Whispers Hidden in the Night (5)

The seven days passed in a flash.

The Starshine students began a new round of duty shifts.

Aside from sleeping poorly every night and often having dreams, nothing else unusual happened.

Chris still liked to seek Fatenai out without warning, but just as before, it did no good. Shirey was alone most of the time, while her only friend, Christie, was the kindest to Fatenai. When they occasionally crossed paths, Christie would greet her.

Aside from helping out at Lyteta's place, Fatenai often went to the library. No one knew what books she read.

That morning, Fatenai went to the lounge to get breakfast. Just as she sat down, Christie came toward her.

"Good morning, Fatenai." Christie was as friendly as ever, but Shirey wasn't with her today, which was a little strange.

"Good morning. I don't see Shirey... That's surprising," Fatenai said.

Christie smiled helplessly. "She was busy with her homework last night and stayed up late. She hasn't gotten up yet."

The conversation petered out, and Fatenai straightened her back, quickly and elegantly bringing a spoonful of creamy mushroom soup to her mouth.

"Most first-years are a little younger than you. I'm worried you might have trouble adjusting once the school year starts..." Christie glanced at Fatenai and spoke softly.

People here were either strangely cold toward her or strangely warm. Still, in response to Christie's kindness, Fatenai said, "It is a bit of a problem, but there's still plenty of time. It seems a little early to start worrying about it."

"Not at all. Someone once told me to 'prepare for a rainy day.'" Christie seemed to suddenly take an interest. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Fatenai. "Why don't you come stay in our dorm? We can help you—just at night, so it won't take up too much of your time. We have an empty bed, too. It might be nice to sleep somewhere different. I heard you haven't been sleeping well lately."

It was a very tempting offer. For Fatenai, the chance to sleep somewhere else might mean escaping the nightmares that kept repeating every day...

Fatenai couldn't help recalling the scene that had been right before her eyes not long ago. Then she looked at the hopeful expression in Christie's eyes.

"I..." Her hand paused as she held the spoon.

"What would you want her in your dorm for, to raise your little bugs?" Chris's voice came from the next table. The short-haired girl held her tray, her face beaming with a smile that carried a deep note of mockery.

"Shut up, Chris." Shirey appeared, too—she was something of a ghost herself. What stood out was the loathing in her gaze as she looked at Chris. It was the first time her eyes had shown such a rare, unmistakable emotion. "Someone whose heart is full of darkness has no right to advise others."

Shirey's defense of Christie surprised Fatenai. At the same time, for reasons she couldn't explain, her hand suddenly trembled, and the spoon fell onto her plate.

Clang.

"Heh, and what about you?" Chris gave a mocking smile and waved her hand. "Just seeing you two makes me want to throw up everything I ate last night."

With that, Chris turned and walked away with her tray, looking like she wanted nothing more to do with the two of them.

"Don't mind her." Christie, still seated, showed no change in her expression, though her hand tightened slightly around her spoon. "Sometimes I feel like sharing her name is such a misfortune. I thought she'd be a good girl—but..."

But what?

Fatenai remained impassive, but Christie didn't explain further. Instead, Shirey spoke up. "I have duty today, so I'll go first."

"All right. You worked hard last night... Don't push yourself too hard. Go back early tonight." Christie spoke softly, then turned to Fatenai for the last part. "Think about it, Fatenai. You'd be welcome in our dorm."

Fatenai's expression didn't change. From the corner of her eye, she saw Shirey's body tremble at Christie's words. Only then did she say, seemingly offhandedly, "All right. I'll think about it."

Christie smiled. Neither of them said anything more, as if Chris had ruined their mood completely.

After breakfast, Fatenai returned to Lyteta's laboratory. As soon as she entered, she saw Ed talking with Lyteta.

That mysterious Ed had been appearing in Lyteta's laboratory quite often lately, apparently just to discuss magic with Lyteta. Fatenai could only understand bits and pieces of their conversation.

Eventually, Fatenai ignored their discussion, picked up a book, and sat in a corner.

"Today's discussion was very interesting. Would Lonai like to hear about it?" The day was drawing to a close. As Fatenai finished tidying the laboratory and prepared to leave, she heard Ed's voice. She ignored him. Ed's words sounded more like he was talking to himself. "If you don't have enough power, how can you grasp the truth?"

"I don't need to." Fatenai knew he was hinting at something. She looked up at him, her gaze sharp.

They met each other's eyes. The smile on Ed's face faltered, then he gave a deeper laugh. The blue in his eyes gradually darkened as he murmured, "In that case, you won't survive here."

It sounded... like a threat.

Fatenai's body stiffened. She clenched her fist and kept walking.

Would she die? Maybe she would... Lyteta seemed to have said something similar, too.

The corner of Fatenai's mouth lifted into a smile as she walked on. But she wasn't thinking about Ed's threat; in fact, she wasn't thinking about anything at all. It was more like she was spacing out.

She suddenly stopped. Fatenai could tell she had gone too far.

The stone archway outside the laboratory was all she needed to pass through to reach the stairs, but she had been walking for at least ten minutes. The corridor in front of her looked exactly as it did in her memory, but it seemed far too long—as if she would never reach the end. Fatenai didn't quicken her pace. Instead, she slowed down, resting a hand on the marble wall, which was decorated with elegant patterns. Its cold touch helped clear her head.

There was no doubt it was some kind of spell—but this spell was affecting the entire teaching building. Fatenai frowned as she realized it was alchemy built into the building.

"Heh..." Fatenai stopped where she was, because she'd heard laughter. The sound sent a chill down her spine in the dim surroundings. When she turned, she saw a petite woman.

"Chris Aberge?" she said softly as the woman slowly stepped into the light.

Chris slowly walked toward Fatenai. Her mysterious face was now wearing a smile that made one's skin crawl. Fatenai stared into her eyes, waiting to see what she would do next.

So this was what Ed meant when he said she wouldn't survive here?

"I thought we could get along," Chris said, sounding regretful. She held out a hand and idly flexed her slender fingers. "But why won't you accept my kindness?"

"Was it really you... who killed 'Christie'?" Fatenai fell silent for a moment, then asked.

"How did you figure it out... Hmm?" Chris admitted it with ease, her smile growing wider.