Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 359: A new journey

Third-person POV

Electra stepped into Principal Astor’s office and paused just past the threshold, her eyes moving slowly across the space as if she were taking inventory of it. The room felt old in a way that wasn’t dusty or neglected but deliberate, with bookshelves of dark wood, tall windows with curtains pulled back just enough to let the morning light in, and the faint smell of parchment and something warm under it, like embers that never quite went out.

Behind the desk sat a woman with silver hair pulled tightly into a neat bun. She looked up the moment Electra entered, and something in her expression shifted, not shock or fear, but clear fascination. The woman stood immediately, smoothing the front of her tailored jacket before bowing her head with practiced grace.

"Your Highness," Astor said, her voice calm and respectful. "I’m glad to see you alive and well."

Electra watched her with open curiosity, her head tilting slightly. The reaction didn’t annoy her the way most people’s did. If anything, she found it almost... refreshing.

Astor straightened and gestured toward the chair opposite her desk, though she didn’t sit back down yet. "I imagine the past couple of weeks have been difficult for you," she continued. "Especially after the kingdom learned what you are."

Electra let out a short, amused chuckle before she could stop herself. The sound surprised even her.

"I wouldn’t know," she said honestly. "I don’t remember any of it. But I can say I don’t like the attention I’ve been getting in the last twenty-four hours."

Astor smiled faintly, as if that answer pleased her. She returned to her seat and nodded toward the chair again. "Please. Sit."

Electra did this time, lowering herself into the chair with a controlled ease that felt natural, even though she didn’t know why. As soon as she settled, she leaned back slightly, studying Astor’s face with open interest.

"You knew," Electra said suddenly.

Astor looked up. "Knew what?"

"That I wasn’t fully human," Electra replied. Her tone wasn’t accusatory, just curious. "You always knew. Long before the rest of the kingdom did."

Astor’s brow lifted slightly. "And what makes you think that?"

Electra shrugged. "You’re a dragon," she said plainly. "A powerful one, and I’m pretty sure that you can sense things like that. It would be strange if you couldn’t."

For a moment, Astor simply stared at her. Then she laughed softly, the sound low and genuine, not mocking.

"You’re not wrong," Astor said. "But the truth is, I knew about your origins long before you ever stepped foot into Elysium."

Electra’s gaze sharpened just a little. "Before we met."

"Yes."

"Why?" Electra asked. "I doubt any dragon is that powerful, so how would you have known?"

Astor studied her carefully, as if weighing how much to say. "Why do you think your father was able to send you here at such a young age despite knowing the risk of you getting exposed?"

Electra didn’t hesitate. "I don’t know," she said. "I don’t remember my life, and I don’t remember him either."

Astor’s expression shifted, just slightly, but the change was there. "Nothing at all?" she asked.

Electra shook her head. "Nothing."

The silence that followed was heavier than before.

Astor leaned back in her chair, fingers lacing together. "Then let me ask you something," she said slowly. "If you have no memories, no attachment to this place, and no understanding of who you were, why did you choose to come back to Elysium?"

Electra considered the question, but she didn’t rush to answer.

"I don’t know," she said at first. Then, after a pause, "The girls, my so-called friends, suggested it, saying that it would help me get my memories back, and to be honest, now that I’m here, it does feel a little... familiar and important, like something here mattered to me, even if I can’t remember what."

Astor nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

Electra’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Does it?"

"Yes," Astor replied. "Because this school was never just a place you attended. It was where you were safest."

Electra’s fingers twitched faintly against the arm of the chair. "Safe from what?"

Astor’s gaze didn’t waver. "From the palace, from the expectations placed on you, and from the people who wanted to hurt you. It was like your temporary haven."

Electra absorbed that quietly. "And you let me stay."

"I did," Astor said. "Because I believed, and still believe, that Elysium exists to protect girls like you. Girls who don’t fit neatly into the world they’re born into. Unfortunately, there are many who aren’t quite as special as well, but to keep a place like this running, balance is very necessary."

Electra looked down briefly, then back up. "Do you think I’m dangerous?"

Astor didn’t answer immediately. "I think you’re powerful," she said instead. "And power without understanding can be dangerous, but that doesn’t make you a monster."

Electra’s lips curved faintly. "Most people disagree. Everyone who has seen me so far, excluding the girls with me, has looked at me like I’m their worst nightmare in the flesh."

"Most people fear what they don’t understand," Astor replied. "Especially when it threatens their sense of order."

Electra leaned forward slightly. "And you? Do you fear me?"

Astor met her gaze steadily. "No offense, Your Highness, but I can’t fear something that’s a little beneath me. I believe you understand me."

The answer came without hesitation, and something in Electra’s chest shifted at that.

Astor continued, "Instead, I fear what would happen if you were pushed too far without guidance. Which is why I need to be very clear with you."

Electra waited.

"You can return to Elysium," Astor said. "But under conditions."

Electra nodded. "I expected that."

"You will not use your abilities on school grounds unless absolutely necessary," Astor went on. "You will attend classes, follow the rules, and allow staff oversight, and if at any point you feel... unstable, you will come to me."

Electra considered it. "And if I don’t?"

Astor’s eyes hardened just a touch. "Then I will remove you myself."

Electra studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Fair."

Astor relaxed slightly. "There’s one more thing."

Electra raised a brow.

"You may not remember who you were," Astor said, "but others do. Some will stare, some will gossip, and many will provoke you, intentionally or not. Many of which are also quite special and strong enough to hold their ground."

Electra’s expression remained calm. "And?"

"And how you respond will matter," Astor said. "Not just for you, but for the girls around you."

Electra leaned back again, her gaze drifting briefly to the window. "I don’t intend to hurt anyone, at least not without reason."

"I believe you," Astor said. "But intention isn’t always enough."

Electra looked back at her. "Then why take the risk? Why take me back when you clearly know what I’m capable of when I’m provoked?"

Astor smiled faintly. "Because despite everything, you chose to come back here, and that tells me you’re still searching for something human."

Electra was quiet for a moment. "If I find my memories," she asked, "and I don’t like who I was... what then?"

Astor didn’t flinch at the question. "Then you decide who you want to be instead. Consider this the start of a new journey, Your Highness. A new journey of self-discovery."

Electra stood slowly, the movement unhurried. "You speak as if you know me more than I know myself. I don’t like it."

Astor stood as well. "Well, I’ve watched you grow," she said gently. "Even if you don’t remember it."

Electra turned toward the door, then paused. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"Why are you helping me?" Electra asked. "Really."

Astor met her eyes. "Because once, a girl like you needed help," she said. "And no one offered it."

Electra held her gaze for a second longer, then nodded once and opened the door. Outside, Seraphina straightened instantly, her worry barely concealed, and Electra stepped out, calm and composed.

"She says I can stay," she simply said with no emotion attached.