Abigail’s POV
The sound of clashing metal echoed through the room as Nathalie and I squared off again. This was the fifth round, and I was already exhausted. My arms ached, my legs felt heavy, and sweat poured down my back, soaking the fencing suit. Nathalie, on the other hand, looked as calm and collected as ever, barely breaking a sweat.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice sharp and focused.
I nodded, gripping the handle of the fencing sword tightly. But deep down, I knew how this would end. It always did, Nathalie winning, and me flat on my back. But I wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge, not even when I knew the odds were stacked against me.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the next round, and Nathalie moved fast. Too fast. Before I could even think, she was already on me, her sword knocking mine aside with ease. I tried to block her next move, but it was no use. Her skill level was on a completely different plane. She struck me clean in the chest, sending me stumbling back.
The pain wasn’t physical, it was the humiliation, the frustration of losing over and over. I tried to keep going, but my body had reached its limit. Before I knew it, I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.
"Enough!" I groaned, my voice shaky as I clutched my side, trying to catch my breath.
Nathalie stood over me, still holding her sword, her expression unbothered. She didn’t even look tired. “What’s going on with you?” she asked, lowering her mask. “You’re distracted.”
I didn’t respond at first, still trying to pull myself together. The truth was, she was right. My mind wasn’t here. It was far away, trapped in that poem my father sent me. The envelope that held his cryptic message. A message about someone at the academy I was supposed to get close to. Someone I was supposed to trust.
But who? That question was tearing me apart. James had been on my mind since this morning. Could he be the one? He seemed so... ordinary. Just another student, someone who kept his head down. Could my father really have meant him?
“Abigail,” Nathalie snapped, waving a hand in front of my face. “What is wrong with you?”
I blinked, realizing I’d been staring into space, lost in my thoughts. “Sorry,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. “I’ve just... got a lot on my mind.”
“That’s obvious,” Nathalie said, frowning as she tossed her fencing mask aside. “What’s bothering you?”
I bit my lip, hesitating. Should I tell her about the letter? About the poem? Nathalie wasn’t exactly someone I’d consider opening up to about... personal stuff. She was my friend, but she was always so intense, so focused. I wasn’t sure if she’d even understand.
“It’s just... my dad,” I muttered finally. “He sent me something.”
Nathalie raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
I glanced away, not wanting to get into the details. “Just a letter. But it’s weird, like a... a puzzle or something. He wants me to find someone here, someone I’m supposed to trust. But I have no idea who.”
Nathalie’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she was going to pry for more information. But instead, she just sighed and sat down beside me, her cold demeanor softening slightly. “Is that why you’ve been off all day?”
I nodded, grateful that she wasn’t pushing me too hard. “Yeah... I’ve been trying to figure it out, but it’s driving me crazy.”
“And you think it’s... James?” she asked, her voice laced with doubt.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling even more frustrated just saying it out loud. “It sounds stupid, but he’s been acting strange. I mean, he’s not like the other students. And... I don’t know, maybe it’s him. But that doesn’t make any sense either, does it?”
Nathalie leaned back, staring at the ceiling as if thinking it over. “James... doesn’t exactly scream ‘trustworthy’ to me,” she said bluntly. “He’s... skittish. And let’s be real, he’s kind of a mess.”
I couldn’t argue with that. James was a bit of a wreck, especially after what happened in chemistry class. But then again, maybe that’s exactly why my dad would choose someone like him. Someone no one would expect.
“But,” Nathalie continued, her voice more serious now, “if your dad wants you to get close to someone, it’s for a reason. Just... be careful. You don’t know who you’re dealing with here.”
I nodded slowly, appreciating her concern, but the confusion in my mind only deepened. The weight of the letter was still heavy, and no matter how hard I tried to shake it, the poem kept replaying in my head. My father was never one for games. If he sent me this message, it meant something. Something big.
“Abigail,” Nathalie said again, this time more sharply. “Whatever this is, don’t let it get to you. We’ve got enough to worry about here without you losing focus.”
I forced a small smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Yeah, I know. Thanks.”
Nathalie gave me a long, hard look before standing up. “Come on,” she said, holding out a hand to help me up. “Let’s get out of here. You need a break before you drive yourself crazy.”
I accepted her hand and pulled myself to my feet, my body still sore from the fencing match. As we walked out of the training room, my mind kept drifting back to James, the letter, and my father’s cryptic words.
Nathalie walked ahead of me, her fencing gear slung over one shoulder. She wasn’t the type to look back, and maybe that’s why she could stay so strong. I was the opposite, always looking back, always questioning. As I followed her down the hallway, my thoughts kept tangling up like loose threads in my mind.
I tried shaking it off. Tried focusing on the way the floor squeaked under my shoes or how Nathalie’s footsteps barely made a sound, like she owned every inch of this academy. But no matter how hard I tried to distract myself, that letter from my dad clung to me like a shadow.
James... Was he really the one? Or was I just reaching because he was the first person who didn’t fit the usual mold? My dad was specific, but vague at the same time. “Trust the student you least expect.” How was I supposed to know who that was?
My stomach tightened just thinking about it. If I was wrong... well, I didn’t even want to think about what could happen.
