Sierra's muscles ache from their weapons training an hour ago. She knows that her back is probably still bruised from their training a few days ago. Sierra had taken a nasty kick from Amisha and fallen onto her back. A year ago, Sierra would've screamed in pain but at the training Sierra had merely rolled back up. Her skin was stronger now, used to the bruising and beating and her reflexes faster. Almost as fast as Day, who had catlike reflexes. No one moved as quickly as Day did, in fact, no one should be able to.

Her knee-length summer dress, so much lighter on her skin in comparison to the thick training gear she had adorned earlier. Standing in The Broom Closet, hunting for a ball dress with her girlfriends, Sierra Kingsley for a few moments deludes herself into thinking she's normal.

No pressure to defeat an evil witch. No worries about the next task of The Revealing. No thoughts about a magical statue that's attacking students.

Just some ball dress shopping while giggling over boys.

Sierra's attention moves to Amisha as the witch holds up a long black dress, and Sierra wrinkles her nose in disapproval.

"What's wrong it?" Amisha asks in bemusement, glancing at the dress and then Sierra.

"It's..." Pause. "Too black?"

"What's wrong with black?"

Sierra sighs exasperatedly. "Just choose another colour, you can't always wear black to everything."

"Alright," Amisha agrees. She looks through the rack before pulling out two dresses. She holds each dress on either side of her and nods towards both of them. "What about raven black or even onyx black?"

Sierra rolls her eyes and Amisha's comment has Zoe and Minerva bursting into laughter. Minerva pulls out a dress, peruses it and passes it to Amisha. "How about this one?"

Amisha considers the dress, pursing her lips.

"Could be keen," she says as she heads into the changing room.

Sierra regards Minerva as the witch ambles through the store, looking through the racks. The dark circles under her eyes evident, even under the layer of concealer. An image of a flustered Minerva, lying to her, flashes in her mind but Sierra shoves the thought away. Today is for a sense of normality.

Amisha steps out, the dark blue dress slithering on the floor a little bit, which Sierra knows won't be an issue with heels. If only she can convince Amisha to wear some. The off shoulder straps show off her collar bone and lean neck, dipping into a small cleavage.

"Twirl for me," Sierra orders enthusiastically.

With a roll of her eyes, Amisha twirls, showing just how well the material hugs her skin, outlining her figure.

"Damn, your ass looks good," Zoe compliments.

Sierra's gaze falls onto a red dress. She places the red dress against herself, turning from side to side as she studies herself in the mirror. A defeated sigh escapes her lips, once she realises that it clashes with her hair.

"Wait," she mutters to herself. "Zoe, try this on."

Zoe eyes fixate on the dress before she reaches for it. As she enters the changing room, Minerva stands outside the door grasping a strapless cream coloured dress. A few moments later, Zoe exits the changing stall, looking absolutely stunning in the red dress. The long sleeves of the dress follow into low cut neckline, the sequins shine bright against her dark skin and the two slits show off her toned legs.

An hour later, the four girls stride out of the store, feeling significantly happier than when they had walked in. Sierra's bag feels heavy with the green velvet dress that she had paid for, though her wallet feels lighter.

Looking up at the sky as they stroll towards to the carriages, Sierra dreads what awaits her at the academy. The few moments of normalcy slipping through her fingertips.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Day's fingers tap against the plastic desk, as he waits for the professor to show up. Slowly, Magical Arts has been becoming his favourite class. The practicality of it thrilling, and the content looking promising in terms of usefulness. However, as the professor nor Sierra Kingsley show no signs of showing up, his mood drops. His lips tip downwards, not remembering a single class prior to this, that Sierra has been late for.

"Do you think I can fit twenty jellybeans in my mouth?" Alec hypothesises, conjuring a bowl of jellybeans.

At the abrupt and random question, Day directs his attention to his best mate.

Noah leans over Orion who sits next to Alec. The Korean boy's eyes dip to the bowl of jelly beans before regarding Alec.

He shakes his head in disbelief before jesting, "You really shouldn't be allowed out of your room, Bacani."

Alec snorts. "Stop conforming to society's expectations, Noah."

"I hardly think, I, a gay, Asian, witch am conforming to society's expectations."

