CHAPTER 7 — Navira's POV
"School, But Make It a Battlefield."
Stepping off the car, I immediately notice the stares.
Of course.
White hair, pale lashes, almost translucent skin… the kind of albino that looks like someone forgot to color you in.
It's hard to blend in when you literally glow in sunlight.
And yet, I walk like I own the place. Because I kind of do.
Alden follows behind, backpack slung casually, glancing at me like he's making sure I don't start a war.
Alastair? Not here today. Lucky him.
And Agnes…
Oh, Agnes. She has already transformed.
The second we hit the gates, her mask snaps. Gone is the nervous, teary princess.
In its place: full-on school queen bitch.
High ponytail, carefully calculated sneer, and the kind of smirk that's meant to remind everyone that she used to be the only daughter.
Her cronies, of course, fall in line immediately.
Some girls whisper behind their hands, some boys smirk, and a few just stare openly.
It's cute. Really, it is. Watching them try to flex on me before they even know who I am? Hilarious.
"Navira," she hisses, stepping in my path like the red carpet ends at her perfectly polished shoes. "Try not to embarrass yourself today. Or me. Or anyone."
I smile.
Sweet, innocent, adorable.
"Oh, Agnes, I wouldn't dream of embarrassing anyone. Not intentionally, anyway."
She freezes.
Her mouth opens, then closes.
She tries to keep up the act of superiority, but I can see the panic in her eyes.
Good.
"Really," I continue softly, walking around her like I own the hallway, "I just want everyone to… see the real me."
Heads turn as I say it.
Some gasp quietly.
Some whisper.
And suddenly, the hallway becomes quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
I stop. Look at them all. Smile.
"I'm sure some of you are wondering who I am," I say, voice soft but deliberate. "Or why I look… different."
Agnes steps forward, trying to block me again.
"Stop—stop talking like that," she snaps, voice trembling just slightly.
She hates being challenged. I can smell it.
I tilt my head innocently. "Why would I stop?"
Then I pause dramatically.
And drop it.
"I am the long-lost daughter of the Aurline family," I announce proudly, letting every word sink in like a dagger.
Yes. I am back.
Yes. I am here.
Yes. I am the one who deserves every stare, every whispered comment, every ounce of attention that was ever hers.
The hallway goes still.
Even Agnes's cronies step back.
They knew this day might come, but they didn't expect it to hit like a meteor.
Some girls start whispering, a couple boys mutter, and a teacher walking past stops mid-step, obviously shocked.
I glance at Agnes.
Her face has gone pale again.
The bitch mask cracked and falling apart.
The side-eye, the smirk, the snide confidence… all gone.
"W-What?" she sputters. "You—you can't just—"
"Can't just what?" I ask innocently, one hand on my hip.
"You mean announce my existence to the entire school? Oh, I can. I did. And I just did. Sorry if it's inconvenient for you."
She opens her mouth again, trying to insult me, but the words stick in her throat.
Because here's the thing: I'm not afraid.
I don't back down.
I don't care who thinks they're better than me, smarter than me, prettier than me.
Because I am the one with the story, the history, the family.
And they will all know it.
Some of her little group tries to laugh.
Some try to whisper "maybe she's lying."
I smile sweetly.
"I'm not lying," I say calmly, letting the confidence radiate. "I am Navira Aurline. I am their daughter. And for anyone curious… yes, I spent years in an orphanage."
Gasps echo around the hall.
Some students step back like they just saw a ghost.
Some girls cross their arms, thinking they're clever.
Alden watches quietly, smirking just slightly.
And Agnes… Agnes is frozen, trying to figure out if she should cry, scream, or faint.
I take a slow step forward, carefully, intentionally, making sure every eye is on me.
"Let's be honest," I say, sweet, sharp, perfect.
"The only reason anyone here thought I was just some… random girl is because they didn't know me. Now they do. And I don't plan on hiding."
The hallway is dead silent.
Even the teachers look like they want to check the hall for explosions.
I glance back at Agnes, smiling innocently.
"Don't worry, sis. There's room for both of us… but just know—I will always be the daughter who was lost and found. The one who deserves every second of attention."
Her face crumples.
Her cronies falter.
And the entire school knows it now: I am Navira Aurline, returned, unafraid, unstoppable.
I spin on my heel and walk toward the advanced class, head high, albino glow catching the morning sun just enough to remind everyone I'm not ordinary.
Agnes mutters something under her breath.
I smile softly.
"You're welcome for the lesson," I whisper.
And just like that, first day of school?
Already conquered.