Alone in her dorm room, Maya rubbed her dreary eyes while fighting her fussy brown curls. Dawn was breaking in. The creature in her dreams was visiting her more frequently each day, as if it were impatiently expecting something of her. Even in the waking world, she constantly felt like the sky was watching her.

Looking at the mess that was their room—entirely Elena's fault—Maya thought about wanting to discuss her dreams with her friend. Screaming skies were an unsettling thing. The fact that it had become so frequent as to feel almost amenable was even more unsettling.

Maya's hand reached for the lighter on her nightstand and ran her thumb over its dragon engravings. It was a strangely soothing action, one Maya had a habit of unconsciously doing when anxious. Being a birthday gift from Elena, it made her feel closer to her.

Lately, Maya found herself increasingly dependent on Elena. She was deeply shaken upon discovering another side of the Headmistress, her guardian. As a sincere individual, Maya struggled to face the woman without appearing guilty. However, she needed to avoid suspicion and keep doing it. The threats the Headmistress delivered to those guards didn't seem spoken lightly.

It was Elena's quick thinking that saved them from suspicion after the book theft.

Amanda was furious after her possessions had gone missing and determined to overturn the entire town to find the culprit. No one was spared from her terror and suspicion, and her search was thorough.

"They are going to search your room," Anastasia warned only minutes before they burst into their room.

It was to be expected that girls would be among the first ones to be suspected. Who else would need a book of Prima than someone who could be one, and who else would be daring enough to steal it than troublemaker Elena? However, Maya still fell into a complete state of panic. They were coming, and the book was in her hands.

For Elena, it was a cue to act. As someone with many illicit activities and possessions, Elena already had an undetectable hiding spot. If the sideboard inside her wardrobe were removed, one would be able to access a crawl space dug behind the drywall where the sloping roof met the wall.

There she had quickly thrown in the stolen books as well as a number of her knives, cleverly excluding some, as it would, perhaps, cause even more suspicion if none were found in their room. She left out just enough 'she could live without.'

Then, Maya watched her cause a scene—throwing tantrums, arguing and pleading for each confiscated knife—completely overshadowing the presence of nervous Maya standing aside on the verge of breaking down. All while what they truly needed to hide was safely tucked away.

It was an act that would have completely fooled Maya if she hadn't known it was entirely according to a script. To anyone who knew the truth, it was clear that Elena had taken the bullet and gotten into a lot of trouble, letting Maya go completely unscathed.

The very next day, all students were called into the school assembly for an announcement.

If it had been only the possession of knives in her room, it wouldn't have been a big deal, as there was no proof they were used in a harmful way. However, remembering the past incidents when Elena put a knife to Chris's throat and pretended to do the same to Burcu later, there was a solid basis for measures being taken. Elena had avoided repercussions then, but now they were catching up to her.

"Due to reports of students carrying weapons—which is strictly prohibited by academy rules—random searches are being implemented starting today," the Headmistress announced. "Guards are authorized to search students at any moment without notice on academy premises, whether a reason for suspicion exists or it is standard procedure. All students who have been caught carrying any type of weapon, further defined in the academy rulebook, will be immediately detained and expelled from Amellan Academy and denied enrollment at any Mellgrah academies meant for the education of mages."

Groans from students hearing the news echoed all around.

"We all know who's responsible for this new rule… Why do we all need to be punished because of one person?" Complaints came from all directions.

"Furthermore," Amanda continued, "I caution you, if any of the other prohibited objects or substances specified in the academy rulebook are found on your person during the student search, expect appropriate repercussions depending on the offense. That is all. Thank you. You may return to your classes."

It certainly did seem unfair, but Amanda was using this to have a basis to search anyone at any point for her own agenda, and letting the blame fall on a single student was just the cherry on top. Elena was aware these threats were serious, and from then on, she was forced to walk unarmed—not even with a fork in her boot.

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For some time, Elena was often the target of those random searches. Although they never found any sharp objects on her, Elena found being unarmed unacceptable.

"Whatever, I can be my own armoury," although she brushed it off, there was no hiding her annoyance.

