Later that night, the dormitory was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made every small sound seem louder. The wind outside howled softly, rattling against the window panes. Artemis lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts replaying the events of the day. The confrontation between Lydia and Sorrel weighed heavily on her mind—the way Sorrel had looked so lost, so hurt. She sighed, rolling onto her side, but sleep refused to come.
Then, a frantic knock shattered the silence.
Artemis bolted upright, heart pounding. Who would be knocking this late? She slid out of bed, her bare feet pressing against the cool wooden floor. As she made her way to the front door of their suite, Kayla’s bedroom door creaked open.
"Who is it at this hour?" Kayla mumbled, her voice groggy as she rubbed her eyes.
Artemis pulled open the door to reveal Sakura standing there, panting heavily. Her reddish-pink eyes were wide with panic, her usually neat hair slightly disheveled. She looked like she had run the entire way.
“Sakura?” Artemis asked, concern flooding her voice. “What’s wrong?”
Sakura took a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her chest. “It’s Sorrel,” she gasped. “He’s missing.”
Kayla’s sleepiness vanished instantly. “What?”
Artemis felt her stomach drop. “What happened?”
Sakura inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. “After everything that happened with Lydia, Sorrel locked himself in his room. He wouldn’t talk to anyone—not Eric, not Ren. Ren went to check on him a little while ago, but… his door was open, and he was gone. His stuff is missing too.”
Artemis and Kayla exchanged a worried look. “We have to find him,” Artemis said firmly, already reaching for her shoes. “Before he does something reckless.”
As Artemis laced up her shoes, she hesitated. “Should we tell Lydia?”
Kayla immediately shook her head. “No. She was really upset earlier. If we involve her now, it might just make things worse. Let’s find Sorrel first.”
What they didn’t know was that Lydia had been lying awake in her room, unable to stop thinking about Sorrel. When she overheard their conversation, her heart started pounding. The moment she heard that Sorrel was missing, she sat up in bed, panic tightening in her chest. Without hesitation, she grabbed a jacket and slipped out her window, already knowing where she needed to go.
Meanwhile, Artemis, Kayla, Sakura, Ren, and Eric searched the academy grounds. They checked the library, the training fields, even the empty classrooms, calling Sorrel’s name, but found nothing. The crisp night air carried a biting chill, and the vastness of the academy felt overwhelming in the darkness.
But Lydia had already found him.
At the entrance gate of the academy, Sorrel sat on a stone bench, a single suitcase resting beside him. The dim glow of the lights that lined along the walkway cast long shadows across his face, accentuating the exhaustion in his eyes. He sat stiffly, his fingers clenched around the handle of his suitcase as he stared at the road beyond the gate, lost in thought.
Lydia’s breath caught in her throat. Seeing him there—so alone, so broken—made her chest ache. She had been angry, hurt, scared—but she hadn’t wanted this.
“Are you really leaving?” she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Sorrel didn’t look at her right away. When he finally turned, his expression was empty, distant. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” he asked, his voice subdued. “For me to leave you alone?”
Lydia took a hesitant step forward. “Sorrel, if you leave now, you’re putting yourself in danger.”
Sorrel let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “I’d rather die than turn into a monster like my father.”
Lydia’s eyes widened in horror. “What? Are you insane?”
Sorrel’s fingers tightened around the suitcase handle. “Maybe,” he muttered. Then, louder, his voice strained, “What do you *want* from me, Lydia? One second, you’re telling me you can’t trust me, and the next, you act like you care. Why? Why does it even matter to you if I’m here or not?”
Unbeknownst to them, Artemis and Ren had spotted them from a distance. They exchanged a glance but didn’t interfere. This was something Lydia and Sorrel needed to work through on their own.
Lydia’s heart clenched. “I *do* care,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “I don’t want you dead, Sorrel. That was never what I wanted.”
Sorrel’s shoulders tensed, his expression wavering. “Then what do you want?”
Lydia swallowed hard. “I don’t want to get hurt again.” She looked away, gripping the hem of her sleeve tightly. “The memory of our past hit me so fast, and it scared me. I was afraid history would repeat itself.”
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Sorrel exhaled sharply, his voice laced with pain. “Do you have any idea how much it hurts to hear that? To think that the last few months of building our friendship meant nothing to you?” He turned his gaze back to the road. “I’m tired, Lydia. I just… I just want to go.”
Lydia clenched her fists, determination flickering in her eyes. “Kayla told me something earlier,” she admitted. “She said none of us are exactly like our past selves. And she was right. I don’t act like Demeter did back then. So why should I assume you’re just like the Poseidon of the past?”
Sorrel’s posture stiffened, but he remained silent.
