“Oh, there's no water left. I’ll go get some.” Juniper said, rising from her seat and heading out to fetch water, leaving the room with a light, carefree step.

As the door closed behind her, silence filled the space. Mariana, now left alone with Reese, sat awkwardly, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. She stared down at her hands, unsure of how to fill the sudden quiet, her unease growing by the second.

Reese, sensing Mariana’s discomfort, leaned back slightly, her eyes studying the timid girl in front of her. “So, how long has this been going?” Reese asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

Mariana blinked, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. “Huh?” she mumbled, her confusion evident.

“I mean, how long have they been bullying you like that?” Reese’s tone had a firmer edge now, her gaze unwavering. “Has it been happening since the beginning?”

Mariana didn’t respond. Instead, her gaze dropped back down, her silence speaking louder than any words. She seemed to shrink into herself, unwilling or unable to answer.

Reese sighed, frustration lacing her breath. “I guess I am right,” she murmured under her breath, her tone softening slightly.

Mariana finally broke her silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t… don’t do that again.”

Reese furrowed her brows, clearly confused. “What?”

“Don’t get involved with me again,” Mariana continued, her voice trembling slightly, still refusing to meet Reese’s eyes. “Don’t do what you did for me today or don’t interfere with whatever happens to me from now on.”

Reese raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting between surprise and irritation. “Why? Do you enjoy being tortured or something?” she asked.

Mariana shook her head slightly, her lips quivering. “You might think you’re doing me a favor, but… in reality, it’s only going to make things worse.” Her voice wavered as she continued, “Beatrice and her friends… they’re going to get more violent because of it. You don’t understand...”

Reese’s jaw tightened. “Then fight back. Don’t let them push you around.”

Mariana’s shoulders slumped further. “It’s not that simple… I’m just a baron’s daughter from the countryside. I have nothing compared to Beatrice,” she said, her words dripping with defeat. “If I have to endure all this just to graduate, then… I will...” Her eyes glistened as she fought back tears.

Reese watched her closely for a moment, the silence heavy between them. Then, in a calm but resolute voice, she spoke. “And I’m not even part of the aristocracy anymore. Yet, neither the son nor the daughter of the Rosedale family has managed to get a piece of me. And I am pretty confident that—they won’t, not now or ever in future.”

Mariana’s tears finally broke free, streaming down her cheeks. “That’s because you’re strong,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m not like you. I’m not strong… I can’t win against them.”

Reese crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. “If you don’t have strength of your own, then borrow from others.”

Mariana looked up, her face filled with confusion. “What…?” she asked softly, unsure of what Reese meant.

“Look around you,” Reese continued, her voice gentle but firm. “There are people who want to help you. They’ve already reached out their hands for you. All you have to do is take hold of them.”

Mariana blinked, still unsure.

“Juniper, for one,” Reese said, her expression softening. “Do you know how worried she is about you? She’s been trying to help, even though you keep pushing her away.”

Mariana’s eyes widened, her mind racing with thoughts she hadn’t considered before.

“Wherever you go, there will always be people who dislike you, but there will also be people who want to stand by your side,” Reese explained, her voice steady. “It’s your job to find those people, to make the effort to connect with them. I know it’s not always easy. But you will find allies if you try.”

Mariana sat quietly, Reese’s words sinking in. Her heart felt heavy, yet there was a flicker of something—hope, maybe—starting to bloom inside her.

“And more than anything else, you need to know how to stand up for yourself,” Reese added, rising from her seat, her tall frame casting a shadow over Mariana. “If you won’t do it for anyone else, do it for yourself. Because in the end, you should be the one to care about yourself the most.”

Reese’s words hung in the air, strong and unwavering, and Mariana could feel them settling deep within her. It wasn’t easy, what Reese was saying. But maybe, just maybe, it was what she needed to hear most of all.

.

.

.

A few days had passed since that eventful day. Since then, Mariana seemed to have slowly started opening up to Juniper. Bit by bit, she was letting her guard down. Juniper introduced her to a few more friends. Although it might take some time for Mariana to fully get along with others, Reese figured it was alright to let things unfold at their own pace. Healing took time, and that was okay.

Juniper had already shown Reese the main routes around the academy, but even after all that, it felt like they had only scratched the surface. The academy was enormous— with its many buildings, towers, gardens, and various pathways. It was so vast that it could be mistaken for a small city of its own. Even though Juniper had been living there for quite some time, she admitted she still didn’t know all of the layout of the academy.

Valentine had mentioned that there were hidden routes and secret passages scattered across the academy grounds, ones only a select few were aware of. There were even rumors of underground tunnels and forgotten paths yet to be discovered. Reese had been given an old map by Valentine to help her navigate, though memorizing the vast layout was proving to be a challenge. Exploring every inch of the academy during the day was difficult, with too many eyes watching her. And Reese wasn’t one to explore in the daylight anyway—she preferred the quiet, the solitude of the night. It was more peaceful, with no distractions, no interruptions.

Of course, it was strictly forbidden to leave the academy boundary after dark without special permission, but students often found ways to sneak out unnoticed. There were consequences if they were caught—punishments and disciplinary action—but Reese didn’t care. Once she set her mind on something, no rule could hold her back.

After a few nights of exploring, Reese had familiarized herself with the academy's structure, enough to move around without attracting attention. Tonight, she decided to push her boundaries further. She was heading toward the Evergreen forest, a dense woodland, nearby the academy grounds. Her goal? To collect mana stones—an essential resource for her.

The magic combat class was set to begin soon, and it would require the use of mana. Due to her unique "condition," Reese couldn’t afford to rely on her own mana reserves for long periods. She would be in a big trouble if she by chance spends too much mana. She must never ever let core be vacant of holy mana. Thus she needed an alternative source, and mana stones were the perfect solution. These stones, naturally embedded with mana, were scattered throughout areas rich in magical energy. They weren’t as potent as a person’s own core's mana, but they could still be helpful in a pinch. The only downside was that mana stones had a limited shelf life, their expiration determined by their color. And they could only be found in places where the environment was closely attuned to magic.

Sneaking out from the academy, Reese moved swiftly and silently into the forest. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any signs of danger. After a short search, she found what she was looking for: red and yellow mana stones, glowing faintly beneath the thick underbrush. The deeper into the forest one ventured, the more valuable resources they could uncover, including the coveted blue and white mana stones. But with greater rewards came greater risks—stronger, more dangerous creatures often lurked in the forest’s depths. Though she wasn’t afraid of such challenges, Reese decided not to push her luck tonight. It was already late, and the last thing she wanted was to engage in a prolonged battle against something which might reveal her secret night out.

Satisfied with her haul, Reese began her return to the academy. Reaching the boundary, she paused at the base of a large tree whose thick branches stretched over the academy walls. It was her route for getting back inside. Climbing up, she nimbly stepped onto one of the broad branches, preparing to leap down into another lower branch.

Suddenly, a voice pierced the silence. "Who's there?"

Reese froze, her heart skipping a beat. Her first thought was the night guard. Panic set in, and before she could think, her foot slipped on the branch. Losing her balance, she tumbled downward, bracing herself for a hard landing on the ground. But instead, she fell onto someone. Her stomach dropped as she realized she had fallen straight into another person.

"I’m done for," she thought, dread settling in as she lay on top of the unfortunate soul beneath her. If she had just fallen to the ground, she might have been able to get up and disappear into the shadows. But this? This was impossible to escape from. She had been caught, and there was no way out.

___

Thanks for reading!

Your support means a lot to me. If you enjoyed the story, please don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your opinions and feedback—it helps me improve and keeps me motivated to keep writing. Stay tuned for the next chapter!