THE DUAL MARKED

No Unnecessary Essence

LYRIANA

A few hours passed, but in those hours, hell had come to me and traveled back to its original place. Then finally the bell rang again sharply and instantly, chairs scraped, bags thumped shut, and the room erupted into the usual chaos of freedom from students spilling into the hallways, their voices rising as if the end of class was the best kind of liberation. Thessalia and I were no exception. We slipped out quickly, hoping to vanish into the crowd before Serenya could find another excuse to draw blood. But of course, she noticed us.

Her eyes found mine as we passed, dark with satisfaction. It was a silent look, but I knew exactly what it meant as she didn’t need words to tell me that she won and I lost. Just like I always did. I held her gaze for a second, long enough to feel the heat rise in my chest, then I tore it away.

‘Calm down, Lyriana, that b***h isn't worth it, I thought as I looked away, rolling my eyes.’

Thessalia walked beside me, quiet for a moment before nudging my arm. “Hey,” she said softly, her brow creasing. “Are you okay? Your forehead…” Her hand reached up gently, brushing against my skin where Serenya’s little spell had slammed me earlier during recess. I winced.

“It’s fine,” I muttered, pulling away before anyone else noticed. “Barely hurts.” And that was a lie I couldn't even tell properly because immediately it came out, Thessalia retorted.

“That’s a lie,” she frowned, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Maybe,” I admitted. “But I’m not about to give her the satisfaction of limping around looking miserable.”

Thessalia smiled faintly at that, though her worry didn’t fade. “Still. You shouldn’t just let her keep doing it. She….”

“She’s Serenya,” I cut in with a sigh. “And I’m me. That’s the story.” And truly that was it. There was no plus or minus to our stories, especially mine.

Thessalia didn’t argue. She just slipped her arm through mine, like she always did when words failed to solve a problem. “Then let’s at least get food. Maybe Gigi’s bread rolls will fix you.”

I snorted, the tension in my chest loosening just a little. “If they don’t, nothing will.”

By the time we pushed into the dining hall, the space was alive with chatter. Long tables stretched from wall to wall, trays clattered, and the air was thick with the smell of spiced lamb, roasted potatoes, and the buttery scent of Gigi’s rolls.

We were only a few steps in when sharp and sudden squeals sliced through the noise of the hall. Girls at the tables nearest to the walkway turned, their hands flying to their mouths, and their eyes wide. A ripple spread fast with voices rising, and chairs scraping as half the room seemed to lean in the same direction.

Thessalia and I didn’t even bother to look. Not after the morning we’d had. Whoever had caused the fuss could keep it. We kept walking, keeping our heads low, trying to find an empty table before Serenya and her pack came swarming in. But then I heard my name.

“Riana!” A nickname I was given by him.

Thessalia and I turned back. And there he was. Corin Larell, my other best friend and also Velcrest Academy’s other golden boy. He stood near the entrance, his shoulder bag balanced effortlessly in one hand, the light from the tall windows fell across him in a way that felt unfair. His dark hair caught it like polished ink, his ocean-blue eyes were steady, and impossible to look away. He kept his eyes locked onto me, smiling. His smile was always lazy and effortless, but still it tilted at the edges and made people forget what they were supposed to be doing.

The entire hall seemed to hold its breath as he walked toward us and god help me because I could already hear the whispers spinning.

Everyone knew his story. Corin had been homeschooled all his life, trained in private by some of the kingdom’s most revered tutors. He hadn’t set foot inside Velcrest until last year, when our grade advanced into senior high and from that moment on, the academy hadn’t been the same. Teachers adored him, and students followed him. The whispers never stopped.

And Kaelen? My perfect cousin, the golden boy before Corin arrived? He hated it. Pretended he didn’t, of course, but everyone saw the truth. The way his jaw clenched when Corin’s name was spoken. The way his laughter turned sharp whenever Corin walked into the room. He’d been a prince his whole life, but now he had a rival and it killed him.

“Were you planning to eat without me today?” Corin’s grin widened as he reached us, ignoring the stares, ignoring the girls nearly falling over each other to get closer to him. His voice carried just enough to stir another wave of whispers.

I felt the heat creeping up my neck, though I forced a smirk to my face. “Maybe we were.”

It still amazed me sometimes how he had chosen me, of all people, to befriend. It had started after one of Serenya’s stunts; he’d stepped in, pulled me out of the mess, and since then… he never left. I didn’t regret it, even if Serenya’s hatred burned hotter because of it. Even if the other girls sharpened their claws every time I sat beside him. Let them. Their chocolates and letters piled high in his locker, week after week, only for him to shrug them off. More often than not, it was me and Thessalia munching on the endless boxes of sweets, laughing until we couldn’t breathe, joking that we’d develop diabetes before graduation.

