POV: HELENA IVYRA.
Constancy, constancy, constancy…
A complicated term... Whether we like it or not, today's world demands constancy in everything: chores, work, and especially in studies.
And this first month of classes was no different. Well... almost a month, since there were still a few days left for it to be officially a month of school.
There were countless reviews on different subject concepts, countless reminders and repetitions of the same old routines.
Yet, despite the repetition, we had a few small changes this past month.
The special classes were definitely the highlight. Having the chance for that personalized training already proved to be extremely useful.
I feel my handling of specters grew much sharper than before.
"In the long run, it could be even better!"
Long-term... That's complicated, right?
Technically, I'd have only until the end of the school year to take full advantage of Professor Miguel's lessons, so I better enjoy it while I can!
"Actually... I have a class with him next Monday. I need to finish the assignment he mentioned for…"
Tum-Tum. Tum-Tum. Tum-Tum.
As if my internal monologues could be heard...
Mr. Constancy himself, that is, time, reminded me only one minute remained until recess.
I closed my notebook and, at the same time, looked at the board, where Professor Andressa was finishing writing when the bell echoed in the hallways.
"Lunchbreak, finally…" I whispered, stretching.
The next moment, the classroom door became a pandemonium…
Truthfully, it seemed like a portal had opened to the Capital of the Siege in Shadow's North Quadrant…
Something equally crazy. Chairs scraping, everyone rising at once, rushing for the door...
We all knew what happened on Fridays... It was chicken sandwich day!
A banquet worthy of the gods of the cafeteria. Probably invented by Brilliant Emporium…
Whenever that snack was served, it guaranteed chaos and wild movement among the students.
Which also led to the infamous race for the snack line.
After all... The starting shot had sounded!
Soon, we'd all be running there. Something I was absolutely prepared to do too.
There in the row beside me...
Renata, as always, was the first to stand.
"Let's go, hurry, before it runs out again," she said, squeezing between desks.
"Calm down, girl. The bread's not going anywhere..." I replied, standing with a half-smile.
We left the classroom amid the deafening noise of voices and hurried footsteps.
The hallway looked like a human anthill. I glanced ahead quickly, the line was just starting to form, and with only a few students ahead...
Just a straight line to follow.
I darted a few meters... But in the middle of the rush, something tightened inside my head.
It felt like a line of energy slicing through my forehead from inside out.
"Ow..." I put my hand on my head.
Renata, just ahead, turned instantly.
"Helena? What is it?"
"I... just dizzy," I murmured, blinking several times, trying to refocus my vision.
But the more I tried, the more things blurred.
Voices around started sounding distant, diffuse, like someone had turned down the world's volume.
A high-pitched ringing formed in the back of my ear. I felt my focus slip away... Flowing between so many things...
Classes. Exams. Teachers. Students running by. Bell ringing.
"What the hell is this?"
The pain worsened, and instinctively I pressed my hand to my head, not paying attention... My foot gave way and I slipped to the side.
White sunlight hit my face like a hurricane... But before I could fall, I felt a tug on my arm that helped me steady myself.
"Sit here," Renata said.
I leaned on her, and we went to one of the concrete benches near the cafeteria.
I sat as best I could... Took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment.
My heart seemed out of rhythm, air thick and hard to get in.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"I think so... just a quick pain, a strange pressure," I replied, opening my eyes. My vision was still a little blurry. "Everything got... way too sensitive."
The light, the sound, even her words seemed to hit with abnormal force.
But, as quickly as it started, it passed.
In seconds, the world snapped back into focus.
"I'm better already," I said, trying to reassure her.
Renata raised an eyebrow.
"Helena, this doesn't sound like 'just a quick pain.' Was it the medicine they gave you? Or your messed-up sleep?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "It's complicated to say. Could be anything... or nothing."
Those symptoms could be the beginning of anything...
I sighed.
"But it's probably just tiredness."
She kept silent for a few seconds, studying me as if guessing whether I'd faint.
"Okay... but if it happens again, tell me," she said, standing and offering her hand. "Now come, before the chicken gets cold."
I got up carefully. We walked to the line, which was already forming in the courtyard like a procession seeking carbs.
While we waited, the usual chatter surrounded us.
Two boys, apparently first-years, talked at the front of the line:
"Did you hear the rumor about the new Good of War? You're dumb, it's gonna be awesome!"
"Really? Not much. I only saw stuff about the new Hazard Evil 3 remake coming out next week."
"Damn, true, wanna play all night?"
"Obviously!"
I glanced at Renata out of the corner of my eye... She already wore a mocking expression...
"How tacky... All-nighters gaming, responsible people would never do that," she whispered in a mock-critical tone.
"Yeah... Today's youth, unbelievable."
We both started laughing at random... Until another exchange behind us caught my ear.
"Did you hear about that new product coming out? The Elixir?" said an excited girl.
"I did! Everyone's talking about it. We should buy it together!" replied her friend.
"Sure, girl, let's do it!"
I discreetly looked back. Two girls from the second year, probably.
It didn't seem like the type of people who'd care about that kind of thing.
'Strange…'
Renata noticed what I was focused on, commented in a low voice:
"I think I heard about that in those ads for the new game that's launching."
"Which game?" I asked.
"That one, you know? Project A from Rito Games. They say it's like CS meets LOL," she answered, making air quotes.
I laughed shortly.
"Man, that elixir's marketing must be big, Rito doesn't do cheap things like that..."
"Yeah," she said.
We fell silent after that. The line moved slowly.
The scent of freshly cooked bread and chicken mixed with the courtyard noise, but something about that pain felt strange.
Despite the pain, a small tingling lingered in my head...
For a moment, I considered mentioning the headache again, but I decided to let it go.
I didn't want to worry anyone over something that, hopefully, was just the start of a cold or a bad night of sleep.
POV: RENATA SILVEIRA.
Friday recess always had its chaos, but that day was different.
Right after grabbing the delicious chicken sandwich and walking the corridors, I noticed the school seemed... off.
New faces everywhere, substitute teachers, voices I didn't recognize.
And, at the same time, the usual familiar exchanges, known laughter.
A messy blend of routine and novelty.
I walked through the courtyard, observing scattered groups.
Some talked about series, some about relationships, others... about the elixir.
I even heard a boy mention a supposed fire in the city's woods a few days ago—probably just a wild rumor.
These phrases echoed in various corners, like a collective chorus.
I kept moving; the school felt physically different too, the courtyard cleaner, the bulletin boards full of new posters.
Some announced literary tournaments for the semester, but others advertised prep courses:
"New formula. Awaken the reader within you!"
"Follow these steps and unlock the genius you are! The future of reading is here."
All with eye-catching colors, flashy letters, and other tactics vying for the reader's attention.
'Unironically, it worked on me, apparently…'
I paused to toss a napkin in the trash beside the water fountain, when I noticed a detail I hadn't seen before in the ads... They all had a symbol in common...
It was a...?
"Rê, let's go to class?" Helena called, meters behind.
"Yeah, yeah," I replied instantly.
But... Having that on all the prep courses couldn't be just coincidence...
Was it a new sponsor?
'Ah... whatever, forget it, probably nothing…'
I turned and headed to the classroom with Helena.
That was probably just a coincidence.