Chapter 2

The whole class followed her gaze toward me, and my face burned instantly.

I loved moon-white. Almost everything I owned was that color: my pale hide backpack, pale carved flask, moonstone hair clips, training clothes, casual clothes, phone case, and charms.

People had talked about it since I was little. Some boys said I looked like something placed on a ritual altar. Some girls said I was acting pure and untouchable. But most people were kind. More often, girls told me moon-white suited me, like I was a child chosen by the Moon Goddess.

This was the first time someone had mocked me so openly in front of everyone.

“Oh wow, sorry,” Felicity said, blinking as if she had done nothing wrong. “I’m just a little too honest. Don’t be mad, little priestess.”

“Enough. It’s your first day. Maybe talk less.”

Rowan’s impatient voice came from the side.

I turned and saw him frowning at Felicity.

Felicity raised a brow.

“Oh? The priestess has a guard dog?”

“What the hell are you talking about? Are you insane?”

Rowan slammed a hand onto his desk and shot to his feet.

The instructor ordered him to sit down, then assigned Felicity to the only empty seat left. I did not know if it was coincidence, but that seat was right in front of Rowan.

Just like that, they became desk mates.

I did not know when Rowan and Felicity grew close. I only knew that one morning, the moonberry drink Rowan’s father had him bring me every day was replaced by a pot of ordinary wolfgrass tea.

“You know I hate wolfgrass tea, right?”

I stared at the bitter-smelling tea.

“Come on. You only liked the berry drink because the flask was moon-white.” Rowan patted my head, speaking with the certainty of someone who thought he was helping. “You’re too old for that sweet stuff anyway. Drink wolfgrass tea from now on. It’ll help with endurance training.”

Felicity was holding the same tea. She turned around with an apologetic smile that was not apologetic at all.

“Sorry, Moon Princess. I like wolfgrass tea, so I asked Rowan to bring this.”

She tilted her head.

“Honestly, moonberry drinks are sickly sweet. Do girls like you just love that kind of thing?”

I set down my flask and looked straight at her.

“You really enjoy giving people nicknames, don’t you?”

She widened her eyes.

“Oh my god, relax. It was a joke. Why are you so sensitive?”

“Whether I’m sensitive or you know exactly what you’re doing, you know better than anyone.”

“Alright, Serena.” Rowan cut in, already looking annoyed. “Felicity says things without thinking sometimes. Don’t take it so seriously.”

My eyes stung with anger. I shoved him hard and turned back to Felicity.

“If you can’t say anything decent, don’t say anything at all.”

Rowan stumbled, then quickly wrapped an arm around my waist without thinking.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Don’t be mad. I’ll bring you berry drinks tomorrow, alright?”

At that, Felicity’s expression finally changed.

She stared at me hard.