Corin tilted his head at me, his eyes narrowing playfully. “By those faces, I’m guessing something happened. What was it this time? Oh! Today is Monday. Don’t tell me Kaelen still made you take a bus here?”

I groaned. “Don’t even start.”

“If only that was all,” Thessalia cut in sharply, then turned to him, her eyes flashing with emotion.

“Thessalia,” I warned, but my voice came out low and unserious.

“No.” Her jaw tightened, and I could tell she was angry. “She humiliated her in front of everyone, and Kaelen laughed. As always.”

Corin’s easy grin faded. His gaze shifted to me and his voice became softer. “What did she do or make you do this time?”

“She used magic on Lyriana again today. You should’ve seen it. She made her hit the ground so hard her forehead…”

I swallowed, looking away. “I’m fine, so it’s no biggy.”

“Of course it is and you are not fine, Riana. Admit it for once. At least with us,” Thessalia snapped at first then her voice softened almost immediately.

“Can we not?” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “I’d rather not relive the entire thing while I’m trying to eat. Let’s just get food before Gigi’s rolls disappear.”

Corin didn’t look convinced, but he let it go, falling into step beside us as we moved toward the line. His presence was enough to draw even more eyes, as the entire hall practically hummed with curiosity.

We managed to grab food: lamb stew, warm bread, and, of course, Gigi’s golden rolls, before the rush swept the hall. Corin insisted on carrying my tray along with his, ignoring my protests, while Thessalia rolled her eyes and muttered about “unnecessary theatrics.”

Finally, we found a table tucked near the tall windows. It wasn’t hidden, but it wasn’t too exposed either, just the kind of spot where we could at least pretend to eat in peace.

I had just torn a piece of bread in half when another noise began again. At first, it was a few squeals. Then more. Then the pitch of the entire dining hall shifted with voices rising, chairs scraping, and all attention dragging toward the door. I didn’t have to look. I already knew who that was for - Kaelen Velcrest, my obnoxious cousin and of course, his demoness girlfriend.

I made a retching face when I saw their hands clasped together like they were cut from the same cloth. Or maybe they were. I couldn't care less as I rolled my eyes and faced my food.

The room practically bowed to their entrance. Girls gasped and giggled as their voices tumbled over one another with his name. Some even called it aloud, like he might look at them if they said it enough times. The boys nudged each other, muttering about Serenya; about her smile, her stride and how she glittered in her confidence.

“They’re perfect together,” someone whispered behind us.

“Like a storybook couple,” another sighed.

I clenched my jaw and focused on my plate, refusing to join the circus. Thessalia, however, muttered under her breath, “Storybook villains, more like.”

Kaelen stepped fully into the hall, pausing just long enough to bask in the chaos his presence had ignited. He ignored the squeals, the stares, and fluttering hands. Instead, his gaze swept across the room until it landed on me. His smirk bloomed instantly. That practiced, charming curve of his lips that said he knew exactly how beautiful he looked when he smiled. He tilted his head slightly, playful, like I was part of some private joke and for the briefest moment, I nearly lost control, my face almost twisted into a full-on gag. Then Corin shifted in his seat, leaning back casually. His head turned toward the door, and his ocean-blue eyes locked onto Kaelen’s and everything changed. The smirk vanished from Kaelen’s face like it had been wiped away. His jaw clenched. His eyes sharpened with fury, sparking in their depths as if my mere presence beside Corin was enough to insult him.

I felt it, like a storm crashing through the room.

“Babe,” Serenya purred, tugging at his arm. She tossed her hair and looked up at him with a dazzling smile. “Let’s get food.”

Kaelen didn’t move. His eyes were still burning into Corin. It was only when Serenya tugged again, sharper this time, that he finally blinked, forcing a cold smile and with a calculated grace, the two of them drifted toward their usual table, leaving their hangers-on to fetch their trays. But even seated across the hall, I could feel his eyes flicking back toward us.

I tried to pretend it didn’t matter. Tried to keep eating, laughing at something Thessalia muttered, but then the air shifted.

A faint whisper of magic stirred across the table, brushing against my skin like static. My spoon rattled in my hand, and the stew sloshed dangerously.

I froze.

Across the hall, Serenya sat with her chin in her hand, smiling sweetly, her fingers tapping against the table in a rhythm only she understood, but her eyes stayed fixed on me. The magic twitched again, sharper this time, causing my cup to slide an inch toward the edge of the table.

“Seriously?” I muttered under my breath.

Before it could tip, and the anticipated humiliation could hit, Corin’s hand shot out. He caught the cup with effortless ease and set it back in place. Then, without even looking down, he lifted his gaze across the hall and locked it on Serenya. He didn’t just look at her because, for a heartbeat, his eyes lit with a flicker of faint, but unmistakable blue fire. It wasn’t wild or uncontrolled. It was steady and disciplined with the kind of power that made the air prickle against the skin.