Chapter Five: Verses and Vows

The sun cast golden rays over Evercrest High, painting the school walls in morning brilliance. A gentle breeze fluttered through the open corridors, and excitement buzzed through the halls like electric hums.

Today was the Inter-House Poetry Contest.

And Aria Vale was on the list.

The announcement had spread like wildfire. A mysterious, quiet girl who had stunned the class with her top scores was now set to take the stage. It wasn't just her academic brilliance that stirred curiosity—it was her mystery. Her silence. Her eyes that held too many storms.

Vammy clasped Aria's hand as they entered the auditorium. "I'm so nervous and I'm not even the one performing!"

Aria smiled slightly. "Same."

The stage was adorned with soft lighting, pale drapes, and flower arrangements. The auditorium filled quickly—students, teachers, even a few local press photographers capturing Evercrest's golden event.

In the front row sat The Elite Four—Ares, Kael, Zephyr, and Rowan. Alongside them were Leo, Troy, and Xander.

Kael leaned toward Ares, voice low. "You really think it's her?"

Ares didn't reply immediately. His sharp eyes were focused on the stage where Aria stood now, taking slow steps to the microphone.

"I don't know," he muttered finally. "But she doesn't remember."

"She used to talk about poetry," Kael added. "Back then."

Ares cut him a glance. "Don't."

Kael backed off, nodding slightly, but his eyes still lingered on Aria.

---

On Stage – Aria's Turn

Aria's fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted the mic. The audience faded into a soft blur. She didn't think about Liana's mocking words or Damien's icy eyes. She didn't think about her bruised past or her unanswered questions.

She thought only of the lines she had scribbled at midnight under the moonlight.

And then she spoke—

> "I built a home inside my skin,

Made walls of words to keep things in.

My silence sings what I can't say,

A quiet fight, day after day…"

The hall stilled.

Not a cough. Not a whisper. Just breathing hearts and holding breaths.

> "Don't call me soft—I learned through flame,

That scars and stars are both the same.

I wear the night, I breathe the fall,

And still I rise, despite it all."

When she finished, the silence broke into thunderous applause. Even the boys, known for their detached elegance, clapped louder than expected.

Ares didn't blink.

He just stared.

Like she was a ghost singing her own eulogy.

---

Later – Behind the Auditorium

Reign leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, when Rowan found him.

"Okay, spill," Rowan said, serious for once. "Who is she really?"

Reign hesitated.

"You know, don't you?" Rowan pressed. "You look at her like she's made of glass and tragedy."

Reign glanced away. "She's my sister. Not by blood. But... she's family."

Rowan stepped closer. "She doesn't remember something, right?"

A beat.

"She lost memories," Reign said quietly. "Important ones. Painful ones. The kind that bury themselves deep."

"What happened?"

"If she remembers," Reign said slowly, "it could break her. Maybe even kill her. Her mind locked it away for a reason."

Rowan paled.

"I'm serious," Reign warned. "Don't talk about her past. Not to her. Not even as a joke."

Rowan nodded and later—he told the others.

---

Elite Dorm – That Evening

In the privacy of Kael's dorm room, all seven boys sat in a circle—Ares, Kael, Zephyr, Rowan, Leo, Troy, and Xander.

"She doesn't remember?" Zephyr asked, leaning back against the window.

"No," Rowan confirmed. "And she shouldn't. Not ever."

Leo ran a hand through his hair. "Damn…"

Kael looked visibly shaken, regret flickering in his expression.

Ares rose from his seat, his voice icy cold and commanding. "None of you say anything."

"We won't," Troy promised.

Ares stepped forward. "No hints. No slips. Nothing."

Xander nodded seriously. "Got it."

Ares's jaw tightened. "I mean it. One wrong word could destroy her."

They all agreed in solemn silence.

Because whatever Aria Vale had forgotten…

Was better left buried.