Underneath the Silhouette-Chapter 73: Friendship and Flairs

The next day, Eirin, Coleen, and Link were all summoned back to the Director’s office. On their way there, Eirin immediately noticed Shade’s absence.

’Wait! Why am I searching for him?’

Eirin bit her fingernails after they entered the Director’s office and waited for Mr. Blade to arrive. Despite trying to suppress thoughts of him, Eirin wondered where Shade Cromwell could be.

Was he still unconscious? Did he remember what happened between the two of them? Would she be able to continue acting normal in front of him? A myriad of questions swirled in her mind.

"My apologies, children. I was caught up with something."

Mr. Blade arrived in the office, perspiring and breathless. "I will only be giving a brief admonition about the ordeal you endured." And so, Mr. Blade explained that the mission of bringing Phoenix to the academy must remain strictly confidential, never to be divulged to anyone else.

The teacher clarified that this was because Scarlett Jenkins had been appointed as the academy’s nurse. Which was quite a shocker for Eirin.

Even though some unforeseen circumstances arose, the four students successfully delivered the cure for the plague. They couldn’t boast about their achievement, but it was for their own protection.

"Classes will resume as usual. You two may go now. Link and I shall be discussing other matters."

Eirin and Coleen departed, their arms still linked. The hallway seemed vibrant, and Eirin heard Coleen’s high-pitched voice, brimming with excitement. Their close bond drew the attention of the other students.

"Well, well, look who’s here."

A girl stood with her arms crossed in front of the classroom door, blocking their entry. She tossed her wavy brown hair, an eyebrow arching. Her fox-like eyes narrowed on Coleen.

"Eirin, why are coming to the classroom with... that?" Kara smiled at Eirin, but a sneer marred her features as she pointed a finger at Coleen. Her friends laughed, causing Coleen’s grip on Eirin’s arms to tighten.

"It’s nice to see you too, Kara."

Eirin held Coleen’s hand as they proceeded into the classroom. The teenage girl’s eyes widened in alarm as Kara seized Coleen’s arm and yanked her away.

"You were the one who spread the plague! Where did you get the audacity to enter the classroom as if nothing happened?"

Coleen screamed as Kara violently tugged on her hair, leaving Eirin appalled. The other students were converging like a pack of hyenas, eager for the spectacle. Such confrontations were a morbid fascination for them.

Kara shrieked as Eirin grabbed her hair, forcing her to release Coleen. As the tallest of all the female students there, Kara couldn’t reach Eirin’s head even if she tried. As clarity returned, Eirin instantly released Kara’s hair.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

Eirin’s heart pounded furiously as she heard the other students whispering all around her despite her apology.

’They’re all going to hate me for what I did.’

The teenage girl closed her eyes, attempting to compose herself while trying to ignore the murmurs. She could not hear anything but a high-pitched buzzing, causing her head to hurt.

"Ei? Are you okay?" Coleen asked with her hair all messed-up.

Kara, humiliated by the altercation, fled with her minions. Every gaze remained fixed on Eirin and Coleen.

"Ei?"

Coleen’s warm hand gently cupped Eirin’s cheek, coaxing her eyes open. She offered her hand, seemingly oblivious to the whispers surrounding them, as she guided Eirin towards their seats. Even after taking their seats, Eirin could still feel eyes on her, making her chew on her fingernails.

’They’re going to hate me... even if I didn’t mean to do that, they will definitely—’

"That was so cool, Ei."

Eirin’s thoughts were interrupted by Coleen’s enthusiastic declaration despite her messy hair, accompanied by a wide, radiant smile.

"I didn’t expect you to do something like that for someone like me."

Hearing those words caused Eirin’s forehead to knit. "For someone like you?" She tidied Coleen’s hair. "Even I was surprised by my own actions, but I did it because I want to protect you."

The seriousness in Eirin’s voice silenced Coleen for a moment. She soon giggled, her delight overshadowing any concern for their classmates’ attention.

"It’s the first time a girl told me she’d protect me," Coleen leaned closer to Eirin. "I’m so happy."

Squeals then filled the room after Link entered the classroom. The attention that was making Eirin feel nauseous was now all focused on Link as he tossed his pink hair and smiled at everyone. Eirin turned to Coleen, observing her reaction. She knew Coleen had a possessive streak when it came to Link.

"Link! I’ve heard you’ll be helping with this upcoming sports festival."

