I gently crouched down, washing my hair in the stream. I sighed heavily. The academy had been boring for days, especially after the bond chamber trial. I really did miss Elowen’s tantrums.
I heard footsteps behind , and Liora crouched beside . She stared at , blushing softly.
"What’s wrong?" she asked, and I sighed. "The academy seems so boring. Nothing here is worthwhile," I said grumpily, and she giggled. I raised a brow, did I say sothing wrong?
"The academy isn’t boring, it’s just that no one wants to invite you over," she said, and I stared at her for a while before realizing.
"What’s happening?" I asked, and her smile widened. She stood up, staring down at . "Follow ," she said, and my eyes lit up hearing her words.
She led the way. I didn’t know the academy actually had a cave forest, even the trees seed fresh and full of life. "How co I’ve never been here?" I asked, and her lips parted. "You are mostly cooped up in your room. I tend to walk around and find a lot of secret places. The academy is a big place, you know," she said, and I nodded. She was right. I had only ever been out a few tis, and that was just to head to classes and the Architect’s workshop, maybe a few other places, but that was it. I didn’t really explore places outside the school’s main grounds.
Finally, she stopped. I stared at the huge tree before , and Liora raised her foot, stepping on a large rock there. The tree split open that instant, and I gasped. Liora turned to and gestured for to co in.
"Wow! Places like this exist in the academy?" As we entered, the tree went back into its normal shape. I walked downstairs, and the bursting music beca louder and louder.
"What’s this place?" I asked, and Liora blushed. "It’s a hidden bar made by students," she said, and I smiled gently, staring around. Obviously, it was made from wood, and had a strong scent of agarwood. I inhaled sharply and let out a breath in relief. I could see the bodies of students moving around until I reached the last step. It was like a hidden modern bar.... students sitting at the counter and drinking to their brim.
"So wine, please," Liora said, and I raised a brow. "For who?" I asked, and she laughed. "For you! I don’t drink, but you look like the type that does," she said, and my eyes turned dark.
"That’s insulting...like the type?" I paused and smacked my lips. "I am the type," I said, and watched as her confused brow arched in a funny way, and she laughed softly.
"Thank you," I said softly to the waitress who handed the drink. She looked like a lowborn and was actually trembling when she saw . My reputation again was doing wonders.
Why do I feel like a bad student? When I was Rosette, I hardly went to parties and mostly drowned myself in work. Even in college, I was called boring, and colleagues hated taking out. I didn’t experience the party life because my parents were strict with , but it was one thing Rosy, my twin, never lacked... she was a party animal, and I had to clean up after her vomit day in, day out... Thinking of it just made —
"Don’t think, enjoy yourself," Liora said and walked off to her beastman. He held her by the waist and pulled her closer. She blushed, trying to pull away from him. She was probably scared of the crowd, but he kissed her on the lips. The scene made smile like a fool, and I looked away.
The music was just normal violins being played by professionals. It was different from modern music, but still I couldn’t help but tap my boot to the tune.
I sighted a group of five stand up, dancing, twirling around, and the crowd turned to stare at them, cheering and clapping. A girl turned her back and began to wiggle her waist, her skirt bouncing with each movent, but her beastman stood around her, clearly blocking the view.
"Move away!"
"Ahhh, I’m loving this so much!" the crowd yelled. I gently sipped the drink but froze. Why did it taste sweet? Wasn’t wine supposed to be sour and have a bad taste in the mouth? My eyes shimred, and I took another sip before gulping it down. It tasted so sweet. I needed more.
I rushed to the counter. "Two more," I said, and the female gazed at for a while before nodding. Within minutes, I drank the cup completely.
"Is that Raven? Move, we can’t attract her!" I heard a girl beside say, and I snapped my head toward them. They shivered and imdiately stood up, walking off. I sighed.
I would rather be hated than be moved around by outsiders. At least that way I can’t be used. I downed my fifth glass of wine, but I wasn’t drunk...
Finally, I stood up from the chair, and just like that my body began to move. I didn’t realize it, but it was in perfect precision to the beat. I could feel everyone go silent.
"Is she here to ruin the fun?"
"Let’s go, she scares ."
"How did that mad tyrant find this place?"
"Guys, she dances pretty well..."
"And weird." I didn’t care and tuned out their bickering. I swirled my body to the violin sounds, and my legs moved effortlessly. I imdiately reached out and dragged Liora. She blushed as I dragged her to the stage.
"I can’t dance," she said subtly, but I smirked at her. "Be clumsy," I said and reached for her hands, jumping around until a smile crept onto her lips... Soon she began to follow my dance steps. Our boots rang against the wooden floorboards.
But then I sighted Bibi, her hands wrapped around her beastman and their lips entwined with each other. "Get a room," I wanted to shout, but instead I shut my lips, feeling oddly numb.
I swirled around and held Liora’s waist. Soon the crowd began to cheer, but then I ran down the stage and everyone froze.
I reached out and grabbed Bibi. She pulled away from the kiss and her lips parted.
"What?" she yelled, but froze upon seeing . "Raven!" she muttered in shock, biting down on her lips. Her cheeks beca flushed when I caught her.
"Raven, what do you want?" she asked, clearly displeased, but I only smirked and grabbed her wrist. She staggered, but I managed to hold her steady. She was now on the stairs with a flushed face and clearly angry.
"How dare y—" her words cut in her throat when I landed a kiss on her cheeks. She blushed and glared straight at .
"Are you crazy?" she yelled, wiping her cheeks again and again, staring at the shocked crowd. They stared for a while and then cheers erupted.
I held her hand and swirled her. She staggered and was about to reach for my hair when Liora held her hands and started circling around with her.
"She’s drunk, don’t hurt her," I heard Liora’s soft voice, and Bibi scoffed. "If she can’t handle a drink, she shouldn’t drink," she spat out coldly, but then I stopped to a halt and pointed my finger at her.
Why was she double? I thought and pressed my lips into a thin line. I swayed, yet she rolled her eyes.
"Who said I’m drunk? I’m still sober," I said and staggered back. I jabbed my finger at Bibi, and she only stared in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say a word, but then I walked toward her and hugged her. She went still...
"Guys, isn’t Bibi cute?" I asked sluggishly, placing my hands on her cheeks and squeezing softly. She glared.
"Are you trying to embarrass ?" she asked, her tone clearly filled with anger, but I hugged her tightly.
"She can be so annoying, but she’s so cute. Just shut up and danceeeee!" I yelled, and then turned to the violin players and my smirk widened.
"Crank it up!" I yelled, and the music burst louder and more lodic. I held her by the waist and began to dance, then I reached for her wrist and dragged Liora with . Everywhere I went, I dragged a different female, snatching them from their beastn.
For the next hours, every female was on the stage dancing, and their beastn stared with glee and amusent. Even Bibi seed to be enjoying herself... The laughter filled the entire secret bunker.
I grabbed another drink, but Liora snatched it from my hands...
"Co on," I cried out, trying to drag it away from her, but she had that strict, parent-like look on her face. "You will be too drunk to even stay awake!" she said, and a sob escaped from my lips... "Please, Liora," I murmured, giving her a puppy-eyed look, and she sighed. Just as I was about to grab the drink, she snatched it back and smiled. "No more drinking for you," she said and walked away.
I stood there in disbelief. Liora was getting really bold....I liked that. I wanted to say sothing, but my tummy churned and I felt nauseated. I ran up the stairs until I was out of the bunker and threw up in a nearby bush, using a tree as support.
"Oh wow, Raven. You can’t even handle your liquor!"
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