Heroes of Veridia: Evelyn's Journey

Vivian's POV...

I was sitting with Selene and Logan, casually chatting and picking at my food, when the door to the cafeteria swung open. The noise of the bustling room hushed slightly as everyone turned to see who had entered. My eyes followed, and I spotted Evelyn. But what made my heart skip a beat wasn't just her entrance—it was the three guys flanking her like a personal guard.

"Isn't that interesting," Selene whispered beside me, her voice dripping with curiosity.

Logan's brow furrowed as he looked over. "Those are the same guys who follow her around like loyal dogs. What's she doing with them again?"

I felt a sour taste rise in my throat. I watched as the three peeled away from her side, probably remembering whatever warning she must have given them. But that didn't matter to me. I didn't want to see them around her, around us. I had no idea why, but the sight of them beside her stirred something unpleasant inside me.

My fingers drummed against the table, tapping out a steady rhythm as I struggled to keep my expression neutral. I didn't want Logan or Selene to notice how much Evelyn's presence, and those three idiots, irritated me.

"They're like her little entourage now," I muttered, not looking away from Evelyn. "It's pathetic."

"She's got them wrapped around her finger, that's for sure," Logan said, leaning back in his chair. "But why would she need them? She's already got—"

"Shut up, Logan," I snapped, sharper than I intended. He blinked at me, surprised, and Selene's eyes widened slightly. I let out a breath, forcing a smile. "Sorry, just... tired of talking about her."

Logan shrugged, clearly not convinced, but let it go.

I watched Evelyn head toward the food line, her head held high. As if she hadn't just been through some ridiculous ordeal in the gym. I'd seen her struggle. Everyone had. I should have felt satisfaction, seeing her weakness. But instead, all I felt was a simmering irritation. Why did she have to try so hard, even when she knew she'd fail?

Before I could brood on it any longer, Vanessa's voice cut through the air like nails on a chalkboard.

"Oh, look who finally dragged herself here!" Vanessa stood up from her table, mock applause following her as she sneered at Evelyn. "Must've been tough, right? Took you long enough!"

The cafeteria was filled with murmurs and scattered laughter. My eyes narrowed on Vanessa as she continued her tirade. Evelyn, for her part, just stood there, her face impassive. It was infuriating how she could just... stand there.

"She's so weak, she had to bring her little bodyguards with her! Can't even survive a training session on her own. Pathetic!" Vanessa laughed loudly, and a few others joined in, their laughter echoing off the cafeteria walls.

A wave of anger surged through me. Vanessa, that pathetic girl with her weak gift, had once tried to control me. It's almost laughable that I didn't tag her and her little followers when I had the chance. And now here she was, mocking Evelyn, while the rest of these fools laughed along.

"Shut up, Vanessa," I muttered under my breath. It wasn't loud enough for her to hear, but Logan and Selene exchanged glances.

"What's wrong?" Selene asked softly.

"Nothing," I said, shaking my head. "Just... nothing."

Vanessa continued her performance, and I watched as Evelyn's face remained calm. She didn't react, didn't snap back, didn't show any sign that Vanessa's words were getting to her. It was infuriating. Why didn't she just do something? Stand up for herself?

I clenched my fists under the table, a wave of frustration washing over me. What was Evelyn thinking, just standing there and taking it? She was stronger than this. She had to be. I'd seen it during the test and felt it when she almost eliminated me. But now she was just... letting Vanessa walk all over her?

Vanessa finally sat back down, a satisfied smirk on her face. The laughter died down, and Evelyn moved to get her food as if nothing had happened. I stared at her, my mind racing.

What was she doing?

"I can't believe she just let Vanessa do that," Selene said, shaking her head. "If it were me, I'd—"

"You'd what?" I snapped. "You'd get into a pointless argument and probably get yourself in trouble?"

Selene looked taken aback, but I didn't care. I was too wound up, too... angry. At Evelyn, at Vanessa, at everything.

"Hey, chill," Logan said, raising his hands in a mock surrender. "What's got you all riled up?"

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to take a deep breath. "Nothing. Just... this place. Everything."

They exchanged another look but thankfully didn't press me. I kept my eyes on Evelyn as she collected her food and started looking around for a seat.

She looked... tired. No, more than tired. Drained. It was weird, seeing her like that. Vulnerable.

I hated it.

As Evelyn walked past Vanessa's table, Vanessa stuck out her foot, almost tripping her. Evelyn stumbled, but caught herself, her tray wobbling dangerously. The cafeteria erupted into another round of laughter, and my teeth ground together so hard I thought they'd crack.

