Suki:
"I don’t understand. Why were they asking me all those questions? Shouldn’t it have been done already?" I asked Joshua once the three crusaders had left with the headmaster to look for Clementine.
"I mean, you heard what everybody is talking about. Some commotion is happening in the outside world, which is probably why they asked you all those questions," Joshua explained, but it still did not make any sense.
"Joshua, I heard that Clementine went to the council to expose the Academy, but what does that have to do with me? Did she talk about me? I mean, Oriana?" I asked him, placing my hands on my waist.
We had wandered out of the hall and into the passageway of the red team squad. Seeing Joshua in a different-colored uniform while I was also in a changed uniform felt strange. It was odd, almost like the world had changed so much in such little time.
"Why do you worry? You have already explained everything. Besides, I remember the earth eater told us that Clementine left the north, so she and him were probably doing something," Joshua replied as he held my hands and gently rubbed his thumbs over my knuckles.
"I’m just glad you’re back. You have no idea how alive I feel," he added, smiling through his eyes.
"So how is everybody else? I mean," I paused as I noticed him raise his eyebrow.
"Clementine’s father killed Jack," Joshua responded before I could finish asking.
It was strange that he said it himself, and then I noticed he was watching my face for some kind of reaction. I had already figured out that something happened to Jack when I did not see him at the train station, or when he did not board the train with us. Still, hearing it so directly caused more pain.
I swallowed hard and nodded. What was done was done. It was not as if he could be brought back.
I wondered what I would have done if I had found out Jack was dead before I asked for my last wish from the Shadow Earth Eater.
"What are you thinking about?" Joshua asked as I noticed his hands slipping away from mine.
I quickly held onto them, trying to remind him that I loved him more, more than Jack.
"Joshua, he was a friend, and although mistakes happened, it does not mean that I was in love with him. I am in love with you. You are my mate," I told him, confessing my love, which made him smile brightly before pulling me into a hug.
While I was in his embrace, I wondered if I would have given up his body for Jack’s soul if I had known earlier. Joshua did so much for me, but I would have done the same for Jack too. Now that Jack was gone, Joshua did not need to know any of this.
Before Jack, I loved Joshua, so I was content with who I was with.
"Oriana, may I have a word?" a voice called from the side.
It was Joshua who pulled away and turned my attention toward the sound, probably because I was not used to being called Oriana.
"Oh, yes?" I replied as I also stepped back, realizing it was Miss Rue.
"I am waiting," Miss Rue commented, stepping away from me.
"And then imagine how I felt when I realized I held my side of the deal, but you did not," she added.
"Did the shadow earth eater not ask you for a wish?" she hissed, clenching her fist.
I pouted and tilted my head slightly.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I replied.
"You little piece of shit. You think you can play me?" she snapped.
As soon as she stepped closer and grabbed my arm, I slapped her hand away and shoved her back.
She looked at me with shock and fear in her eyes.
"Try to touch me again and I will tell everyone you are saying nonsense," I warned.
"As for the deal, or whatever shit you expected from me, consider it over, okay? I am leaving the Academy, so I do not have to deal with you or your stupid behavior. You hear me?" I raised my voice, while she was glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
Now that she was the one being insulted, she suddenly did not want me to raise my voice.

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