Rebirth: Beasts Bound

"Liora..." I said, but my bright smile instantly dropped, It was just Bibi. My shoulders slumped and I turned back toward the grave.

"What were you expecting?" Bibi asked, and I kept my gaze fixed on the gravestone.

"I don’t know... maybe a miracle," I said with a soft sigh.

She gently placed flowers on both graves before pausing to stare at me. "You brought no flowers," she said, and my lips parted slightly. I only realized it now.

"It’s okay. Liora would forgive you for that," she said softly before gently touching the gravestone.

"How are you so unaffected?" I asked without turning toward her, and Bibi chuckled bitterly.

"Unaffected? Raven, you aren’t the only one Liora talked to or acted sweet with. Maybe you were her closest friend, but we’re grieving too—"

"I’m talking about you, not the others!" I snapped, and she paused instantly.

Her lips pressed tightly together as she stared down at her palms.

"I’m affected too. I miss her. She was a good friend. She didn’t even care that I once tried to hurt her and forgave me so easily. I really sincerely liked her and would do anything to have her back," she said, and my lips parted to respond, but suddenly the bushes rustled loudly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

I instantly turned toward the sound, but it was only a wild pig running around. I sighed softly, and Bibi stood up.

"I should go to sleep. I’m sorry if it doesn’t look like I’m grieving too," she said before walking away.

Her words made my stomach twist painfully with guilt...I suddenly felt like the evil one here. I buried my head into my knees and sniffed softly when Azrael stepped beside me.

"You need rest," he said, and I nodded slowly.

I stood up and walked away, but I still glanced over my shoulder toward the grave.

I could feel everyone’s gaze on me as I walked past them. They must have seen how swollen my eyes were, but then...

"Miss Raven," Headmistress Lysandra called.

I paused in my steps and she walked closer. "Lilith is awake," she said softly, almost cautiously.

My eyes widened instantly, and the energy I had lost earlier suddenly returned straight into my bones.

"Please take me to her," I said immediately, and she nodded.

As we walked away, I spotted Elowen picking flowers with the Duke. She instantly stopped and gazed directly at me.

"Woah..." It was the first time I had entered the Headmistress’s personal compound.

It looked like a mini mansion hidden inside a gigantic space. I stared around at the tall ceilings and the moving paintings on the walls, including one of Lysandra herself.

Really beautiful.

It didn’t even take minutes before we arrived at the room. She pushed the door open and I hurriedly stepped inside.

Lilith was there, holding a spoon while eating roasted chicken and potatoes.

"Lilith!" I rushed toward her instantly...Thank goodness she was safe.

Lilith hugged me back tightly, but then she suddenly pulled away too early.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, and she gazed at me with guilt written all over her face.

"I know I broke into the Sacred Gate and destroyed the Divine Gate. I’m sorry... I really didn’t mean to do this," she whispered, and I gently parted her hair softly.

"You did nothing wrong," I said, watching her eyes brighten a little.

"No one got hurt, right?" she asked.

And staring into those curious innocent eyes of hers, I couldn’t even think about telling her the truth.

"Everyone is okay, right? No one died because of me?" she pressed further.

"Well, dra—"

"No one died," I said quickly, cutting the Headmistress off. Lysandra paused and stared at me silently before looking away, something unreadable flashing through her eyes.

"Do you remember anything?" I asked, and Lilith raised a brow.

"Anything? Like what?" she asked, and my lips parted slowly.

"You were with Elowen before you went berserk," I said, and her eyes widened instantly, but confusion still remained in them.

"I remember meeting her because her maid called me over. I really didn’t want to go, but she said it concerned you," Lilith explained, and Lysandra frowned slightly.

"That’s absurd," Lysandra muttered, ready to continue, but I raised my hand to stop her.

"I don’t remember the conversation after that," Lilith mumbled softly, and my hope instantly faltered.

I bit down on my lip while trying to remember what happened when I saw Lilith with Elowen.

"You walked away when I called your name. You just stared at me blankly," I said while gently holding her shoulders.