Here, Elena's unique powers came as if god-given. Ice could be made into any shape and was deadly sharp. Catching her practice her proficiency in creating various blades was something Maya saw quite frequently, and it was impressive indeed.

With a quick movement, Elena would dip an empty knife handle into a cup of water and pull it out with a sharp blade made of ice, manifested like a magic trick. After testing it with a few swings, she would break it off, toss it aside to melt and continue to form new ones.

'What does she fear so much that she would feel so unsafe without a weapon on her person?' It was saddening Maya.

A rustling in the room startled Maya, pulling her out of her musings. Something was hiding in the darkness.

With nervous hands, Maya lit the lighter. Its weak flickering light illuminated the room just enough to see there was something nesting beside Elena's bed in the heap of clothing she nonchalantly left everywhere.

Maya swallowed. What kind of creature could have crawled in?

However, after a moment, Maya realized her foolishness. It wasn't some creature; it was Elena, asleep on the floor.

After stumbling back drunk, she had failed to put herself to bed. With one boot on and still clothed, Elena must've fallen and given up there, only pulling down the covers to keep warm. The drafty attic room grew quite cold at night.

Although, according to Maya's estimation, Elena was in a much better state mentally, she truly couldn't understand why Elena was still doing this to herself. Maya was disappointed she hadn't changed her behaviour.

'It must be just a habit,' Maya concluded.

If it was a habit that was hard to break, Maya should help. There was always alcohol lying around. If only it were removed…

Determined to help Elena, paying her back for all that she owes, Maya decided she would make it her mission to get Elena sober. The first step was to hide the bottles.

Maya glanced out the window. The sun was just about to rise, and it was already pretty light outside. It had to be somewhere Elena wouldn't suspect.

Packing all the bottles she could find, Maya began to make her way to the big window at the back of their room. Opening it, cool morning air sneaked past her.

A groan from behind made Maya panic. Elena was waking up, and Maya would be caught. Having gone this far, she couldn't give up now, so without much thought, Maya grabbed one of the bottles and swung it out of the window, far over the wall, never to be retrieved again.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked groggily.

Maya knew her action was extreme, but there was no turning back now, so she swung another bottle.

Still woozy and disoriented, Elena glanced toward her and opened her eyes wide, realizing what was unravelling before her.

"No! Stop!" Elena jumped to her feet in an attempt to stop Maya from throwing another one, but she tripped on the clothing and failed to catch it.

Elena clung to Maya, half hanging, desperate to stop her from throwing another one.

"NO! Stop, please!"

However, in her state, she couldn't even reach the bottle Maya held high in the air.

"Why are you doing this?!" Elena cried out.

Maya looked at her pitiful friend. "It's time to stop…" There was a limit to how much self-destruction Maya could allow and still call herself Elena's friend. This was something she should've done sooner. "You have me, I'll help you."

"Why are you trying to ruin my life?!" Elena roared.

The accusation stabbed at Maya's heart. How could Elena be so delusional to get it completely the other way around? However, she didn't allow herself to waver and doubled down.

"I'm not," Maya stated firmly, gesturing at the bottle in her hand. "This is!" With that, she hurled the bottle out the window with fierce determination.

"Why are you punishing me?!" Elena's voice was pleading.

"I'm not punishing you. I'm helping you make the first step."

Maya freed herself from Elena's grip to swing the last bottle over the wall. Elena watched it with a devastated expression as it flew away into the morning mist. Then Maya felt a cold glare snap towards her, making her heart sink.

It was as if something had switched in Elena, and Maya became a subject of her hatred.

"It's gone now. You can finally get better," Maya tried to comfort Elena, but it didn't work.

The distance between them suddenly felt as if it stretched to infinity.

"Someone needed to intervene…" Maya kept reasoning.

"No one asked you to." Elena's voice was cold and sharp.

"You… you'll thank me one day…"

Elena didn't respond but walked past Maya instead. Before Maya knew what was upon her, Elena had already snatched the family portrait off Maya's wall and lit the lighter.

"NOO!"

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