SILAS

My first class went surprisingly well, though the experience was made slightly strange by the sight of Sebastian standing quietly in the corner of the room, watching with an unusual level of interest.

It was hard not to glance at him every now and then as I lectured. This was Sebastian, after all—the same Sebastian who never paid attention to classes or anything remotely academic. Why would he suddenly care about one of my lectures?

I couldn't help but feel a flicker of suspicion. Was he actually paying attention, or was he just looking for something to mock me about later? Honestly, I wouldn't put it past him. I half-expected him to fall asleep at some point—he looked exhausted, with faint shadows under his eyes. But no; he stayed upright, his gaze steady, and his interest seemed genuine.

When the class finally ended, the students began filing out in small groups, their chatter filling the room as they discussed the homework I'd assigned. A few lingered to ask follow-up questions, which I answered patiently until the last of them departed.

Sebastian remained the whole time, sitting off to the side with his arms crossed, watching me. His gaze was unwavering, almost analytical. It made me feel a little self-conscious.

"You were listening intently, weren't you?" I asked, stepping closer to him once the room had emptied. My voice carried a teasing edge, though the curiosity in my tone was real.

Sebastian tilted his head slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I was. It was very interesting."

His response made me pause. I blinked at him, caught off guard. He wasn't teasing? He was actually paying attention?

Huh.

I had been so sure he was just looking for something to make fun of. But no, he really had been listening.

"Somehow, that makes me feel shy all of a sudden," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "Are you sure you're not teasing me?" I nudged him lightly with my elbow, narrowing my eyes in mock suspicion.

Sebastian rolled his eyes, his expression souring. "Why would I tease you?"

"Eh… I don't know. I just thought…" I sighed wistfully, trailing off as we stepped out of the classroom together. The hallway stretched out before us, quiet and mostly empty now that classes were in session.

But as we rounded the corner, I froze. Leaning casually against the wall was a familiar figure.

Rosemary.

She was wearing one of the standard Zaudseth uniforms, her posture relaxed but her expression guarded. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and when her eyes flicked up at us, there was a flash of something—fear?—before it was quickly masked by a sharp glare. That was… odd.

"Rosemary?" Sebastian said, his voice laced with subtle surprise.

At the sound of her name, her head snapped up fully. Her gaze darted between the two of us, and for a moment, I thought I saw her flinch. But then her lips curled into a scowl.

"Vampire weirdo," she muttered at Sebastian before her eyes landed on me. "Silas." When she said my name, it was completely devoid of emotion, flat and hollow.

I sighed heavily, crossing my arms as I stared her down. "Have you come here to apologize to Sebastian?" I asked, arching a brow.

Rosemary bristled at the question, glaring at me. "Alex said I should. She said if I didn't, she wouldn't let me go out anymore," she grumbled, her voice low and reluctant. She averted her gaze, clearly uncomfortable.

Beside me, Sebastian let out a quiet snort of amusement.

That made me chuckle, though I quickly masked it with a cough when Rosemary's sharp glare turned on me. Her eyes narrowed, practically daring me to laugh again.

"You're not a kid anymore, Rosemary," I said, my tone firm but not unkind. "Apologizing shouldn't be this hard, especially when you were the one in the wrong."

"I know that!" she snapped, her voice rising slightly. Her gaze flickered to Sebastian, who stood silently beside me. "I'm sorry, vampire weirdo," she muttered, her voice clipped and hurried, like she was trying to get it over with.

I turned to Sebastian, watching his reaction carefully. "It's also Sebastian's decision whether to forgive you or not," I added, my tone gentle but firm.

Sebastian's eyes shifted between me and Rosemary. For a moment, he looked thoughtful, as if weighing her words. Finally, he shrugged. "It's okay," he said simply.

Rosemary blinked, caught off guard by his response. "You really are weird, aren't you?" she muttered, crossing her arms and looking away.

I chuckled softly. "He's got a good heart, I suppose," I said lightly.

Rosemary's gaze snapped back to me, her expression shifting to something more complicated—hurt, maybe? "Of course you'd say that," she scoffed. "That's what you used to tell me too, didn't you?"

Her words made me pause, and I stifled a sigh. There was more weight to her tone than I expected, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

Beside me, Sebastian was watching the exchange with growing curiosity. His eyes flicked between us, his brows furrowed slightly.

"What is the relationship between the two of you?" he asked, cutting into the moment. "I can't help but feel confused."

Rosemary scoffed again, but this time, it felt more like a deflection than actual annoyance.

"Who knows? I don't even know how he sees me," she says, her voice heavy with weariness. I bite my lip, unable to find the right words.

That's no good. Rosemary... Rosemary may have been my first friend.

My mother saved her, took her in when no one else would. She became part of our family, cared for as if she were one of us. To me, she was more than just a companion—she was like a sister, my only true friend in a childhood that often felt lonely.

