Chapter 147: Back To Cottage 13

Words : 1103 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 147: Back To Cottage 13Evaline: Friday came like a storm. The kind that sits on your chest the moment you open your eyes and doesn’t let you breathe. I had barely slept as my thoughts spiraled into all the ways things could go wrong - into every reaction I feared from Oscar and Draven. Into every word I didn’t know how to say. By the time dawn painted the Academy halls with its pale gold light, my stomach was already churning. I still got out of bed. Still dressed. Still tied my hair back with trembling fingers and forced myself to walk into the day. But I wasn’t okay. And it didn’t take long for my friends to realize it. Kyros noticed first. One look at me in the hallway and his usual smile faded into quiet understanding. Rowan joined us moments later, falling into step beside me with a silent glance and a nod. They knew what today was. They knew I was barely holding it together. And they stayed close. The others, though... they had questions. So many questions. I could feel them building throughout the morning - curious glances during class, hesitant whispers between breaks. By the time lunch arrived, I was running on empty. Literally. I hadn’t eaten anything since morning except the glass of milk Rowan forced me to drink before dragging me to class. Even now, as we all sat around the long table in the dining hall, I was unable to stomach the idea of food. I kept picking at my plate, pushing the food around with my fork as I tried to ignore the growing pit in my stomach. Kyros nudged me quietly. "Eat. Just a little." I shook my head while keeping my gaze fixed on the still full plate. That’s when Mallory lost it. "Okay, no," she snapped, slamming her fork down. "What is going on with you, Eva? You have been acting like a ghost all week. You barely focus on classes, you barely talk, and now you are not eating? Someone better start explaining because I’m done sitting here watching you wither like this." I flinched. Kyros leaned forward and spoke in a firm but calm voice. "Not today, Mal." "Kyros, I swear-" "She’s fine. Just give her space." "She doesn’t look fine!" Mallory hissed, eyes shining with frustrated worry. "She looks like she’s about to break." I did feel like that. But I still couldn’t say anything. Not yet. Fortunately, Rowan spoke for me. "Please. Just today. Let it go." Mallory’s lips tightened, and after a beat, she stood and stormed off, her half-eaten lunch forgotten. I hated myself for it, for being the reason behind that hurt look in her eyes. But I couldn’t reveal anything... at least not at the moment. Right after lunch, I excused myself from the table and pulled out my phone. My fingers were shaking as I typed the message. Cottage 13. Academy Base Camp. 6 PM. I sent it to Oscar and Draven before I could overthink it again. It was time. Classes ended at five. I was feeling like I floated through the last hour, like my body was present but my mind was buried under the weight of the approaching conversation. My notebook was full of scribbles I didn’t even remember writing. Outside the lecture hall, Kyros and Rowan were already waiting for me. Kyros gave me a soft smile. "Still breathing?" "Barely," I muttered. Rowan passed me a small bottle of water and a granola bar. "You’ll need strength to face your men." I didn’t argue this time. I drank. I ate. And then I hugged them both, holding on tighter than usual. "I don’t know what’s going to happen," I whispered, "but thank you. For everything." Kyros squeezed my shoulder. "Go do what you need to do." Rowan smirked. "And if either of them reacts badly, just say the word. I’ll knock some sense into them." I smiled faintly. My heart was pounding as I turned away and left them behind. The secret passage was exactly where Rowan had said it would be - along the outer edge of the old herb garden, covered in thick ivy. I peeled it back carefully and slipped through the broken section of the Academy wall. It was just big enough for someone to pass without crouching, hidden so well no one would ever suspect it. Beyond the wall, the air was different. Freer. Quieter. I reached Base Camp in fifteen minutes on foot. Just like Rowan said, the place was quiet with not a single soul around. Cottage 13 was looking the same as I remembered from my entrance exam. No one bothered to lock the main door, so I easily slipped inside and closed the door behind me. Dust was clinging to the air and the furniture after the place being left unused for months. I was early. Good. It gave me time to steady myself. But all I did was to pace around the common room and wait. Minutes were ticking by like years, and after what felt like forever, my ears finally registered sound outside the cottage. I peeked out through the cracked window and noticed Draven making his way toward the cottage. I swallowed hard and moved quickly to the door, opening it just as he reached the porch. He raised an eyebrow. "Base Camp? Really dramatic meeting spot." I didn’t smile. I couldn’t. "Come in," I said softly and stepped aside. He walked in, glancing around at the dusty room and the scattered furniture. "You brought me all the way out here to... talk about your important matter?" I turned to face him and slowly nodded my head. "Let’s... there’s someone else coming." He blinked in surprise. "Someone else?" He looked around, clearly puzzled. "Should I be worried? Or flattered?" I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how, and the silence stretched between us. Then he sighed and walked up to me, slipping an arm around my waist and pressing his hand gently to my back. "You are shaking," he whispered. "Eva, whatever this is, you don’t have to be afraid." I leaned into him, just for a moment. "I wish that was true." He opened his mouth to say something else, but then... a knock. The sound echoed in the quiet room like thunder. I pulled away from him and walked to the door. My heart was hammering so loud I was sure both of them would hear it. I placed my hand on the doorknob, took a deep breath... and then I opened it.

Chapter 147: Back To Cottage 13

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