Once Yoan entered the conversation, a liveliness also entered.

I noticed that Professor Allister's face instantly lit up upon seeing Yoan appearing, and he laughed a tiny bit brighter every time Yoan said a joke. Then, obviously, the casualness disappeared when Professor reminded us of a serious matter that still needed to be discussed.

"We've found Robin."

My heart gave a jolt and I wasn't sure if it was out of my excitement or nerves.

"Where is he!"

"We tracked him down but they sensed us and moved locations."

"How can they move so quickly?"

"It wasn't their main location and the thing is, they were transporting molton crystals."

My heart gave another jolt.

"You understand how this would look for Robin, right?" Yoan winced and stopped me when I was about to retort. "Yes, he may be forced or something, but people will find all sorts of reasons saying he could've escaped but he stayed willingly."

"Has Jaxton told you anything?"

My lips thinned, slightly hesitant.

"This is quite important, Cassie."

I let out a breath. "He hasn't told me much about his searches actually. He hasn't told me what he found. But... he said Robin began acting weird since he visited his orphan home called SeaShells."

"I've heard it from Jax," Yoan said. "I'm glad he didn't have a traumatic childhood there — well, you know those movie portrayals of orphanages-"

"Yes, thank you," Professor cut him off, nodding for me to continue. "Any findings?"

I shook my head. "Ms Seam is in charge of SeaShells, and we had a theory that Robin must've stayed to find out more about his parents and specifically their deaths."

Professor considered it, "Robin must've found something at SeaShells."

"Something about his parents, I bet," Yoan turned to look at me. "I don't know how close you are with Jax now but you should convince him to visit SeaShells again."

"But he already did. Ms Seam said nothing was odd."

"Strange..." Professor's gaze seemed different to ours and when he gave me a file to read, I knew why.

"Ted used to be in the same orphanage as Jaxton..." I couldn't help but mutter. I looked at the photo attached of Ted in the corner. He looked happier and a spark of energy in his eyes. His hair was cut shorter and he was looking directly at me. I quickly shifted my gaze away and scanned the details quickly. "Maybe there is something more to SeaShells."

Yoan leaned closer to me, peering down at the file as well, I angled it for him to see better, "So, do we know how his parents died?"

Professor shook his head.

I handed the file back. "Out of curiosity — if it's not a secret, of course, otherwise don't tell me — but who's tracking down Robin?"

"Some of our excellent students," Professor had a sly smile.

"Ah... fair."

"Maybe you should visit SeaShells with him. Maybe you'll be able to get something out of it."

"Is Jaxton generally an observant person?"

"He's a sensitive guy."

I laughed, "So, you're suggesting I go to SeaShells with him during the break, even though Jaxton is pretty observant himself."

Yoan shrugged, "I see where you're going but I'm running out of ideas."

"Once we locate Robin again, we're planning to conduct a secret mission," Professor scratched his chin. "We're going to get Robin out first and expose the secret location."

I swallowed, "Are they... you know?"

"Us?" Yoan lowered his voice, his expression soft and his smile reassuring, "I don't know but I'd like to think they're not."

"Okay..." I said, my voice growing quiet.

"Jax ought to ask you soon."

"Sorry?"

"You know, to be his... girlfriend."

I was resisting the urge to cover my face but Yoan still held an expression of seriousness. Professor simply shook his head at his son and drank some water.

"That way, you'd have the excuse to bring him to see your parents."

"What!" I exclaimed, breathing a quick breath. I still had to deal with my parent's being mad at me for running away, but now I had to bring Jaxton along too?

"And he'd show you his 'home', ya know?"

"I apologise on my son's behalf."

"We-we... we haven't gotten that far yet!" I flushed and looked at Professor, giving a sheepish smile, "Thanks Sir, don't worry."

"You know, Yoan's plan..." Professor raised his brows, his eyes to the ceiling. "Not too bad, actually. Besides the fact we have to force one person to express their affections of love and one to drag him back to their home."

"Sir, not you too," I chuckled lightly, and once it died down, I tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ears. "Um, so... where does Jaxton usually stay when he's not in school?"

"He normally stays in the school dorms with Vel and Robin," Yoan helpfully added, "before he disappeared."

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to drag Vel into this."

"I know Vel and I don't think she'll want to stay out of this."

We went into silence again but my mind was never as silent. Did I really have to hide all this conversation away from Jaxton?

"Do you think Jaxton should know about this?" I looked at Yoan. "By the way, he's already growing suspicious of your powers."

Yoan rubbed his head, "I don't know if that's a good thing. Do me a favor, Cassie, don't let him know."

"Really?"

"It's better that way."

When I thought Jaxton and I were finally going to march towards the realm of truth and honesty, it seemed that I was the first to break the pact — I had to hide the fact that Yoan had the power of Iridescent and possibly hide the fact that there was news on Robin.

For now, I needed to know what Jaxton had found out about Robin.



***



The next few days, I spent my time wisely on studying for exams. I also wrote a message to my parents (my dad, specifically) on whether I can return and stay during the break. I even promised I'll convince my mum to forgive me — in which I had no confidence in doing.

I returned to my dorm after I finished my last exam. I knew Jaxton wouldn't be free at this time because he was just starting one of his exams, so I spent it in front of my tablet.

Sipping on a nice, cool drink, I opened a webpage and began to dig up information about SeaShells but there was hardly anything on it. Everything written on their website was things I already knew from Jaxton's mouth.

And there was something else. I needed to convince Jaxton to show me his orphan home without being suspicious. And no, I was not going to go with Yoan's plan.

Around two hours later, I checked the time and realised Jaxton would've finished his exams. I waited for another ten minutes as a buffer and texted him, but Jaxton didn't send a reply back.

