FROST Chapter 76: Section V

The mont Silvermist stepped inside the cafeteria, the lively chatter faltered.

Forks hovered midair, laughter died on lips, and heads turned—one after another—like a silent wave slapping against her cheeks.

Together with Adeline and Mila flanking her sides, she entered the large, sun-drenched hall, though sohow, the golden light filtering through the tall arched windows made everything feel colder.

Ahh how she missed eating the cafeteria foods. Silvermist breathed the aroma of the delicious delicacies she never thought what they are called.

So expressions held scrutiny, thinly veiled behind slitted eyes and tight jaws. So were painted with pity, as if she were a fragile glass doll mistakenly placed among warriors.

A few faces flickered with surprise—perhaps those who hadn’t expected her return so soon. And then there were others who didn’t even glance her way, too absorbed in their als or in their own conversations, treating her like she didn’t matter at all.

But Silvermist knew. Everyone saw, and she’s not even surprised anymore.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and inhaled deeply, squaring her shoulders like East had told her. "You know what kind of drama the incident will take you against the other apprentices this ti, but still walk like the sky owes you nothing," he had said. "Because it doesn’t. But that doesn’t an you bow to it."

Still, her legs felt like lead as she made her way toward the food line.

Adeline was unusually quiet beside her, though Silvermist caught the subtle glances she threw at the nearby tables—daring anyone to whisper loud enough to hear.

Mila, on the other hand, was casually humming under her breath, pretending not to notice the awkward silence that followed them like a shadow.

For so reason, Mila had hated hearing gossips these days. She feels like she might hurt soone with her fist if she hear soone gossiping negative about Silvermist.

After six long days confined in the observatory chamber under East and Cloud’s constant supervision, Silvermist was finally allowed back into the Academy’s daily routine.

Her mana had been sealed, examined, unsealed, and then tested again. East, with all his strict silence, had been gentler than she expected. He always had the calm and cheerful aura after all. He’s just truly serious when it cos to his job as the Academy’s Grandmaster to maintain its peace.

Cloud had been colder than usual, yet strangely protective in his own way—always appearing right when she felt herself faltering.

And Theo? Well, Theo had diagnosed her magic like it was a dical mystery, asking her if she had eaten anything strange or stared at cursed artifacts recently. She hadn’t answered.

Now, though, the seal was gone. East had lifted it himself after deeming it safe. Her magic returned like a slow tide, not crashing back all at once, but gently weaving into her veins again, but still, she still couldn’t summon anything whenever she pleases.

And even with the seal lifted, she was far from free.

Silvermist knew that the other her was just waiting, planning for her grand escape.

Eyes followed her as she reached the counter. She picked up a tray, hands steady, despite the murmurs beginning to swell around her. Two girls at the edge of a long table leaned close together, whispering behind their hands. A group of sorcerer apprentices nudged each other and looked away quickly when Silvermist turned her head.

"Do you want pudding?" Mila asked too cheerily, attempting to lighten the mood. "Ooh, they have that weird wobbly kind I love."

Silvermist nodded absently, her eyes scanning the room.

They all rembered. Of course, they did.

They rembered the duel she couldn’t even fight. The blood. The restraints.

So likely thought she was dangerous. Others believed she was weak. The rumor mill had churned day and night while she was away, and now it spat her back out like she was the main character in a story they couldn’t decide whether to fear, admire, or forget.

Adeline nudged her gently. "Don’t let them get in your head."

"I’m not," Silvermist said softly.

But she was. Just a little.

She grabbed her tray and followed Adeline and Mila toward an empty table near the back corner, the place usually left for loners, latecors, or the rare few who didn’t belong to any faction.

It suited her for now. She sat down, poked her fork into sothing that vaguely resembled mashed potatoes, and tried to pretend everything was normal.

That she hadn’t seen fear in East’s eyes when her aura flared crimson and black even when it’s faint. But even with her head bowed over a bland cafeteria al with flattering colors, Silvermist knew she couldn’t hide forever.

Because she could still feel it—the temperature in her core, like a sleeping storm. And she knew, sooner or later, everyone else would feel it too.

Theo did. Even East and Cloud saw the hues of her unknown magic.

anwhile, Athyst walked toward them with the grace of soone who was either too confident or didn’t know how tense things were at the table—maybe both.

Her skirt fluttered lightly behind her as she stepped past the other students without hesitation, her eyes fixed on Silvermist.

Trailing close behind her were Cullen and Levi. Well, mostly Cullen. Levi looked like he was dragging his feet to his own funeral.

Cullen didn’t care.

He grabbed Levi by the wrist and pulled him the last few steps forward until they both stood directly in front of Silvermist. Levi’s eyes darted from Silvermist to the floor, to Athyst, and then to the floor again, clearly contemplating turning into mist and floating away.

Silvermist didn’t speak. Her eyes narrowed, not at Levi—but at Cullen. That kind of glare that made even the boldest flinch a little. But Cullen just smirked like he was proud of himself, and shrugged innocently, shoving Levi down to sit.

Then she turned to Athyst, who had sat beside her like they were old friends catching up over tea.

"Why are you here?" Silvermist asked bluntly, her voice sharp but not hostile. Just... guarded.

Athyst smiled in that cryptic, honey-laced way of hers. "Because I want us to be friends."

