Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 67: Isabella Evergreen

After finishing her last class, Research Department, Isabella went back to her room. Along the way, people would try to strike up a conversation with her, but she promptly ignored them.

Arriving in her room, the first thing she did was sit on her sofa and pick up a book. Since she had about an hour to pass, to pass time, she decided to do the only thing she could think of. Read a book.

…only when reading a book did she feel a sense of belonging.

Isabella's family circumstances were a bit special

Her father, Deark Evergreen, Is a head of the 'Evergreen' clan. He loved her very much after that incident.

In that incident, her sister had a mission at Bodars that slipped between the East Continent and the West Continent.

East belongs to humans while the west is dead land that begins to demon.

Something had gone wrong in that mission and her older sister had been in a coma since then.

They don't know what is the cause of it but it's something related to demons that's for sure.

Her mother died when she was Five years old.

The only memory Isabella had of her was her smiling face that smiled at her in their clan garden.

Isabella wanted to spend more time with her but she was just a child then and she did not know that she didn't have much time with her mother.

Because of that, ever since she was Five, she was raised by her father and her older sister.

That being said, due to the nature of her father's work, he would rarely be able to spend time with her.

Whenever he did have time, Isabella remembered him rubbing her head with his large warm hand.

Too bad those moments only lasted a couple of hours…

It does not mean he doesn't love her it's just that he doesn't have much time.

Even in the recent incident that took place in 'Artifacts Room' he left everything and came for her after hearing the news.

In the end, the person who raised her was her Older sister.

She would often tell her stories and fairy tales of princesses getting kidnapped to later saved by a charming white prince.

She too wanted to be a princess…

Back then, Isabella didn't understand what princesses went through when they got kidnapped.

But later on in her life, she did.

The first time she was kidnapped she was seven years old.

At the time she only remembered hearing voices. Her vision was obstructed. Tight ropes tangled both her arms and legs. She was scared. A large gag was placed in her mouth preventing her from screaming.

…fortunately, her father came and saved her.

However, she was still able to smile when her older sister narrated fairy tales to her. Those were the only times she felt safe and at peace. Sucked in another world. Almost as if escaping reality.

…That was until she was eleven. That was the age at which her Older sister went into a coma at that time her sister was just eighteen, freshly graduated from Nova Academy as a Top Student.

Since then, Isabella has never been able to smile again, she could only genuinely smile in front of her father.

And Everything around her became black and white. Slowly the expectations she had of the people around her vanished.

'I won't get angry, I won't be sad, I won't expect anything from anyone…'

…was what she repeatedly told herself as she shut herself in a box. It was from that point on that she decided not to form any relationships that weren't necessary. Even if they had the best interest for her, even if they treated her well…her heart was unmovable…

Then at the age of Fourteen, she started to learn about all kinds of magic, herbs, and what types of elixir are out in the world.

She made a single life goal and that was to cure her sister.

Closing down the book she was reading, Isabella stood up and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her long Silver hair, which was no longer held by a pin, gently fell on her shoulders reaching to her waist. Her deep sapphire eyes had a cold indifference to them that made people feel like she was a holy existence that was unreachable to regular people. Her appearance was so exquisite that it could move anyone's heart regardless of their gender, but it also gave people a gloomy feeling.

Placing her fingers on the edge of her lips, she lightly pulled the edges of her mouth in the form of a smile. Letting go, the edges of her mouth quickly reverted to their regular aloof position.

She repeated this a couple more times, but…no matter how much she tried, she couldn't smile.

Although Isabella doesn't want to go to Practical Experiment she chooses to go to this one. That was because back in the first lecture she received a mysterious box from the third-year student, Samual.

At first, she thought nothing of it as she was used to these kinds of things, but…once she opened the box she was shocked.

Inside the box was a picture of her older sister. The picture is not alone in there, there was also one note that says I knew the cure of your sister, Samual.

Three years, that much time she invested in the car that could help her sister to come back from a coma.

But she didn't replace anything her whole clan could not replace a cure for it.

Her clan was known for its magic power and spells throughout all of the East continent, Even they could do nothing.

But Isabella did not give up, she continued to search, from old magic books to elixir.

It seems that at one point she almost gives up hope, but then Samual comes and tells her there is a cure for her sister.

Even if it was a lie she wants to believe it.

Since Samuel was the one who had provided her with the picture and note, Isabella had no choice but to look for him.

After looking at herself in the mirror for a couple of seconds, Isabella took a small ID Card and headed out.

-Click!

Closing the door behind her, Isabella went towards the appointed location with a mind full of questions.

***

As Isabella walked in the hallway of Nova Academy a voice called her.

"Hey, Isabella,"

it was a guy's voice around her age, and she had known him since the first day of Academy and it was annoying to the end.

In this world only a few things annoyed her and this guy was one of those things.

She turned toward him and made an expression of disgust.

The expression of disgust she is making is a Lucas.

"Oh, it's just you."

Yeah, it's me you bitch.

"Did you just curse me?"

He flinched at her words and his eyes widened as he did not believe what he heard.

"No, I did not. Maybe you heard wrong or something." Lucas tried to explain himself to her but he was not making any progress at that.

Isabella's gaze, however, remained sceptical, her expression challenging Lucas to convince her otherwise. The air was thick with tension as they stood there, a subtle clash of wills.

Lucas, feeling the weight of her suspicion, continued to plead his case. "I mean, why would I curse you? It doesn't make any sense. We just met, and I have no reason to—"

"Save it," Isabella interrupted, her tone dismissive. "I don't know what you're up to, but I don't appreciate whatever game you're playing."

The exchange left Lucas feeling frustrated as if his attempts at explanation were falling on deaf ears.

After a brief, tense pause, they reluctantly continued walking toward the Nova Academy exit gate. Isabella's reluctance to be in his presence was palpable, and Lucas couldn't help but notice the curious glances from other students. Isabella, known for her selective social interactions, was not one to casually walk with someone she didn't know well.

Despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, the practicality of having the same destination compelled them to share the path. Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that Isabella was making a conscious effort not to engage in further conversation.

As they navigated through the campus, Lucas pondered how to bridge the gap of misunderstanding with someone as guarded as Isabella. The challenge loomed ahead, and he couldn't escape the sense that unravelling the layers of Isabella's scepticism would require more than a simple explanation.

After silently walking for fifteen minutes they reach Nova Academy Exit gate.

Many students were standing there, and all of them were members of [ Research Department. ]

Seeing them coming they turned toward Lucas and Isabella's direction.

Samuel was the first one to walk towards them his full attention on Isabella.

It's like he is watching his prey that came to him.

"I'm glad you came, Isabella."

Samuel said with a fake smile on his face.