"Seriously?" Alec resounds. "You're really playing the gay card right now?"

chuckles, unable to believe that this conversation is really taking place.

Amisha leans over from behind Alec, the long strands of her hair brushing his shoulder.

"Are you going to do it, or not?"

"Bet?" Alec asks, picking up a handful of jellybeans.

"Don't be a little bitch," Day interjects provocatively. "Do thirty or nothing."

The boys around him burst into laughter, and Amisha leans back into her seat between Lucas and Zoe with a wicked grin on her face. If Day is to be frank, then Amisha Jeet terrifies the fuck out of him. If she told him to jump off one of the towers, he would do it without any question. Because if she wanted, she could probably break his bones without a glance in his direction.

Amisha counts, as Alec shoves jelly bean after jelly bean into his mouth. Alec reaches the twenty-fifth jelly bean, his mouth full, as the door open.

Sierra rushes in, her blazer hanging over her arm, and her wild red hair flowing past her shoulders. She strides towards the empty desk next to Day, when her gaze locks with his. Day knows the exact moment that Sierra fully processes the scene. She shoots him a shy smile, and her eyes drift to Alec for a brief second before shifting over Day. And then, her eyes fixate back on Alec, until she is completely gawking at the healer witch.

Alec tries to smile, the jelly beans tumbling out of his mouth, as he gives her a two fingered salute. Sierra scans the faces of her friends, hoping for a justified explanation. As Alec spits the jellybeans out of his mouth, Sierra wrinkles her nose in disgust, her lips pinching together.

"What is going on?"

Noah shrugs, trying to fight the smile from taking over his face. "I honestly, have no idea."

When she receives no further explanation, she moves towards the seat, and perches herself on it.

"You get used to it," Day offers, leaning back into his chair; finally feeling as if the lesson has potential now.

Sierra smiles, before she considers him and speaks teasingly, "I'm not sure I want to."

"Hey!" Alec interrupts. "I am wonderful to get to know."

Orion rolls his eyes. "Would not recommend."

As Alec grumbles about the lack of loyalty in friendships, Day observes Sierra.

"Where were you?"

Sierra stares at him in surprise. "I was with Principal Cashore, she wanted to talk."

"Anything of relevance?" Day asks, the humour and amusement slipping off his face.

Sierra shakes her head. "It was just about my student loan."

"I was in the library yesterday," Day starts, knowing that the mention of the word 'library' would obtain Sierra's rapt attention. "I saw a book and I instantly thought of you. I think you might like it."

Sierra raises an eyebrow. "Thinking of me now, are you?"

For the first time in Day's memory of existing, the tips of his ears burn hot.

"Kingsley." Pause. "Are you flirting with me?"

Sierra's skin flushes, remembering her saying the same words to him not too long ago. Before Sierra can muster up the right words to respond, Lucas peers over their shoulder, a look of disdain on his face.

"You two are going to make me vomit."

Amisha's hand grabs a fistful of his blazer and pulls him back, looking unimpressed.

"Good one," she chastises. "Now we'll have to wait an extra week before anything happens."

If Sierra thought she couldn't go any redder, she had been oh so very wrong.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Sierra has never been someone to learn from her mistakes right away. She has to make the same mistake at least three times, before she stops doing it. In her defence, the result could have very well been due to chance. Her statistics teacher in high school always told her, correlation does not equal causation. Thus, as she strolls through the grounds of the academy late at night, with no one around, she knows the possible dangers. Though they do nothing to hinder her.

The handy mobile app on her phone had told her that tonight would be a more than fair night for stargazing, and with the app telling her how to find constellations, there was no way that she would let such an opportunity slide.

Sierra lifts up her phone, letting it guide her as she looks for the shape of a man in the sky, but is really a scatter of stars, with a few bright ones in the shape of a rectangle. So focused on the screen of her phone, she misses the sound of footsteps until it is right behind her.

Sierra freezes.

Her hand rises, and she swiftly turns around. Her brain and body shuts down as she comes eye to eye with a Malefactor. The dark green leather looks exactly like the photographs in the newspapers, and the sneer on the man's face is everything she had expected. She can see the Crow's vestiums exposed on his neck. He stands less than a meter away from her, glowering. The crow on his neck glows as his hand rises.

