As the sun continued to rise on a new morning, the warmth of its rays filtered in through the gaps in the nearby windows. A muffled clamoring could be heard from downstairs in the dorm’s shared kitchen as students cooked breakfast and ate together. A sweet and savory smell from the assorted dishes being cooked wafted into the dorm room, now alight with the orange rays of the morning sun. Lily sat on a chair by her bed, putting on her side-zipped leather boots. She paused for a moment when she heard the bed creak. Looking back at her with a tired smile was Meimei.

  “Good morning, love,” Lily said with a gentle smile.

  She walked over to Meimei, resting her knee on the bed and kissing her on the cheek. Meimei wore only a thin linen blanket as she lay on her side in the bed.

  “You don’t usually get up earlier than me,” Meimei said, still trying to fully wake up.

  “I got a message from the infirmary, Rel woke up.”

  Lily walked back over to the chair, putting on her other boot. Meimei sat up in the bed, still holding the cover over her bare chest.

  “Where are my clothes? I’ll come with you.”

  “I folded them and put them on the dresser. Do you want to wear something of mine instead?” Lily asked, motioning towards her chest-of-drawers.

  “I only wore them for a few hours before they came off, so they should still be clean.” Meimei replied seriously.

  Lilly giggled as she finished getting dressed. Lily sat back in her chair and looked at Meimei with a big grin. Meimei glared back at Lily.

  “Turn around,” Meimei said with an annoyed pout.

  “Why are you always so shy the morning after?” Lily laughed, “Fine, fine.”

  Lily turned around, facing away from Meimei. The bed creaked again as Meimei crawled to the edge and stood up. She walked over to the wardrobe and grabbed her clothes.

  “Did they say anything about Rel’s condition?" Meimei asked as she buttoned up her shirt.

  “Mmm, not really. They just said she was awake and that I could come see her.”

  Lily turned her head, peeking at Meimei as she slipped her skirt on. Meimei caught her eye and gave her an annoyed scowl before zipping up the side of her skirt and walking over to Lily. Meimei bonked Lily on the head and walked past her to the room door.

  “Ow,” Lily exclaimed, rubbing her head.

  “Let’s go,” Meimei said, ignoring Lily’s overacted pain.

  “Wait, your hairclip.” Lily said, noticing that Meimei wasn’t wearing her signature blue triangular hairclip.

  “Oh, it’s in my pocket, thanks,” Meimei took the hairclip from her breast pocket and clipped into onto her bangs.

  Meimei slipped her shoes on and opened the door. Lily followed behind her as the pair descended the stairs towards the dorm common room. The common room was buzzing with activity as everyone was getting ready for classes and training. Lily and Meimei came down the stairs, entering into the fray of the curious gazes of students.

  “Oh, when did you get here Meimei?” A young girl with large glasses innocently asked.

  She was seated next to a muscular woman with short hair who was only wearing a tank top and shorts. The muscular student laughed, putting her arm around the younger girl’s shoulders.

  “She got here last night,” the muscular girl said, teasing the younger girl.

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  “Girls from different houses aren’t supposed to stay in other dorms though,” the younger girl innocently retorted.

  The girls listening in from all around the common room laughed.

  “You’re adorable,” the muscular women said, releasing her hold on the younger girl.

  The younger girl looked around, confused.

  “We’re headed to the infirmary, if any of you need me,” Lily said as she walked towards the exit of the dorm room.

  Various girls said goodbye to Lily as she and Meimei walked out of the dorm and into the main hallway of the student housing. The Moltensand dorm entrance was hidden behind a cold flame. The flames could be touched and walked through with no issue, but anyone not familiar with the dorm would obviously not want to walk through the flame - a psychological defense. The hallways were lined with pink marble and ruby, giving one the feeling of being inside of an active volcano. Lily reached out and grabbed Meimei’s hand. Meimei could feel how happy Lily was. Lily had been so worried about Rel, hearing that she had awakened seemed to lift a heavy pressure from Lily. The couple walked to the female wing of the infirmary.

