Two weeks after Christmas Eve
The night was cold and silent, with the city gradually settling into the stillness of the late hours. Among the buildings lining the streets stood an old apartment building, its weathered exterior showing signs of age. Several families lived within its walls, each occupying their own small space.
On the second floor, the light was still on in Room 4.
The soft sound of a girl humming while preparing dinner filled the otherwise quiet apartment.
Ellie stood beside a shelf in the small kitchen, preparing a simple meal. Nothing special, just a bowl of salad and some instant noodles. Despite the room's old appearance and limited space, it was clean and well-maintained. Ellie had done her best to keep everything organized, making the most of what little she had.
The apartment itself was modest. A small kitchen occupied one side, a table stood in the middle of the room, and an old, well-used mattress rested in the corner. There wasn't much else, but everything had its place.
Ellie carried her bowls to the table and sat down. After taking a sip of water, she picked up her chopsticks and finally began eating.
Ellie: Phew, finally. I've finished cleaning and preparing everything for school tomorrow.
She took a few small bites, enjoying the quiet evening.
"School starts tomorrow..."
The thought crossed her mind as she continued eating.
"I'm so excited to meet everyone again."
A faint blush spread across her cheeks as another thought followed.
"And Alan... I haven't seen him since the New Year party."
She continued eating, her thoughts lingering on the people she would soon see again. Before long, she had finished her meal. She gathered the bowls and carried them to the sink.
"It's only been a week, but it feels so long."
She turned on the faucet, and the sound of running water filled the little kitchen as she began washing the dishes.
"I wonder if we'll get any new students this year."
Ellie chuckled softly at the thought.
Once she had finished, she dried her hands with a towel and switched off the kitchen light. The apartment fell quiet as she made her way to the mattress in the corner.
She lay down and quickly pulled the blanket over herself, settling into the warmth.
Ellie: Goodnight...
---
Just like Ellie, everyone else was looking forward to the next day.
A new school year meant another beginning. New faces, familiar friends, and perhaps a few unexpected surprises awaited them.
Alan, Daniel, Daisy, Casey, Max, Bob, Andrew, and Coner were all preparing to return to their usual routines. The same excitement filled the lives of the other students attending Ironfall Academy, each anticipating what the coming year might bring.
Meanwhile, in one of the more expensive residential areas of the city, a large house stood quietly beneath the night sky.
Its lights were off, leaving most of the building in darkness.
In one of the rooms, however, Lily stood beside a window, enjoying the view of the city while sipping her favourite pomegranate-flavoured juice.
Her thoughts wandered. Perhaps she was thinking about tomorrow, or perhaps she was simply reflecting on the end of the holidays and the return to her ordinary school life.
After a while, she turned away from the window and closed it.
She walked over to her dressing table, brushing her hair as her eyes settled on the photographs spread across its surface. Among them were the pictures and pieces of information she had gathered while investigating the mystery surrounding Nameless School.
Those small clues had eventually helped her connect the pieces and uncover the truth behind the incident.
Lily: Yeah, right. I still haven't thanked that officer for this.
She placed the brush on the dressing table before making her way to bed.
The soft mattress yielded beneath her as she lay down and pulled the thin blanket over herself. She switched on the heater, allowing the warmth to fill the room.
With everything finally quiet, Lily settled in for the night.
---
The Next Day
Ironfall Academy looked as wonderful as ever.
The enormous school building stood proudly over its grounds, surrounded by trees and plants lining the edges of the courtyard. The familiar fountain remained in the middle, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of the campus.
But the real life of the academy came from its students.
They streamed through the entrance in their distinctive uniforms: white shirts beneath blue overcoats, complemented by red-and-white ties. Some walked in groups, talking and laughing excitedly about the new school year. Others appeared shy or nervous, while a few simply made their way inside without paying much attention to anyone around them.
Among them was Lily.
She walked through the crowd with her usual confidence, holding her bag in front of her. As always, she attracted a few glances from the boys nearby. Noticing them looking in her direction, she made an annoyed face and quickened her pace, eager to reach her classroom.
Once inside, she placed her bag on the desk in the second row, beside the window, and settled into her seat.
She glanced around the classroom, noticing that no new students had arrived yet.
Lily: Well, I guess no one has joined our class.
