[h1][u]Ciara Ventura[/u][/h1]
[i][color=gray]Wingram Academy, Main Building[/color][/i]
[@Nanaya], [@ERode]
[hr]

[i][b]"If you're going to be sick, then stay sick."[/b][/i]

Ciara's eyes widened, watching.

[i][b]"Just because you can't lose, doesn't mean you must win.”[/b][/i]

Wasn't that counterintuitive? Ciara watched as Otis turned his back on her, entering the classroom. 

Wasn't winning the only option?

Unless…

An idea took form in Ciara's mind, and she straightened up a bit. Maybe there was a way to win without winning.

[i]“You've prepared, little Hunger. Now we wait.”[/i] A deep, soft Voice spoke in her mind.

Yes. No need to get ahead of herself. No need to nerve herself out so soon. The dark one had, strangely enough, imparted even more advice.

Yes. There was a way to win without winning.

Ciara took a confident step into the classroom, before her head tilted. The air felt different. Heavy, like wetness in the air right after a downpour of warm rain had stopped. The soil soaked, leaves drenched. 

It felt…

[i]“Are we home?”[/i] The childlike Voice spoke out abruptly, eager and curious.

Ciara's brows furrowed. [i]“Not possible… but it feels like home.”[/i]

Yes. She could practically see the overgrowth, verdant green, bursting from the walls. Like if she tapped out a secret code on the wall, this plain white would pull away and reveal the essence she could feel.

Like warm, buttered toast.

A soft smile crept on her face, momentarily forgetting her struggles, and took her seat in the front row closest to the door, setting her coffee down. Her head dipped, inhaling the pleasant atmosphere of the room charged with anticipation.

Briefly, she watched Otis exchange words with a girl she didn't know. Chloe? Davil was here as well, speaking with the one who could form shields. Iraleth and Hildegunde were here as well.

Briefly, she wondered, as she had overheard talk in the hallways. What was the difference between a standard class and a compact one?

With how the room was charged, she anticipated yet another eventful morning, and she settled back in her seat, sipping her coffee, mind racing with curiosity as the time ticked down.