{IRIS}
"That vampire," he said plainly, lifting a finger and pointing directly at Morgana, "dropped the soup on that human."
Could he at least use nas? Even the way he spoke sounded barbaric.
Like I could complain because I knew how werewolves talk.
The air thickened.
One wrong breath.
One wrong word.
A war would break out right there in the dining hall.
"You can’t possibly believe the word of a dog, Professor," Valerius said smoothly, stepping beside Morgana. His voice was silk over steel. "We both know their kind has always been eager to provoke conflict with us."
The werewolves bristled.
The growl deepened.
Both sides tensed.
The werewolves closed ranks beside the young man, low growls rumbling from their chests as skin rippled and darkened, bone pressing against flesh, fur beginning to break through.
Opposite them, the vampires gathered behind Morgana and Valerius, bodies unnaturally still. Fangs glinted beneath curled lips, hisses threading the air as their eyes bled red with hunger and restrained violence.
Before anyone could move—
"Enough!"
Professor Elspeth’s voice thundered through the hall, layered with authority old as stone and sharp as command magic.
The sound alone pressed against my ears, forcing silence where chaos had threatened to bloom.
She walked between the werewolves and vampires, robes sweeping the floor like a gathering storm.
Her gaze cut between factions, lingering just long enough on Morgana to make sothing flicker behind the vampire’s eyes—annoyance, perhaps. Or caution.
"You," the professor said, pointing sharply at and Caroline. "Both of you. To the infirmary. Imdiately. Tend to your wounds."
Caroline’s mouth opened in protest.
"But—"
"Now." Her tone brooked no argunt.
Then she turned, eyes blazing. "The rest of you will follow to the Dean’s office. Every last one involved."
Morgana scoffed, but she didn’t argue. Valerius sighed into the ceiling.
As the hall slowly began to empty, I felt it then—Morgana’s gaze burning into my back.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
I slowed my steps as we turned down the eastern corridor, the stone beneath our shoes still slick from the overturned tureen.
The academy’s halls carried sound too well—every echo felt like an accusation—so I lowered my voice when I spoke.
"Are you all right?" I asked Caroline as we made our way toward the infirmary. "The nurse will have sothing for the burn. Doctor Vivienne is fey—she can nd wounds with ease. Your skin will be restored as if it had never been burned."
She didn’t answer at once. Caroline walked beside with her shoulders drawn tight, eyes unfocused, as though her thoughts were far from the present corridor and sowhere else.
When she finally stopped, she turned to face with an expression so serious it made my chest tighten.
"It’s best if you distance yourself from , Iris."
I paused. The words didn’t register at first, as though spoken in a language I barely understood. "W—what?"
"Morgana was angry at to begin with," Caroline said quietly. "You were just... collateral. If you leave now, she’ll surely leave you alone."
I stared at her, stunned, then shook my head hard enough that my braid brushed my shoulder. "No. You know I threw the soup at her, right? She’s just as furious at ."
"But—"
I reached for her hand before she could finish. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly in mine. "Don’t think like that. We’re in this together, Caroline. I won’t leave you now."
She looked away, lips pressing into a sad, almost resigned smile. "You’re really kind, Iris. Even after the way I treated you before. Any normal person would have walked away. The logical thing would have been to leave. If you had, you wouldn’t be in trouble because of ."
"No," I said firmly. "Don’t talk like that. You’re my friend."
The word felt fragile and precious as I spoke it.
"And..." I hesitated, then continued, my voice lowering despite myself. "I know what it’s like to be abandoned. You probably already know this, but my pack exiled . They made a rogue."
Caroline’s breath hitched.
"It’s not exactly a secret," I went on. "Werewolves can sense when another wolf is packless. The only thing stopping them from attacking—or killing— is the academy’s rules."
The corridor seed colder as the words settled between us.
"So," I said softly, "I don’t want you to feel that sa dreadful loneliness. Whatever happens, you’re my roommate. You’re my friend. I will stay beside you."
Caroline’s composure finally cracked. Her face softened, eyes glistening as tears brimd over. "Iris..."
Before she could say anything else, the infirmary doors flew open with a sharp creak.
"Well? Are you coming in or not?"
Doctor Vivienne stood frad in the doorway, immaculate as ever in her white robes. Her sharp green eyes swept over us, crescent-shaped with what might have been amusent.
She assessed us for a brief mont, then smiled. "Neither of you looks injured—unless being soaked to the bone counts as a dical ergency. You should return to your dorms and change instead of cluttering my infirmary."
"No, Doctor," I said quickly, stepping forward. "Caroline was burned."
I lifted Caroline’s sleeve, expecting to see angry red welts, blistered skin, raw patches where the heat had bitten deep.
Instead—
"Huh?"
The words left both of us at the sa ti.
The burns were gone.
The redness, the blistering, even the faint discoloration—all of it had vanished.
Caroline’s skin was smooth and unblemished, as though nothing had ever touched it except clean water. The only thing out of place was the crimson liquid soaking her sleeve, stark against pale fabric.
Doctor Vivienne’s smile sharpened. "Are you two playing a prank on ?"
Her eyes dimd, the warmth draining from them. "Wasting my ti is punishable, you know."
"I—I’m sorry, Doctor!" Caroline exclaid. Panic seized her as she grabbed my hand, and without waiting for permission, she pulled away.
We fled down the corridor, boots slapping against stone, hearts pounding far too loudly. We didn’t stop until we were halfway back to the dormitories, breathless and shaken.
"What just happened?" I whispered.
Caroline slowed, staring at her arm as though it might betray her at any second. Then she looked at —really looked at —with sothing close to unease.
"Could it be that..." Her voice dropped. "You healed ?"
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