8. The First Defeat

Seraphina’s fingers trembled slightly as she moved her knight across the board, her heart pounding in her chest. Adrian watched her with a serious expression, his sharp gaze flicking between her face and the board. She held her breath, waiting for his next move.

Then, without hesitation, Adrian captured her knight with his bishop. “Pathetic,” he murmured, barely looking up at her. “You hesitate too much. That’s why you’re weak.”

She clenched her jaw, refusing to let his words affect her even though she knew he was very right. She studied the board again, trying to think two steps ahead, but her mind was clouded with frustration. When she moved her rook, Adrian sighed and immediately countered with a devastating play.

“Tell me, Seraphina,” he said, his voice smooth but sharp as a blade. “Do you plan to continue walking through life hoping people will hand you victories? Because that won’t happen.” He moved another piece, trapping her king. “Check.”

She swallowed hard, sweat gathering at her temple. Her fingers hovered over the board, but before she could react, he made another swift move.

“Checkmate.”

Seraphina stared at the board in shock. The game was over. Just like that. Her throat tightened as she gritted her teeth. She had lost. Again.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, observing her reaction with interest. “You hate losing.”

She lifted her chin slightly, determined not to let him see how much his words cut into her. “Of course I do.”

“Good,” he said, standing up. “Then remember this feeling. Every time you fail, let it burn into you. Let it fuel you. Because if you don’t, you’ll always be a pawn.”

Seraphina balled her fists under the table. She wanted to scream at him, tell him he was cruel, that he didn’t have to beat her so mercilessly. But deep down, she knew he was right. Strength wasn’t just given—it was earned. And she had a long way to go.

“You have potential,” Adrian admitted, tilting his head slightly. “But you’re nowhere near ready for freedom.” He stepped toward the door, pausing only to glance back at her. “Get up. Your next lesson starts now.”

****

Weeks Later

Seraphina’s body ached, but it was a different kind of pain now. She was stronger, faster, and sharper. Adrian’s training had pushed her to the edge of exhaustion every day, but she had endured. She had learned discipline, strategy, and how to fight—both in mind and body.

And now, she was ready for her next challenge. Her physical defense had improved a lot and her concentration level had increased. At first, she wasn’t sure if she was making the right or wrong decision but as the days rolled by, she got more convinced that her path was right.

***

Her heart thumped against her ribs as she walked through the gates of the campus, the familiar scent of books and freshly cut grass filling her nose. It was the first day of the break during the semester and she had prepared hard for the day. Of course, Isla’s bullying wouldn’t disappear because she almost died, but she had developed a new way of coping with it.

The moment her presence registered among the students, the air shifted. Their conversations halted and their eyes widened as she walked through the hallway. Whispers spread like wildfire but she held her head high, unshaken.

“She actually came back?”

“I thought she disappeared for good.”

“Doesn’t she have any shame?”

Seraphina forced herself to keep walking, her chin high, and her shoulders squared. She had known this would happen. She had prepared for it but nothing could truly erase the sting of their words.

Then, from the crowd, Isla Kensington stepped forward, a slow smirk curling her lips. Dressed in her usual designer perfection, Isla looked every bit the queen of the school, exuding confidence that made people flock to her. Her blue eyes gleamed with mockery as she crossed her arms.

“Well, well, well,” Isla said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Look who decided to crawl back after being the biggest embarrassment of the year.”

Seraphina didn’t flinch. She met Isla’s gaze, steady and unwavering.

Isla circled her slowly, like a predator toying with its prey. “I have to say, Sera, I admire your shamelessness. After all, the whole world knows about your mother now. And yet, here you are, acting like none of it happened.”

A few students chuckled cruelly, watching the exchange with interest.

Seraphina’s fingers twitched at her sides, but she didn’t let the anger take over. Instead, she exhaled softly and met Isla’s eyes with quiet strength. “Back off, Isla. You’ve done enough.”

Isla blinked, her smirk faltering for just a second. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Seraphina said, her voice even, controlled. “I’m not afraid of you anymore. You don’t get to control me. Not now or ever.”

For the first time, Isla looked genuinely surprised. But then, just as quickly, she laughed, masking whatever uncertainty had flickered in her eyes. “Oh, this is adorable,” she mused. “You think you’ve suddenly grown a backbone? That’s cute, Seraphina. But let me make one thing clear.” She stepped in closer, lowering her voice so only Seraphina could hear. “You’re in for a hellish semester.”

Seraphina refused to step back. She didn’t shrink away. Instead, she smiled with her small lips curving into a heart shape before it flattened again. “We’ll see about that. You should brace up for it to, Isla, because it will be very interesting from this end.”

Isla’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly before she scoffed and turned on her heel. “Enjoy your last few moments of confidence, Sera. They won’t last.”

As Isla walked away, Seraphina let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The whispers continued around her, but this time, they didn’t sting as much. Because for the first time in her life, she hadn’t run. She had faced Isla and stood her ground.

And this was just the beginning.