"Hey, you good?" Nathalie’s voice snapped me out of my daze.
I blinked, realizing we’d stopped in front of the main courtyard. Students were scattered around, some lounging on the grass, others huddled in groups talking about the upcoming Midnight Scavenger event. Nathalie was staring at me, her face showing that cold concern again.
"I’m fine," I said, forcing a smile. It was a lie. But she could tell.
"Abigail," Nathalie said, her voice softer now. "I get that something’s eating at you, but you gotta stay sharp. This place doesn’t play around, and if you’re too caught up in your own head, it’s gonna catch you off guard."
I knew she was right. She always was. But it didn’t make the knot in my chest go away. I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, yeah. I’m sharp. Let’s just grab something to eat. Maybe food will help me think."
Nathalie smirked, but it wasn’t her usual amused one. More like a half-hearted, “you’re an idiot” kind of smirk. Still, she led the way to the cafeteria, and I followed, dragging my thoughts along with me.
As soon as we entered, the noise hit me like a wave, students talking, trays clattering, the usual chaos of lunch hour. I spotted James sitting by himself at a corner table, his head down, fiddling with something in his hands. I felt a pang of guilt seeing him like that, especially after what happened earlier. He looked like a kicked puppy, and it was hard not to feel sorry for the guy.
Nathalie followed my gaze, her eyes narrowing. “Why is he still here?” she muttered.
“He’s not hurting anyone,” I said quickly, more defensively than I meant to. “Just leave him alone.”
“Did I say I was gonna hurt him?” Nathalie shot back, but there was a playful edge to her voice. “Relax. I’m not that heartless.”
We grabbed our trays and sat down at a table nearby. I couldn’t help but keep glancing over at James, wondering if I should say something to him. The way Nathalie watched me made it hard to ignore.
Finally, I sighed, pushing my tray aside. “I’ll be right back.”
“Abigail…” Nathalie’s warning tone was clear, but I waved her off.
I got up and walked over to James, my steps slow, unsure. He looked up when he saw me coming, his eyes wide with surprise, like he didn’t expect anyone to talk to him, especially not me.
“Hey,” I said awkwardly, standing beside his table. “Mind if I sit?”
James blinked, then quickly shook his head. “N-no, go ahead.”
I slid into the seat across from him, feeling Nathalie’s gaze burning into the back of my head. “You okay?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. “You look... well, not great.”
James chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess it’s been a rough day. The whole... you know, glasses thing earlier... kind of messed me up.”
“Yeah, I heard about that,” I said, feeling my blood boil a little again. Those damn Red Elites. “That was messed up. You should’ve reported them.”
James shrugged, his shoulders slumping. “What’s the point? They wouldn’t care. Besides, it’s not like I’m important around here.”
I frowned, not liking how defeated he sounded. “You’re just as important as anyone else,” I said, maybe a little too firmly. “Don’t let those jerks make you think otherwise.”
James gave me a weak smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks, but... it’s just how it is. People like me don’t stand out here.”
I wanted to argue, but I knew that feeling all too well. The academy had its own twisted hierarchy, and it was easy to get lost in it. I glanced back at Nathalie, who was pretending not to watch but was doing a terrible job at it. She’d never understand what it felt like to be on the bottom rung.
“Well,” I said, trying to change the subject, “if it makes you feel any better, I’m terrible at fencing. Nathalie’s been wiping the floor with me all morning.”
James laughed, and this time it sounded more real. “You? Bad at something? I don’t believe it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, I’ve got bruises to prove it.”
We sat there in comfortable silence for a minute, just eating, and for the first time today, I felt a little less weighed down by my thoughts. James wasn’t so bad, once you got past the awkwardness. Maybe my dad was onto something after all.
“So... what’s been on your mind?” James asked suddenly, surprising me.
I looked at him, wondering how much I should say. But something about the way he asked, like he actually cared, made me open up a little more than I expected.
“Just... family stuff,” I said vaguely, playing with the food on my tray. “My dad sent me something, and I’m trying to figure it out. It’s... complicated.”
James nodded, like he understood more than I thought he would. “Family stuff’s always complicated.”
I gave him a small smile, appreciating the understanding. Maybe... maybe I could trust him, just a little.
Before I could say anything else, Nathalie suddenly appeared beside the table, her expression as icy as ever. “Abigail,” she said, her voice sharp.
“We’re leaving,” Nathalie said, her voice is now low but firm.
I blinked, confused for a second, thinking she meant leaving the cafeteria or the hall, but then it hit me. She wasn’t talking about some place outside, she was talking about her. Her room. Nathalie was done with the conversation, done with the day.
I sighed softly, understanding her without her having to explain. She didn’t need to say more. Nathalie wasn’t just dismissing me, she was retreating into her own world, the world where no one else could get in. And maybe... she needed it. The walls she built were her way of keeping control. Of staying untouchable.
I nodded, watching her walk off without looking back, just like she always did. No goodbye, no small talk. That was Nathalie’s way.
With a quiet sigh, I stayed behind for a moment, feeling the weight of the day settle in. I didn’t blame her. We all had our own ways of handling things. Maybe I needed to find mine.