Between Goodbye And Becoming
Country: Aurivelle
City: Auremont
Alvara
I woke up the next morning… but I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed.
Everything that had happened over the past six months pressed down on me all at once…too heavy, too loud to ignore.
From being selected… to arriving at this institute… and now, leaving it.
But most importantly… I wasn’t leaving as the same girl who had walked in.
I was going back as someone else entirely.
My gaze drifted to my stomach, and slowly, I rested my hand there, fingers trembling as I rubbed it gently.
It had been eight months… but the memory still lingered like a wound that refused to close.
And sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder what life would have looked like if things had never fallen apart.
If I was still in Eldoria…
Would I still be with Adrian?
Or would things have only grown worse between us?
Would we still be trapped in that life… living in fear of the Vales?
Was everything that happened already written somewhere I couldn’t see?
Was this… the only path that could have led me here?
The thoughts circled my mind like a storm I couldn’t escape.
But one truth stayed sharp and unmoving inside me.
I would never forgive Adrian… or that woman… for what I lost.
Never.
I slipped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.
After showering and freshening up, I walked back to my wardrobe and reached for the only outfit left…the one I had deliberately set aside for today.
For going home.
I slipped into the royal blue satin set, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. I buttoned the shirt slowly, letting it fall effortlessly over the matching wide-leg trousers.
Simple. Elegant. Intentional.
I added my accessories…colorful gemstone earrings that caught the light, a delicate gold necklace, and my gold watch.
Then I stepped into my striking red heels.
Running my fingers through my hair, I let it fall in soft waves over my shoulders.
I paused for a second, staring at my reflection.
Then I smiled.
Picking up my sleek black handbag I dialed Isabella’s number. She told me she was already on her way.
A few minutes later, there was a knock.
I opened the door… and there she was.
Elegant. Effortless.
For a second, I just looked at her.
“You look so beautiful,” I said.
She smiled instantly. “You look more beautiful.”
I shook my head lightly, still smiling, and we turned to step back into the room
But stopped.
Two young men approached us.
They introduced themselves as the drivers assigned to us and informed us they were there to take our luggage to the cars.
We stepped aside as they moved in, gathering our bags efficiently.
I glanced around the room one last time.
Six months.
And now… it is over.
“We’re finally going,” Isabella said softly beside me.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice quieter than I expected.
“We’re really leaving the institute.”
When we stepped out into the courtyard, it was already half empty.
Most of the designers were gone.
I scanned the area briefly, searching for Helena and the others… but they weren’t there.
They had already left.
I didn’t know why, but that felt fitting.
There were just a few of us remaining now.
We walked toward the drivers, who were waiting beside the cars.
I hesitated for a second before speaking.
“Uhm… please,” I said, turning to the driver who had taken my bags. “I’d like to ride with my friend. We’re heading to the same place, and we don’t want to go separately.”
He paused, clearly unsure.
For a moment, I thought he would refuse.
But then he nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “But I’ll have to move your luggage to her vehicle.”
“That’s fine,” I said quickly.
We both had more bags than we came with anyway.
We watched as he transferred my luggage from one car to the other, working efficiently.
The other driver stood by, already informed.
“They have your destinations,” he added once he was done.
I nodded.
Then I glanced at Isabella.
We got into the car, and it pulled away smoothly.
Both of us turned at the same time, looking back.
At the institute.
The place where everything changed.
The place that shaped us.
I reached for Isabella’s hand and held it as the gates slowly faded behind us.
“It feels like a dream,” she said softly.
I nodded.
Because it did.
Isabella kept talking… about last night, about the show, about everything that had happened. Her voice filled the space, light and excited, but my mind drifted.
“Please take us to Aurelian Heights first, before Cressford,” I said to the driver.
He nodded immediately.
“Aurelian Heights?” Isabella repeated, turning to me.
I smiled.
“What are you going there to do?” she asked, her brows pulling together. “Are you meeting someone?”
She didn’t wait for an answer.
“Do you even know who lives there? Top CEOs, political elites, legacy families, high-profile creatives… Alvara, that place is extremely private and secure.”
Her voice rose slightly.
“So what exactly are you going there to do?”
I let out a small laugh.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
She stared at me.
Now both curious and slightly nervous.
“I’m actually scared now,” she admitted.
“Wait… the Hawthornes own properties there, right? Are you meeting Mrs. Hawthorne? But they don’t even live there, they’re at Valtheris Ridge… so what are we going there for?”
“Isabella,” I said, smiling, “just relax.”
She didn’t respond.
But I could feel it.
The questions.
The curiosity she was trying so hard to hold back.
The rest of the drive passed in a quiet that wasn’t empty…
Just full.
Full of everything she wasn’t saying.
And everything I had already decided.
By the time the car began to slow…
The air had already changed.
