Chapter 133: _ Brotherly Compassion?
"As wolves of this pack, your duty is its protection, and you have done just that."
A teacher in the crowd nods sagely, another dabs at her brow with a handkerchief.
"You must not grieve," Halric continues, "but celebrate. Celebrate your lost peers, who shall forever be remembered as heroes."
Heidi chokes on a bitter laugh. Heroes? She can still hear the shrieks, the tearing of flesh, and see the rivers of blood that painted the labyrinth red. Heroes? Junie is somewhere alone and terrified... or dead, and they’ll never know which. But sure, let’s celebrate. Maybe bake a cake.
Her wolf snarls in her chest, claws raking at the inside of her ribs. "He lies. They want us docile. They want our deaths sweetened with words."
Like hell they do.
Halric’s speech drones on, the words swelling with false pride. "Return to your dorms for now. Rest. Heal. Tomorrow, being a weekend, all students may go home to their families. You will return on Monday, refreshed and ready for the term."
Heidi sways where she stands. Families. Right. As if most of the dead have anyone left to welcome them home. As if they’d let them return where home truly is—their real families.
Halric presses forward. "Before your departure, the school will conduct interviews with each of you, one by one. Your participation in the labyrinth will be analyzed. From this, we will crown the top boy and girl of Year One."
That causes silence to descend. Top boy and girl. Of course. Because nothing screams appropriate like turning a massacre into a game show.
Heidi feels nausea surge. Her body aches everywhere, her mind still trapped in the endless screaming maze, and they’re already talking about crowning winners?
The silence that follows Halric’s announcement is way too long until a mutter comes amidst the crowd.
"How are they heroes when all they did was die?"
It isn’t really loud. It was in fact, just a bitter whisper that escaped the boy’s lips like steam. But wolves don’t need volume to hear. The commentary causes every ear to swivel. The words, through the courtyard, are like a stone dropped into still water.
Heidi flinches. The honesty of it makes her ribs ache. Because... gods, isn’t he right? They died. Screaming, bleeding, torn apart. What’s heroic about that? She almost wants to thank him for saying what’s been screaming in her own skull for hours. But her wolf is restless. This could turn bloody fast.
It’s Ms. Vesper who steps forward.
Her heels click against the ground as she catwalks forward. She stands with her spine rod-straight, her thin lips pinched in disapproval. "They are heroes because they went into the labyrinth in service of the pack. Because every one of those fallen wolves struck down demons before they themselves fell. And for each demon they killed, there is one less threat to our world—to the supernatural, and more importantly, to humanity."
Her hawk-like eyes sweep across the crowd, daring anyone else to object. "They gave their blood so the rest of you may breathe safely tonight. That is heroism."
They gave? Heidi almost scoffs outwardly. They gave nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was the school that took from them.
She can almost see Junie’s face in the labyrinth again, the way she trembled but still fought until she couldn’t anymore. A knot of guilt and grief coils tighter in her gut.
Master Corvin gives a low grunt. "Enough questions because questions will get you nothing tonight but more grief. What’s done is done. The labyrinth has claimed who it will. You’ve survived. That is gift enough. Return to your dorms and prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, we’ll speak of honor and ranking. For now, rest."
And that’s it. The dismissal.
His glare brooks no argument. Slowly and reluctantly, the crowd begins to break apart. Wolves peel away in clusters, their whispers trailing like smoke. Some limp, some lean on friends, and some cry silently as they disappear into the darkened corridors of the school.
The courtyard thins, but Heidi doesn’t move. She can’t. Her body is leaden, her knees are numb from the cold stones. Val remains beside her, head bowed, tears dripping steadily onto her clenched fists.
Someone approaches. Boots scuff softly closer. Heidi lifts her swollen eyes—and it’s Andre. His face is drawn with exhaustion but softened by something that almost looks like pity. He crouches down, hand stretching out toward her, hesitant, as if afraid she might shatter with the touch.
Heidi’s lips part. She doesn’t know whether to shrink away or let him. Would she even be able to stand?
Her fingers twitch...
But before she can move, another shadow cuts in.
"Heidi," an achingly familiar voice says.
She looks up. Her heart jumps. It’s like deja vu.
Lucan.
"Come on." He nudges.
Her foster brother stands there, tall and rigorous as always, his dark brows pulled together. His shoulders are stiff. But his eyes... his eyes are fixed on her with a level of relief and concern she never thought she’d see on him.
And in that moment, being in the presence of someone who genuinely cares for her unconditionally, she launches herself into his arms.
The motion rips wild and uncontrollable sobs from her chest. She clutches at him like she’s eight years old again, like if she lets go, she’ll disappear into nothing. "Lucan," she gasps, her voice muffled against his shirt, "oh God, Lucan..."
For a moment, he’s frozen. Literally frozen, like she’s just short-circuited his entire being. It’s understandable with him being the one who barely lets anyone so much as brush against him. But now, Heidi can feel his muscles turn to stone beneath her fingers.
And then, slowly, he lets down his guard. His arms wrap around her. Hesitant at first, then firm. His chin lowers just slightly, and when he speaks, his voice rumbles against the crown of her head. "It’s okay. You’re okay. You survived, Heidi. That’s all that matters."
The words undo her, making the tears pour harder and her throat burns. She can’t stop shaking, but she clings tighter, because it’s Lucan, and he’s holding her... consoling her right in front of the damn public.