Iris's POV

The infirmary air carried a sharp, medicinal coolness.

Mrs. Hope poured a pale green potion over my scraped knee.

The soothing sensation instantly replaced the burning sting. My torn skin healed at a visible rate, leaving only a faint pink mark.

"There you go, dear. No broken bones, and the scrapes are healed. Just avoid anything too strenuous tonight." Mrs. Hope packed away her supplies and disappeared into the adjoining preparation room with a final reminder.

The room fell silent.

Cassian stood beside the infirmary bed. He didn't sit. His tall frame blocked the moonlight streaming through the window.

His gaze fixed on my now-pristine knee, his jaw still locked tight. The darkness in his eyes hadn't lifted despite the healed wound.

I knew what he was thinking. He was blaming himself for Eric's cruelty.

"Cassian." I broke the silence, my voice soft. "Eric pushed me because he's arrogant and vicious. The fault lies with the abuser, not you."

He looked up. "If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have targeted you at all."

"Even without you, he'd have found another excuse." I met his eyes, my tone calm and certain. "Just like my relatives back in the human world. They hurt me because they wanted to, not because I gave them a reason."

Cassian's pupils contracted slightly. He clearly hadn't expected me to bring that up.

I leaned back against the headboard, staring into nothing. My voice came out quiet. "My parents died the year I was born. I was sent to live with my uncle. For eighteen years, I lived in the smallest, stuffiest attic in that house. They treated me like a free servant. Beat me whenever they felt like it. My aunt said I was worth less than a dog. My cousin could take anything I had. The day I got my acceptance letter from Bliston Academy, they tried to steal it from me."

I turned to look at Cassian's face, watching it harden.

"Did they target me because I was in their way? No. They did it because they thought I was weak. Because they thought I couldn't fight back. Because hurting me fed their pathetic sense of superiority." I took a deep breath. "Eric's the same. He went after me because he's a bully who preys on people he thinks are helpless. It has nothing to do with you."

As my words settled, the temperature in the room began climbing rapidly.

Cassian's expression transformed completely.

"Where are they?" His voice came out low and rough, saturated with killing intent. "That family. I'll make them pay. I'll burn everything they're proud of to ashes."

He meant it.

If I gave him the word, he'd storm out right now and drag Eric from his dorm. Then he'd fly straight out of the academy to turn my cold-blooded relatives into charcoal.

Looking at this boy raging on my behalf, something sharp and hot rose in my chest.

In my entire life, no one had ever stood up for me like this. No one had ever gotten this angry over the wrongs I'd suffered.

I reached out and grabbed his clenched fist.

His knuckles were scorching, like touching a branding iron. But I didn't let go. I held on tighter.

"Cassian, look at me." I forced him to meet my eyes.

His chest heaved. The flames in his gaze flickered at my touch.

"I already left that attic. I didn't stay a minute longer than I had to. I got out." I looked at him steadily. "I don't need you to go after them. As for Eric, someday I'll settle that score myself. With magic."

Cassian stared at me. After a long moment, his hand turned and gripped mine back.

His hold was crushing, as if he wanted to press my bones into his palm.

The scorching air around us gradually cooled. The fire in his eyes slowly banked, settling into a deep, molten gold.

"Fine." His voice came out hoarse but weighted with solemn promise. "But from now on, I've got your back. I swear—no one will ever hurt you again. Anyone who tries, I'll kill them."

It was a monster's vow. But it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard.

I smiled and squeezed his hand.

That night, we stayed in the infirmary for hours.

Without our defenses and pretenses, we were like two travelers who'd been stumbling through darkness, finally finding a place to rest.

He told me how excruciating the phoenix bloodline awakening had been. The flames felt like they were burning through his soul. He'd thought about ending his life more times than he could count.

He was terrified of losing control. Terrified of seeing fear in other people's eyes. So he pushed everyone away and locked himself on an island.

I told him I'd never felt like I belonged anywhere.

I thought coming to a magic academy would change that, but I was still an outsider. I couldn't even manage a basic transformation spell.

"You're not an outsider." Cassian's voice was firm. "You have real power. It just hasn't awakened yet. I'll help you find it."

In that moment, our loneliness resonated.

We didn't need more words. Our hearts had already drawn close.

---

The next evening, I returned to my dorm.

The moment I pushed the door open, I found Wendy standing in front of the full-length mirror, holding up two different-colored formal dresses.

Her bed was buried under accessories and magical cosmetics.

"Iris! Finally!" Wendy spotted me and dropped the dresses to rush over, scanning me anxiously. "I heard you fell down the stairs in the North Tower and Cassian carried you to the infirmary! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Mrs. Hope's potions work wonders." I patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Thank god." Wendy exhaled in relief, then brightened and grabbed the dresses again. "Quick, help me decide—for the welcome ball this weekend, should I wear this starlight blue or this flame red? I need to look absolutely stunning!"

"Welcome ball?" I blinked.

"Yeah! Don't tell me you forgot?" Wendy's eyes widened. "It's a Bliston Academy tradition! All the freshmen attend, and upperclassmen come too. Everyone dances and eats in the Great Hall. It's the perfect chance to make connections!"

I looked at Wendy's excited face, but my mind conjured an image of Cassian sitting alone in the corner of the dining hall.

The welcome ball.

He definitely wouldn't go to something like that.

He was used to hiding in the shadows. Used to being cut off from crowds.

But I didn't want him alone in the darkness anymore.

I wanted to bring him into the light. I wanted him to know he didn't have to be the isolated monster forever.

"Wendy, I need to go out for a bit." I turned abruptly and pulled the door open.

"Wait, where are you going? You didn't help me pick a dress!" Wendy called after me.

"To find a dance partner!" I called back without looking.

---

Cassian's dorm was on the top floor of the West Tower. The academy had arranged this isolated single room specifically to prevent him from losing control and hurting anyone.

The hallway was dim. Magical torches on the walls gave off an eerie blue glow. The deeper I walked, the drier and hotter the air became.

I stopped in front of a heavy oak door. It had no handle—only an intricate flame emblem carved into the wood.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand and knocked.

"Cassian?"

No response from inside.

I frowned and leaned closer to the door, knocking again. "Cassian, are you there? It's me, Iris."

Still nothing but deathly silence.

I was about to turn and leave, assuming he wasn't in.

But the instant I turned, something caught my attention.

A faint red glow seeped from under the door.

Along with that light came a terrifying wave of heat, so intense it burned my ankles.

I froze and pressed my ear against the door.

This time, I heard it clearly.

A suppressed groan came from inside.

It sounded like a trapped animal enduring bone-breaking agony.

Then came the sound of something heavy slamming into the wall, followed by the harsh scrape of nails clawing stone.

"Cassian!" My heart clenched. I pounded on the door. "Cassian, what's wrong? Open the door!"

The agonized breathing inside grew heavier. The temperature rose so high that the oak door felt ready to ignite.

My hand froze mid-air.