"That will be all for today. Classes start properly tomorrow, so use this time wisely," the instructor said, walking out with the same confidence he'd entered with.
"So... where to now?" came a voice behind me. Silver, naturally.
"The cafe—" I started, then remembered my financial situation. "Actually, the dorms."
Having zero points to my name wasn't exactly ideal for recreational spending.
"How about the cafeteria?" Silver suggested.
I checked my watch. "It's 10:32 AM. I'm not exactly starving yet."
"What if I said it was my treat?"
For a moment, I was tempted. Being completely broke wasn't fun, but the academy provided three square meals daily at set times. Miss those times and you were out of luck—unless you had points or were a high ranker with dining privileges.
"No thanks," I said finally. Something about this guy set off every alarm bell I had.
"Your loss," he shrugged.
I felt a small pang of regret about the free meal, but trusting mysterious strangers who might not even be human seemed like a bad life choice.
"Sure," I muttered, heading for the exit.
Silver split off toward the cafeteria once we reached the lobby, and I made my way to the elevators. The area was mostly empty—everyone else had probably gone to eat.
Is it too late to change my mind about that free meal?
[Don't compromise your integrity for food.]
"Says the evil entity living in my head."
I pressed the elevator button and waited. At least I didn't have a roommate to deal with. Especially not someone as annoying as Silver.
Ping.
The doors had barely started opening when—
"What the—?!"
A hand shot through the gap, grabbed me, and yanked me inside.
"SHIT!" I cursed as I collided with the elevator wall, the impact knocking the wind out of me.
I looked up to see who'd just attempted to murder me via elevator ambush.
"Selena," I muttered, dread settling in my stomach like a lead weight.
Before I could react, she was on me—not attacking, but hugging me with enough force to crack ribs.
"GAH!" The pain radiated through my entire body. Her monstrous strength made the hug feel like being crushed by a hydraulic press.
"...sniff..."
Did she just... sniff me? She definitely just sniffed me.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Get off!" I struggled against her grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain.
"Why did you leave?" she asked, pulling back slightly. Her peach-colored eyes held an unsettling mix of intensity and hurt.
"I have no idea what you're talking about! Let me go!"
That was apparently the wrong thing to say.
Her fist slammed into my gut with the force of a freight train. "Don't... don't act like you don't remember me," she said, pouting like a child despite having just attempted to relocate my internal organs.
"I might just beat you to death if you keep playing dumb."
"I. Don't. Know. You," I managed to gasp out, emphasizing each word.
Another mistake.
"Then let me beat the memory back into you," she said cheerfully, raising her fist again.
In that moment, I deeply regretted turning down Silver's offer of free food. At least if I was going to die today, I could have died on a full stomach.