"Just ignore her," I muttered to myself, not sure who I was talking to. Evelyn? Me?

"She's just trying to get a reaction," Selene added, glancing at me. "It's pathetic."

No. It wasn't just pathetic. It was dangerous. Vanessa had no idea who she was messing with. None of them did. And Evelyn, for some reason, wasn't doing anything to change that.

Evelyn finally found a seat, far away from Vanessa's table, but still within my line of sight. She sat down, her face a mask of indifference as she picked at her food. But I knew it was a lie.

She was planning something. She had to be.

And if not... well, maybe it was time I reminded her just who she was.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. There was no point in getting worked up over this. Not here, not now. But later... later, I'd find Evelyn. We'd talk. I wasn't going to let her throw away whatever strength she had. Not when she was supposed to be on my side.

Vanessa continued to cackle with her little group, clearly pleased with herself. But my attention wasn't on her anymore. It was on Evelyn.

I'd figure this out. Whatever she was doing, whatever game she was playing—I'd figure it out. And when I did, we'd see just how much of that calm exterior was real.

"Come on," I said to Logan and Selene, standing up abruptly. "Let's get out of here."

They looked surprised but followed me without question. As we left the cafeteria, I glanced back at Evelyn one last time.

She was still sitting there, alone, eating in silence.

And I knew, somehow, that this wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

Evelyn's POV...

I watched from the corner of my eye as Vivian and her group finally made their exit. The air around me felt lighter as their presence dissipated. It was hard not to notice them, especially with the way Vivian kept glaring at me, her gaze practically drilling into my back since I entered the cafeteria. But I kept my head down, focusing on my plate instead. They were gone now, and I could breathe a little easier.

I took another bite of my food, chewing slowly. The meal was nothing special—some scrambled eggs, a piece of toast, and a small serving of fruit. It was more than I usually managed to get my hands on, especially on a day like this. Completing two full sets of those exercises had taken everything I had, even with the small boost from my gift.

I glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to me. The last thing I needed was anyone catching on to what I had done. Using my power so openly in the gym was a risk, but I hadn't had much of a choice. It was either that or collapse in front of everyone. I shuddered at the thought. Phantom Edge wasn't the kind of place where you wanted to show any weakness.

Even now, I could feel the last traces of my gift slipping away, leaving me drained. My muscles were aching, fatigue settling in as the energy that had fueled me earlier disappeared. I sighed softly, poking at my eggs with my fork. I was lucky, I supposed. If it hadn't been for my ability, I'd probably be lying on the gym floor right now, unable to move. But instead, here I was, eating, recovering, grateful for the reprieve.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. There was still some time left before I had to get back to training. It wasn't much, but I'd take whatever moments I could to rest. The cafeteria was still buzzing with students, some chatting animatedly, others sitting alone like me, quietly shoveling food into their mouths.

My gaze wandered back to the door where Vivian had exited, and I let out a small breath of relief. Her presence had a way of making the air feel thick and suffocating. I didn't know why she was so fixated on me. Was it because I'd managed to complete the same number of exercises as her? Or was there something else?

I took another bite, savoring the sensation of my body slowly recharging. I needed to be careful, though. The temptation to use my gift to push myself further was strong, but it was also dangerous. I couldn't rely on it too much, not here, not with so many eyes watching. But still, I couldn't help the small, satisfied smile that tugged at my lips. I'd done it. I'd kept up, I hadn't fallen behind, and I had enough food to eat because of it.

The chatter around me grew louder, breaking my thoughts. I focused back on my plate, finishing the last few bites of my meal. The food wasn't the best, but it was warm and filling, and right now, that was all I needed. I felt the fatigue weighing down on me, the absence of that vibrant energy my gift had provided earlier making me almost dizzy.

As I swallowed the last bite of toast, I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a brief moment. The exhaustion was overwhelming, creeping into every bone, every muscle. I'd been running on adrenaline and borrowed strength, and now that it was gone, I was left with nothing but the raw, aching reality of just how far I'd pushed myself.

The noise in the cafeteria seemed to fade into the background as I sat there, taking slow, deep breaths. I needed to find a way to balance this, to use my power without draining myself completely. Today had been a test, a way to see what I was capable of. But there was a long road ahead, and I couldn't afford to burn out so early.

I opened my eyes, the fluorescent lights of the cafeteria glaring down at me. Students were still moving around, chatting, eating, oblivious to my inner turmoil. I was just another face in the crowd, just another trainee trying to survive this brutal place. And that was exactly how I wanted it.

I stood up slowly, my legs protesting with every movement. My body felt like lead, heavy and uncooperative. I gathered my tray and made my way to the disposal area, dumping the remnants of my meal. Every step felt like an effort, but I kept moving, refusing to show just how tired I was.

