Chapter 104 The Parade of Secrets
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
After Carolyn departed, the crowd that had gathered to witness the earlier drama dispersed redirecting their attention back to the boxing ring. The vibrant energy returned as students cheered enthusiastically for the fighters.
however, seemed a little flustered as she turned to Perrin. She released his arm and apologized softly, “I’m sorry, Perrin. You know Carolyn and I have unresolved grudges. I acted impulsively, and I shouldn’t have dragged you into it. Thank you for giving me a way out.”
Perrin, instead of appearing annoyed, smiled and reached for her hand. Leaning closer, he whispered, “Avril, I meant every word I said earlier. I don’t have a dance partner yet because I was hoping to ask you. So, would you like to be my partner for the opening dance?”
Avril’s eyes widened in shock, and she stammered, “What? I… I don’t know what to say… but yes, Perrin. I’d love to be your dance partner.”
The girls and I couldn’t help but cheer for the two of them, and our excitement added to the festive atmosphere around us.
Mara, however, broke the moment with a teasing remark. “Well, it seems someone has forgotten something rather important.”
Avril turned toward her friend with an apologetic expression. “Oh! Mara, I’m so sorry. I didn’t
mean to-
Mara waved off the apology with a dramatic flourish. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m far too gracious to hold a grudge. But don’t you think it’s time for us to change into something more fitting? Two people in tuxedos dancing together might just become the hottest topic on campus. If you don’t want to spend next semester with everyone gossiping that you and Perrin are
a couple straight out of a romantic comedy, perhaps you should consider a gown.”
Avril laughed but stood her ground. “No way. I spent half a year’s pocket money on this pink tuxedo, and I’m going to wear it. Perrin doesn’t mind, do you?”
Perrin grinned. “Not at all. Even if you wore a burlap sack, I’d still think you looked perfect.”
With that settled, the day moved forward. After an eventful morning, the much–anticipated float parade began at 11:30.
Sivir Academy, with its sprawling campus divided into primary, middle, high school, and university segments, covered an expansive area. It would take the floats about an hour to complete their circuit through the grounds.
The werewolf grandmasters, who had taken on the roles of school workers to avoid exposure,
meticulously prepared everything. The parade route was also crucial for our mission, as it coincided with the nodes of the magic circle we had secretly set up. Carolyn, unknowingly, would complete the formation by passing through these points during the parade.
As the floats began their procession, Carolyn climbed aboard the lead carriage with feigned surprise, pretending she had no prior knowledge of the honor. Waving gracefully like a newly crowned queen, she captivated the onlookers lining the route.
“Perfect,” I thought grimly. The first node had been successfully activated.
For the magic circle to work, Carolyn needed to move through all the designated nodes in sequence. This was the only viable alternative after we failed to acquire any of her physical
tissue.
The parade moved forward smoothly for the first half. Cheers and applause followed Carolyn as the floats passed by different sections of the academy. However, as the procession approached the opera hall, disaster struck.
Out of nowhere, Ryan burst through the crowd, carrying a basin filled with dirty water. With a furious shout, he hurled its contents toward Carolyn’s float.
The murky water splashed across Carolyn’s pristine gown, eliciting gasps from the spectators.
Ryan, seized by a group of nearby students, continued to scream curses. “You liar! You deceived me! You’ve tricked everyone!”
Pinned to the ground, he struggled wildly, his rage unabated. “Go to hell, you manipulative
witch!”
The moment I saw him rush out, I knew he was about to ruin everything. But the distance between us left me powerless to intervene. My heart sank as I watched the scene unfold.
I wanted to scream in frustration. That idiot had done more damage than he could possibly comprehend!
The dirty water, though ordinary, had stained Carolyn’s dress. With her pride, there was no chance she’d continue the parade in such a state. She would undoubtedly retreat to change her
clothes.
The nodes of the magic circle were fixed, and any disruption in Carolyn’s path would render the entire plan useless.
Just as panic threatened to consume me, Carolyn did something completely unexpected.
She raised her hand with a calm expression, and in an instant, the stains vanished from her dress as if they had never existed.
Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.
Had she just used sorcery in front of everyone? Was she not afraid of exposing herself?
Clupte 104 The Parade of Secreta
As if sensing my incredulity, Carolyn turned to the crowd and offered an explanation. “No need to worry. It’s just a simple trick. My father, as many of you know, has faced numerous witches and wizards in battle. Fearing they might one day target me, he insisted I learn a bit of magic for self–defense. I must say, his foresight has proven invaluable.”
Her composed explanation silenced any potential suspicion. The crowd murmured their admiration for her resourcefulness, completely oblivious to the truth.
I let out a slow breath as the parade resumed, relieved that the disruption hadn’t derailed our plans entirely. Dorothy, standing nearby, gave me a subtle nod, signaling that the magic circle’s integrity remained intact.
The parade continued without further incident until it reached its final destination: the central
square.
By now, nearly the entire student body had gathered. Even the tree branches around the square were crowded with eager spectators, turning them into impromptu seats. On a day like this, even the academy director chose to turn a blind eye to the usual rules.
Carolyn, still radiating an air of regal confidence, descended from her carriage with the assistance of an actor from the drama club. The center of the square had been transformed into a floral stage, surrounded by fresh blooms. This was the site of the final dance and, more importantly, the magic circle’s concluding node,
As Carolyn stepped onto the stage, my heart pounded in anticipation. The plan was nearing its
climax.
But just as she reached the top of the steps, Carolyn froze. She turned to face the crowd, lips curling into a triumphant smile.
her
“No way!” she declared, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed?”
The color drained from my face.
She had discovered everything.