"Just think," I whispered desperately, trying to make her remember.

"I don’t think there’s any need to pressure this matter. She doesn’t remember anything, and obviously she was controlled into destroying the Divine Seal," the Headmistress said calmly, and I immediately turned toward her.

"Lysandra, don’t you find it suspicious? She went berserk after talking to Elowen. Elowen clearly did something to her," I said, and Lysandra’s brows furrowed deeply.

"Elowen would never do such a thing. She’s calm and collected. She would never want to hurt the entire academy," she said, and I gritted my teeth hard.

"This isn’t the time for favoritism, Lysandra. In situations like this, the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t," I snapped, and she rolled her eyes.

I knew Elowen did all this. She had practically confessed already, but making the academy realize it was harder than I thought.

Of course she was the untouchable female lead, and every word spoken here becomes a blessing for her.

I sighed and sucked on my bottom lip. "I’m sorry I can’t help," Lilith whispered, and I instantly softened before gently caressing her cheek.

"It’s obviously not your fault," I said softly.

Lilith’s lips parted to speak again, but then...."Improper, Lilithra. You almost killed everyone here. I shouldn’t have brought you into this academy, but you insisted on seeing Raven." The Duke’s cold voice echoed from behind us.

She struck her staff against the floor, looking both ashamed and disappointed, but the second her eyes landed on me, they instantly sharpened.

"I’m very sure you controlled your sister into doing that. But for what reason?" she snapped, and I clenched my fists tightly.

"Why would I?" I asked coldly. "Watching this academy burn wouldn’t bring me any pleasure. I would rather watch a Duke burn instead."

Her face twisted with disgust instantly.

"Elowen was the last person to speak with Lilith. Why didn’t you investigate what she was saying to her there?" I demanded, and the Duke pressed her lips together thoughtfully, but before she could respond, Elowen walked in.

"Sister, you must really hate me," she said softly. "But slandering me, is against the Academy’s rules? There isn’t even a single piece of evidence."

She turned toward the Headmistress. "Shouldn’t my sister be disciplined for breaking academy rules?" she asked gently, and Lysandra nodded slowly while turning toward me.

"Very true..." she mumbled underneath her breath.

I rolled my eyes, something I made sure she saw clearly.

Before I could even respond, Lysandra already opened her mouth again. I knew exactly what it meant.

She would support Elowen.

I didn’t have time for pointless arguments anymore, so I stood up immediately.

"Save your two-faced acting for another day," I spat before turning toward Lilith.

"I’ll see you later," I said softly before planting a kiss against her forehead.

I noticed Elowen’s eyes dim faintly at the sight.

I shoved my shoulder harshly against hers as I walked past her.

Once outside the gigantic compound, I stared up at the bright sky when I spotted Azrael standing outside with his hands behind his back.

"Did you settle matters?" he asked, and I nodded slowly.

"Let’s go back to my room," I said while walking away, but suddenly three girls ran past me.

I froze, as more girls were rushing upstairs now, and I quickly stopped one of them.

"What’s happening?" I asked.

"Someone saw Liora in her room with her eagle beastman. Everyone’s going to check!" she blurted out, and my eyes widened instantly.

What? Liora?

I could feel my entire body trembling. Even my feet remained rooted to the ground, refusing to move.

Surely this couldn’t be happening right now...

Azrael didn’t look confused, and I could almost grasp the thoughts moving behind his eyes, but I grabbed his wrist instantly and dragged him with me.

We ran toward the dorm hallway. By the time we arrived, everyone had already gathered outside her room. I had to shove and squeeze through countless students just to move forward.

Finally reaching the front, I pushed against the door, but it wouldn’t budge.

I pressed my ear softly against it, and all I could hear was faint music playing inside.

Wasn’t this room supposed to be empty?

My lips parted shakily. "Liora?" I called softly, and the music instantly stopped, slow footsteps approached the door from inside.

CLICK.

The door slowly opened...

...and the entire hallway fell silent.