But even then, we both knew the truth. My mother wasn't surprised when, as we grew older, Rosemary's werewolf instincts started to surface. Her kind was never meant to live under our roof, to stay confined by our rules and walls.

She was meant to be free.

Yet, somehow, she didn't seem to understand that. Or maybe she just didn't want to. Even when I told her she should leave, for her sake, she refused. She clung to me, to us, like she belonged.

"Staying with us would have only hurt you," I say softly, almost pleading. "You're a werewolf, Rosemary... and I'm a mage."

She huffs, crossing her arms as her sharp eyes bore into mine. "So you threw me away."

"I didn't throw you away," I reply, though the guilt in my voice betrays me. "I only did what was necessary."

But even as the words leave my mouth, I know they're a lie. What I did wasn't just "necessary." It was cruel.

I fought her. I pushed her to the breaking point, made her angry—so angry that she couldn't suppress her true nature any longer. She needed to see herself for what she was. She needed to understand that she wasn't one of us, no matter how much she wanted to be. It hurt me to do it, but it hurt her more.

"I don't think you're a monster, Rosemary," I say at last, my voice trembling. "I only believed you deserved more than what we could give you."

With that, I step past her, the weight of my words hanging in the air. She doesn't respond, and for a moment, I think she might have nothing left to say. But as Sebastian catches up to me, he pauses beside her.

He looks at her, sighs, and then jogs after me.

"So, she was really like a sister to you," Sebastian says quietly as we round the corner.

I look down at the floor, my heart heavy. "Yeah, she was. She may see me differently now—or not—but to me, she'll always be my sister. My first friend."

There's a pause as I gather my thoughts.

"I only acted the way I did because I wanted her to live as her true self," I continue. "But... after seeing her again, after seeing how much my actions hurt her, I realize maybe I should've just told her the truth back then."

Sebastian studies me with an unreadable expression, his sharp features softened by something I can't quite name.

"So... she's that important to you, huh?" he asks, a faint smirk tugging at his lips before it fades into a gentler smile.

I laugh bitterly. "She wouldn't want to hear that. After all these years apart, she's probably gotten used to hating me."

"I doubt that," Sebastian says softly, his gaze fixed ahead. "You didn't see what I saw."

I tilt my head, curiosity tugging at my thoughts. "What did you see?"

But Sebastian only shakes his head, a faint smile lingering on his lips. "Nothing. It's lunch now, isn't it? Aren't you hungry?"

I narrow my eyes at him, half-annoyed and half-amused by his sudden change of topic. "Fine," I sigh. "Let's get some food. I'll probably just grab something light, though. If you want, you can go help Navee after this."

Sebastian didn't seem too thrilled by my suggestion, but he nodded anyway, letting out a tired sigh.

The café was unusually quiet, with only a handful of students scattered at the tables. Most of them preferred to eat outside in the courtyard. It made sense. The courtyard, a vast open plain just outside the academy, was a favorite spot for students to practice their spells in the fresh air. The calm breeze, the open sky—it was the perfect place to relax and feel free.

As we settled at one of the empty tables, I glanced at the counter and let out a small sigh of disappointment.

"Ah… no fresh strawberries today."

Sebastian, already seated across from me, raised an eyebrow. "Strawberries? Why? Do you like them?"

I nodded as I tore off a small piece of bread and popped it into my mouth, my expression falling slightly. "I was hoping for some. There's a strawberry farm nearby, but I've got classes later, so I guess I'll have to wait until I'm done." I let out another sigh, more dramatic this time.

Sebastian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he just watched me, leaning back in his chair.

"What else do you like?" he asked suddenly, his tone casual but his gaze curious.

I blinked at him, tilting my head. "What a strange question. Are we still talking about food?" A teasing grin spread across my face.

Sebastian's expression shifted, a faint flush creeping to his cheeks as he scoffed. "Of course! Do I even need to explain? We're literally talking about food right now. Tsk."

I giggled, unable to hold it in. Sometimes it was far too easy to get under his skin, though I knew there were other times when Sebastian always seemed to have the upper hand.

"Well," I began, leaning forward on the table with a playful smile, "I like drinking tea… and, hmm, I like everything, really."

Sebastian stared at me, unimpressed. "Wow. Thanks for the incredibly detailed and insightful answer." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, laughing as I swatted at him across the table.

He smirked but didn't flinch, clearly enjoying his victory.

"Alright, then. What about you?" I countered, leaning back in my chair and eyeing him with mock curiosity. "Before you became a vampire, what food did you usually eat?"

That caught him off guard. His eyes widened slightly as he straightened in his seat, clearly not expecting the question.

"Before… I was a vampire?" he muttered, resting his chin in his hand as he thought it over.

"Yeah," I prompted, watching him curiously.

"Hmm… well, I guess the same as you," he finally said, though his tone was distant, as though the memories were hazy.