Lydia took a shaky breath. “Before the memory hit me, I was actually starting to like and trust you. And then suddenly, all I could think about was the past. And I hated that it was ruining everything.” She hesitated before whispering, “I’m sorry, Sorrel. I don’t want you to leave.”
Sorrel gazed at her, his face impassive, but his eyes… his eyes were filled with something raw, something deeply wounded. “Lydia… trust isn’t something that just comes back overnight.”
“I know,” Lydia said, her voice steady. “So let’s rebuild it. Let’s start over.”
She took a deep breath and held out her hand. “I’m Lydia Swan, the new Demeter. It’s nice to meet you.”
Sorrel looked at her hand for a long moment. Then, finally, he reached out and grasped it. “Sorrel Ayers, the new Poseidon,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Nice to meet you, too.”
From their hiding spot, Ren exhaled a sigh of relief. “I’m glad they worked it out. I was worried about Sorrel. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
Artemis smiled. “Yeah.”
She had been worried about Lydia. Since they started school, she had never seen the emotions she saw from the other girl earlier and she was afraid that she couldn’t comfort her.
Before they could say more, a sharp voice sliced through the night.
“You’re all supposed to be in your dorms.”
They turned abruptly, guilt flashing across their faces as Ms. Lucine emerged from the shadows. The sheen of her narrowed eyes gleamed in the moonlight, making her presence all the more commanding. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, and the cold disapproval in her expression sent a shiver down Ren’s spine.
Artemis, however, didn’t seem fazed.
Before Lucine could open her mouth again, the sound of easy, unhurried footsteps approached. Mr. Elio strolled into view, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his coat, his usual lazy smile in place. He exuded the kind of confidence that made it seem like nothing ever truly worried him.
“They had a good reason,” he said, his tone light but firm. “Let’s just give them a warning.”
Lucine exhaled sharply, a slow, measured breath as if weighing her options. Then, with a reluctant nod, she relented. “Fine. But don’t let it happen again.”
She turned her piercing gaze to Artemis, scrutinizing her for a long moment before adding, “Unless it’s for training.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Artemis’s lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
Lucine held her stare for a second longer before giving a small, approving nod. Then, with a swirl of her dark skirt, she strode off, her steps clipped and purposeful. Mr. Elio, in contrast, gave the group a wink before following at a more leisurely pace.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Ren let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That was terrifying.”
Artemis chuckled, stretching her arms over her head as if the whole exchange had been nothing more than a casual chat.
Ren eyed her skeptically before crossing his arms. “Is that how you got better at your moon abilities? Sneaking out at night?”
Artemis grinned playfully, a knowing glint in her eye. “That’s our secret.”
Ren rolled his eyes, but there was no hiding the curiosity flickering across his face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, the entire group gathered in the dining hall, relief washing over them now that Sorrel was still there. The tension from the night before had eased, but there was still an unspoken understanding between them all—things had shifted, but they were moving forward.
Eric, never one to miss a dramatic moment, threw an arm around Sorrel’s shoulders. “I was *so* worried about you,” he declared, wiping an imaginary tear. “I thought I’d lost my best friend to the cruel hands of fate.”
Sorrel chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I won’t run off again.”
“You better not,” Lydia interjected, crossing her arms. “At least tell me first next time.”
Sorrel smirked. “Deal.”
With the weight of the past few days beginning to lift, the Fall Festival arrived in full swing. The academy courtyard had been transformed with vibrant decorations—golden leaves, enchanted lanterns, and booths lining the walkways. Students bustled around, some setting up their own stands, others enjoying the festivities.
Artemis and her friends were stationed at their jewelry booth, displaying handcrafted bracelets, necklaces, and charms they had worked on throughout the week. Lydia had taken the lead, showing the others techniques she had learned from her grandmother, and the final products were stunning. Each piece had a unique charm to it, some even enchanted with minor protective spells.
As the day went on, the festival was filled with laughter, music, and the scent of delicious treats wafting through the air. The group took turns managing the booth, allowing each of them to enjoy the celebration. They played festival games, tasted seasonal treats, and even participated in some of the performances.
As the sun began to set, Lydia approached Sorrel, holding out a bracelet woven with intricate beads and small rune carvings.
“Here,” she said, offering it to him. “I made this for you. It’s for protection… and as a symbol of our fresh start.”
Sorrel took the bracelet carefully, running his fingers over the craftsmanship before looking at Lydia with a soft smile. “I’ll wear it always,” he promised, fastening it around his wrist.
The festival concluded with a breathtaking display of magical fireworks, each explosion forming images of legendary myths and constellations in the night sky. The entire student body watched in awe as the colors illuminated the courtyard.
From a distance, Aiden stood with his arms crossed, watching his daughter laugh and enjoy the night with her friends. A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. Artemis had found her place here, and that was all he had ever wanted for her.