CHAPTER TWO _ RESUMPTION DAY 001
910 Words
The academy officially resumes.
Students wake up eaally resumes.
Students wake up early.
The dormitories are noisy.
Everyone is rushing to get dressed because no one wants to be late for the opening assembly.
Becca helps Olivia put on the academy uniform.
This is the first time Olivia really looks like an academy student.
As they're walking to the assembly, students are whispering.
"That's the new girl."
"She's prettier than Mia."
Those whispers don't bother Olivia...
But Mia hears every one of them.
That's the first spark.
The academy courtyard buzzed with excitement.
Hundreds of students stood in neat rows beneath the towering towers of Valoria Academy.
First-years whispered nervously among themselves.
Returning students laughed as they reunited after the long summer break.
Faculty members lined the marble steps leading to the Grand Hall.
At precisely nine o'clock...
A bell echoed across the academy.
Silence followed.
From the center staircase, a tall figure stepped forward.
Omar Valerian.
Dressed in the academy's black-and-gold captain's uniform, he carried himself with effortless authority.
The crowd straightened instinctively.
He didn't need to demand attention.
He already had it.
He stood behind the podium, his calm eyes sweeping across the sea of students.
Then he spoke.
"Welcome back to Valoria Academy."
His voice was steady.
Confident.
"The beginning of a new semester marks more than another year of training."
"It marks another opportunity to become stronger."
"Not only in power..."
"...but in character."
The courtyard remained completely silent.
Even the first-years listened.
"You will win."
"You will fail."
"You will discover strengths you never knew you possessed."
"And you will face challenges that cannot be overcome by power alone."
His eyes briefly drifted toward the new students.
"If you are here..."
"...then you belong here."
A smile crossed Olivia's face.
For the first time since arriving...
She felt like she might truly fit in.
Omar continued.
"Protect one another."
"Respect one another."
"And never forget..."
"The greatest strength is knowing when not to fight."
He stepped away from the podium.
For a heartbeat...
Everything was still.
Then—
Thunderous applause erupted.
Students cheered.
Teachers nodded with approval.
Some first-years looked inspired.
Others simply admired the academy captain standing before them.
But amidst the sea of clapping hands...
One pair remained perfectly still.
Near the back of the courtyard...
A lone student stood with his hands tucked into his pockets.
His posture was relaxed.
Too relaxed.
His expression revealed nothing.
While everyone else applauded...
He simply watched.
His gaze never left Omar.
Almost as though the speech had been meant for him alone.
Perhaps sensing it...
Omar looked up.
Across the crowd...
Their eyes met.
The applause seemed to fade into the distance.
Neither blinked.
Neither moved.
For a long moment...
The academy disappeared.
It was just the two of them.
Then...
The corner of the stranger's mouth lifted.
Not into a smile.
Into a smirk.
Cold.
Knowing.
Dangerously confident.
It lasted only a second.
Then he turned away.
Without applauding.
Without speaking.
He disappeared into the crowd as though he'd never been there.
The noise of the academy returned.
Students continued celebrating.
None of them seemed to notice.
None...
Except Omar.
His expression remained calm.
But his jaw tightened ever so slightly.
Becca, standing nearby, followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
Omar looked toward the place where the mysterious student had stood.
There was no one there.
"...Nothing."
He answered quietly.
But deep inside...
He knew.
This semester wasn't going to be like the others.
Somewhere in the crowd...
Someone had just declared war.
Without saying a single word.
After the address, students separated into classes.
Luckily ,Olivia was in the same class with Becca, she was so relieved.
They walked together to class and settled down.
The class was quite noisy which made it even harder for Olivia to calm down
" To think you didn't bother looking for
me" a deep voice behind them said .
They both turned around simultaneously,
Facing a blonde haired boy who was grinning like he had won the lottery.
"Wow, Liam! Thought the summer had stolen you away" Becca teased playfully, grinning back at him .
" Too bad it didn't" he replied back
"I missed you though"
Becca's smiled widened
"Same here, darling"
Then she turned to Olivia
"Hey olive, this is my bestie, Liam"
And then to Liam...
"Liam, meet the scholarship student, Olivia"
Olivia stretched her hand for an handshake but Liam seemed like he had been teleported to another world.
He was completely lost!
He was staring at Olivia like he'd seen her in his dreams before
"... Liam!"
- Writer
