Until this day, Sierra Kingsley has never struggled to keep track of her thoughts and surroundings. But as of this moment, everything is a blur. The lines between delusion and reality had been erased the minute her world faded into nothing. She always imagined passing out to be similar to the process of lights turning off one by one. But in reality, it was as if the electricity had been shut off and there was nothing.

She fades in and out of consciousness. Possibly twenty times in the span of thirty minutes. That's the time it takes for her to be taken to the academy's infirmary and for the nurses to figure out what's wrong. Or so a part of Sierra's mind believes. Another half of her, is concentrating on the way the orange leaves are cascading down with the wind.

They fall onto her, tickling the small hairs on her bare arm. It doesn't make sense that she's surrounded by a pile of orange fallen leaves. It's Spring, not Autumn. But this feels much better than what the other half of her mind wants her to feel.

She wants to ignore the throbbing in her head. She fears if she lingers on the train of thought too long, it will sense her presence and stalk her till she gives in. So, she stays away and basks under the falling leaves.

Her hand rises and she waits patiently for the sharp touch of the leaf on her hand. But it never comes. The leaf falls right through her hand. The leaves fall through just like the words floating around her.

The voices. They're frantic. They seem to be calling her name. Sierra's eyebrows scrunch together trying to figure out what they are saying. The words of distress fall through gaps and cracks and her brain aches to reach into the crevices and pull them out.

She looks up at the sky, blue and void of clouds. Sierra can remember glancing up at the overcast sky days prior and seeing fluid prose. But now all she can find is patchy free verse. The drumming sound of her heart beat escalating reaches her ears. And that is all it takes for the control she has to wither away.

Sierra no longer understands where she is or what she is. Is she in flesh? The wind races past her. Is she falling? Her skin prickles with an uncomfortable feeling. Is that the burn of a suffocating fire? She is loose, and free. Is she undoing into a fluid?

She is waiting for something.

Sierra. Sierra. Sierra.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

"Will she be okay?"

"Yes, Mr. Woods. Though not much can be said until she wakes up." The nurse moves to fuss over the boy three beds down from Sierra.

"It's been three days," Zoe says, her eyes teary and her voice on the edge of breaking.

"Do you think Professor Bane will get fired?" Lucas asks, his eyes frozen on the pale girl on the bed. As much as he is concerned for his friend, Lucas can't bear the thought of his favourite professor being sacked.

"I doubt it," Amisha interjects, from where she leans, her back rigid against the wall.

When Noah had first spotted Amisha standing next to Elijah Grimm, he had marvelled at how similarly the two had blended into the walls. Their stances and facial expressions so similar that Noah would've figured them to be siblings – if not twins.

"He pushed her too far."

Zoe looks up at Day, surprised to hear the words coming from her best friend. After all, ever since she has dragged him into the infirmary, Day hasn't spoken a word, until now. Zoe hasn't missed how intently he has stared at Sierra's unconscious body, almost as if he is trying to figure out a puzzle and she had all the pieces.

"You all should be heading back to your dormitories now. I don't think the Principal would be impressed to see your group here at this hour," the head nurse, Mrs Rochelle says.

The candidates shoot Sierra one glance before they filter out slowly.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

It is two days later that Sierra Kingsley's eyes flutter open. Instantly, her mind is bombarded with pain. Her lips open with a hoarse gasp, and she strains to stabilize herself.

Her hand grips the bed side table and she tries to pull her body up so she can lean against the wall.

She barely registers the nurse rushing to her until she is next to her, reprimanding her for moving.

"Your brain has suffered quite a bit. Professor Bane must not have realized the extent of his strength's force," the nurse mutters, while holding up a glass to her lips. "Drink this."

Sierra glances suspiciously into the cup. She smells basil, amroot, and something else. A strong smell that reminds her of Gideon's backyard. Maybe Brushia? But she can't be sure.

"It's a pain relief potion, Nurse Rochelle herself concocted it. Drink it, you'll feel better."

