The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 15

15

“Don’t take it personally, Professor Hagen is always grumpy,” Aellyn said on our way to the dining hall.

“It seemed quite personal,” I replied. I couldn’t afford another teacher incident, not after Master Ryuga’s death. I was already extremely lucky that I hadn’t been expelled.

The Wood Elf’s pink hair bounced with every step she took. “He’s just been extra on edge. Rumour has it that there’s been a human war. I wonder what’s for dinner.”

“Really? A human war?” That lined up with what Zen told me. If that was true, that explained all the teachers’ absence. They were Afterlife Assistants first, teachers second. War brought an overload of souls and if they weren’t guided to the afterlife, that could’ve easily been the beginning of the end. The destruction of so many pained and despaired untethered souls could’ve been catastrophic.

Aellyn nodded. “Hmm-hmm. A third-year said that all the teachers have been putting in extra hours. I hope there’s lots of fresh fruit today. Yesterday, the peaches were a little bruised and battered.”

My stomach grumbled at the thought of food, any kind of food. Whatever the school served, it would be better than the stodgy MREs from the bunker or Var’s awful cooking. “I could eat a cow.”

“I think someone said there was a beef casserole.”

“Mmmmm.”

Just as we turned into the dining hall, a blonde figure blocked our path. “Ylva. We need to talk.”

“Astrid?”

What was she doing here? She wanted to talk to me? She never talked to me, especially not in public, unless it was to make fun of me.

“Talk about bruised and battered,” Aellyn teased, gesturing to Astrid’s face.

The other girl balled her hands into fists. “Watch your mouth.”

“Guys,” I interrupted. I didn’t want another fight to break out, especially not between two friends.

Friends? Did I consider Astrid as a friend?

“She started it,” my blonde classmate said. “Ylva, a word. Without her.”

Aellyn looped her arm through mine. “You’re not getting her alone.”

“It’s alright,” I said. Astrid’s wounds had been so excessive, she couldn’t possibly have recovered. Even so, I was confident she wouldn’t hurt me. Not after what we’d been through. “Aellyn, you go ahead.”

The pink Wood Elf nodded. “Sure… If there’s anything, just scream.”

“I’ll be fine,” I reassured her.

With Astrid by my side, we walked away from the dining hall and found a quiet corner, away from curious ears. Whatever she had to say, it was probably best kept between us.

I leaned against one of the window sills and studied my classmate. From up close, the deep lines in her face were even more noticeable. Her injuries would leave everlasting scars that even Wind Children markings wouldn’t be able to hide.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, straight to the point. Small talk was a waste of time.

“I wanted to give you something.” The other girl rummaged through her bag and handed me a stack of papers. “There.”

“What’s that?”

“Summaries of all the classes you missed. I got them from the girls.”

I stared at the sheets, not sure what to think. “Why?”

“You can use them when you’re writing your essays,” she replied, pulling the strings of her bag and swinging it back over her shoulder. “I’ll see you around.”

“Wait!”

She halted in her step. “What?”

Confused about her generosity, I gestured to the stack of summaries. “Why are you helping me?”

For a moment, the other girl didn’t reply. She just stared at me with blank eyes and an expression I didn’t understand.

Just as I thought she was never going to give me an answer, she spoke.

“You saved my life.”

That was what this was about?

“It was a group effort,” I deflected. “We all worked together.”

“But it was possible because of you. You could’ve kept silent about what you are, what you’re capable of. You could’ve let me die.”

I swallowed the uncomfortable lump in my throat. “Is that what you think of me?”

“Not anymore.” She extended her arm. “I’m grateful.”

I quickly rearrange the stack of papers so I could clasp her hand. “It was nothing.”

“I owe you, Ylva.”

She said it with such a depth and gravity, it made me feel uncomfortable. I didn’t want anyone to owe me. Still, I appreciated her gesture. She could’ve easily pretended we hadn’t gone through the bunker together and carried on like nothing was different. We both knew that wasn’t true though. Something had changed.

I nudged to the pile of sheets she just handed me. “Hey, this’ll save my ass. I’d say we’re even.”

A smile tugged on Astrid’s lips. “I don’t think so. One day, I will repay my debt.”

As we walked back, I stopped her before we entered the dining hall. “Does this mean we’re friends now?”

“Gods no,” the other girl replied, but the tone of her voice didn’t match her words.

With our different opinions and our history, we’d probably never become the best of friends, but that was fine. For the first time since we’d known each other, there was a truce between us. That was good enough for me.

I smiled at her. “Good. I don’t want to be your friend.”

“Likewise. You annoy me.”

“Well, you look terrible,” I retorted.

“A bunker fell on top of me. What’s your excuse?” She flashed me a toothy grin, not insulted in the slightest.

