Chapter 2

That same eerie creeping sensation from my past life crawled up my spine.

A chilling thought suddenly pierced my mind: "Was it visual contact?"

The eyes are the gateway to the mental sea.

Could Cecilia simply lock onto my gaze, hijack my mental sea, and dig out the runic matrix structure right from my brain?

If our intersecting line of sight was the real conduit for her theft, then as long as I absolutely refused to look at her and severed that invisible fuse, could I rewrite the dead end of my past life?

I yanked my head to the side. My loose hair fell like a heavy curtain, instantly severing our line of sight.

"Evelyn... why are you treating me like this?"

Within a split second, Cecilia's voice pitched up, thick with a heavy, trembling sob:

"I just... I just wanted to cheer you on before the match. Are you really still mad at me?"

She stood there with red, watery eyes.

I remained dead silent.

The phantom agony of my magic running wild in my past life surged back, burning all the way from my fingertips to my heart.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek until the rusty taste of blood bloomed in my mouth, forcing myself to swallow down that suffocating dread of death.

I was not going to die in the same place twice. This time, no matter what, I would never let Cecilia get away with it again!

"Competitors to the main stage. Prepare to touch the Oracle Crystal Orb and confirm your projection sequence."

The stage director's prompt buzzed in my earpiece.

I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to step forward, my gaze accidentally swept across my chest—the tiny indicator light on my lavalier microphone was glowing red.

My mic was hot.

Cecilia's manufactured, trembling victim act and my icy silence had just been broadcast directly through the speakers.

The memories of being utterly crucified by public opinion crashed down on me.

The merciless mockery, the vicious insults, being branded as a jealous, hysterical madwoman... even the commoner students who had once supported me defecting and staring at me with complete disappointment.

I balled my hands into tight fists, digging my fingernails deep into my palms. Forcing myself to bury that tremor deep into my bones, I lifted my feet and walked out onto the stage.

The moment I appeared, the roaring cheers noticeably thinned out.

Replacing it was a tidal wave of murmurs rippling through the stands.

"Did she literally just dodge Cecilia backstage? That is so rude."

"Cecilia is always so nice and gentle to her, and she still throws an attitude in public? Does she think being a genius gives her a free pass?"

"Honestly, I don't care how strong her magic is, being around a person like that just feels off. She's so bitter."

Cecilia was already standing there. She offered the crowd a perfectly graceful, forgiving smile, playing the role of the elegant billionaire heiress to perfection.

But the moment she turned her head to look at me, a fleeting flash of "you-can't-escape" smeared across her eyes.

Staring at her hypocritical mask, I finally saw the entire board.

An open mic, combined with a meticulously crafted victim narrative... she wasn't just trying to steal my runic matrix. She was using the crowd to systematically corner me into looking like a sore, psychotic loser.

"Next up, let us welcome the century-old sacred relic of St. Laurent Academy—the Oracle Crystal Orb!"

The host's booming voice broke my train of thought.

He pointed to the crystal radiating a glow in the center of the stage. "It shall determine the projection sequence and the order of judgment for you today!"

Cecilia used this momentary distraction to raise her hand. She looked as though she was simply tucking a stray hair behind her ear, but the angle perfectly muffled her lapel mic.

She leaned in close to my ear and whispered,

"Do you see the way they look at you, Evelyn? The more you fight back, the more you look like a complete lunatic to everyone else."

My heart started hammering violently against my ribs. My shoulders shook uncontrollably.

I broke her gaze! I cut off the line of sight!

So why was Cecilia still looking so damn triumphant?

Was that split-second of eye contact in the hallway really enough for her to finish the theft?

"Now then, Cecilia shall go first to confirm her sequence!" The host smiled and stepped aside.

Cecilia stepped up and placed her palm lightly on the crystal sphere.

The very next second, a blinding, brilliant golden light erupted from the core of the crystal.

"First priority goes to Cecilia!" the host shouted.

The desperate memories of my past life instantly overlapped with reality. Cecilia stepping into the projector first, unveiling my blood, sweat, and tears to the world... and then turning around to push me straight into the abyss.

I absolutely could not let her step onto the projector first.

Standing just to the side, Cecilia was observing me with a lofty, incredibly pitiful gaze.

Seeing that relaxed smirk playing on her lips, so certain that I had nowhere left to run—the tight string in my mind suddenly snapped.

"Wait!"

The host froze, his microphone hovering mid-air. "E-Evelyn? Is there a problem?"

I thrust my finger aggressively at the glowing orb, my voice ringing out with reckless, absolute resolve:

"I demand to have this crystal orb inspected!"

A massive uproar exploded. The noble students in the front rows bolted out of their seats, shouting out in outrage:

"Is she out of her mind? That relic hasn't made a mistake in centuries! Who the hell does she think she is?"

"If you're a sore loser, just admit it! Blaming the crystal orb because you didn't get first place is pathetic!"