Even before we saw anything.
“Alvara…” Isabella said softly.
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew.
We were here.
The gates of The Halcyon mirrors estate came into view.
Tall.
Imposing.
Seamless black steel lined with subtle gold detailing.
Security here wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
It was quiet.
Controlled.
Certain.
The car slowed to a stop.
A guard approached.
Calm. Professional.
He leaned slightly toward the driver’s window.
“Identification.”
The driver handed over my passport.
The guard glanced at it.
Then at me.
Not intrusive.
Just confirming.
He nodded once.
“Ms. Alvara Dane. Expected.”
Isabella’s head snapped toward me.
Expected.
Before she could speak, the gates opened.
Slowly.
Silently.
Like we had just been granted access into something not meant for everyone.
The car moved forward.
Inside…
Wide, flawless roads.
Perfectly spaced mansions.
Each one standing like it knew its worth.
No noise.
No crowd.
Just space.
And power.
We drove deeper in before turning into a quieter lane.
Then the car stopped.
I stepped out first.
My heart wasn’t racing from nerves.
It was a certainty.
Isabella stepped out beside me.
And froze.
“Alvara…” she whispered.
I followed her gaze.
And there they were.
Two identical mansions.
Facing each other.
Perfect reflections.
Same structure.
Same height.
Clean, precise architectural lines.
Large glass panels.
Soft beige stone finishing.
Balconies edged with dark steel.
They stood across from each other, separated by a shared central driveway.
Distinct.
Yet connected.
For a moment…
Neither of us moved.
“This…” Isabella breathed.
“What is this?”
I smiled.
Small.
“Ours.”
Silence.
“What?” she turned to me so fast I almost laughed.
I reached into my bag and pulled out the keycards.
Two.
I held one out to her.
“This one is yours.”
She didn’t take it.
She just stared.
“…Alvara.”
“We inspect first,” I said calmly. “If you don’t like it, we leave.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
She took the card slowly.
Like it might disappear.
We walked toward the first house.
Mine.
The moment we approached, the panel lit up.
A soft voice followed.
“Access pending. Please authenticate.”
I tapped the card.
A soft beep.
“Temporary access granted.”
The door unlocked.
Quiet.
Seamless.
I pushed it open.
Cool air met us first.
Then space.
Wide.
Open.
Flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows.
Isabella stepped in slowly behind me.
Turning.
Taking everything in.
“Alvara…”
I didn’t respond.
Because I felt it too.
That moment.
When something stops being a plan…
And becomes real.
We moved further inside.
The living area was fully furnished.
Minimal.
Expensive.
Neutral tones layered with soft textures.
Nothing loud.
Everything is intentional.
The kitchen came next.
I stepped in…
And stopped.
A slow smile formed.
“Okay…” I breathed.
This…
This was perfect.
Built-in appliances.
Clean lines.
A large marble island at the center.
As I stepped closer, the system activated.
Soft lighting came alive beneath the cabinets.
A panel lit up.
“The kitchen system is active.”
Isabella let out a quiet laugh.
“No way…”
I tapped the panel.
Options appeared instantly.
Temperature control.
Appliance sync.
Voice commands.
“This kitchen is smarter than me,” she muttered.
I laughed softly.
“That’s the point.”
We continued.
Room by room.
Each one ready.
Each one waiting.
But when we got to the bedrooms.
She paused.
Then turned to me.
“…the wardrobes are empty.”
I nodded.
“That part is yours.”
She frowned slightly.
“Mine?”
“You design it,” I said simply.
“Your space. Your taste.”
She stared at me for a moment.
Then her expression softened.
“…you really thought of everything.”
We checked the second house next.
Hers.
Same structure.
Same elegance.
But it felt different.
Because it belonged to her.
By the time we stepped back outside, the sun had shifted slightly.
The houses stood there.
Still.
Waiting.
Isabella turned to me slowly.
“You already decided, didn’t you?”
I didn’t deny it.
“I’ve been planning this.”
“Since when?”
“The day I realized I wasn’t going back the same way I came.”
“This is home now,” I said quietly.
“Not Cressford.”
She looked at the houses again.
Then back at me.
Her eyes filled.
“You’re serious…”
“I am.”
A small pause.
Then she laughed softly.
Disbelieving.
“Alvara… you’re actually insane.”
I smiled.
“Maybe.”
She stepped closer.
Took the keycard again.
This time holding it properly.
Like it belonged to her.
“Okay,” she said.
A small nod.
“Let’s do it.”
And just like that…
It was decided.
“Cressford?” the driver called from behind us.
I turned slightly.
“Yes.”
I glanced back at the twin houses one last time.
Then reached for Isabella’s hand.
“Let’s go get them.”
Because the next time we came back here…
We wouldn’t be visiting.
We’d be home.