6: New Beginnings

Blaire's eyes fluttered open at the sound of Lydia's voice calling her from across the room. "Rise and shine, Blaire!"

She groaned in response, her body aching for just a few more moments of rest. The night had been too short, her thoughts tangled with Orion, the black-haired guy, and the idea of Aetheris Academy. She couldn't shake the feeling of being stuck—like she was going in circles, always overlooked, always unnoticed.

Dragging herself out of bed, she went straight for the shower, her mind still hazy. A quick rinse and a hurried change into the gym uniform, which felt stiff and unfamiliar, was all she could manage. There was no time to linger on what was coming next. She couldn't afford to waste any more time thinking about things she couldn't change.

Lydia was already bustling around, full of energy, as if the world had already begun turning in her favor. Blaire envied that. But she wasn't that person, and she never would be. The reality was harsh—no matter how much she tried, it always felt like she was out of place, like she didn't belong.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, Blaire sat quietly, barely aware of the people around her as she poked at her sandwich. The world felt a little quieter when she was half-asleep, more like a background noise. Lydia, as usual, was in her element—chatting, smiling, making friends without even trying. But Blaire... she was invisible. The cafeteria could have been empty, and it wouldn't have made a difference.

That's when he appeared—Orion, the guy everyone whispered about. His presence seemed to command the room, his smile dazzling enough to make even the most confident girls falter. It was the same smile that had probably stolen the hearts of dozens, maybe more.

Orion's gaze immediately found Lydia, and the way he spoke to her... Blaire couldn't help but watch. It was like a game to him, effortless and charming, making Lydia giggle like she was the center of the world. Blaire didn't know if she was jealous or just tired of feeling like the third wheel in a room full of people who seemed to have everything she lacked.

Orion's attention finally shifted to Blaire. "What's your name?" he asked, his tone smooth and carefree.

Blaire blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. She wasn't used to being noticed, not like this. She didn't want to be noticed like this. "Blaire Delphine," she replied, her voice flat, not allowing herself to care.

But even as she said the words, she knew it didn't matter. Orion wasn't looking at her. He was looking at Lydia. It wasn't her who caught his eye—it was Lydia's bright smile, her easy charm. Blaire was just another face in the crowd.

And that was fine. She wasn't interested in being part of that world. She didn't want to be part of their game. But there was something unsettling about it.

She forced herself to focus on her sandwich, pretending the knot in her stomach didn't exist. She would never be the center of attention. She had learned that long ago. People like her—quiet, ordinary, forgotten—weren't meant to be seen. It was easier to just fade into the background. No one ever seemed to care enough to notice anyway.

But it still hurt, deep down, in a place she couldn't quite escape.

Then, as if to reinforce the point, the door opened again, and in walked the handsome black hair guy. The room seemed to shift with his presence—an invisible pull drawing people's eyes toward him. He was effortlessly handsome, but unlike Orion's confident charm, there was something quieter, more brooding about him. It was almost like he didn't care whether anyone was paying attention or not.

Orion noticed him too, and immediately broke off the conversation with Lydia. "Larkin's here," he said, with a knowing smile. "I'll catch up with you later, darling."

With a wink, Orion disappeared into the crowd, leaving Lydia still blushing, the words hanging in the air between them. Blaire barely registered the exchange. She wasn't interested in getting caught up in that world.

"That must be Larkin," Lydia murmured, still flushed. "They're both so hot."

Blaire didn't respond. She didn't care about that. She didn't care about them. What was the point of caring, anyway? The attention of men like Orion and Larkin was fleeting, and Blaire was used to being invisible. That's just how it was.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the second trial. Blaire stood up with Lydia, her stomach twisting into knots. She didn't know what to expect from this test, but she was determined to give it her best shot. It was the only chance she had to prove that she wasn't just a shadow.

The announcement came soon after, calling each student's name to enter. One by one, the names were read aloud, and with each call, Blaire's heart raced. The second trial was different—it wasn't just a test of strength or intelligence. Today's trial was designed to test reflexes. The ability to think fast, to react quickly under pressure. Reflexes were key in survival, and Blaire knew that if she could handle this, it would be one step closer to proving herself.

She was next. When her name was called, she felt a momentary sense of dread and anticipation mixed together.

She gave Lydia a small smile—just a flicker of encouragement—before taking a deep breath and stepping forward.

The testing area was a large, open space, and in the center was an obstacle course. At first glance, it didn't seem too difficult. A few hurdles, some walls to climb, a balance beam. The instructions were simple: finish the course in under three minutes. Blaire didn't think too much about it.

But the second the timer started, the atmosphere shifted. The ground beneath her feet hummed with energy, and the air crackled. She had barely taken two steps when a loud buzzing sound echoed throughout the room. Blaire froze, trying to make sense of it.

A sharp crackle of electricity whipped through the air, and the room erupted with the sound of electrical currents shooting across the space. Her heart raced. Reflexes. This wasn't just a physical challenge—it was a test of how fast she could think and react under pressure.

She barely dodged a bolt of electricity as it arced toward her, feeling a hot sting across her back and legs when it grazed her. The pain jolted her forward, and she had to focus. She couldn't stop. There was no time to think, no time to hesitate. She had to move.

The obstacles were now a blur as she scrambled to leap over the hurdles, dodge the electrical arcs, and keep moving forward. The electric shocks burned, but Blaire didn't let them slow her down. She gritted her teeth, pushing her body to its limits, feeling the timer ticking down with each painful second.

Her legs screamed, her heart hammered in her chest, but she made it. She crossed the finish line at 2 minutes and 42 seconds, her body bruised and sore, but she had done it.

Breathing heavily, Blaire stumbled into the resting area where the other contestants had gathered. Tiffany Vale was already there, glaring at everyone with her singed hair. She had made it through the course too, despite the burns.

Blaire couldn't help but laugh, a light, almost surprised laugh. It was the first time that day she'd felt something other than frustration. Tiffany's pride was gone, her perfect image shattered, and Blaire couldn't deny how satisfying it was to see her knocked off her pedestal.

Tiffany shot Blaire a death glare, but Blaire didn't care. She had made it through. She was one step closer to proving she wasn't just a nobody—just a girl hiding in the background. This was her moment.

For once, Blaire felt like she mattered.