Shooting another uncertain glance at the nurse, Sierra takes the glass. With a gulp, she downs it. Immediately, regretting it a second after.

"That was awful," Sierra chokes out, appalled at the taste. The nurse takes the glass away.

With a dry look, the nurse remarks back, "I can't imagine it to be worse than the migraine that Professor Bane left you with."

Sierra does nothing to hide how unimpressed she is. "When do I get to leave?" she asks, trying not to look

too hopeful.

"Soon."

"When is soon?" Sierra screams at the nurse's retreating back, her voice sounding like an overstrung harp.

The nurse's reply floats back, "Soon is soon."

Sierra mumbles a chain of colourful words that probably have her mother rolling in her grave. With a sigh, Sierra glances around her surroundings.

Turns out her friends had brought her flowers, chocolates and someone had even gone far enough to get her a basket of fruits. Probably Zoe. A glance at the card on the basket confirms her suspicions.

Sierra's eyes catch on to the assortment of daisies. The smile that graces her lips is inevitable. Her hands reach out to grab the bouquet and she wonders if she had accidentally slipped what her favourite flowers were in a conversation.

She peeks at the note.

I can't wait till you get better. Love, Gideon.

Sierra can't believe the last letters scrawled on the bottom of the note. She drops the flowers on to the bed next to her, and groans.

Fantastic. This is exactly what she needs.

It's only a few minutes later that the nurse returns and tells her she can go back to her dormitories as long as she keeps taking the concoction. As her 'get well' gifts float around her in the air, Sierra walks back to her dorm, so ready to crash onto her own bed.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Noah Woods' fingers trace the words on the off-white pages in front of him. His narrow eyes processing the horrifying statistics that the rebellion had produced. After all, that's all these people had become, a history lesson at the academy, a lesson learned, a list of heart-breaking statistics.

A war wages inside him.

If Noah is to be real with himself, he knows that there is a high chance he'll be announced as an heir. If he is to be true to himself, he knows that he had not signed up for this responsibility. But then, fate had a cruel way of stamping your path for you.

How can a boy who used to steal bread defeat the Dark King?

"Did you do the Civisal Studies homework?"

Orion's question brings Noah back to reality, like the pull of the moon bringing the waves crashing onto the shore.

Processing his words, Noah feels his eyes widen, and he sputters his next words out, "We had homework?"

Orion looks up from his book on magical artefacts and finds a panicked Noah. "It's due tomorrow, don't worry."

Noah sinks back into his seat. "You scared the life out of me."

"If you need help with it, just let me know."

Noah nods gratefully, his brain a mushy mess of conflicting thoughts.

As if the words can't stop themselves, Noah adds, "Thank you, it's just with Sierra finally out of the infirmary, I've been so worried about her."

"It's Sierra, she'll be fine."

"It's because it's Sierra that I'm worried." Noah pauses, his brain still processing his sudden need to confide in Orion. "She's so stubborn and she thinks she's okay but she's not. No one expects her to be okay."

"I think Sierra does."

Noah slumps back into his seat, his thoughts drifting back to the witch who is slowly becoming his best friend. His eyes scan around the room, coming to the realization that this is possibly the first time that Sierra Kingsley isn't in the library.

"What are you reading anyways?" Noah asks, his eyes taking in the thick book in Orion's hands.

Orion points to the cover, where the words 'The Guide to Magical Artifacts' are printed in large and bold letters.

"Correction: Why are you reading that?" Noah questions, wondering if the large book happens to be Orion's idea of 'light reading'.

"Day thinks Sierra is behind the dodgy shit happening in the courtyard, and I think he's wrong. So, I'm on a mission to prove him wrong."

Noah's eyebrows furrow. "Why would Day think it's Sierra of all people?"

"Because," Orion starts, pausing for a moment trying to gather his thoughts, "he thinks Sierra's hiding something."

"Aren't we all?"