Denisha

I had been wandering the Academy's hallways, deep in thought, when I heard voices up ahead. Ramon and Jamal were talking, and their words intrigued me. I couldn't resist the urge to eavesdrop, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"What's up with you and the new girl?" Ramon asked Brooke.

"Uhh, nothing," Brooke replied.

"Sure," he dragged out the word, clearly unconvinced, "what happened to Perse anyways? She disappeared in the middle of camp first year."

Perse? My sister's name. My heart quickened, and my curiosity turned to concern. What were they saying about my sister? The mystery piqued my interest, and I decided to follow them to the library, hoping to learn more.

Inside the library, I waited patiently, perched in an inconspicuous corner as I watched Brooke join Ramon and Jamal at their table. The conversation flowed smoothly, and I couldn't help but admire how comfortable they seemed with each other. They exchanged laughter and tales of past adventures, which only fueled my curiosity about what they knew about Perse.

But as Brooke left the table, the perfect opportunity arose. I approached the table and took a seat beside Ramon. I expected a bit of hostility from him, given his reputation, but his reaction was even colder than I anticipated.

"Who are you again?" Ramon muttered dismissively, his gaze barely flickering my way.

I suppressed a sigh, refusing to be deterred. I pressed on, my determination unshaken. "I overheard you talking about Perse in the corridor earlier."

Ramon finally acknowledged my presence, and his expression soured. "Oh, so now the newbie is eavesdropping?" He spoke with a hint of disdain, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I had to tread carefully. "I apologize for eavesdropping. It's just... Perse sounded interesting, and I couldn't help but wonder who she was."

Ramon's icy demeanor didn't thaw, but he reluctantly continued the conversation, "Perse was a royal we met on camp a few years ago."

I sensed there was more to the story. "How was she like?"

Ramon's expression shifted, surprise and curiosity replacing his initial hostility. "Why was replacing her not enough? Why do you want to know about her?"

I nodded, my eyes filled with a mix of hope and worry. "I've been trying to find her for a long time. To ask about her stay in the royal camp," I lied. I couldn't let them know she was my sister.

But before Ramon could respond, a student nearby shrieked loudly, "Someone has fainted! Red hair, Aries clan territory!"

The mention of the incident caught both Jamal's and Ramon's attention. They exchanged quick glances before standing up abruptly, their concern evident. I didn't want to be left out of the loop, so I reached out and held Ramon's hand, much to his chagrin.

"What do you want now?" he sighed, clearly frustrated.

"Have you ever heard about 'the Radiance'?" I asked, my voice trembling with anticipation.

Ramon frowned, pulling his hand away from my grasp. "The what?"

"The Radiance," I repeated, more urgently this time. "It's something I overheard when I first arrived at Zodiac Academy." I lied again.

Ramon's annoyance was palpable. "Look, newbie, I don't have time for this. I need to find out what happened to Brooke."

He walked away, leaving me with more questions than answers. Jamal offered me an apologetic look as he followed Ramon, leaving me alone in the library.

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