Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 305: Yura’s condition

Electra’s POV

"This is a terrible idea," I said as we walked down the hallway, the soles of our shoes tapping against the floor. "Actually, this might be the worst idea I’ve ever had."

Irina kept walking like she hadn’t heard me, but I knew she had. Her shoulders twitched slightly, which told me she was trying not to lose her patience again.

I turned to Seraphina, hoping for some support. "Right? Tell me I’m not the only one thinking this is going to backfire."

Seraphina let out a dramatic sigh. "Nope, you’re not. I think it’s a horrible idea too. I mean, come on, you guys bullied this girl. Like, nearly-drowned-her-in-a-pool kind of bullied, and now we’re going to her room to ask for help?"

She glanced at me. "There’s a higher chance she shoots an arrow through your face than agrees to help you."

"Exactly," I muttered.

Irina suddenly spun around to face us, stopping in front of Yura and Yuna’s door. "Would you two stop being so dramatic?" she hissed. "Yes, Yura hates us, and yes, she’s more likely to shoot us in the face than help us, but regardless of all that, we need her. The tournament is in less than two weeks, and we can’t afford to keep looking."

"I still don’t see why we can’t just teach someone else," I said, though even I didn’t believe the words at all. Teaching enchanted archery to a noob in just days? Mission impossible.

"Because we don’t have time," Irina snapped. "You know that, and like it or not, Yura’s the only other person in this school that I know of who’s actually good with a bow. You just never noticed her because she wasn’t exactly relevant to you."

"That’s fair," I admitted under my breath.

Irina knocked, loud and firm, before turning back to us. "Please, just let me do the talking. For once."

I gave her a side-eye. "No offense, Irina, but talking people into doing stuff is not your strong suit."

"Just shut up," she replied flatly, facing the door again.

The seconds dragged, and I could hear voices inside, muffled but clearly arguing. Seraphina shifted beside me, arms folded, clearly uncomfortable, and I didn’t blame her. I would be too.

Irina raised her hand and knocked firmly on the door. Three short raps, and then silence.

Just when I started to think no one would answer, the door creaked open, and it wasn’t Yuna who appeared in the doorway like we’d all expected it would be.

It was Yura herself.

Her long black hair was pulled into a loose bun, and she wore a deep green sweater that looked several sizes too big. She looked... less icy than I remembered, but her eyes still held that same sharp edge. Her gaze landed on me first, of course, and I could see the immediate tension rise in her shoulders.

Her brows drew together, and before Irina could even open her mouth to speak, Yura leaned forward slightly and whispered, "I know why you’re here."

Irina blinked. "Wait—" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"But we can’t talk here," Yura interrupted again, her voice so low we had to lean in to catch it. "Yuna’s in the room, and this isn’t a conversation I want her to hear."

I exchanged a confused glance with Seraphina.

Yura looked me in the eye, just for a moment, then looked back to Irina. "Meet me at the training ground, but give me ten minutes. Then you can try to convince me why I should care."

And with that, she shut the door, not slammed it, and not rudely. Just closed it, firm and final.

The three of us stood frozen in front of it, like idiots.

"...What the hell just happened?" Irina said first, blinking like she’d been slapped by a ghost.

"I was about to ask the same thing," Seraphina mumbled.

I exhaled sharply, stepping back from the door. "All I know is, I don’t like being told what to do or having doors closed in my face like I’m some street vendor trying to sell potions."

"Oh please," Irina scoffed, turning around. "How about you focus less on your ego and be grateful the girl didn’t just spit venom on us on sight? She could’ve slammed the door without a word."

"She kind of did," I muttered.

"But she didn’t," Irina shot back. "She said to meet her at the field. That means she’s willing to talk, and that’s more than we expected. So let’s not ruin our chances."

I opened my mouth but closed it again since she wasn’t wrong.

"Let’s just go," I grumbled.

***

I was five seconds away from losing my mind.

We’d been waiting out on the training field for what felt like forever, and the wind was starting to pick up, sending chills down my arms even through my jacket.

"Twenty minutes," I muttered under my breath, pacing near the edge of the bench where Irina and Seraphina sat. "She said ten."

"She probably changed her mind," Seraphina mumbled, arms crossed. "Or maybe Yuna found out she was coming to see us and locked her in the closet."

Irina didn’t say anything, but her lips were pressed into a line.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. "We should just call Roxana already and ask if they found Deena yet."

"I say give it five more—"

"Wait," Seraphina cut in, pointing toward the far edge of the field. "Is that her?"

Sure enough, a small figure was jogging toward us, half-hunched, like she thought she was being followed. She was still wearing that same ugly oversized green sweater, sleeves flopping past her wrists, and she kept glancing left and right like she was on the run from a death warrant.

"Well, well," I said, arms crossed. "Look who finally decided to show up."

Irina turned to glare at me. "Electra, please shut your mouth."

I gave her the most dramatic eye roll I could manage, but I didn’t argue.

Yura finally reached us, panting a little, her cheeks pink from either the wind or the embarrassment—hard to tell which.

"Sorry I’m late," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It took me longer to leave the room than I thought. It’s not like I could tell Yuna I was on my way to meet up with the Electra Vale."

I shrugged. "Should’ve told her you were going to join some wild ogres in the woods. Might’ve sounded more believable with that ugly sweater you have on."

Yura gave me a look but said nothing. Her expression was unreadable, annoyed, maybe, but not enough to walk away. Which meant we were still in the game.

"You knew what we came to your room for," I said, tilting my head. "How?"

She shrugged. "I don’t see how that’s important."

"Well, I do."

"Good for you, but I’ll be damned if I tell you," she replied flatly.

Irina let out a soft groan. "Can we not start fighting already? Yura, you said you’d hear us out."

"Yeah," Yura said, crossing her arms. "And I did. I know you want me to join your team, sixth member and all that."

She looked directly at me when she added, "And I will... under two conditions."

My brows lifted. "Conditions?"

She gave a small, smug smile. "Yes. First one’s simple."

Something about the way she said that made my stomach twist.

"I want an apology from you for almost drowning me and for hurting my sister," she said.

I blinked. "That’s it?"

"On your knees."

My mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," she said, lifting her chin. "You want me on the team? Then you’re going to apologize for nearly killing me, and you’ll do it on your knees. Small price to pay if you ask me."