Chapter 114: On A Hunt
|The Next Morning.|
Ephyra drove into the school compound at exactly 7:30 AM but was surprised to see that almost all the students and teachers were already in school. A lot of things pointed out the fact that it was not a normal school day, as the students moved around with one of their parents, greeting the teachers and chatting excitedly with one another. The main auditorium, where the graduation ceremony was to take place, was abuzz with activity. Bright banners and streamers adorned the entrance, proudly displaying the school’s emblem and the words: "Class of Triumph: A Journey to Remember."
Ephyra parked her car and stepped out.
The high school campus brimmed with extravagance, as befitted the elite institution that it was. Ephyra’s eyes scanned the scene before her as she adjusted her black coat. The parents were clad in designer ensembles—suits tailored to perfection, dresses in silk and chiffon that gleamed under the winter sun. Jewelry sparkled on wrists and necks, some of the older women draped in furs. The conversations around her were laced with an unmistakable air of entitlement, each parent bragging about their child’s achievements or their connections.
The students were no different. The boys wore fitted suits and ties, some looking far too mature for their years, while the girls flaunted cocktail dresses that ranged from classic to ostentatious. Laughter, squeals, and the hum of chatter filled the morning air. Ephyra noted the subtle competition between the mothers, their smiles polite but their eyes calculating, sizing up one another like predators on a hunt.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. Without checking the screen, she answered. "Hello?"
A high-pitched, overly enthusiastic voice immediately assaulted her ears. "Ephyra! Where are you? You promised not to come late, but here you are, being late! Even Cyran is already here, and you know how hard it is to get him to care about anything like this!"
Ephyra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Good morning to you too, Malia. Calm down; I’m here. Where are you?"
"Not in the auditorium, that’s for sure!" Malia shot back, her tone both impatient and teasing. "We’re in the other building where everyone’s getting ready and dressing up. You know, the one with the giant fountain out front and the ugly beige walls?"