Arin ran with all her might into the woods, never looking back once. She did not stop to catch her breath, afraid that Tiago, Koa, and Rhory would be right behind her. The only time she slowed her steps was when she realized no one was chasing her.
Then she came across a building. It looked like the twin of the one she had run from, built in the same structure and height, only this one seemed strangely quiet and far less lively inside. No voices. No movement. No visible guards at the entrance.
Arin's gaze shifted from the building to a narrower path off to the side, and she began to follow it instead, keeping her head lowered. She did not want to be seen by anyone in her current state.
That being her butt naked.
The further into the woods Arin went, the more lost she felt. The trees began to look the same, the paths blending into one another until she could not tell if she was moving forward or circling back. Unease settled in her chest as she wondered what she might stumble upon next.
She bent down to pluck a broad leaf to wrap around herself, just in case she ran into someone. She could pretend to be a girl gathering herbs. But even that thought felt risky. This was an academy meant only for boys. At least, that was what she believed.
As she reached for the leaf, her gaze caught something beside it. Clothes. Not one or two, but several sets scattered across the ground. They were clearly female garments. They did not look washed or neatly laid out to dry. They looked as though they had been removed in a hurry and left behind.
Her brows drew together. What were women's clothes doing here? In the Imperial Academy of all places?
Just then, soft giggles reached her ears. And close enough to freeze her where she stood.
Panic surged through her. She quickly grabbed one of the garments and pulled it on. The fabric fit loosely but well enough. She adjusted it as best as she could. At least now she would not look out of place if someone saw her from a distance.
Her eyes dropped to the ground again and she noticed masks beside the clothes. There were two plain ones and another more detailed, shaped carefully around the eyes. That was the one she chose to wear.
She chose to put it on so if anyone saw her face later, while she was dressed as a boy, they wouldn't recognize her or become suspicious.
She slipped it on and exhaled slowly. Clothed and masked, she felt less exposed and ashamed.
Arin continued along the path and soon came upon a clearing with a lake. Three young women were swimming near the edge, laughing freely.
She quickly ducked behind a tree so she would not be noticed. For a moment, confusion flickered across her face. This academy was known for hosting only males. Seeing females here did not make sense.
Then the realization struck her. She was wearing one of their clothes.
'I have to leave. There are only three of them in the lake, but I saw four sets of clothes. I picked one. That means the other owner is somewhere nearby. If she is not in the water, then she is close. I cannot be seen by any of them.'
Arin stepped away from the clearing and followed another path. She needed to return to the Merit Tribunal, retrieve the uniform assigned to her, and report what had happened.
She hoped they would transfer her to another room. She didn't mind being in an unkempt room at this point, as far as she wasn't sleeping in the same room as those sons of devils.
Arin had not walked much farther when the Imperial Academy she had fled earlier came back into view. Relief softened her expression, and she allowed herself a small smile as she approached.
But just then, the ground trembled beneath her feet.
A loud crack split through the air, shaking the earth around her. The force of it made her stumble, and sudden fear engulfed her.
Arin stood still for a moment, listening. The tremor had not felt random and it did not feel like an attack either.
Despite her fear, she began to move to the direction she had heard the tremor. She told herself she should turn back, but curiosity pushed her forward. Whatever had caused that sound did not feel like someone trying to kill. It felt like someone was testing something. Practicing.
She slowed when she spotted a figure ahead. A young woman sat on the ground, breathing heavily as though she had exhausted herself. In front of her stood a large rock split cleanly down the middle.
Dark scorch marks stained the surface. At first glance, it looked like fire had done the damage. But fire couldn't split a stone as cleanly as this one she was staring at. It seemed to be..
"Lightning." Arin breathed.
As she tried to inch closer for a clearer view, her foot came down on a dry stick.
The crack echoed louder than it should have in the quiet clearing.
The blonde-haired girl, still seated on the ground, turned her head sharply toward the sound.
Arin dropped instantly, pressing herself flat against the rough bark of the tree, barely daring to breathe.
"I know you are there, Nihan," the girl called out, her voice edged with irritation. "You may as well show yourself. You knew I was bathing here, and yet you continue practicing your affinity so close to me. Now you have made my bath in the lake entirely useless."
She exhaled sharply as she rose to her feet and brushed the dust from her palms. "I asked you to come here to please me, not to practice that miserable affinity of yours. Let this be the last time you hear such a complaint from me."
Arin risked another glance when she heard the firm, steady footsteps of the young woman as she took a different path, one that curved toward the lake where the other girls Arin had seen earlier were swimming.
Even though the blonde-haired girl seemed agitated and displeased, her walk remained composed, almost regal, and her hips swayed naturally with each confident step.
Arin replayed something the girl had just said about bathing in the lake.
That meant she was the fourth girl who had been missing from the water earlier… and there was a strong possibility that Arin was now wearing her clothes.
Heat rushed to her face at the realization.
And the blonde girl had mentioned someone else. Since Arin was not the person she had assumed her to be, it could only mean one thing.
Whoever had split that rock was still nearby.
Arin's stomach tightened at the thought. She needed to leave at once.
She could not let anyone see her face, especially dressed like this. If anyone recognized her later within the academy, it would raise questions she would never be able to answer.
She shifted her weight carefully, preparing to slip away without making the slightest sound.
"There you are."
The voice came from directly behind her, so close it sent a chill down her spine. Her heart skipped violently in her chest, and she froze where she stood.