“Whatever.” We exchanged one last look before splitting apart and going our own way again. Astrid to the table with her classmates who immediately put their heads together for gossip and me?

I scanned the room, my eyes meeting with a particularly beautiful Dragon. Ryoko smiled back from where she was sitting. She even dared wave at me, despite being surrounded by her friends. The guy sitting next to her seemed quizzical about what she was doing and questioned her actions, but I saw her mouth it was nothing.

With my head held high, I walked past the table of Reaper students that usually bullied me. The girl that liked to make my life miserable rose from her seat, a wicked grin stretched across her features.

Before she could do anything, Sim looked up from his seat and interrupted. “Brianna.”

“What?” she snapped.

“Just leave her be.”

The girl narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“She’s not worth it,” he said, dismissing me with a small wave.

Other people probably thought he was being cruel to me, especially after I got him out of the bunker, but I knew better. This was a kindness. Brianna had no choice but to sit back down and let me pass without torturing me. A first in a long line of painful memories.

If I could have, I’d have thanked Sim but that wouldn’t go down well for him. There were unspoked school rules that weren’t easily dismissed or broken. It was better for all of us to run our separate courses, even if we were all bonded together in a way most people wouldn’t understand.

I stomached my gratitude and walked towards the territory that belonged to the Valkyrie students. Most of the tables were still empty and Flavia’s usual seat was unoccupied.

Shame…

A part of me, a silly, crazy part had hoped I would see her here and perhaps, she would’ve invited me to sit with them again. It would’ve been nice to be part of a group.

“Ylva! Over here!” Aellyn waved enthusiastically from the outcast table and I moved away from the head table and took place next to the Wood Elf at my usual seat.

“Hey.” I thudded my bag on the table. “I see you got your fruits.”

“Yes!” She took an enthusiastic bite out of her apple. “Delicious. What did Astrid want?”

“Hmmm? Oh, nothing special.” To avoid the question, I stood back up again. “I’m going to get some food. Can I leave my bag here?”

Aellyn nodded. “Sure.”

At the buffet, I loaded my tray with multiple bread rolls and crackers, a heaping bowl of beef stew, and a good glass of ice-cold lemonade. A treat that I wouldn’t usually get, but it was just so good to be back and have things return to normal.

I navigated through the tables again, disappointed to find the head table still empty. Maybe Flavia wasn’t having dinner in the dining hall and was celebrating her return with her friends in her room. That would be a very Wind Childy thing to do.

“Chin up,” I muttered to myself, forcing myself to keep walking. That was all I could do.

But when I arrived at the table, a surprise awaited me. Sitting next to the head of pink hair, a girl with blonde braids. Her back was turned towards me, but I recognised her from the way she held herself.

Flavia.

What was she doing at the outcast table? At my table?

As if she sensed my presence, the girl turned around and we locked eyes.

“Ylva.” She smiled warmly and patted my seat. “Sit.”

“Ummm…” I slowly placed my tray down, uncertain of what was happening. “What are you doing here?”

The blonde girl smiled. “Having dinner. I could eat a cow.”

“That’s what I said.” I stared at her in utter surprise. This was beyond what I could have wished for and it was bizarre.

One of her friends paused at our table, seeming just as confused. “Flavia? What are you doing? Our table is over there.”

“I’m sitting here today,” Flavia replied, stealing a cracker from my tray and nibbling on it. “Take a seat, Dagmar.”

The girl hesitated. “Are you sure?”

She was right. As much as I wanted Flavia to sit with me, this could seriously damage her reputation. In fact, all the other Valkyrie students were already whispering and pointing at us.

I leaned over to her. “Are you sure? You don’t have to.”

“Yes, I have to,” she replied, sounding insulted that I said otherwise. “You’re my friend and I’m ashamed I didn’t do this earlier.”

“Oh…” My neck heated up from her intense stare. It felt like I was being lovingly scolded by a big sister, but I could only assume.

Flavia rose from her seat and glared at the other Valkyrie students. A gust of cold wind raged through the closed dining hall and embraced her as her wings exploded from her back. “Anyone have a problem? Feel free to challenge me.”

The entire room fell silent to the point where I could hear a pin drop. While most students from other courses were staring at the spectacle, none dared interrupt, as it should be. This was Valkyrie business.

No, not even. This was a Wind Child affair.

With caged anticipation, I waited for the outcome and one after the other, every single Valkyrie student bowed their heads and averted their gaze. Challenge declined.

I could breathe again.

Flavia retracted her wings and sat down as if nothing had happened. The dining hall slowly returned to its usual chatter and cutlery clatter as the other girls from Flavia’s squad sat down on the outcast table.

A smile curled around my lips and for the first time at school here, I didn’t feel lonely. Everything was different now.