CHAPTER 64: ARROWS IN THE AIR

[Continuation—]

The forest of Euphoria was getting darker now. The sun had begun shifting, and faint veins of golden light filtered weakly through the dense canopy, casting restless shadows that danced along the moss-covered ground. The air hummed faintly of a strange blend of wind and whispers.

Soda walked ahead, her boots slicing through fallen leaves, the rhythm sharp impatient and angry. She didn’t look back once. Her hair caught the slanted light, glowing faintly against the gloom like a flicker of lightning waiting to strike.

"Hey!" Stephanie’s voice came from behind, loud and sharp, cutting through the air. "Would you slow down a little? You forgotten we’re supposed to be a team?"

Soda didn’t reply. Her pace didn’t even falter. The only sound was the soft crunch-crunch-crunch of her boots on the damp forest floor.

Stephanie scoffed. "Oh, what, the silent treatment? Don’t tell me you’re still mad...That’s really mature."

Still nothing.

Soda’s fists tightened. Her wings twitched slightly and translucent, faintly shimmering with the hue of storm clouds. She was trying to ignore Stephanie. She really was. But Stephanie had that tone... the one that made it sound like everything she said was meant to poke a wound just to see it bleed.

"Running ahead won’t make you any better than me, you know," Stephanie added, her voice growing louder as she quickened her pace to catch up. "You can glare all you want, but we both know you wouldn’t last half a second without..."

"...Don’t." Soda’s voice cut through the air, low and edged. That was it for her...’Can she just shut up’ was the expression on her face.

Stephanie smirked, stopping mid-step. "Don’t what? Talk... Breathe... Come on..."

Soda finally stopped walking. She turned around slowly, her expression unreadable but her eyes flashing with something wild. The wind stirred at her feet, swirling bits of dust and leaf fragments into a faint spiral.

"I said..." Soda’s voice trembled with restrained anger, "...don’t push me. I AM NOT VALKYRIE"

Stephanie folded her arms, an amused smirk tugging her lips. "You know, you get all serious when you’re mad. It’s kinda adorable." She teased. "And for the record, I think Valkyrie is better than you, you keep playing as her puppet while she takes away your shine and aura. Poor thing... do you know what you could do with all that energy? You could become the student’s president and take power into your own hands. But no... you’d rather play the role of a fake caring friend, because that’s all you’re good at. PATHETIC."

That did it.

Soda took one slow step forward, her eyes locked on Stephanie’s. "Let me make something clear to you," she began, her voice tightening like a storm being bottled. "I don’t like you. In fact, I hate you. You’re a cheap excuse for a teammate, and the fact that Camila paired us together makes me wonder if she’s secretly trying to punish me."

She continued— spitting every word with fire. "A bully like you can’t tell me shit about friendship...you don’t even treat your friends like friends, you treat them as though they’re your slaves, you have no empathy, you’re cruel, you’re a loser, you’re pathetic, you’re everybody’s worst nightmare, and if I have the opportunity to? I’d push you off this cliff right here and now"

Soda teased a fake smile, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward just a little.

"But no... I won’t do that. You know why? ’Cause I have a heart. ’Cause I’m good. ’Cause I’m an angel. But don’t..." she paused, her voice dropping cold. "...don’t take my meekness for granted."

Stephanie gave an exaggerated gasp, placing her hand dramatically over her heart. "Aww, I’m touched. All that crying for someone who doesn’t give a fuck? You actually think about me enough to hate me..."

Soda’s glare sharpened. "Don’t play dumb with me. We both know we have unfinished business. Just because we’re paired for this mission doesn’t mean we’re friends. So stay away from me, Stephanie. Stay in your lane."

Stephanie fake-gagged. "Trust me, sweetheart, friendship with you was never on my to-do list. I can barely stand your perfume from three feet away..." She paused, then continued "...And hey, it feels good knowing that you know, that I’m your worst nightmare...uh girl, you have no idea what’s coming for you and your loser friends..."

Soda’s wings flared slightly, a gust of wind curling around her ankles. "Keep talking..."

"...or what?" Stephanie interrupted, smirking as she adjusted her gloves. "You’ll blow me away?"

For a moment, the forest went still— as if the air itself held its breath. Even the rustle of distant leaves seemed to fade under the weight of their tension.

Then, without warning—

—WHOOOOSH!

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

Soda’s ears twitched. Her heart kicked once— and then instinct took over. The sound came again, but faster this time and multiplied

fshhhh! fshhhh! fshhhh!

Three arrows. At once, from nowhere

Her pupils shrank. Wind surged beneath her feet, exploding upward in a burst of motion as she flung herself sideways, twisting midair with the grace of a leaf caught in a storm.

She unlocked a new ability, an acute sense that let her hear even the faintest shift in the air. Every vibration, every whisper of movement, every breath of intent in the atmosphere called to her instincts. She could feel when danger was launched her way. Be it a spell, a bomb or anything in general.

Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!

The arrows struck the trees where she’d been standing, splintering bark and sinking deep into the wood.

She landed hard, one knee bent, wings spread wide, dust rising around her boots. Her breathing was steady and sharp. The faint whistle of wind circled her body, shimmering faintly with energy.

"What the hell..." Stephanie started, her eyes wide like she’s seen a ghost

"Get down!" Soda shouted.

Before Stephanie could move, another arrow whistled past, grazing her sleeve and embedding itself in the trunk beside her. She jumped back, pulling out her blade.