“Reese?” A familiar voice called out her name, soft and soothing despite the surprise it evoked in her. The moment she heard it, her tension eased slightly— She could tell it wasn't the academy guard.

Reese’s gaze dropped to the ground beneath her, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw who it was—Senior Julius!

“Oh!” Flustered and embarrassed, Reese scrambled off him, nearly tripping over herself as she backed away. “I’m so sorry!” she blurted out.

“It’s alright,” Julius replied calmly, sitting up. His hair shifted slightly in the gentle breeze, giving him a composed look even in this awkward situation.

“Did you get hurt somewhere?” Reese asked anxiously, her heart racing not just from the fall but from the situation itself.

“No, I’m fine,” Julius reassured her, his voice steady, though his tone carried a warmth she didn’t expect.

“Are you sure? I mean, I literally fell on top of you—” she started, her words tumbling out nervously.

“Yes, don’t worry,” Julius interrupted with a soft chuckle. “And, honestly, you’re lighter than It seems.” He gave her a playful smile. Sitting there on the grass, his hair catching the moonlight, and his ocean-blue eyes gleaming softly under the full moon, he looked strikingly serene. Reese found herself staring, caught off guard by how calm and peaceful the scene felt.

Realizing she’d been staring for too long, Reese shook herself out of it and frowned. “What? Lighter? What’s that supposed to mean?” she protested. “I’m tall, and I eat way more than average people of my age! How could I be light?”

“I don’t know. That’s just how it felt to me.” Julius chuckled again, clearly teasing her.

“No way—” Reese began to argue, but Julius quickly interrupted, his tone shifting slightly.

“Aren’t we forgetting something more important?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Reese’s stomach sank as the realization hit her. Her momentary embarrassment vanished, replaced by the grip of reality. She was caught sneaking out past curfew hours by a senior, no less—an esteemed model student at that. Her luck had truly run out.

“So,” Julius started, standing up and brushing some grass off his pants, “care to explain what you were doing up there?”

“Um…well…” Reese stammered, desperately searching for a plausible excuse. “I was just… uh… trying to get a better view of the academy. You know, from up in the trees…” Her nervous laughter trailed off, knowing how ridiculous it sounded.

Julius sighed deeply, folding his arms. “And you expect me to believe that? Do I look like a child to you?”

Reese bit her lip, at a loss for words. Clearly, her excuse wasn’t going to cut it.

“You sneaked out of the academy, didn’t you?” Julius continued, his tone growing more serious. “And why? What possible reason could you have for breaking curfew?”

Reese stayed silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

“Not only did you leave the academy grounds at night without permission,” Julius went on, his voice sharp but not unkind, “but you were also leaping from tree to tree in the middle of the night?”

“I’m sorry,” Reese muttered, lowering her head. She realized there was no way to talk her way out of this. And it's not like she could explain her real reason for sneaking out.

“Do you even understand how dangerous that was?” Julius pressed. Reese still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

“…You’re scolding me, but…” Reese mumbled, her voice barely audible, “what about you? Why are you out here so late?”

Julius blinked, taken aback for a moment, before a chuckle escaped him. “Wait, are you interrogating me now?”

“Well, if I’m being questioned, why can’t I ask the same of you? You’re out here after curfew too...you were also sneaking out, right?” Reese retorted, her voice a mix of defiance and nervousness.

Julius raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. I’m on my way back to the dorm from the library.” He pointed in the direction of the library building, visible in the distance.

Reese crossed her arms. “That can’t be! The library’s closed after the evening.”

Julius sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small key and a folded paper. “I have a special pass from the headmaster,” he explained with a smirk, holding up the items. “I’m allowed to use the library after hours.”

Reese’s stomach dropped further. There was no escaping this now.

Julius’s expression softened slightly, though his voice remained firm. “I might have overlooked the fact that you were sneaking out, but what I can’t ignore is how reckless you were. Jumping from such heights? What if you had fallen from higher up? What if I hadn’t been here?”

