Oracle Days

Chapter Twenty Five

When I open the door to my dorm room, I'm met with a stillness that feels heavier than I expected. I thought Aurora would be here, after all, she's back now.

"Aurora?" I call out, my voice breaking the silence, hoping she's hiding somewhere to surprise me. But to my disappointment, the room remains empty.

Sighing, I close the door behind me and hang my gown in the closet, the fabric still carrying the weight of last night's chaos. It's been a long, exhausting ordeal, and a shower is exactly what I need.

I make my way to the bathroom, quickly peeling off the towel that had been wrapped around me after the attack. This time, I choose a bath over a quick shower, the water soon filling with bubbles as I sink into the warm embrace of the tub. I let my fingers trail through the frothy bubbles, my mind wandering back to the events of the night before.

I pause, placing my hand gently on my chest where the wound still lingers. A scar is already forming, small but noticeable. It's a reminder of what happened, but I feel oddly whole, as though the attack hadn't taken anything from me. My thoughts shift, and I can't ignore the strange clarity that's settled within me. My visions are sharper now, more vivid, like a fog has lifted and I can see everything clearly for the first time. What does it mean?

As I contemplate this, I realise that for the first time in my life, I feel as if I truly know who I am. I know what my purpose is.

With a quiet sense of finality, I dip my head beneath the water, holding my breath, my eyes shutting tightly, and pinching my nose to stop the water from entering. The stillness and quiet of the water surround me, offering a brief escape from the weight of everything I now understand.

I reluctantly pull myself out of the bath, the warmth of the water slipping away as cool air meets my damp skin. A sharp pang of discomfort shoots through me as I stand, the pain in my chest reminding me of last night's battle. The scar, still tender, throbs with every movement.

I wrap a towel around myself and make my way to the bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection for a moment. There's a change in my eyes, something sharp and unsettling. I feel different, stronger, but also burdened. My body is exhausted, drained from the fight, but there's an urgency inside me that refuses to let me rest.

Once dressed in a simple, comfortable dress, I decide food might be the only thing that can distract me from the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. My stomach growls in agreement, a sharp reminder of my body's needs after the night's ordeal.

I step into the hall, but the moment I do, I feel it: the heavy silence, the way people stare as I pass. Whispers swirl behind me, their words like tendrils, following me through the corridor.

"Is that her?"
"She looks... different."

I push the thoughts away and ignore their stares, focusing on the journey ahead. I don't have time for their whispers.

I enter the dining room, feeling the weight of yesterday's events still heavy on my shoulders. Aurora, Lucian, and Xavier are sitting at the table, the conversation light and casual at first glance. But the moment they notice me, it's like the air shifts and everyone seems to be waiting for something. The room falls silent as I approach, and I can feel their eyes on me.

"Morning, Merri," Lucian greets me with a nod, his tone a little too calm.

Aurora, ever the one to break the silence, gives me a knowing look. "How are you feeling?" she asks, her eyes scanning me with more than a hint of concern.

I force a small smile, hoping it hides the thoughts running through my head. "I'm fine," I say, settling down beside her.

Xavier glances at me with a smirk, then leans back in his chair. "Everyone's still talking about the Winter Ball. The attack, but there's one question nobody can stop asking." He leans in slightly, his voice lowering. "What happened to Valerie? I mean, yes we know she's dead now. But she was missing for days and nobody suspected that she could have been murdered. Are we even having a funeral for her?"