Evie awoke to the soft scent of lavender and the faint sounds of chirping birds outside the window. Her head throbbed painfully, and her body felt like lead. Slowly, she opened her eyes, squinting against the light that filtered through the curtains. It took a moment to gather her bearings, and then she remembered—the fire, her magic out of control, the princes shouting her name as the flames raged around her. The panic flooded back, and she felt her chest tighten as she tried to sit up.

"Easy," a voice said softly, and a large hand gently pushed her back against the pillows. Seth's warm eyes met hers, his usual confident expression replaced with something softer, more concerned. "You're okay. You're safe now."

Evie swallowed hard, still shaken. "What happened?"

"The fire," Seth explained quietly, his gaze flicking to the window, where the sun had already risen. "It got out of control. But you're alright now. We've got it contained. You're in the infirmary."

Her thoughts scrambled to make sense of the events. Rowan's words echoed in her mind, harsh and biting. She had no doubt they'd been meant to hurt her, to push her. But did they really mean what he said?

"Rowan... he..." Evie trailed off, her voice cracking with emotion.

"He's blaming himself," Seth interjected softly, his gaze flicking to the doorway, where Sol and Duke stood, both looking equally unsettled. "We all are, Evie. We should have been more careful with your training."

Sol stepped forward then, his presence soothing in its calmness. "You're not a burden, Blossom." His tone was warm, reassuring. "You're stronger than you think. We just need to figure out how to help you control it."

Evie bit her lip, her mind clouded with a storm of emotions. Rowan's harsh words rang in her ears, and the worry gnawed at her—was she really just a game to them? Was she nothing more than a puzzle to solve, an inconvenience they had to tolerate? It was hard to reconcile that with the way they all had treated her, with the kindness they'd shown in moments when she was vulnerable.

Duke, who had remained quiet until now, sat at the foot of the bed, his brow furrowed in thought. "I think we all got a little carried away with pushing you, Evie," he said, his voice low and regretful. "But we're here for you. All of us. And we'll make sure you don't face this alone."

Evie blinked back tears, overwhelmed by the conflicting emotions flooding her. She had never wanted to be a burden, never wanted to feel like she was holding anyone back. But the truth was, she didn't know how to control her magic. She had no idea why she was here, why her powers had manifested so suddenly, so violently.

Seth's hand gently cupped her face, bringing her back to the present. "You're not weak," he said, his eyes intense with sincerity. "And we're not going anywhere."

Sol stood at the window, his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching Evie carefully. "You'll get through this, Blossom. We won't let you fall."

Evie felt a flicker of warmth in her chest at his words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the flood of doubt. What if they were wrong about her? What if she couldn't handle the power that was growing inside her, threatening to destroy everything in its path?

"I—I don't know what I'm doing," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know how to control it."

Before anyone could respond, the door opened, and the headmistress stepped inside, her presence commanding and filled with authority. She looked at Evie with a mixture of concern and something else—something that felt like understanding.

"How are you feeling, Evie?" the headmistress asked gently, her gaze flicking between the princes, who were still hovering near the bed. "I must say, I'm relieved to see you awake."

Evie offered a small, shaky smile. "I feel... a little better. But my magic... it's out of control."

The headmistress nodded. "It's a common issue with students who are as gifted as you. The intensity of your magic, especially at your age, is both a blessing and a curse. And it's not uncommon for those powers to surge uncontrollably when emotions run high."

Seth's jaw tightened, but he didn't speak. Sol's eyes softened with sympathy, while Duke appeared to be lost in thought.

"You're not alone in this, Evie," the headmistress continued. "We're going to make sure you get the help you need. But you must understand—this power inside you is not just your own. It's tied to something far greater than any of us can fully comprehend."

Evie blinked, trying to process her words. "What do you mean? What is it tied to?"

The headmistress gave her a long look, one that seemed to hold a thousand untold secrets. "That's something we'll need to discuss later, when you're ready. For now, you need to focus on control. If you let your emotions dictate your magic, it will overwhelm you. But if you learn to ground yourself, to trust those around you..." She glanced pointedly at the princes. "You can do great things, Evie."

The room fell silent for a moment as Evie absorbed the weight of the headmistress's words. There was something deep within her, something she had yet to fully understand, that was tied to this academy, to these princes. And while her powers scared her, they also felt like a part of her she couldn't ignore.

Sol broke the silence, his voice steady and reassuring. "You'll get there, Blossom. One step at a time."

Evie nodded, though her heart was still heavy with uncertainty. She couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. She had a long road ahead of her, and part of her was terrified she wouldn't be able to live up to the expectations placed on her.

Before anyone could say more, the door creaked open again, and Rowan stepped in, his expression unreadable. Evie's heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. His earlier words still stung, and she wasn't sure how to face him now.

Rowan's gaze met hers, but there was no warmth in his eyes. He just stood there, a quiet tension filling the room as he surveyed the group.

Seth, sensing the shift, stood from the bed and moved to stand beside Sol, both of them forming a quiet barrier between Evie and Rowan. Duke remained silent, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Rowan finally spoke, his voice low and reluctant. "How is she?"

Evie couldn't help the bitterness that bubbled up inside her. "I'm fine," she said sharply, avoiding his gaze.

The silence between them was thick, but the headmistress broke it. "Evie's power is far greater than we anticipated," she said, her tone commanding their attention. "This will require careful guidance. But she is not alone in this. We are here to help her, and we will succeed together."

Rowan's eyes flickered, but he remained silent, his body rigid with tension. There was something in his expression—something that felt like guilt, mixed with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

Seth placed a hand on Evie's shoulder, his touch grounding her. "You're not alone, Evie," he said softly, his voice full of conviction. "We'll all help you."

The headmistress nodded, her gaze moving from each prince to Evie. "Remember this: You are more than just your magic. You are important to us, Evie. And we will make sure you're ready for whatever is to come."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Evie knew she wasn't alone in this fight, but she also knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy. As the princes left the room one by one, she felt the pull of her destiny—unwritten, uncertain, but somehow pulling her forward into the unknown.

And as the door closed softly behind them, Evie couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming. Something that would change everything.