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Wow. How informative."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he shot me a weak glare, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Touché," he replied, his tone sharp but laced with amusement.

I couldn't help but giggle again

***

"It's been so long since we've been here," I said with a sigh, my gaze fixed on the students scattered across the training yard. Shira stood beside me, silently observing as our students practiced their spells. Today was one of our collaborative classes, where my students—focused on defensive spells—were paired against Shira's students, who specialized in offensive magic.

"Mhn, indeed. It is a breath of fresh air," Shira replied, her voice calm as she tilted her face toward the sun, her eyes closed in quiet enjoyment.

The Zaudseth training yard stretched out before us, the ground covered in a mix of sand and gravel. It wasn't the prettiest place, but the coarse surface prevented slipping and made it ideal for rigorous training.

"I knew you had a nostalgic side," I teased, nudging the taller woman lightly. Shira let out a soft sigh, but the corners of her lips curved upward, betraying her amusement.

"So," I began, grinning as I folded my arms, "how's teaching students treating you? I hope the first years aren't stressing you out too much."

Shira hummed thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the question.

"Somehow," she said at last, "they're much easier to handle than the third years."

I burst into laughter. "Ah, I couldn't agree more. The older ones are definitely the hardest to deal with."

Shira snorted, a rare sound from her, and I knew she completely agreed.

It wasn't that we didn't enjoy teaching. Guiding young mages and helping them grow into their powers was rewarding in its own way. But it wasn't exactly what either of us had originally signed up for.

As I glanced back at the students, I noticed Shira stiffen beside me. Her sharp eyes flicked toward the line of trees that bordered the yard, her expression darkening.

"What's wrong?" I asked, following her gaze.

Her glare didn't waver as she stared at the rustling leaves. For a moment, I saw nothing unusual, but then—

A figure dressed in a hooded cloak suddenly tumbled down from one of the tree branches, landing in a crouch. The impact sent a puff of dust into the air, startling a group of students nearby. They screamed and scrambled back, their spells forgotten.

Shira let out a long, exasperated sigh, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

The figure rose to their feet with a sharp movement, brushing themselves off. It was Sebastian. He clutched something close to his chest, his hood askew and his expression a mix of embarrassment and defiance. In the light, he looked more like a thief caught mid-heist than one of Zaudseth's own.

"An outsider!" one student shouted, his voice high and panicked.

Before I could respond, another student smacked the back of his head. "You idiot, he's wearing a Zaudseth robe," she snapped.

I couldn't help but snicker as Sebastian flushed under their scrutiny. He adjusted his hood awkwardly before forcing a tight, sheepish smile and making his way toward us.

"Sebastian, you're distracting the students," Shira hissed, her annoyance clear as she glared at him.

"My bad," he said, though there wasn't a trace of genuine apology in his voice.

I laughed, shaking my head.

"Alright, all of you!" I called out to the students, clapping my hands to get their attention. "Get back to practicing. I'll be reviewing your spells later."

The group hesitated for a moment, still glancing nervously at Sebastian, but eventually turned back to their work.

Once the students were settled, I turned back to Sebastian, raising an eyebrow.

"I thought you were with Navee," I said, crossing my arms.

Sebastian let out a forced laugh, scratching the back of his head. "I was with Navee... but I got distracted. Because I found this."

He opened his arms, and to my surprise, his cloak unfolded to reveal what he'd been cradling: a bundle of bright red strawberries, nestled carefully in the fabric.

Shira turned her head, raising an eyebrow as she surveyed the scene.

"I already cleaned them," Sebastian added quickly, his tone defensive, as if anticipating criticism.

I stood there, gaping, completely caught off guard. "Strawberries? You got me strawberries?" My voice rose in pitch, almost to the verge of tears.

Was this his way of apologizing for calling me an idiot last night? How thoughtful! How kind!

Don't mind me.

Before I even registered the faint flush creeping across Sebastian's face, I reached out with both hands, eagerly taking a few of the strawberries from his arms. Without hesitation, I popped one into my mouth.

The sweetness burst on my tongue, fresh and vibrant, and I sighed wistfully. "Very fresh. I love it. Thank you, Sebastian."

It had been so long since I'd had a real, fresh strawberry.

Shira, who had been silently watching the exchange, drawled, "How kind of you." Her voice was as dry as the gravel beneath our feet, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at Sebastian.

I glanced between the two of them, noticing the tension in the air. Sebastian's face twisted into a frown as he stared back at Shira, clearly displeased by her tone.

What was with these two?

Unable to ignore the awkward energy any longer, I sighed dramatically and turned my attention back to the strawberries. "Can't I just enjoy my strawberries in peace?" I muttered, popping another one into my mouth.

Shira smirked, clearly amused by my reaction, while Sebastian shifted uncomfortably, his expression caught somewhere between annoyance and embarrassment.