  The infirmary had a dreary feeling about it. Even though it was well lit, it felt dark. Perhaps that sort of atmosphere was inevitable in a place filled with so much false hope. Lily and Meimei walked into the main room of the infirmary. Though the curtain was pulled, it was thin enough that they could make out the silhouette of Rel, sitting up in bed. Lily slowly walked up to the curtain, moving it to the side. Sitting in the bed was Rel, staring off into the distance. Her bandages had been mostly removed. Her skin was filled with scars and took on the complexion of a tiger. Not a single part of her body seemed to be free of deep hardened canyons where her skin had been peeled off. Lily’s heart sunk at the sight of the once blemishless Rel, now irrevocably damaged.

  “Hey, Rel.” Lily seemed to barely be able to squeeze out her words.

  Meimei noticed Lily’s change in demeanor, and walked next to her, taking her hand and holding it gently. Rel looked over towards Lily, seeming to stare past her.

  “Lily, is that you?” Rel asked. Her voice was raspy and strained.

  “Yes,” Lily responded.

  “Sorry, I can’t see too well right now, can you come closer?” Rel patted the bed next to her.

  Meimei let go of Lily’s hand and Lily moved forward, leaning her body against the bed rail. Rel reached out and placed her hand on top of Lily’s.

  “Jeez, you look worse than I do,” Rel gave a strained laugh before coughing.

  “I’m so sorry Rel,” Lily couldn’t stop a tear from falling from her eye.

  “Hey, don’t be sorry. This wasn’t a complete loss.” Rel tried to smile, but the scar tissue on her face stopped her midway.

  “How?” Lily stammered through her tears.

  Rel looked up and again gave a half smile.

  “The gods didn’t abandon me. They may have rejected my ascension, but they gave to me a divine revelation.” Rel looked back at Lily and then laughed. “Although, the church was so disgusted by the idea of a blasphemer like me being given a divine revelation that beyond excommunicating me they also labeled me an apostate.”

  “What? Doesn’t that mean you would be arrested if you left the school?”

  Lily was shocked at the church’s actions. She had expected the excommunication, after all attempting an ascension is a major sin, but labeling someone an apostate was no knee-jerk reaction. It took very high-ranking members of the church to declare such a thing.

  “It doesn’t matter. I have something I need to do.” Rel patted Lily’s hand again. “Lily don’t blame yourself for what happened, it was ordained. There was nothing you could do.”

  Meimei grimaced from behind as the situation unfolded. Rel’s demeanor made her uncomfortable.

  “What was the revelation?” Meimei asked. Lily looked back at her and noticed that she had a threatening look on her face.

  “Meimei? I’m sorry I couldn’t tell that was you.” Rel adjusted herself to face more towards Meimei. “The gods told me that a great event would soon take place at this school. An event which would reveal many truths, and many lies. I was told that I would have a part to play; to protect those who would falter.” Rel wore a euphoric expression as she spoke.

  “Which god told you that?” Meimei asked flatly.

  Lily looked back at Meimei, giving her a look that told her to stop.

  “One that you know well,” Rel replied, staring directly into Meimei’s eyes.

  Lily moved between Meimei and Rel.

  “I am glad that you are awake. Is there anything we can get for you?” Lily asked with a smile.

  “No, for now I just want to sleep more.”

  Rel moved back into the bed and covered herself with the thin hospital linen.

  “Alright, we will come back to see you soon,” Lily said as she waved at Rel. Rel returned her wave.

  Lily closed the curtain leading to Rel’s bed and Lily and Meimei stepped outside of the infirmary.

  The pair started walking down the hallway when Lily suddenly came to a stop. Meimei noticed and also stopped, looking back at Lily.

  “What is it, Lily?” Meimei asked with concern.

  Lily closed her fists and looked down at the floor.

  “She didn’t even ask about the others, that’s not like Rel at all.”

  Meimei walked over to Lily, putting her arms around her and pulling her in for a tight hug.

  “Yeah, I noticed that too. She has gone through a lot.”

  Meimei rubbed Lily’s back, trying to comfort her.