Eirin’s brows furrowed. "What are they talking about?" she asked Coleen.

Coleen smiled, unfazed by Link’s sudden popularity. "Nothing much. It’s like a normal sports festival, but students are allowed to use their Flairs to win and get awarded." She shrugged and blew a strand of hair from her face. "I don’t like that event. I can’t participate anyway, and to be honest, it’s kind of barbaric."

Eirin then remembered that it hadn’t been long since she awakened her Flair, meaning she could participate in this upcoming sports festival.

The commotion ceased after Miss Welkins knocked on the door and said, "Is Miss Luxfield here?" All eyes turned to Eirin. Miss Welkins’ gaze followed theirs, finding the teenage girl pointing at herself in surprise. "Please, follow me outside."

Eirin glanced at Coleen, but the other girl’s expression showed that she was not aware of what was about to happen either. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"I’ll be back."

"Okay, take your time."

Eirin walked towards the door, and Miss Welkins led her outside.

"I must apologize for the late notice, but you shall undergo temporary training in a different chamber starting today. You shall return to your regular class later."

The teenage girl pointed to herself, blinking rapidly. Miss Welkins only nodded as she walked, leaving Eirin no option but to follow. Eirin’s heart hammered louder than usual as the path tuned familiar and they arrived in the vicinity of the stone room.

"I said training, but for now, some professors shall be assessing your current ability before you begin your training."

"Uhm, does that mean I would still undergo training even if they deem my ability useless?"

Miss Welkins tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand what the what the teenage girl was referring to. Seeing how the woman offered no further information caused Eirin’s eyes to widen, and cold sweat trickled down her neck.

’How are they going to assess my ability? Am I going to perform in front of them or something? It’s been so long since I last did that in front of people.’

They stood in front of the stone room. Eirin scanned her surrounding, wondering who they were waiting for. The door then opened, and Miss Welkins led the way into the murky depths within.

Eirin gulped, rubbing her arms against the sudden chill emanating from the stone room. She wondered why it was so cold inside.

"You don’t have to feel nervous. Just do whatever it is you can do."

Despite Miss Welkins’ reassurance, Eirin bit her fingernail the moment her eyes landed on five people seated in the center of the stone room. Their upright posture, radiating poise and elegance, causing Eirin to swallow.

Eirin froze as her eyes landed on Ms. Hockenbury. The professor’s piercing gaze sent the teenage girl’s heart hammering.

"Come to the center."

The teenage girl heard Mr. Blade’s voice and noticed that he was standing near the wall, a reassuring smile on his face. It was as if the young professor was trying to tell her that everything would be fine.

Eirin’s breathing grew heavier as she observed the whole room, quickly identifying the other three people.

Queen Regina sat in the middle, her gaze soft and a sweet smile on her lips, and standing behind her was Scarlett Jenkins with her arms crossed. The other two were an old man and an old woman who resembled each other.

"What are you staring blankly at? Show us what you can do."

Eirin flinched after being prompted sharply by Ms. Hockenbury. The professor’s pressure caused the teenage girl to stand frozen still, afraid that what she was about to do might only waste their time.

Queen Regina raised her hand and said, "Ms. Hockenbury." This caused the professor to click her tongue and lean back in her chair, while Eirin noticed how Scarlett Jenkins rolled her eyes at the old woman.

"You may take your time, Eirin."

Eirin glanced at Mr. Blade, and the professor nodded, as if encouraging her to do whatever she wanted to do.

’I want to leave,’ Eirin thought as she took deep breaths. She thought of her pixie, hoping for her help.

The teenage girl continued taking deep breaths as she focused on her hand. She didn’t know what or how to trigger her power; the only thing she knew was that she had been able to use it out of sheer desperation to survive.

Eirin clenched her fist, and when she opened her palm, a small whirlwind formed.

A mocking laughter caused Eirin to flinch, her eyes snapping to Ms. Hockenbury.

"Is that all? Even my younger students could do better than that." The professor’s eyes scornfully scrutinized Eirin, leaving the teenage girl flushing with embarrassment as she bit her lower lip. "If that is all, I shall now depart."

Ms. Hockenbury rolled her eyes before leaving the premises. This also led the two elders to flick their fingers and vanish in an instant. Eirin blinked as she realized that the only people left were the Queen, Scarlett Jenkins, and Mr. Blade.

What was she supposed to do?

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