✨ Chapter 25 – The School Beauty
For the next few days, the academy moved at a strange rhythm.
On the surface, everything felt normal:
Classes resumed.
Students whispered about gossip.
The cafeteria buzzed with noise.
Training grounds were full again.
But Ariana knew the truth—
Rebirth was moving, testing the boundaries, waiting for the perfect moment.
Still, Headmaster Solarin insisted the group attend classes as usual.
"You must blend in," he told Ariana. "The academy must feel normal, even if it isn't."
Ariana wasn't sure how to pretend everything was fine…
but she tried.
And everything was… mostly fine.
Until **Seraphina Vale** walked back into the academy halls.
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## **A New Face, An Old Reputation**
Ariana first saw her before Elemental Theory class.
Seraphina Vale stood in the center of a small group of admiring students—laughing lightly, brushing her soft blonde curls behind her ear.
She was tall.
Elegant.
Beautiful in a way that seemed effortless.
Emerald-green eyes, long lashes, heart-shaped lips painted rose pink.
Her uniform looked custom-tailored.
Her aura shimmered faintly with gold—Charm magic.
Ariana blinked.
*Candlelight in human form,* her wolf muttered.
"She's back early!" a girl squealed.
"She spent last semester training with the Charms Guild!"
"And she still looks perfect!"
Ariana's stomach twisted.
Kai approached from behind, placing a hand on Ariana's shoulder.
"You okay?"
Ariana nodded quickly.
"Yeah. Just… that's Seraphina Vale, right?"
Kai made a face.
"…Yeah."
Ariana frowned. "You don't like her?"
Kai hesitated.
"She's… fine."
Which, coming from Kai, meant:
**Complicated.**
Before Ariana could ask more—
Seraphina turned her head.
Her smile brightened instantly.
"Kai!"
Kai stiffened.
Ariana's wolf growled softly.
Seraphina glided toward them, her hair bouncing like it was caught in a commercial breeze.
"I returned just yesterday," she said warmly, "and everyone keeps saying you've been different lately! Stronger. More intimidating."
She fluttered her lashes at him.
Kai cleared his throat.
"Uh. Training."
"Oh?" Seraphina stepped closer, hand resting on Kai's arm—far too comfortably.
"You should train with me sometime. I can help you relax your aura. It's so tense."
Ariana blinked.
Relax his what?
Kai gently removed Seraphina's hand.
"I'm good."
Seraphina's gaze sharpened for a split second—
then softened again when she noticed Ariana.
"And who's this?" she asked sweetly.
Kai exhaled.
"Ariana Sterling."
Seraphina's smile returned, bright but not warm.
"Oh! The new girl."
Her eyes flicked over Ariana from head to toe.
"I've heard rumors about you."
Ariana shifted uncomfortably.
Seraphina leaned in.
"They say you're powerful."
"…I guess," Ariana mumbled.
"They say Kai has been spending time with you," she added casually, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Ariana flushed.
Kai frowned.
"Seraphina—"
"And," she added with a perfectly harmless laugh, "they say the boys from the Pillars are… oddly protective of you."
Now Ariana flushed for a different reason.
Kai groaned.
"Seraphina."
But Seraphina gently touched Kai's arm again.
"You know you can always talk to me, right? Like old times?"
Ariana didn't know what "old times" meant.
But her chest tightened.
Her wolf paced anxiously.
**"She smells like trouble,"** it growled.
Ariana bit her lip, forcing herself to look unaffected.
"I—I'm going to class," she whispered.
Kai immediately turned.
"Ariana—wait—"
But Seraphina slipped between them, smiling.
"Kai, could you help me carry my things? They're terribly heavy and—"
Kai stepped around her without hesitation.
"No."
Seraphina blinked.
"Oh."
Kai reached Ariana, placing a hand between her shoulder blades.
"Ariana. Wait."
She didn't stop walking until they were around the corner.
"Ariana," Kai said, turning her gently. "Hey. Look at me."
She stared at the floor.
Kai frowned.
"Are you upset?"
"No," she lied.
Kai raised a brow.
"Then why do you smell sad?"
Ariana's head snapped up.
"I WHAT?!"
Kai flushed instantly.
"Forget I said that! Wolves smell emotions sometimes and you— nevermind— look, I just— Seraphina is not— she's—"
He struggled.
Kai Vesper.
Strongest student in the academy.
Intelligent.
Calm.
Deadly.
Now completely helpless.
Ariana suddenly laughed.
Kai blinked.
"What?"
"You're very bad at explanations."
Kai groaned.
"Please don't be upset."
Ariana shook her head.
"I'm not. I just… don't understand her. Or how you know her."
Kai sighed.
"She was popular. Everyone liked her. She used to follow me around a lot. People assumed things." He hesitated. "People still assume things."
Ariana swallowed.
"Oh."
"But she's not—" he stopped, then forced the words out. "I'm not interested in her."
Ariana's heart stuttered.
Kai stepped closer.
"I just… don't want you thinking she means anything."
Ariana opened her mouth—
But the classroom door slammed open.
"ROOM FOR THE BEAUTY QUEEN!" Rylan declared dramatically.
Aster poked her head out behind him.
"Moon-sister!" she squeaked, running straight to Ariana.
Ariana lifted her instinctively.
Aster cupped Ariana's cheeks.
"Why is your heart doing sad-thumping?"
Ariana nearly died from embarrassment.
Kai covered his face.
Calen snorted.
"Children tell the truth. Painfully."
Zane looked at Ariana with a knowing expression.
"You met Seraphina."
Ariana groaned.
"Yes."
Rylan cackled.
"Oh THIS is going to be fun."
Aster whispered loudly:
"I don't like the shiny lady."
Ariana's eyes widened.
Kai nearly dropped to his knees in gratitude.
Zane smirked.
"Well. At least Aster approves of you."
Kai looked at Ariana, cheeks slightly red.
"Come on," he whispered softly.
"Class is starting."
Ariana nodded, following him inside.
But she couldn't shake the unfamiliar feeling twisting in her stomach—
Jealousy.
Her wolf nudged her gently.
**"Do not fear the golden flower,"** it whispered.
**"The sun looks bright, but it has no pull on the moon."**
Ariana didn't fully understand…
But she knew one thing:
Seraphina Vale was not done.
And neither was Rebirth.