It turned out that the Queen wanted Duke back home too, after six years of exile in the Shadow Wastelands.
After reading about the hell that was the Shadow Wastelands, I had thought myself foolish—and the people of the community too—for believing that the Queen would ever send her beloved son there.
It was just impossible. This institution right here had been the better option.
Duke was now level-headed and rarely played with girls, not even when they threw themselves at him for free.
I have more important things to concentrate on, he would say whenever I asked him why he wouldn’t just live freely. And when I tried to find out what had his attention, it was always the gym and books.
Duke was a voracious reader, even more than me, but then, that was one of the perks of this school—making you hungry for knowledge.
"Where are your bags? Aren’t you leaving yet?" Duke asked, his sharp eyes sweeping over me, behind me, searching for the bags in question. His brows furrowed as if his brain was already wondering why I had come out of my room empty-handed.
"They are packed already. I wanted to see Freda before leaving."
Yes. Freda—the one the Queen had handed me over to. My personal teacher, trainer, and hell-giver. She gave me additional assignments above my power levels, taught me how to never give in or give up, and was forever unsmiling.
I had never seen one as mysterious as she was. And I always wondered how she was friends with the Queen.
"Meet me outside then. Raul is already talking with Matron..."
I frowned. "For what?"
Duke laughed, shrugging with careless amusement. "I don’t know... maybe to appease her for the hell you gave her."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I walked out of the house. I would talk with peace-making Raul later.
I met Freda in her personal office. She was looking through files when I knocked and stepped in without waiting for her order.
"You must think that leaving the institution has suddenly given you wings to fly."
I smiled nervously. "I’m sorry about that, Teacher. I thought you had earphones on."
Freda raised a disbelieving brow, her piercing gaze pinning me. "Having the audacity to lie, Sage?"
I bit my lip and bit back a sharp reply. For all I knew, she was trying to ensnare me in one last trap before letting me leave her institution.
Yes, this was her establishment, and yet she still taught—or rather, she taught only me. Maybe that was why she had been so stringent.
"Now, I heard you were leaving... I thought you would go without saying goodbye, seeing as I was so tough on you."
I chuckled softly. "Of course not. Your toughness and lessons are what made me, and I am highly grateful for that."
I bowed my head to show my sincerity. And for the first time, I saw the hint of a smile tug at her lips. She got to her feet and came around the table toward me.
"You have been a good student too—malleable and docile."
I laughed, nerves dissipating at last, hearing the amusement in her tone. It was like she had let the reins go because I was leaving, because she might not see me again.
She placed her hands on my shoulders. "No matter what happens, remember that you have a home here. That you can call on me for help anytime..."
A loaded pause. Things had gotten quickly emotional.
"You have been like a daughter I didn’t have, even though I pretended to be unmoved by your antics..."
A wide smile broke over my face. I must be dreaming.
"Oh, don’t look so surprised."
I laughed, shaking my head. "You must understand."
"I do. I surely do. After all, it is part of my tactics to command discipline in my star student—the best yet." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel fire.net
I glowed under her praise.
"And now you are leaving... don’t forget what you’ve been taught, and always be open to learn, to observe, and don’t ever be a doormat to anyone, including the Queen."
We exchanged a knowing glance, then smiled. Finally, we hugged each other. It was the first of its kind, a bit awkward, but safe—reassuring.
"Thanks again, Teacher..."
"Freda. You can call me Freda. I know that’s how you address me in public."
I blushed. "Thank you, Freda. See you when I see you."
Outside, a scowling Duke was already waiting by the car. Impatient much?
I hurried to my room, only to stop when I noticed that my bags were gone. Raul must have taken them away. I was just about to turn away, to leave my room once and for all, when my reflection in the mirror caught my attention.
My mysterious eyes were still the same—flecks of gold, strange to behold, an intrigue to many, especially men, and a source of envy to women. And there was the white hair, falling to just a few centimeters from my thin waist.
My body was toned from years of back-breaking training, stamina built for the easy assessment and long retaining of my magic. Curves enhanced by night pilates and splits. Breasts, a sizable amount. Lips, the right size to attract attention. Altogether, a deadly combo. One that I was proud of at least.
Flicking my hair side to side, I smiled devilishly at the mirror. Excitement stirred within me, causing my fingers to tingle. I can’t wait to be home. I can’t wait to wreck the havoc I was trained for.
"Sage... they are waiting for you..."
She looked dejected, but that was understandable since her love interest was leaving—and me too, her not-so-friendly housemate.
"Aww, why do you look like that?"
She was just about to leave when an idea struck me.
"Hey Isla, what do you say about following me to see my family, since yours aren’t keen on seeing you again?"
Her eyes lit up immediately, filling me with the knowledge that I had made the right call.
"Never been surer. Go pack. Duke can wait a little more."