روايات بقلم joyagbomeikhe

“The princess versus Elaine?”“I want to see how strong she really is.”Murmurs spread across the yard in restless waves, growing louder as more students gathered closer to the center. Heads turned, conversations overlapped, and anticipation built quickly, drawn to the pairing that had already set the courtyard on edge.Elaine stood her ground, her posture straight and composed, every movement measured. To anyone watching, she looked as confident as ever, but the tension beneath her calm was unmistakable in the way her fingers tightened slightly around the hilt of the wooden sword. Of all the matchups, this was not the one she had wanted.“I hope we get along well,” Seraphina said, her voice smooth and effortless, carrying just enough to be heard without needing to rise.Elaine almost did not respond. The instinct to dismiss it flickered briefly, sharp and immediate, but she forced it down and extended her hand instead, her expression settling into something perfectly controlled.“I h

Kael sat alone in his room, the silence pressing in around him as Phoebe’s words repeated in his mind with unsettling clarity.“The one you seek is close to you, but the one you need is even closer. Two choices will save the kingdom. The third will destroy it.”She had not needed to finish for him to understand.He drew in a slow breath and let it out just as carefully, trying to steady the tension that had not left him since the assembly. Nothing about what he had felt made sense. The reaction had been immediate, overwhelming in a way that left no room for doubt, and his wolf had responded without hesitation, as if it had already made its choice long before he could think.That was what mattered.Kael lowered his gaze slightly, his thoughts tightening as he forced himself to separate instinct from uncertainty. There had been something off, something he could not fully name, but it did not change what he had felt. The pull had been too strong to ignore, too absolute to dismiss as anyt

Kael stared at the figure standing at the podium, his focus narrowing until the rest of the hall seemed to fade. The noise around him dulled, voices slipping into nothing as if the world had been pushed further away.His wolf stirred violently, a low, strained growl rising in his chest.Elaine felt the shift immediately. Something was wrong. She turned toward Kael, her gaze sharpening as she took in the way he had gone completely still. Her wolf reacted in turn, restless and unsettled, sending sharp waves of unease through her. Without thinking, she placed her hand lightly over his, grounding herself more than him as her eyes lifted toward the girl at the front.The room remained quiet, but it was not the same kind of silence as before. It was heavier now, stretched thin with tension.“It is an honor to be the first exchange student from Nightfall,” the girl said, her voice smooth and composed. “I look forward to our time here.”Her smile was flawless, practiced, and perfectly placed.

Elena crossed the courtyard with her jaw set and her fists clenched at her sides. The chatter around her felt off today, too loud and too bright, like everyone was forcing normalcy over something they could not name. The unease pressed faintly against her chest, subtle but persistent, and no matter how she tried to ignore it, it followed her every step.Elaine stood at the center of her usual circle, surrounded by Celeste, Mira, and the others. Laughter came easily around her, controlled and effortless, drawing attention the way it always did. She looked exactly as she always had, composed and admired, untouched by whatever Elena could feel stirring beneath the surface.“Elena,” one of the girls said with a sneer as she approached. “Come to admire your sister again?” A few of them laughed, the sound light but edged with mockery.Elaine turned, her gaze settling on Elena with faint irritation, as though she had been interrupted mid-thought. “What is it?” she asked coolly.“I need to sp

Rowan stared at the girl in front of him with cool indifference. The courtyard had gone strangely quiet, students sensing tension thickening in the air. “Oh?” he said at last, meeting Elaine’s eyes without the slightest intention of backing down. “Am I meant to be impressed?”“Am I wrong?” Elaine asked smoothly. Her posture remained elegant, chin lifted, expression calm enough to be insulting. Even surrounded by curious students, she looked entirely at ease. That only sharpened Rowan’s gaze.“So this is my fault?” Rowan asked. “A deadweight refuses to rise, and I am expected to answer for it?” His tone never lifted, yet the coldness in it made several nearby students glance away. Elena flinched beside them.“I am saying,” Elaine replied, smiling as though the exchange amused her, “that the performance of a student reflects the quality of their trainer. And from what I have seen, Senior Rowan, you have been doing poor work.” Her words were polished, but no less sharp for it.Gasps ripp

“Your form is wrong.”Elena flinched at the sound of Kael’s voice and turned quickly. She had been so focused on not dropping the sword again that she had not heard him approach. “Your Highness,” she said, bowing her head slightly as she tried to steady her breathing.Kael’s gaze moved over her stance, then to the sword trembling faintly in her hands. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes missed nothing. “If you continue like that,” he said calmly, “you’ll tear a muscle before you improve.”He stepped closer before she could answer. Elena stiffened at once, unsure whether to move or remain still. “Move your front foot forward,” he said.She obeyed immediately, nearly stumbling in her haste. Kael glanced down once, then back at her shoulders. “Other leg back,” he said. “Lower your shoulder.”Elena tried to adjust on her own, but the sword tipped awkwardly in her grip. Kael gave a quiet sigh and reached for her arm without asking. His hand wrapped lightly around her wrist, guiding