CHAPTER 39: JOURNEY TO GALVESTON

[The Dormitory— Valkyrie and Rommies]

"Hurry up, Lily, we’re going to be late for the coach!" Soda shouted from the hallway, knocking impatiently on the dorm room door like she was trying to break it down.

Her voice echoed through the stone corridor of Monster Academy’s North Wing, where dozens of students were already rushing past, boots thudding and cloaks swishing.

Excitement charged the air— today wasn’t just another academy drill. Today, they were leaving campus. Today was for Galveston.

Inside the room, Lily tightened the straps on her travel bag and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I’m right behind you, Soda! Would you chill? Valkyrie isn’t even ready yet."

Soda scoffed dramatically. "First of all, I am permanently calm. Second, if we miss that coach, Principal Camila will have us gutted and mounted on the academy walls."

"You say the most comforting things," Lily muttered. "Besides the couch will neverrr leave without us"

Valkyrie stepped out from her side of the room, fastening her black travel jacket and sliding her braclet beneath her uniform shirt. Her expression was composed, but her eyes were alert.

"Enough noise," she said. "We still need to grab Jasmine and the others."

Tekna, who had been ready long before the others, watched Valkyrie closely. She couldn’t hide her curiosity any longer.

"That bracelet— you’ve been holding on to it like it means more than just jewelry. Why is it so important to you?" she asked.

Valkyrie paused. Slowly, she pulled out the bracelet again, her fingers wrapping around it protectively. Her expression softened, and for a moment, she looked far away.

"This... this is from my little sister. Debby," she said quietly. She let out a small exhale and smirked, bittersweet memories shadowing her eyes. "You know, she never wanted me to come here. The day I was leaving for Monster Academy... she cried so much."

Soda chuckled.

"Funny. When I left home, my little brother thanked the Lord I was leaving. We were like cat and dog—always fighting. It’s crazy hearing your story. Your sister must mean everything to you."

Valkyrie looked up, eyes firm and honest.

"Everything is an understatement. She’s my world. My all. I’d kill for her if I had to. She’s so innocent... she has no idea how cruel this world really is."

Tekna nodded slowly, her voice dropping.

"We’ve all been there, girl." She clicked her tongue and sighed. "My little sister, Magnet— she’s just as innocent as your Debby. Sometimes when I watch her sleep, I just... pray she stays little forever. You know?"

She paused, then continued, "But I know she’ll grow up one day, meet some guy she likes, fall in love... and I won’t be able to protect her anymore. Until then, she stays safe with me."

"I can’t relate..." Lily said suddenly.

The girls turned to her. Lily lifted her chin and met their eyes.

"I’m the only child of my parents. Hearing you all talk about siblings... it kind of hurts. Because I always wished I had a sister."

"Awwwwwwn!" Soda said. And Valkyrie. And Tekna. They all said together as they immediately wrapped Lily in a warm group hug.

Valkyrie smiled.

"You’ve got sisters now."

Tekna grinned.

"Not one— but three."

Soda threw an arm around all of them dramatically.

"Correction, Seven. The Demon Slayers got your back, Lily. Always. You’re family to us all and will forever be family."

Lily sniffed and laughed, wiping her eyes as she pulled away from their crush of a hug.

"Okay, okay, alright— you all are about to squash me like potatoes."

The girls burst into laughter, the emotional moment melting into warmth and playful chaos. The atmosphere then felt lighter. Safer. Stronger again.

Soda threw her hands dramatically in the air. "Finally! Movement!"

Valkyrie reached for the door first—

—but it swung open before she touched it.

Standing there like they’d been waiting forever were Jasmine, Rain, Suki, and May. Each of them already geared up in the official Angels of Monster Academy uniforms, division badges strapped proudly to their sleeves.

"There you girls are," Jasmine said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smug smile. "We were just about to drag you out by your ankles."

Rain pushed a strand of hair from her face, her bow case slung across her back. "Honestly, if we miss that coach because of God knows what I’ll..." she paused observing Soda’s make-up. "I knew it was the makeup" she said flipping her hands on her thighs.

"Excuse you," Soda said, stepping forward, hands on her hips. "This is not makeup. This is natural perfection."

May rolled her eyes. "Can we save the cheap chatting for after Galveston? We’re going to miss the coach."

