LOGINVera couldn't stop thinking about it.Even after classes ended, she kept replaying everything in her head. The competition. The Founder's Ceremony. The mandatory participation. The relic. The mark. And somehow Raymond was connected to almost all of it.That alone annoyed her.She had spent two years staying away from trouble. Now trouble seemed determined to follow her everywhere.The moment classes ended, students flooded the academy grounds. Groups were already discussing strategies for the competition. Some were practicing combat. Some were forming teams. Others were bragging about how they would win.Vera wanted nothing to do with any of it.She headed toward the library instead.Unfortunately, she wasn't lucky enough to be left alone."Running away again?"She didn't even need to turn around.Raymond.Of course.Vera kept walking."I'm busy.""No, you're not.""I'm about to be.""Doing what?""Getting away from you."She heard him laugh behind her. For some reason that made her c
Vera blinked in confusion. "Me?"The Headmaster nodded. "Along with Prince Raymond and Prince Henry."Now she was even more confused. "What did I do?"Henry laughed and Raymond looked bored.The Headmaster ignored her question. "Tomorrow morning."Then he walked away just like that. Leaving Vera standing there with even more questions than before.Camellia immediately grabbed her arm. "What happened in those woods?"Andrea nodded rapidly. "Tell us everything.""Every single thing."Vera looked trapped. What exactly was she supposed to say? She glanced at Raymond. To her surprise, he was already looking at her. The moment their eyes met, she remembered the vision again. Her cheeks were burning. She quickly looked away. Raymond frowned slightly but didn't say anything.The last thing she needed was him asking strange questions in front of everyone. Henry noticed the exchange and smirked. Vera wanted to throw him into a lake. The group finally started heading back toward the dormitories.
Lying on the floor was a crystal. It was not just a normal crystal. The inside looked like liquid moonlight. It glowed softly. It looked beautiful and dangerous at the same time.Vera felt that strange pull again. The same feeling she had when she saw the necklace. The same feeling she had when she entered the ruins.It was calling her. She hated it.Raymond noticed. "Don't touch it."Vera frowned. "I wasn't planning to.""You were thinking about it. I can tell what you're thinking.""Stop reading my face.""You make it too easy. You don't even know how to hide your expression and you expect me not to read it. I can tell you a very mad at me right now."She rolled her eyes. Henry crouched down and carefully picked up the crystal. The moment his fingers touched it, nothing happened. Everyone looked disappointed.Even Henry."I was expecting something dramatic."Vera sighed in relief. "That's good. Let's keep it that way."Unfortunately the universe didn't listen. The crystal suddenly f
Vera kept staring at the statue. The more she looked at it, the more uncomfortable she became. It wasn't just because the statue looked familiar. It was because it looked too familiar. The shape of the face, the eyes, even the hair. Everything reminded her of herself.She slowly moved closer to the pedestal while trying to convince herself that she was imagining things."Vera."Raymond's voice stopped her.She turned around. "What?""Come back."Vera frowned. "Why?""Because something is wrong with this place."She almost laughed. "Really? What gave it away? The ancient underground ruins or the creepy statue that looks like me?"Henry rubbed his forehead. "I hate that she's making sense."Raymond ignored both of them and walked toward her. "I'm serious.""So am I."The two of them stared at each other. Vera was the first to look away. Because she didn't want to admit that she was actually scared. The voice she heard earlier still echoed inside her head.Welcome back.The words made he
The moment the symbol began to glow, all three of them seemed like they were frozen. The half-moon mark lit up with a soft silver light that spread across the ancient stone structure. The glow wasn't violent or dangerous, but Vera still felt her heart beating faster. It felt familiar. Too familiar.She unconsciously took a step back."What is that?" Henry asked quietly."No idea," Vera answered honestly. "I don't think it's anything you want to mess with." Raymond didn't say anything. He was staring directly at the symbol.Vera looked between the both of them. "Can you see it too?"Henry frowned. "Of course I can see it."That made her feel slightly relieved.At least she wasn't hallucinating. For a moment she had wondered if she was the only one seeing it again. The probably wouldn't believe her if she said she was the only one who could see it. The silver light continued spreading through the ruins until strange symbols began appearing around the structure. They slowly lit up one a
Vera couldn't stop staring at Raymond. She was in awe and more confusion. She was looking at him like someone who had seen a ghost. Even after the vision disappeared, she still found herself looking at him differently. It annoyed her because she didn't want to look at him differently. This was still the same Raymond who had made her life miserable from the moment they met. The same Raymond who had thrown her off a building. The same Raymond who kept threatening her whenever he got the chance.Yet the memory she had just seen refused to leave her mind. She saw herself and she also saw him. And the most ridiculous part of this was that they looked happy together.Actually happy and not arguing, threatening each other or trying to kill each other like they usually did in real life. The thought alone made her feel strange.Raymond was still holding her because she had almost fallen. His brows were furrowed as he looked down at her."What happened?"Vera quickly let go of his shirt and st







