CHAPTER 182: ANOTHER DAY OFF

{Elira}

~**^**~

The walk to the clinic wasn’t long. The same nurse from yesterday looked up from her desk, surprise flickering across her face.

"Elira Shaw," she said, standing. "Back so soon? Did something happen?"

"Not exactly," I said quickly, rubbing the back of my neck.

The nurse’s gaze dropped to my bare arms, and her brows lifted. "Who removed your bandages?"

I opened my mouth, but the words tangled on my tongue. "I—uh—"

"One of the professors," Cambria answered smoothly before I could stammer more.

The nurse’s sigh was audible. "Of course. They never wait for my clearance."

Sthen, she gestured for me to take a seat and then examined my arms with efficient movements.

Her fingers pressed gently along my skin, tracing where bruises had once darkened. After a moment, she nodded.

"Well," she said, a little begrudgingly, "whoever took them off wasn’t wrong. You have healed completely. No swelling, no internal strain. You are cleared to engage in duels."

I blinked. "Really?"

She smiled faintly. "Yes, really. Just try not to get hit as much this time."

My friends laughed while I managed a sheepish grin. "I will do my best."

"Good," the nurse said, stepping back. "Now go. The whole academy’s buzzing about today’s matchups."

"Thanks," I told her sincerely.

I left the clinic together with my friends, the sound of our footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Juniper bumped my shoulder lightly. "See? Now you are officially battle-ready."

"Guess so," I said, though the flutter in my stomach refused to settle.

As we approached the auditorium, I could already hear the rising chatter from inside. The voices, laughter, and the tension in the air like static.

Nari exhaled dramatically. "Okay, everyone, deep breaths. Let’s pray the Moon Goddess has mercy on our girl today."

I tried to smile, but my pulse was already quickening again.

Because if Zenon’s words from earlier were anything to go by, I wasn’t sure mercy was on today’s agenda.

The auditorium was already filled to the brim by the time my friends and I slipped inside.

The hum of conversation rolled like a wave through the crowd. There were nervous whispers, soft laughter and the occasional sharp inhale of someone bracing for their name.

I caught sight of a few professors standing near the stage, and my heart gave a small jolt when I realized the one in the centre wasn’t Rennon this time.

The chatter began to fade as one of the professors, tall and silver-haired, stepped up to the podium with a presence that was sharp and commanding.

His gaze swept over us before he reached for the glass box beside him.

"All right, students," his voice rang out, calm but firm, "the second round of combat elimination begins shortly. As before, twenty names will be called. If your name is announced, remain behind. The rest of you are dismissed after the pairings."

My stomach twisted into knots.

The professor’s fingers dipped into the box, drew the first card, and began to read.

One by one, names filled the air, each word echoing across the auditorium, each pause between them dragging my heartbeat a little slower and heavier.

The names felt endless. My heart thudded painfully with every name that wasn’t mine until finally, the professor lifted the last card, unfolded it, and read,

"Terryn Frost."

Then a small silence followed. That was twenty names, and I wasn’t called.

My chest heaved once from pure relief because if I was being honest, I wasn’t ready to get back on that mat to fight anyone. I needed a little time to recover from yesterday fully.

Juniper squeezed my arm from beside me, her smile small but bright. "Looks like you are safe girl."

Nari let out a tiny squeal before clapping a hand over her mouth. "Thank the Moon Goddess! My heart couldn’t take another fight this soon."

Even Cambria’s usual calm cracked into a grin. "Now you can finally breathe."

I nodded, still half in disbelief. "Yeah. Just for today."

The professor’s voice pulled us back. "Students whose names were not called, you are dismissed."

Chairs scraped, feet shuffled, and a sea of chatter rose again.

My friends gathered around me instantly, ushering me out of the aisle as though afraid someone might change their mind and call my name after all.

Once we were out in the hallway, Juniper let out a laugh that echoed faintly off the walls. "You should have seen your face, Elira. I thought you would stop breathing halfway through the list."

"I almost did," I admitted, rubbing my chest. "I think my heart is still catching up."

Cambria smiled. "Well, consider this a blessing. You’ve got time to rest and prepare for whenever your name does get called again."

"Exactly," Nari said, looping her arm around mine. "For now, we celebrate survival."

I laughed softly, but the sound died halfway when a strange feeling brushed the edge of my awareness. It felt sharp, cold and fleeting.

Instantly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I stopped walking.

"Elira?" Tamryn asked, pausing beside me. "What’s wrong?"

I glanced behind us. The hallway was long and mostly empty now, save for a few students walking further down, chatting in small groups. There was nothing unusual.

No one was watching me yet, the sensation lingered, threading through my chest like a whisper that didn’t belong.

"I just..." I frowned, scanning the corners, the shadows near the walls. "I thought someone was watching me."

For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then Nari tugged my arm lightly, smiling that teasing, knowing smile of hers.

"Oh, Elira," she said, her voice half a laugh, half comfort. "Of course, people are watching you. You are the girl who beat a second-year student. You are practically ESA’s walking headline."

Her words eased the tension just a little. I let her pull me along, though my eyes darted back one more time before we turned the corner.

The hallway was still empty.

Maybe Nari was right. Perhaps I was just imagining it. Still, the chill along my spine didn’t fade completely.