Chapter 177: Slayer of Second Years
{Elira}
~**^**~
The words hung in the air as we passed, brushing against me like faint sparks.
I tried to ignore them, but they clung to my mind, each one tightening the strange mix of pride and fear inside my chest.
Cambria shot a warning glare at a group of whispering students, then she murmured under her breath, "Keep walking."
By the time we reached the dorm building and took the elevator to the third floor, the tension in my chest had eased just enough for me to breathe again.
Tamryn unlocked our door and pushed it open, ushering me gently inside. The familiar scent of our room wrapped around me like comfort as they guided me straight to my bed.
"Easy," Cambria murmured, adjusting the pillows behind me.
I sat down slowly, the mattress dipping beneath my weight, and finally exhaled.
"We will go get you dinner now," Juniper announced.
I nodded and waved at them as I watched them leave.
---
Ten minutes later, the door creaked open again. And the warm and mouthwatering smell hit first.
"Dinner’s here!" Nari whispered excitedly as she and Juniper slipped inside, balancing two trays stacked high with steaming plates and covered bowls.
Cambria closed the door quickly behind them, lowering her voice so they wouldn’t disturb the other students down the hallway.
"We got clearance from the dorm mistress," she said proudly. "We told her our brave champion needs bed rest."
I smiled faintly. "Champion," I repeated softly. "You make it sound like I fought a war."
"You did," Tamryn said matter-of-factly, setting out utensils on my nightstand. "And you won it."
Nari grinned, uncovering the dishes with a flourish. "Ta-da! We brought you the good stuff — roasted chicken with creamy mashed potatoes, baked vegetables, and even a slice of that honey apple pie everyone was fighting over for today."
My stomach gave an embarrassingly loud growl, and all four of them burst into laughter.
"Guess that answers whether she is hungry," Juniper said, her tone light.
I blushed, laughing too. "Okay, fine. I’m starving."
Cambria handed me a plate, and for a moment, the air filled with nothing but the gentle clinks of forks and the hum of quiet conversation.
It felt good and normal. It was the kind of peace I needed right now. Delicious food and good company.
Between bites, Nari leaned over, eyes sparkling mischievously. "I hope you actually understand that you are officially the legendary Omega who knocked out a second-year."
I groaned softly. "Don’t remind me."
"Oh, we are reminding you," Tamryn teased. "Half the cafeteria was buzzing about it before we left. The other half was trying to figure out how you did it."
I shook my head, but despite myself, a shy smile tugged at my lips. "Honestly, I don’t even know how I did it. I just... didn’t want to give up."
Cambria’s voice softened. "And that’s exactly why you won."
For a moment, the room fell quiet — not an awkward quiet, but a full quiet, the kind that carried warmth and understanding.
Juniper finally broke it with a grin. "Well, our girl’s officially on her way to the top ten."
Nari lifted her fork like a toast. "To Elira Shaw, slayer of second-years!"
I laughed, shaking my head. "You are all ridiculous."
"Ridiculously proud," Tamryn said, her smile gentle but sincere.
I looked around at my friends, my sisters in every way that mattered, and a sense of relief washed over me. The exhaustion and the ache all felt lighter under their warmth.
By the time we were done eating, the evening bell chimed softly across the dorm halls—the signal for study hour.
Tamryn stretched her arms above her head with a sigh. "I guess that’s our cue."
Cambria collected the trays and stacked them neatly by the door to return later.
Juniper started packing her books into a small tote. "We will go ahead, while you rest," she said firmly, eyeing me like I might suddenly decide to sneak off to the study hall too.
"As if I could," I murmured with a small smile. My ribs still ached when I moved too quickly.
Cambria walked over to her table and grabbed her books. Then, she turned to me. "We will be back in three hours, okay? Don’t wait up. Just sleep."
"See you in three hours," Nari echoed, already halfway to the door with her tablet in hand.
"See you," I replied softly, waving after them as they disappeared down the hallway, their voices fading into the usual evening chatter of students changing floors.
When the door clicked shut, the silence that filled the room was gentle, but somehow too large. I leaned back against my pillows, staring at the dim dorm lights humming above.
The exhaustion crept up quickly, the kind that came from finally being still. My eyes grew heavy, and before I could think about it, sleep folded over me like a blanket.
When I woke up again, the room was darker and the air was cooler. I blinked, momentarily confused by the quiet. Then I realized where I was.
I sat up slowly, my body instinctively tensing, but the pain that had burned across my shoulders and ribs earlier was now barely noticeable, just faint, dull aches. And the bandages felt loose against my skin.
A soft smile tugged at my lips. "Guess the nurse was right," I murmured. "My wounds were healing fast."
The clock on the wall glowed faintly: 8:22 p.m. My friends still weren’t back.
Boredom settled in fast, so I reached over to my reading table, stretching until my fingers brushed the edge of my phone and finally grabbed it.
The screen lit up with a soft glow. There were two missed calls, one from Rennon and three from Lennon. I frowned slightly as my thumb brushed over the notifications.
"I didn’t even hear it ring..." I muttered, then noticed the tiny crossed-out bell icon. My phone was on silent, so I turned it off and stared at the missed calls again.
I could already guess why the brothers called.
Rennon probably wanted to check up on my injuries. And Lennon... well, he probably just wanted to tease me about the duel.