Chapter 59: Not Forgetting the Deal

Words : 1068 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 59: Not Forgetting the DealEvaline: There was another long pause before he answered. "Because someone I care about needs it. And I would burn myself down before I let them suffer." That was all he gave me. But it was enough. His truth was just as incomplete and yet just as honest as mine. And somehow, that made all the difference. We didn’t need to spell out our secrets. We just needed someone to understand that we had them. And for the first time since arriving at the Academy, I felt safe enough to relax. "Thanks for talking to me," I murmured as I shifted on the bed to slide back beneath my blanket. Rowan pushed himself up and stretched before moving to his own bed. "You ever need to talk again, you know where to find me." "Hopefully, I won’t be waking you up at two in the morning again for that," I joked weakly, trying to add some humor before sleep. He chuckled. The sound was low and surprisingly warm. "Don’t worry. I have had worse." That made me go still for a moment. Something about him and his story made me feel that he had been through a lot, or might still be going through it. But I couldn’t make myself ask any further questions. Not only because I wanted to respect his silence like he was doing with me, but because I was in no place to offer him a helping hand in my current situation. As he pulled the covers over himself, I let my eyes close again. The weight in my chest was still there, but it was much lighter now. Easier. Though we didn’t share everything, we had shared enough. And in a place where I was hesitant about trusting anyone, Rowan was proving himself to be a friend I might find myself trusting. Still, I didn’t let my hopes get too high. After all, I knew better than anyone what it felt like to have one’s trust shattered. * * * Morning arrived four hours later, and while I barely got enough sleep, I was in good spirits. I felt... better. Clearer. Like a fog had finally lifted from my thoughts. Maybe it was the talk with Rowan. Or maybe it was just knowing someone else in this massive, unpredictable place carried secrets too. Either way, I didn’t feel as alone anymore. He was already gone as usual when I slipped out of bed and headed to the girls’ showers. The day passed quickly. The lectures were dense, packed with theory and practical concepts that would have overwhelmed me if not for my regular visits to the library. I was following along easily as the second week came to an end, even answering a few questions in the classes that got me smiles of approvals from the professors but eye rolls from some of the other students. As the final bell rang and the halls began to empty, I headed to the administrative wing to meet him - Professor Kieran. I was felling slightly nervous as I approached his office door. I stopped for a moment to take in a deep breath before knocking softly on the door. It swung open almost immediately. "Evaline," he greeted as I stepped in. He was standing tall in a crisp black shirt and charcoal trousers. His long hair was tied back loosely, and his eyes were glinting warmly under the soft light of the late afternoon that was filtering inside through the open window. "Right on time." I nodded. "You said to come after classes." "And I appreciate your punctuality," he said and gestured for me to sit across from him. "I won’t keep you long," he said before adding, "I know it’s been a long week." "Thank you," I murmured. "Is this about tomorrow?" He nodded. "Yes. You’ll be starting your internship with the Council. It’s a valuable opportunity, and I hope you make the most of it." "I will," I said quickly, meaning it. "One of my men will be waiting for you outside the Academy gates at eight in the morning. He’ll escort you to the Council headquarters," he explained. "Once you are there, show your student ID at the main reception. The staff will fill you in on your duties and schedule." I nodded, mentally noting everything. "Got it. Thank you." His smile softened. "You have earned this. You are working hard. I have heard nothing but praise about your progress from the other professors." That surprised me. "You have?" He chuckled lightly. "I may not be teaching your class yet, but I hear things. Apparently, you have got a sharp mind and a hard working spirit." I smiled faintly. "I’ll take that as a compliment." "You should," he said with a warm smile. "And I’m looking forward to starting my own classes next week." I was also looking forward to his classes, not only because I found him to be a really kind and warm person to be around, but also because of the great things I have been hearing about him as a professor and his classes. Taking another deep breath, I began. "Professor... about the deal... the one we made before I came here." He stilled slightly but didn’t seem surprised. He leaned back in his chair and studied me quietly. "I haven’t forgotten," he said eventually in a low voice. "And I don’t expect you to either." My pulse picked up, but I forced myself to remain still. "Then what do you want me to do?" He smiled gently. "Not today. We’ll talk about it next week, once your internship has started and you have settled in. It’s not urgent. Yet." I exhaled, not sure if I felt relieved or even more anxious. "Alright," I said finally. "Next week, then." He nodded once. "Good. In the meantime, rest up tonight. You’ll need your energy." I stood and gave him a polite nod. "Thank you again. For everything." "You are welcome," he said, his gaze lingering for a heartbeat too long before he looked back at the papers on his desk. "Good luck tomorrow." As I left his office and stepped back into the cool evening air, I realized I wasn’t scared of tomorrow anymore. Nervous? Yes. Uncertain? Always. But scared? No. Because for the first time in a long while, I had a goal. A direction.

Chapter 59: Not Forgetting the Deal

Comments (0)