Suki crossed her arms. "For once, May is right. Move, people."

Rain nodded. "Let’s go. Whatever waits for us out there, we face it together."

The girls fell into step together as they made their way through the castle-like academy corridors and down the main staircase to the courtyard.

The academy buzzed like a hive— teams gathered in clusters, coaches hovered on rune platforms, professors shouted final instructions, armor glinted in the sunlight.

Above them, banners flapped in the cold wind: MONSTER ACADEMY – ALCHEMY OF SOULS.

But halfway down the courtyard steps, Valkyrie stopped walking...Her breath caught.

He was here.

Leaning casually against a stone pillar near the gathering point— hood half-raised, and his hands in his pockets— stood Bulb.

They hadn’t spoken since the mission. The night everything nearly went wrong. The night that changed something between them— silently and permanently.

He looked up. Their eyes locked. The crowd around them slowly disappeared.

Her friends kept walking, unaware she had stopped.

Bulb moved toward her.

"Valkyrie," he said quietly.

"Bulb," she replied, her voice steady even though a strange pull tightened in her chest. "Didn’t know you were selected for Galveston."

He gave a faint smirk. "Well... here I am, What makes you think I wouldn’t be selected?"

"I thought you were still... reassigned after the mission."

He hesitated. "Things changed. They needed more hands."

Her gaze softened. "Or someone convinced them to bring you back."

He didn’t answer that.

A quiet moment passed— One that said more than either of them dared to.

"I’m glad you’re here," she said finally.

He held her eyes— longer than necessary. "Be careful out there, Valkyrie."

"You too."

Before the silence grew heavy, a voice sliced through the courtyard.

"Students! Form ranks. Now." The spell between them broke immediately.

"See you around?" Valkyrie asked, as she turned and kept going sheepishly.

"See you around" Bulb replied with a cute smirk on his face, flipping a strand of his hair backwards, he was still standing there, waiting on Stone. His best friend.

Meanwhile while they were talking, Sky was standing from a far, observing them both while he intentionally chats with his buddies. He couldn’t help but think to himself..."WHY IS VALKYRIE TALKING WITH BULB?"

***********************************************

Near the gates stood Principal Camila—elegant and composed in her gold academy coat, clipboard in hand. Beside her, like a silent storm, stood Darren— expression unreadable, arms crossed, and eyes scanning like they saw everything.

Valkyrie rejoined her team as names were called.

Then Camila’s tone sharpened when she saw someone.

"Ball?" she said suddenly, eyes locking on someone behind Valkyrie. "Ball, what are you doing here? I thought..." She said squinting her eyes "...I thought I asked you to stay behind for reasons I made sure to let you know?"

Before Ball could speak, Darren stepped forward.

"She is on the roster," he said calmly. "I approved her placement."

Camila turned to him in irritation. "Without consulting me first?"

"We were short on strategic response units. She qualifies."

"That is not your decision to make unilaterally," she said sharply. "This mission is for academic field observation, not your little combat experiments."

"Pressure builds skill," Darren said coolly. "She stays. Camilla"

"No, she does not" Camila commanded.

"Take that up with the council, you must forget... this isn’t a centralized rule, Camila. I am a principal in this institution as well, and my decisions deserve respect. Learn that, or be ready for war..."

"...War? Do you even know what that means Darren? I’ve fought war for years, that word does not sting like you expect it to. Need I remind you... I am the head principal of this academy, and certain decisions needs be to approved legally, and not for your own selfish desires"

The two locked eyes— power against power, steel against stone.

Finally, Camila exhaled. "This conversation is not over."

"It never is," Darren replied.

She faced the students again, tone controlled.

"Listen carefully. Galveston is not a playground. You will follow protocol, remain with your assigned team, and keep your heads down. This is not a hero mission. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Principal Camila," they answered.

Darren stepped forward.

"Out there, alliances mean nothing. If things go wrong, survive first. That’s your priority."

His gaze lingered— for half a second on Valkyrie. Then Bulb. Then Sky.

He knew something. Or suspected something.

"Board the coaches," he ordered. "Move."

Engines roared. Boots hit stone. And Adrenaline surged.

BEHOLD THE ROAD TO GALVESTON HAD BEGUN.