As I waited, I looked around my dorm and went to open the wardrobe door. I could see my luggage bag tucked in a corner and I sensed my excitement growing in being able to return home to see my dad... and my mum, of course.

But before I could do anything, I spun around at the sudden noise on my dormitory door. Someone aggressively began tugging the knob, while another person was banging on my door trying to get it open.

"Open up!"

Well, they can go to hell.

I stayed as quiet as possible, pretending I wasn't home. Fear forced my throat to tighten, forced my feet to stay planted to the floor. I inched to a corner, my hand resting on Reflecta, except, my hope diminished quickly.

I retreated my hand and looked back at the door.

"I said, open up!"

I didn't recognise that voice but I definitely recognised the next one.

"Miss Williams, I know you're in there."

Professor May.

What does she want?

I raised my phone and I was about to text Jaxton without even thinking about it, except, I lowered it again.

No, I'll deal with this.

I hovered my hand above the doorknob but retreated with a furrow of my brow. I had a reason not to open the door. All this banging and shouting, I felt at threat, in danger... people of the faculty should know that me and Professor May's relationship isn't that great and the majority hatred came from Professor May, not me!

And didn't Jaxton say that Professor May always held on to frivolous, small things? Well, people must've had a general reputation of her as a person trying to stir up trouble. Again. People's opinions would automatically fall in favour on my side — this time, people's bias were in my favour.

"Open the door, Cassandra!"

I grabbed a chair and held it against the door. Not only that, I went on my knee and with a pointed finger, I froze the lock mechanisms and held my power there. I could feel someone's power trying to break through, but I didn't allow them.

"What's happening? Why isn't it opening?" I heard Professor May's impatient voice.

"She's holding it, Ma'am."

With my free hand, I quickly threw a text to Professor Allistar and Yoan.

Professor May is at my door. She's trying to break in.

"Cassandra, if you won't open up, that's alright. We can let everyone in your troop hear about this!"

I could imagine the remaining students in their dorm start to open their doors and windows to see what the commotion was. No doubt, Tracy and Julian were somewhere too, listening.

I bit my lower lip and stayed quiet. As they always say, anything I say can be used against me so I wasn't going to give them that chance.

"We suspect that you had something to do with a missing member of your troop, Ted."

I flinched and quickly sent another text to Vel.

Vel, whatever happens, stay in your dorm, do not come out otherwise things might get worse - delete after read.

I didn't know if Ted was the only thing they were concerned about, maybe it was going to be about the missing healer too. At least I was glad they weren't going to bring up the other two "students".

My heart hammered in my chest but I used the remaining strength to lean on the door. Professor May was muttering something and the next thing I knew, something — or someone — threw themselves onto my door. My whole body shook from the force and my shoulder flew away from the surface, but the door was intact... for now.

"Professor May? Hi! I'm Julian, may I know what's going on? Maybe I can help?" I could hear Julian's voice in the distance.

"It's alright, students! We just need to ask Cassandra a few questions. Do you happen to have a key of some sort? Or something to help with forcing the door open. I'm sure the Academy provided the troop leaders with those tools."

"Sorry, we don't have them."

Tracy's voice. I couldn't help but grin.

I reached out my palm, touched the edge of the door and door frame with my fingers. Ice and frost crawled through the gaps and climbed around the wooden frames, creating a beautiful hue — and strong enforcement against Professor May.

"She's freezing the door!" Professor May exclaimed. "Cassandra, what you're doing right now makes you look guilty. We have more reason to-"

Suddenly, she stopped speaking. My breath was hitched in my throat as I leaned close to the door and listened carefully.

"Catlin, what is this? You know this is exam period, right?"

I released a quiet sigh.

"My apologies, Allistar, I asked the boys not to be too rough. But, honestly, look at this mess," I bet she was pointing at my door.

"Cassandra, unfreeze the door," Professor Allistar spoke up next.

I wasn't going to act like I trusted him, that would be suspicious and not a common reaction. Instead, I replied, "Sorry, Sir, but I was pretty frightened by the banging and shouting. I don't know what I did wrong."

"Professor May would like to ask you-" he paused and I could hear mutters "-ask you something regarding the missing troop member."

"Using violence?"

Professor Allistar went silent and I could imagine this awkward look on his face; a show he put on for Professor May to see.

"Catlin, this is so extreme, now we have to offer an explanation to everyone."

"Now, fellas, be gentler next time even if she refuses to open up. The poor girl is scared to death."

"Do you know how this would look to the Press, the student body and our Board?" Professor Allistar let out an exasperated sigh. "You know how the student body is. We'll be spammed with emails talking about rights."

"Oh, I'll deal with the student body, Allistar, it's no big deal. Cassandra, dear, you're alright, aren't you? You're a brave girl. We just want to have a talk."

Her voice disgusted me.

"Talk about what? I already said what I had to say about Ted. You guys have the records!" I realised my mistake — I wasn't supposed to be using this tone, I needed to use a softer one like what Professor May was doing, and now the power was shifting. She was pretending to be the good person while I was the defiant one.

"We need to fill in some gaps," Professor May said. "You are the victim to a serious incident, so we are bound to take this seriously. One of the other witnesses of the incident has cooperated. You might know them. His name is Jaxton Dawn."

There was a chill that ran from my limbs and shot itself directly to the pit of my stomach. My body gave a stiff shiver and my mind went blank.

Not Jaxton.

"It's alright, dear, we can come another time."

When the voices outside grew quieter, I knew it was because they saw the ice turn itself into liquid, making their way down to the ground in trails of droplets. I pulled the chair away, drew my wrist backwards as I made the particles grow apart and melt the frozen lock. I twisted the doorknob and went out into the sun.





***



A/N

Oh no.

Vote in support of Cassie, my peeps. Or comment your support if you wish.

Or not. No pressure 😂

L