And Sierra snaps into action.

"Oppugnatio!" The Malefactor falls to the ground.

Sierra runs.

They are everywhere.

Sierra runs, her hand out, moving with the spells and hexes shooting out of her. She drops to the ground, rolling on the grass, just as a green light skims over her hair.

Jumping back up, she yells with power, "Etus Consilisdam! Impetus! Contego Noxa!"

Her left hand holds the shield in place, moving it over her body and the spells bounce off. Sierra's right hand pushes through the air, the blue wisps circling it. Sierra staggers, her eyes wide as the force of a spell hits her back. The shield in her left hand falters, and she sees the wicked grin on the Malefactor's face.

His hand lifts up and yellow light shoots from it. But it doesn't hit her. A shield, glowing green appears in front of her. Sierra turns to see Elijah Grimm, his brows furrowed in concentration, as he disarms Malefactors and protects her.

"Thank you," Sierra gasps out, amazed that anyone could have ever thought that he could've supported the Dark King.

He nods stiffly.

Sierra straightens up, moving swiftly as she attacks the intruders around her. Slowly, the academy is in chaos. From her periphery, Sierra can see Noah kicking ass. Her eyes search for Day, her heart beating furiously. She spots Principal Cashore, wreaking havoc, and her eyes widen, finally understanding how the Principal had gotten such a powerful position at such a young age.

Sweat runs down her neck as she moves in her pyjama dress, hardly the ideal wear for a battle. Not like she had a chance to change.

"Hey," Amisha greets, joining Sierra, but keeping her eyes focused on the attacking Malefactors.

"Lovely night, isn't it?" Alec remarks casually, as if he hadn't just shattered a Malefactor's bones with a simple utter of words.

Sierra's surprised when she hears Elijah Grimm respond, "Splendid weather."

Judging by the look on Alec's face, she is not the only one.

After what seems like forever, slowly the numbers of the Malefactors dwindle down. Slowly, the Malefactors repentilate out, some falling to the ground in pain, and others leaving a circle of dust behind.

Sierra raises her hand, preparing to disarm the Malefactor standing a few feet away.

"Sierra Kingsley," he acknowledges. "Your brother says hi."

Sierra falters, and in that second, the Malefactor grins and repentilates away. Eyes wide, hands frozen, Sierra stumbles, her ears ringing.

"Sierra," Amisha calls out, grabbing her hand. "Let's go!"

Amisha yanks Sierra away, leading her inside, along with the other students.

"Where's Zoe?" Lucas shouts, his eyes frantic and wide. Sierra searches, looking for the familiar witch.

"Where's Day?" Orion screams.

Until Orion had screamed his name, Sierra hadn't believed that anything could possibly hurt Day Blackwood. She had been watched him train, he moved like a tiger prowling for his prey. It was hard to get any punches on him, much less hit him with anything that could hurt, he always saw it coming.

Sierra remembers Alec throwing a stapler at him, and Day had turned around and stopped it a centimetre from his face. Not even a witch should've been able to move at that speed.

Sierra knows that Day can pack a good fight, his kicks accurate and each move measured. And only the Gods knew how powerful his magic could be. But despite that, Sierra's skin crawls with unadulterated fear.

As if the Gods had willed it, Zoe runs out of one of the towers. The top floors of the tower bursts into flames, and Lucas pulls Zoe into a hug.

"Wait!" Zoe screams. "Day is inside!"

Sierra's heart stops.

The fire travels down and she watches as the Bender witches push the water over the tower in futile efforts. The door to the tower crashes open with a loud bang. Day emerges from the smoke.

Bruises litter his arms, and there's a gash running down his cheek. He coughs into his fist and moves away from the tower just as it crumbles to pieces behind him.

Sierra takes a step forward.

Her heart still beating erratically.

A whimper escapes her lips.

Day blinks, his eyes fixating on her.

Sierra sprints, shoving past the crowd of students. She crashes into Day, throwing her arms around him, loosing a shuddering breath.

Day wraps his arms around her, lifting her up into a hug. Sierra sniffs, and Day can feel her tears on his shoulder. But he simply holds her, his head buried in her neck, breathing her in.

And for now, that was enough.