Eydis took the end seat at the long ten-person table, beside Natalia, who was already deep in conversation with Colette and Birgit. Her plate made a dull sound against the wood as she set it down. Eggs, hash browns, some toast she didn't remember grabbing.

She picked up the coffee, took a sip, and immediately regretted it. Bitter, over-extracted, perhaps even scorched. Drinkable, but only just.

Her gaze wandered across the dining hall. The place had been designed to impress, or at least to pretend at grandeur: exposed merbau beams curving high above in the manner of an old chapel, coloured light from stained-glass windows sifting down over polished mahogany panels.

The room filled at its own lazy pace as students drifted in, half-asleep and wholly unenthused. Fair enough; it was barely seven. Coffee, warm bread, and butter tried to lift the collective mood, but the effect felt unfinished.

Bland.

A Cerberus statue would certainly elevate the place, if placed with a little thought beneath that gaudy chandelier. Or better yet, abandon whatever the electrics intended and set real candles to flicker.

Let the shadows speak.

Her lips twitched despite herself.

A fork waved into view. "You've got that look," Natalia said, squinting.

Eydis blinked. "What look?"

"The 'scheming something ridiculous' look."

Eydis considered that. Then nodded. "This place could use a Cerberus sculpture."

Colette sputtered into her tea. "Pardon?" Her French accent clipped the word cleanly as she lowered her cup. With skin that seemed to drink in the light, she was unlike anyone Eydis had ever seen in her own world.

Natalia snorted. "You have to be joking."

Birgit pushed her glasses up, studying Eydis like she was trying to solve for X. "Wait. You're not joking?" Her voice was soft, precise. German maybe.

Eydis prodded the eggs. Possibly rubber. She frowned. "This school has an identity crisis.

"Our academy is quite prestigious, you know," Natalia said around a mouthful of food. "I don't think a mythological beast fits the vibe."

"Prestigious how, exactly?" Eydis asked. "Because it's definitely not for the food."

Colette set down her tea cup. "Have you forgotten? Unofficially-officially, they kinda divide us into Gifted, Talented, and Elite."

"And the difference between Gifted and Talented?" Eydis asked.

Colette opened her mouth to answer. A voice cut across the table.

"Oh, look! If it isn't the loser table."

Tiffany.

Eydis didn't bother turning. The synchronised laughter drifting behind the words did enough of the introductions, as did the cloying perfume.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Tiffany strolled right up to their table. Eydis met her gaze, smirking. Colette and Birgit exchanged glances, shifting uncomfortably. Natalia, however, was already in fight mode.

She slammed her fork down. "Don't think we've forgotten what you did to Eydis yesterday."

Tiffany folded her arms. "And what do you plan to do about it, ginger?"

Natalia stood, voice rising. "I'll take it to the Dean. You've gone too far."

Laughter sparked nearby. Everyone knew how that would play out. Tiffany had a way of staying untouchable.

Eydis sighed inwardly. Wrong move. Sweet, sincere Natalia was playing by rules that didn't exist here. It should have irritated her. Instead, the earnestness of it felt almost, bewilderingly, like a breath of fresh air.

Tiffany leaned in close. "Report me? And what proof do you have? Unless, of course, you want everyone to know what a clumsy little oaf your precious loser friend is."

And with that, she shoved.

Natalia stumbled back, but Eydis caught her just before impact. The tray flipped. Its contents scattered across the table and splashed onto Natalia's skirt.

"Oops! How clumsy of you. Try not to trip over nothing next time." Tiffany tossed her hair and left, her entourage trailing behind, giggling.

Colette and Birgit moved at once to help. Natalia's face burned with anger and humiliation.

"I'm going to change. And I am reporting this." She pivoted on her heel and left.

Eydis watched, fingers tapping against the table in thought. The entire interaction had been… predictable. Another petty flex of social hierarchy, nothing she hadn't seen before.

And yet…

The slight tremor of Natalia's fingers. The way her eyes had glistened with the threat of tears.

Eydis narrowed her eyes and pushed her untouched meal aside.

It seemed she had an errand to run.

Leaning against Natalia's doorframe, arms crossed, Eydis said, "I need a list of Tiffany's inner circle."

Natalia jumped, hands freezing on her skirt. "What… how did you even find my room?"

"It wasn't difficult."

"I locked the door," Natalia grumbled.

"Locks are mostly symbolic."

"They're not supposed to be." Natalia tugged her blazer closed with a huff, shook her head, and asked, "Can I have a minute?"

Eydis stayed where she was.

Natalia flushed. "You mean now? While I'm changing?"

"I don't see the issue."

"The issue is you standing there not seeing the issue."

"We're both female. That makes it irrelevant," Eydis declared, and regretted it as the memory of Astra, the love poem, and the kiss flickered through her mind.

Of course gender was not the only factor in attraction here. She sighed, turned, and pulled the door shut. "Humans…"

Fabric rustled. From behind the door, Natalia's voice softened. "It's not about categories. I just get… self-conscious."

"You're assuming I belong to one."

"I didn't—look, forget it," Natalia mumbled. "You're over Astra, then? She looked upset last night."

"She wasn't exactly waiting up when I got back," Eydis replied. "Do you think I could request a private room?"

"Private room? Only two people get that: A‑Class Gifted council members. Athena and Theo. President and VP," Natalia rambled. "Wait… Astra's A‑Class, isn't she? And on the council?"

"Are you telling me or asking me?"

"Okay, fair. It's just… kinda weird she didn't request one." Natalia patted her skirt. "All done."

Eydis turned around to face Natalia. "Gifted. What exactly does that mean here?"

Natalia tied her red hair into a quick ponytail. "There are three categories: Elites, Tiffany types. Rich families, legacy admissions. Then the Talented, like you. Tested in. Earned it. And finally…"

"The Gifted?"

"Yeah. People with… abilities." Natalia hesitated on the word.

Abilities. So, magic. That explained then. "Are you Gifted too?"

Natalia stiffened visibly at the question. "How did you...?"

"Your reaction to the Eye was different. You were not afraid. And given how Tiffany treats you, you are hiding it."

A muscle in Natalia's jaw twitched. "Gifted students go to regular classes, but we also get training. Control, surveillance, that kind of thing. They track us."

"Intrusive."

"It is," Natalia replied. "They define us by how dangerous we might be."

"But it must help. Against people like Tiffany."

Natalia's usual bubbly exterior faltered briefly. "I don't like being labeled," she muttered. Her gaze dropped. "I'm more than a set of stats or a potential threat—"

"Or a possibility," Eydis replied instantly, her expression softening into a small, genuine smile.

Natalia blinked, then cleared her throat. "Right. Tiffany's group."

She reached for a thick volume on the shelf and pressed it into Eydis's hands.

St Kevin's Yearbook, 2049.

Eydis flipped through while Natalia pointed out names, faces, lines of connection.

A slow smile tugged at Eydis's mouth.

Information, at last.

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