Valencia hurried home, panting as she slammed the door behind her. She glanced at her shoulder, listening to the outside world.
Did anyone see her? Was someone following her?
She shook her head.
“No… no one will know. You said it, too, Mother… as long as I hide and contain it, nothing will happen. Breathe,” Valencia mumbled, placing her hand on her chest. She breathed, steadying herself.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale—
BAM. BAM. BAM.
“Is anyone home?” a voice shouted.
Valencia’s eyes widened.
From behind the door, the knight, who knocked, stepped back.
“Man, why do we have to come out here to check on these residents anyway? They decided to live out here!” another knight complained.
“Heh… I don’t know…” the first knight replied.
Valencia tossed her current cape aside and grabbed the black one, putting it on. She opened the door slightly and peeked.
“Hello?” she whispered.
The two knights jolted and laughed nervously. The second knight scratched his neck.
“Hello. We are just following protocol to check on residents who live outside the kingdom for their own safety. Since there was a monster that appeared nearby, we want to make sure you are safe—”
“There was a monster?” Valencia pretended to ask, changing her tone.
“Ah, yes… there was a big one that was subdued instantly,” the first knight chimed in, blushing.
“By the way… have I seen you before?” the second knight asked, staring at Valencia carefully.
She gasped, covering her head.
“Wh-what do you mean?” Valencia questioned, her heart racing. There’s no way anyone could see me… especially when all I do is hide. She clenched her fists behind her back, nails biting into her palms. Trembling. Inhaling.
Without the knights noticing, the table behind her shuddered, as if the room itself had flinched. A soundless ripple of purple void flickered and vanished. Pressure cinched around her chest, stealing her breath.
The knights studied her, frowning.
“Ah! I remembered!” the knight shouted, jolting Valencia out of her anxiety. “Didn’t you just graduate from the Academy today?!”
Valencia opened her palms as everything behind her went still, sighing in relief. Just as soon as the purple void disappeared—
CRASH.
They all jumped, looking behind Valencia. She smiled awkwardly.
“I guess I misplaced that cup and it fell… silly me,” Valencia joked. The knights laughed with her, stepping away. “Oh, and you’re right. I graduated today!”
They continued laughing until Valencia awkwardly bowed.
“Oh, you must be busy… heading to the Office of Affairs tomorrow. Isn’t that right?” the first knight asked.
Valencia nodded.
“Yes, yes…”
“What rank did they say you graduated from?”
“F,” Valencia said flatly.
Both knights froze, staring at her.
“F?”
“Yes…” Valencia smiled warmly. “It’s better than no rank…”
“Oh… you’re right!” the second knight said, scratching his head in confusion. This person flatly told us that she’s F-rank?! Does she not care about her reputation? My condolences to whoever is her recruiter.
“Well, time to check on other residents,” the first knight declared, shoving the other knight.
“Be careful!” they said together.
Valencia nodded and bowed.
Once they disappeared, she slammed the door shut. She rushed around the home, gathering important personal items like her clothes. Then she looked outside.
“I must find a different place to reside. Who knows who will follow me?” she muttered. Then she gasped, checking her bag. Her Academy bag. She flipped inside her bag. “Where is my mother’s journal?”
Then she tossed her bag upside down to shake everything from inside.
Nothing.
She fell to her bottom, breathless.
“My mother’s journal… it’s not here. How? Why—?”
She remembered Kael grabbing her wrist. Her mother’s journal had fallen between them.
Valencia groaned, slapping her face.
“Fuck! How do I get it back without getting noticed?” She shoved everything back inside her bag and looked at the door, biting her lower lip. “I have to flee first. Somebody… will definitely try to search for me here.”
She gathered her things and fled before anyone could return.