Even Cullen blinked. Levi froze mid-breath, his spoon halfway to his mouth.

"What?" Silvermist asked flatly.

"I an it," Athyst said, reaching for a grape on her plate like she hadn’t just said sothing completely out of character. "I think it’s ti we forgave each other, don’t you?"

Silvermist’s eyes narrowed again—not in anger, but in disbelief.

Cullen leaned back slowly, his brow raised. "You hit your head recently, Athyst?"

Levi blinked at her like he’d just seen soone cast a forbidden spell in public.

Silvermist didn’t answer right away. She just looked at Athyst. Studying. asuring. Waiting for the punchline.

It didn’t co.

And that’s when Silvermist started getting suspicious—because Athyst never did anything without a reason.

Silvermist’s gaze lingered on Athyst.

Silvermist’s gaze lingered on Athyst, her expression unreadable. She didn’t trust the sudden warmth, the offer of friendship, or the timing. Athyst rarely said things she didn’t an, but even when she did, there was always sothing hidden beneath the surface. Always.

Just as Silvermist was about to speak, Athyst looked around the table, lips pursing slightly. "By the way... where are Sebastian, West, and Ezekiel?"

That made Silvermist pause.

Now that Athyst ntioned it... she hadn’t seen any of them since she returned. Not in the cafeteria, not in the corridors, not even lurking around like Ezekiel usually did when he was bored and had nothing better to do.

Sebastian never missed als unless he was working on sothing important—or if Sun told him not to co. And West? Ahh that man. She didn’t really know. West is so unreadable, she’d rather look and talk to the wall.

Silvermist frowned faintly, her fork frozen mid-cut into the lump of food on her plate. "I don’t know," she admitted quietly, brows furrowed. "Haven’t seen them today."

"Huh," Athyst humd, tapping a finger thoughtfully on the table before casually dropping a piece of news like it was gossip about an upcoming bake sale. "Well... while you were gone, Gail got sent off."

Silvermist’s eyes flickered to her. "Sent off?"

Athyst nodded, crossing her legs. "Sowhere far enough they won’t tell us where. I heard Coast himself decided on the punishnt. Apparently, putting a mana-seal wasn’t enough."

Silvermist didn’t react visibly. But her eyes shifted—just for a second—toward Levi, who still hadn’t said a word. His eyes were pinned to his food like it held the secrets of the universe, his expression tight, shoulders stiff.

He knew sothing. Of course he did. After all, Gail is his girlfriend.

But she said nothing. Just turned back to Athyst, who leaned forward like she was about to tell them another secret.

"Oh, and there’s another training later this afternoon. Section V."

"Section V?" Mila echoed, blinking. "What’s that supposed to an?"

"A mixed-section class," Athyst answered with a light shrug. "Random pairings, group combat, and a few, let’s say... observational challenges." She gave Silvermist a knowing look. "All students. Including us... just like before in the arena."

Silvermist’s eye visibly twitched. She and Athyst had bad mories in there yet, surprisingly, Athyst is so fine with it. She’s even smiling though her voice dropped a little as she continued.

"Section V isn’t your usual training session. It’s the kind of drill they run when they want to test more than just combat skills. You and perhaps the others," she threw Adeline and Mila a look, "...aren’t so familiar with it since you were always... Not around."

Silvermist’s eyes narrowed slightly. She’s so sure that ant to be an insult.

"It’s a simulation," Athyst replied, her fingers now tracing circles on the rim of her cup. "But not like the ordinary illusion chambers. They’ve prepared a different arena this ti—constructed from a fragnt of the old Dream Reaches. You’ve heard of it, right?"

"The realm that reflects your fears?" Mila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Athyst nodded. "Fear, mory, desire—whatever your mana is emotionally bound to. It will reflect that. If you can’t control your thoughts, you might be fighting a phantom version of your own trauma."

Levi shifted uncomfortably beside Cullen, who suddenly grew quiet.

Athyst continued, her tone now low and chilling. "Each group will be randomly ford. You’ll be placed inside the arena, and the Guardians will observe from above. They’re looking for sothing this ti—sothing different. Not just how well we fight... but how we break."

Silvermist clenched her jaw. "So it’s a test of control."

"And survival," Athyst said plainly.

Adeline leaned in. "Why now? Why this level of training all of a sudden?"

"Because sothing’s coming. I believe we all felt that in the peony whatever, Master East made us do a few weeks ago," Athyst said, and turned to Levi and Cullen, the smile finally fading from her lips. "And they want to know who can handle it... and who can’t."

Silvermist didn’t respond. Her thoughts churned with unease. She didn’t know much but Cullen explained that The Dream Reaches were no ordinary domain.

Only advanced mages were allowed to step into its fringes, and even then, they were strictly supervised. For the Academy to be using a fragnt of it ant they were desperate—or preparing for sothing greater.

"And let guess," Silvermist muttered, pushing her tray aside, "We’re not allowed to refuse."

"Nope," Cullen nodded, drumming his fingers on the table. "Attendance is mandatory. Especially for you."

"Lucky ," she said dryly.

"They’re watching you more closely than ever," Athyst added quietly. "They want to see how the seal affected you... or if you’re sothing they should be afraid of."

Silvermist t her eyes. Sothing unspoken passed between them. Not trust, of course. But not quite hatred either. Just the weight of everything they didn’t say.