

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed. She spotted something among Valkyrie’s things. Something she hadn’t noticed before.

A bracelet. The one Debby made for her, its colors softly faded— but clearly precious. Valkyrie always kept it tucked safely inside her pack, wrapped in cloth so it wouldn’t break or get lost.

Immediately, Stephanie picked it up. Slowly and almost too gently, Valkyrie was unaware at the moment...

But as soon as she noticed the sudden silence from stephenie’s end, Valkyrie’s eyes snapped open.

Her entire body tensed.

"Don’t touch that," she said.

Stephanie smiled, cruel and beautiful in the worst way. "What is this? A toy?"

She dangled it lightly. Soda froze.

"Stephanie," Soda warned carefully. "Put that down. Now."

Stephanie ignored her. "Aw. How sentimental. Must mean a lot to you huh?... Wait. Did your little dead friend make this for you?"

Something inside Valkyrie cracked instantly.

"Give it back..."

Stephanie tilted her head. "Make me..."

Valkyrie’s heartbeat roared in her wrists. Her vision began to pulse.

"Don’t Val..." Soda whispered urgently. "She wants this. Don’t give it to her."

But Stephanie was not finished.

She lifted the bracelet between two fingers... and pulled.

Snap.

The thread snapped. Beads spilled everywhere— falling to the dirt like tiny dead stars.

The bracelet, the last piece of Debby’s memories she had promised to hold on to till she returned...was destroyed.

Valkyrie stared...The world narrowed to a thin, trembling line.

Something ancient, something powerful inside of her rose, it was dark and blazing.

Soda stepped back, whispering, "Valkyrie...."

Aha, but it was too late.....