She took out her notebook and immediately began writing down the answers to her problems.
A moment later, one of her classmates approached her desk.
It was Evoxy, a girl with shiny blue eyes and blonde hair styled into a ponytail.
Evoxy: Hola, Lily.
Lily looked up and greeted her with a soft smile.
Lily: Hola, Evoxy. How have you been?
Evoxy pulled out the chair beside Lily and sat down. Her attention soon shifted to the notebook on Lily's desk.
Evoxy: You're writing already?
She chuckled, glancing between the notebook and Lily's focused expression.
Evoxy: The class hasn't even started, let alone the homework.
Lily's smile widened slightly as she continued working through the problems.
Lily: You're right, but I just want to finish this now. I have a feeling I should stay ahead of what we learn in class. That way, if I somehow don't get the chance to do it later, I won't fall behind.
Evoxy's eyes sparkled with admiration. She reached over and tapped Lily's shoulder.
Evoxy: My, my, Lily. You're so smart and clever. No wonder you're always at the top of the school rankings.
Lily: Thanks, Evoxy. You're no less than me, either.
Evoxy waved her hands dismissively.
Evoxy: No, Lily. I'm just average when it comes to grades.
Lily smirked, finally turning her attention toward her friend.
Lily: If average means getting into the top three of the class, then sure.
Both girls burst into laughter.
Their conversation continued comfortably, the atmosphere between them relaxed as they enjoyed the first morning back at school.
However, not everyone in the classroom shared their cheerful mood.
At the opposite end of the room, on the last bench, Kelly and Mina sat together, absorbed in their own conversation. Kelly occasionally glanced around the classroom, her expression growing increasingly impatient.
Mina noticed her looking around and tilted her head curiously.
Mina: What's wrong?
Kelly: Samantha's late. Is she really going to be late on the first day of school?
Mina slapped her own forehead as she suddenly remembered something.
Mina: You fool! No, wait... we're the fools. Samantha told us to meet her in the other classroom, remember?
Kelly: Oh, shit! Let's go.
The two girls hurried out of the classroom and into the hallway. After looking around for a moment, they spotted Samantha standing near the entrance of another classroom.
Kelly and Mina waved to her.
Kelly: Hey, Samantha! Over here!
But as they approached, both girls slowed down and paused.
Something about Samantha looked different.
Her hairstyle had changed. Instead of her previous look, she now wore her hair in a combination of braids and waves, giving her a noticeably different appearance.
Mina: Whoa, Samantha?
Kelly: You really look better now. That old hairstyle was chopped.
Samantha: What do you mean by chopped?
Her expression hardened as she stared at Kelly.
Kelly fell quiet for a moment.
Samantha: Anyway, I was waiting for our pawn.
Mina: Pawn?
Kelly: She probably means Tom.
Samantha nodded.
Samantha: I explained the plan to him, but he looked nervous, so we made a few changes.
Mina: So, what's the plan now?
Samantha: We'll deal with Lily ourselves first, before Tom makes his move.
Kelly raised an eyebrow.
Kelly: Deal with her?
Samantha: You're slow. I mean the humiliation she put us through. Remember?
Kelly: Ohh...
Mina leaned forward slightly, understanding what Samantha meant.
Mina: So, are we going to make sure she stays under our foot?
Samantha pointed at Mina, then pulled her hand back with a satisfied smirk.
Samantha: Exactly, smart-ass Mina.
Kelly crossed her arms, considering their options.
Kelly: So, I think lunch break would be the best time.
Samantha shook her head.
Samantha: That won't be fun.
Mina and Kelly exchanged a glance. They had expected Samantha to come up with something different, but her response made it clear that she had another plan in mind.
Kelly: Then what?
Samantha's lips curled into a smirk.
Samantha: After school, when she's about to leave, one of us will approach her and ask her to come over there. Near the washrooms.
Mina: Sounds interesting...
Samantha: Our first goal is to make sure Lily understands that she's still beneath us and that she can't escape.
She paused, her expression darkening as she thought about the girl who had dared to stand up to her.
Samantha: Just you wait, Lily. I'll make sure this year becomes the worst one of your life.
Her smirk widened.
Samantha: You shouldn't have messed with us like that.
To be continued...