“I wouldn’t have fallen if you hadn’t startled me!” Reese protested, her tone defensive. “I’ve done this a lot, and I’ve never slipped before!”

“Wait—” Julius’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’ve done this before?”

“Yes,” Reese said proudly, thinking she could reassure him. Little did she know it had the opposite effect.

“That’s not an excuse!” Julius exclaimed. “Do you even hear yourself? That’s even more reason for me to be concerned!”

He launched into a lecture, scolding her for her recklessness, his words full of genuine concern. It was like an anxious parent scolding their child for doing some mischief, trying to make them realise what they had done wrong.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, when her patience turned thin, Reese decided to make her escape. “Oh, look! Over there!” Reese pointed behind Julius, her voice full of false urgency.

“What—?” Julius turned instinctively, only to find nothing. When he turned back, Reese was already sprinting away.

“I can’t believe I fell for that…” Julius muttered, stunned by how easily she’d tricked him.

As Reese disappeared into the shadows, she threw one last glance over her shoulder, grinning ear to ear and waving enthusiastically at him.

“All that lecturing went in one ear and out the other, didn’t it?” Julius sighed, shaking his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips despite himself knowing.

.

.

.

Reese had been fortunate that Julius hadn't reported her. At least, she still hadn't been summoned by the disciplinary committee, so she assumed she was in the clear. However, she wasn’t willing to take any risks. What if he changed his mind the next time they crossed paths? With that fear in mind, Reese made it her mission to avoid him at all costs. If she even caught a glimpse of him in the distance, she would immediately turn the other way, sometimes even breaking into a run. This strategy worked for a while, until one day when her homeroom professor called her to his office.

Reese arrived, wondering what it could be about.

“I see you’re adjusting well, despite joining midway through the semester,” the professor began, flipping through some papers. “Your performance in swordsmanship and combat training is satisfactory. But I’ve noticed that you’re a little behind in some of your theoretical subjects. Understandable, given the gaps from the time you missed.”

Reese nodded, standing at attention.“I’m working hard to catch up, professor. If you give me a little more time, I’ll do my best close the gap.” she said sincerely.

“I’m sure you will,” the professor smiled slightly, but with a tone that suggested he had already made up his mind. “But I think a bit of guidance would help you speed up the process. I’ve decided to assign you a tutor—an upperclassman who is one of our top students. He’ll help you with your studies.”

Reese bowed, grateful but slightly apprehensive. “Thank you, professor. I’ll do my best.”

“He’ll be waiting for you in the library in direction of the Evergreen Forest. Meet him there after school hours.”

“Yes, professor. I will.”

Leaving the office, Reese couldn’t help but wonder who her tutor might be. But the thought didn’t linger for long as she became absorbed in her regular schedule. The day went on as usual, packed with lectures and training sessions. By the time the final bell rang, Reese was exhausted.

Her last class, combat training, had left her drenched in sweat and covered in dust. She glanced at her reflection in the nearby window and grimaced. She couldn’t possibly show up to her tutor in such a state. With no time to waste, She quickly made her way to her dorm to change into fresh clothes.

But as she finished changing and she looked at the time, panic set in. She was running late. Grabbing her books and necessary supplies, Reese bolted out the door and sprinted toward the library. By the time she reached the door, she was breathless, her heart pounding from the run. She paused only long enough to straighten her clothes and trying to compose herself with a deep breath before pushing the door open.

“Pardon me. I’m sorry I’m late for our first—”

Her voice caught in her throat as she finally looked up to see who was waiting for her sitting at the table.

Julius.

Of all the people in the academy, it had to be the one person she’d been trying to avoid diligently. She stood frozen in place. How could this be happening?

Julius’s expression was unreadable as he glanced up from the book he’d been reading, his eyes locking onto hers. The silence stretched between them like a taut rope.

"Just take me up, at this point." Reese swallowed hard, mentally cursing her terrible luck. Could the universe be any crueler?

___

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