ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 635: Can I Really Do This?

Block 2 of the academy dormitories was unusually quiet that morning.

The long stone corridor stretched ahead in a straight line, its polished floor reflecting faint strips of pale sunlight spilling in through the tall windows along the wall. Normally there would have been the sound of students passing through—footsteps, laughter, someone calling to a friend down the hall—but today it was subdued. Most students had already finished breakfast and either retreated to their rooms to enjoy the rare quiet of a free morning or wandered outside to spend their day off in the open grounds of the academy.

The silence wasn’t absolute.

There were small sounds here and there. The faint creak of a door somewhere far down the hall. The muffled murmur of voices through the walls. The distant echo of footsteps on another floor.

But compared to the usual liveliness of the dormitory halls, the atmosphere felt calm, almost still.

Ariana walked through the corridor alone.

Her pace at first was steady and natural, the familiar path toward Sheila’s dorm room something she had taken countless times before. The hallway, the doors, the small details of the place were all things she knew well enough that she could walk through here without thinking.

Yet today felt different.

With each step she took, the quiet around her seemed to grow heavier.

Her footsteps, soft as they were, sounded louder in the stillness of the corridor.

The closer she got to Sheila’s room, the slower her pace became.

At first it was subtle.

Then gradually more noticeable.

Her steps shortened until she eventually found herself walking almost cautiously, as if approaching something fragile that might break if she moved too quickly.

The reality of what she had decided earlier during breakfast was finally beginning to settle into her mind.

Yes, she had spoken with determination in front of the others. She had declared that she would be the one to help Sheila. That she would make sure Sheila didn’t sink deeper into whatever pain she was carrying.

But now that she was actually here...

Now that she was standing in the quiet hallway, only a few doors away from Sheila’s room...

The confidence she had shown earlier was slowly being replaced by uncertainty.

’What if this is a mistake?’ Ariana wondered silently.

Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her sleeve.

She had visited Sheila’s room more times than she could count. Sometimes to study together, sometimes just to talk late into the evening, sometimes simply because one of them had been bored and wanted company.

But this time felt different.

This time, she wasn’t coming as a friend dropping by casually.

She was coming because something inside Sheila had clearly broken.

And Ariana had taken it upon herself to try and fix it.

Her steps slowed even more as she finally reached the familiar door.

For a moment, she just stood there.

The wooden surface of Sheila’s door looked exactly the same as always. The small brass number plate. The faint scratches around the handle from years of use. Even the slight gap beneath the door where light sometimes spilled through.

Everything looked normal.

Yet Ariana felt strangely hesitant.

’What if she really doesn’t want to talk to anyone?’

The thought crept into her mind quietly.

Maybe Sheila had locked herself inside her room precisely because she didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

Maybe Ariana coming here would only make things worse.

Her hand lifted toward the door... then stopped midway.

For a few seconds, she simply stood there with her hand hovering in the air, caught between knocking and turning away.

But eventually, Ariana drew a quiet breath.

She couldn’t let doubt stop her now.

Slowly, gently, she tapped her knuckles against the door. The knock was soft, almost hesitant. Then she waited.

At first, there was nothing. No sound or movement, just the same quiet hallway around her.

Ariana’s eyes drifted slightly toward the floor as a small worry formed in her mind.

Maybe Sheila had left after all.

It wouldn’t be impossible. After Ariana and Charlotte had come earlier that morning, Sheila might have decided to step outside for some air.

The thought lingered for a moment.

But just as Ariana was beginning to accept that possibility—

She heard something.

A faint movement from behind the door.

The sound was subtle. Almost indistinguishable. But in the quiet hallway it was enough to catch her attention immediately.

Ariana straightened slightly, her attention focusing on the door.

A few seconds passed.

Then she heard it.

"Who is it?"

The voice was unmistakable.

Even though it sounded slightly tired, slightly quieter than usual, Ariana recognized it immediately.

"It’s me," Ariana replied softly. "Ariana."

After that, the hallway returned to silence.

Seconds passed. Then more seconds.

Ariana waited patiently, though she couldn’t help feeling the tension growing again in her chest.

Finally, Sheila’s voice came through the door once more.

"I’m doing fine, Ariana," Sheila said from inside the room. "You don’t have to worry about me."

The words were calm, but something about the way they were said felt... distant.

Ariana shook her head slightly, even though Sheila couldn’t see her.

"I didn’t come because I thought you weren’t doing alright," Ariana said gently.

Another pause followed.

Then Sheila spoke again.

"I’m just tired from yesterday’s evaluation test," she said. "That’s all. I just needed some extra rest."

Ariana listened quietly, then she said something simple.

"You know, you love breakfast."

The statement hung softly in the air.

"You’ve never missed breakfast before, not even once." Ariana continued, her voice calm and natural. "No matter how tired you were, you’ve missed it."

There was no response.

The silence on the other side of the door stretched longer this time.

Both girls stood on opposite sides of the wooden barrier, each aware of the other but unable to see one another.

Eventually, Ariana spoke again.

"Sheila, I didn’t come here to force you to talk," she said quietly. Her voice carrying no pressure.

"I... I just came to sit with you for a bit."

She rested one hand lightly against the door.

"And if you let me in and decide you don’t want me here after all... I’ll leave."

More silence.

The seconds stretched into what felt like minutes.

Then Ariana heard movement again. This time, it was closer. They were footsteps, right on the other side of the door.

Ariana’s breath slowed slightly as she realized Sheila was standing just behind it now.

She imagined Sheila standing there, hand on the door, probably debating the exact same question Ariana had been asking herself earlier.

Should she open it?

Or not?

The hallway remained quiet.

Then suddenly... a click.

The sound of the doorknob turning broke the silence.

The handle slowly shifted, and the door creaked softly as it began to open.

At first, only a narrow gap appeared, then gradually the door opened wider. And finally... Sheila came into view.

Her appearance immediately told Ariana everything she needed to know.

Her long hair was slightly messy, as though she had been running her hands through it repeatedly or had simply not bothered to fix it after waking up. Her eyes were red around the edges, faint shadows resting beneath them from what was almost certainly a lack of sleep.

Or crying.

Maybe both.

Despite that, Sheila still offered a small smile.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Ariana replied.

For a moment, neither of them moved.They simply stood there, looking at each other. Then Sheila stepped aside from the doorway.

"You can come in."

Ariana nodded gently and walked inside.

The room was dim.

The curtains were only half drawn, allowing thin rays of sunlight to filter through the window and spill faintly across the floor and walls. The soft light gave the room a quiet, muted atmosphere.

It felt like a place that hadn’t been disturbed much since the previous night.

Sheila lingered near the door for a moment before closing it behind Ariana with a quiet click.

"You can sit wherever," she said softly.

Ariana looked around briefly before noticing a chair near the small desk in the room. She walked over and sat down, her movements calm and unhurried.

Sheila turned toward her.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"Water is fine," Ariana replied.

Sheila nodded slowly and walked over to a small table where a pitcher and cups sat. She poured a glass of water carefully, her movements slow and deliberate, then brought it over and handed it to Ariana.

"Thank you," Ariana said quietly.

Sheila gave a faint nod before walking back toward her bed and sat down on the edge of it, her hands resting loosely in her lap.

Then the room fell silent.

Ariana held the glass of water gently between her hands.

Sheila stared quietly at the floor.

Neither of them spoke.

And for a long while, the only sound in the room was the quiet breathing of two friends sitting together in the soft, dim light.