Chapter 13

Athasia woke up lying on the cold, hard floor of the classroom. The first thing she noticed was the faint ache in her body, as if she had been pulled back from a nightmare too quickly. Blinking a few times to adjust to the sunlight streaming through the cracked windows, she pushed herself up slowly, her movements stiff.

The room was eerily silent, the dust dancing in the air as if untouched for years. Her sharp green eyes scanned her surroundings, and her gaze immediately fell on a piece of folded paper resting in her hand. She frowned, her fingers tightening around it instinctively.

With a slight hesitation, she unfolded the note. The handwriting was immaculate, sharp, and deliberate, as if each stroke of the pen carried weight. The message was brief but made her jaw clench.

We will meet again.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she crumpled the paper in her hand. "Tch," she hissed, her irritation mounting. The memory of his hands on her, his mocking words, and his unnerving presence flashed through her mind. She hated the vulnerability she had felt, a sensation that was entirely foreign to her.

With a frustrated groan, she tossed the paper aside and stood up. Brushing off the dust clinging to her uniform, she adjusted her hair, which had fallen messily over her shoulders. Her expression was cold, her annoyance palpable as she muttered under her breath, "What a waste of time."

Her sharp ears caught the faint hum of activity coming from below. The school day was still in progress, and she had no intention of lingering on the sixth floor any longer. Taking one last glance around the empty classroom, she composed herself and headed for the stairs.

By the time she reached her classroom, her mood had only worsened. Every step she took was filled with irritation, and her aura grew colder with every thought of Zamiel and his cryptic message.

As she entered the room, the usual chatter and commotion came to an abrupt halt. The students turned to look at her, their gazes a mix of curiosity, fear, and envy.

The girls who had taunted her earlier smirked, clearly ready to throw another round of insults. But as they approached, they froze. The icy glare Athasia shot them was enough to make their stomachs churn. Her entire presence radiated cold hostility, and the sharp glint in her glowing green eyes warned them to stay away.

"Attention-seeker," one of them muttered under her breath, but even her voice trembled slightly.

Athasia ignored them entirely, her steps precise and unhurried as she walked to her seat. She sat down with an air of indifference, her back straight and her hands resting calmly on her desk. Her silence was far more intimidating than any words she could have spoken.

Even the teacher, who had been preparing to reprimand her for her tardiness, hesitated. They glanced at her, then quickly decided it wasn't worth the effort. Clearing their throat awkwardly, they returned their focus to the lesson.

Athasia stared out the window, her mind racing despite her calm exterior. The strange events on the sixth floor and Zamiel's ominous message lingered in her thoughts, fueling her resolve.

If he thought he could control her or throw her off balance, he was sorely mistaken. Athasia wasn't someone who let others dictate her actions. Whatever this game was, she was determined to be the one holding the winning hand.