"What?"
"Spell?"
Voices overlapped in disbelief, confusion rippling through the group like disturbed water. Everyone stared at Yvonne as if the latter had just spoken nonsense—everyone except Eric.
Eric's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of surprise flickering through them before disappearing just as quickly. Since stepping into this compound, he had already sensed that something was off. He had suspected a spell-based trial meant to test their awareness and composure. But the fact that Alessandra—someone everyone believed to be powerless—had figured it out first genuinely caught him off guard.
Lucen let out a low whistle. "Well. That's new."
Kael folded his arms, eyes fixed not on the courtyard—but on Eric.
"Notice something?" he murmured.
Eric didn't respond.
He was watching Alessandra.
Cassandra frowned deeply, her sharp eyes sweeping across the compound again. Cracked walls. Dusty statues. Dry ground.
Nothing out of place… at least, nothing she could see.
"Alessandra," she scoffed, folding her arms.
"What nonsense are you talking about? A spell trick? Do you even know what that is? You shouldn't speak when you clearly know nothing."
Her words dripped with disdain.
Yvonne resisted the urge to say: *No, but I know when something smells wrong.*
Unfortunately, manners were expected here. Pity.
"Exactly!" Bianca chimed in, her lips curling in disgust. "What could you possibly know? Everyone here knows how you became an Order Of The White Flame student."
Lilith laughed mockingly. "If not for your precious brother, would you even be standing here? You didn't even sit for the exam!"
The words struck harder than expected.
So Alessandra hadn't taken the exam. She was admitted through her brother's influence. No wonder the hostility. Whoever her brother was, he must have loved her deeply… or protected her excessively.
Yvonne exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain calm. Arguing blindly would get her nowhere. These people didn't know her—they only knew the version of Alessandra they had already judged and discarded.
Still, She would not allow herself to be humiliated.
"You want an explanation? Fine. I'll give you one. Though I don't know the fancy terms," Yvonne said, shrugging lightly.
"But I know when things don't match.""
The courtyard fell silent.
"The tree," Yvonne continued, pointing toward the large flowering tree standing proudly in the center of the compound. "That tree proves this is a spell trick."
Cassandra sneered. "How exactly?"
"The environment is decayed," Yvonne replied calmly. "Cracked walls. Dust-covered floors. Dry ground. Everything suggests abandonment. And yet—"
Yvonne turned back to the tree.
"That tree is perfectly healthy. Its bark is strong. Its branches are full. It's blooming with colorful flowers, not a single one dried or withered. Yet look at the ground."
Everyone followed her gaze.
"There are dried leaves scattered everywhere," Yvonne said. "But not one fallen flower among them. Even with the wind blowing, nothing from the tree has dropped. That alone is unnatural."
Murmurs spread through the group.
Eric's fingers curled slowly at his side.
That wasn't luck.
That wasn't instinct alone.
That was awareness.
And awareness like that… was dangerous.
"And there's more," Yvonne added. "It rained last night. We all experienced it. Yet this place looks like it hasn't felt moisture in years. The air is dry. The ground is dusty. No puddles. No dampness. The walls aren't cold or wet. The statues and gates are covered in dust that should've been washed away."
She paused, letting it sink in.
"In conclusion," Yvonne finished quietly, "this entire place is a spell-based illusion."
For a heartbeat, there was nothing.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause echoed through the compound, slow at first, then growing louder.
From the far end of the courtyard, figures emerged.
Lord Thomas.
Miss Olivia.
And three other instructors.
All of them were smiling. All of them were clapping.
Lucen leaned in, voice barely audible.
"She saw it before you," he said.
Kael smirked faintly.
"No. She saw it before *everyone*."
"Well done," Miss Olivia said, her eyes shining with disbelief and pride. "Bravo, Alessandra. Truly impressive. No one expected you to notice so quickly."
"I'm amazed," one of the other instructors added. "Not even most Order Of The White Flame candidates catch that level of detail."
Cassandra froze.
This… was real?
Her gaze snapped back to Alessandra, scanning her face, her posture, her eyes. That familiar unease crawled up her spine again—the same feeling she'd had ever since Alessandra's so-called memory loss.
Is this really her?
Or someone else entirely?
While everyone else stood stunned, praise echoing around her, Yvonne felt none of it.
She was furious.
Her eyes locked onto Lord Thomas.
He stood tall and composed, his expression mostly neutral—but there it was. A flicker of amusement. A barely-there smile tugging at his lips.
Under different circumstances, Yvonne might have been shocked. Lord Thomas was known for his cold, unreadable demeanor. But right now, that faint smile only fueled her anger.
"Is this amusing to you?" Yvonne snapped. "Nearly killing innocent people for a stupid test?!"
"Innocent people?" Lord Thomas echoed calmly, raising a brow.
"Yes. Innocent people!" Yvonne shot back, pointing at Naomi. "She almost died because of this damned test!"
"Alessandra," Lord Thomas said coolly, "mind your tone."
Yvonne glared at him. "She almost died!"
"She was not meant to be here," Lord Thomas replied without hesitation. "Therefore, her safety is her own responsibility."
Yvonne blood boiled.
"She is a human being," She said harshly. "Not just a maid!"
"Enough," Miss Olivia interjected sharply.
"Lord Thomas is correct. A Order Of The White Flame student cannot rely on servants. On the battlefield, you will be alone."
She softened slightly. "However, due to your memory condition, Naomi will be allowed to stay with you for one week. That should be sufficient."
One week.
Hmph. Before that week ends, she would find a way out of this place.
"Miss… it's okay," Naomi said quietly, tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing her like that made Yvonne chest ache. In this strange, hostile world, she was the only person who felt like home.
"All right," Lord Thomas said, waving a hand.
The illusion shattered.
The dust vanished. The cracks sealed. The building transformed into a clean, majestic structure, glowing with quiet authority. It was beautiful—imposing, yet refined.
Still…
Something was wrong.
"There's no one here," Kaylyn said slowly. "Is this really the Order Of The White Flame building? Why is it so silent?"
Yvonne had noticed it too.
Miss Olivia nodded. "That's because it was sealed a thousand years ago."
The words hit like thunder.
"Sealed? A thousand years ago!" everyone exclaimed.