. . .

She becomes hollow-eyed and staggering. Her potential fades into weakness. She is dismissed by those who once praised her highly as a contender for the Fan Hoeng throne.

Her life tastes to her of ashes.

Her grades in other topics fall.

She hears of the death of her favorite sister. It shatters her. She remembers that she has never actually told Maria that sometimes not killing people is OK. She’s not even sure if she believes that, but she’d always wanted to say it to her older, cooler sis.

She stands at an airlock of the evil academy.

She opens a browser window. She browses contracts. She clicks and accepts a contract on her own life.

She resigns herself to eternity. She foots the airlock-opening button. Only —

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