As I turned to leave, I caught sight of a few students glancing in my direction, whispering among themselves. I ignored them, keeping my head down. Let them talk. I didn't care. I had bigger things to worry about than idle gossip.

Stepping out of the cafeteria, I took a deep breath, the cool air of the hallway a stark contrast to the stuffy warmth of the dining area. I paused, leaning against the wall for a moment, trying to gather my strength. My limbs were still trembling, the aftereffects of my power leaving me feeling raw and exposed.

I had to be more careful. I couldn't let anyone see just how much I relied on my gift. Not until I had it under control, not until I understood what I was truly capable of. I straightened up, forcing myself to move, to keep going. There was no time to rest, no time to relax. I had to keep pushing, had to keep fighting.

As I walked down the hallway, I could still feel the stares, and the whispers following me. But I ignored them, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. There was no room for weakness here, no space for doubt. I had to stay strong, had to keep moving forward, no matter what.

I stumbled into my dorm room, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on my shoulders. My small, cramped space greeted me, but the sight of the flowers I'd created last night made it feel almost inviting. They spread across the bed, their delicate petals soft and inviting. I sank into them, the plushness cushioning my sore muscles. It felt like falling into a cloud.

I let out a deep breath, feeling the tension in my body ease away. Today had been grueling, pushing my limits more than I'd anticipated. Completing the same number of sets as Vivian had been an unexpected victory, but I knew the truth behind it. Without my gift, there was no way I could have kept up.

The power of nature surged through me when I was at my weakest, renewing my strength and healing my aching muscles. It wasn't something I wanted to rely on, but it had been my only option. I couldn't let anyone see what I was truly capable of. Not yet, at least.

I thought back to the others during the test. Some of them had used their abilities, trying to mask it as skill or endurance. Even Vivian had called upon her wind powers, subtle but effective. If they could use their gifts, why shouldn't I? But the risk was too great. My power was too... noticeable.

I ran my fingers over the petals beneath me. The flowers responded to my touch, blooming brighter, their soft glow illuminating the dim room. I could feel the energy within me, the pulse of nature waiting just beneath the surface. It was so tempting to let it out, to show everyone what I could do.

But I had to be smart. The walls of Phantom Edge were full of eyes, and one misstep could ruin everything. I wasn't afraid of my gift or ashamed of it. No, it was my greatest strength. But it was also my secret, one that I had to protect.

As if sensing my thoughts, a wave of warmth washed over me, the familiar hum of nature's energy flooding my senses. The fatigue that had been clawing at me all day melted away, replaced by a vibrant, almost overwhelming vitality. My muscles felt stronger, my mind clearer. I flexed my fingers, watching as tiny green tendrils coiled around them before retracting back into my skin.

It felt incredible like I could take on the world. But I knew I had to be careful. This power was a gift, but it was also dangerous in the wrong hands. If anyone knew what I could do, and truly understood the extent of my abilities, they would never leave me alone.

I needed to find a balance. I couldn't let myself become dependent on my gift, but I also couldn't hold back so much that I weakened myself. It was a delicate line to walk, but I was determined to master it. If others could use their powers discreetly, then so could I.

Lying back, I stared at the ceiling, the Luminalis blossoms casting soft, shifting patterns of light across the room. They were my creation, a testament to what I could do. And I realized then that I wasn't afraid of my gift. I never had been. I just didn't want to draw attention, didn't want anyone to see how much power I had.

But maybe I didn't have to hide it completely. I could use it in small ways, subtle ways, like I did today. As long as I was careful, I could push myself harder, get stronger, and still keep my secret.

I let the energy flow through me, rejuvenating every part of my body. I was filled with a renewed sense of purpose. Tomorrow, I would be better. I would push myself harder and use my gift wisely. I wouldn't let fear of exposure hold me back, but I also wouldn't be reckless.

My mind wandered to what lay ahead. I had a lot to prove, not just to myself but to everyone else. I would show them my strength, but on my terms, in my own time. There was a fire within me, a drive to become something more, and I would harness it, mold it until I was unstoppable.

As I lay there, the flowers cradling me, I felt a surge of determination. I was going to become stronger, and more skilled. I would use my gift when I needed it, but I would be careful. No one needed to know how much I could do—how much I could be.

I closed my eyes, feeling the gentle pulse of energy beneath my skin. This was just the beginning. I was ready to face whatever came next, ready to push my limits even further. And as I drifted off to sleep, I knew one thing for certain: I wouldn't hold back. Not anymore.