Page 256 of Axis of Fire

Filled with soil.

But without a single plant.

Either they were still growing—

Or she simply planned to terrify Joelle with the anticipation.

Compared to hers, my belongings looked painfully scarce.

It turned out I didn’t grow attached to possessions very easily.

“I thought maybe you’d had another vision,” I said after changing into comfortable lounge clothes.

“I like pink too, by the way,” she said with a smile, her gaze drifting over my outfit.

And I swear—

In that exact moment, she earned at least sixty percent of my trust.

I was beyond tired of people mocking my taste.

“So?”

“What about the vision?”

I grabbed a large pillow, propped it against the wall beside my bed, and leaned back against it, watching Stasia unpack as though she planned to reorganize the entire academy overnight.

“That grin was dedicated to my brilliant strategy for winning over our roommate,” she said with a wink.

Then her attention shifted toward the pale blue curtains Gia had brought with her.

Apparently, the girl's bags had been packed with bedding sets and tiny decorative items.

Besides the curtains, Gia had already left behind:

● a neat stack of clothes inside the wardrobe,

● a hat hanging from the hooks near the entrance,

● and an aroma diffuser.

Unlike the ones in Vuduarus, the diffuser from Gia’s world looked like a smooth stone infused with the scent of sea salt and lilies.

According to Gia, it carried the same fragrance as her favorite perfume.

All in an attempt to avoid punishment for breaking the rules.

“What do you think about Gia?” I asked directly.

“She’s cute. Maybe too cute.” Stasia frowned slightly.

“And if you’re wondering whether she might be connected to Moss, I doubt it. I think he’d recruit people who are bolder. More charismatic. People like Moss recruit through words first.”

“She makes me suspicious for some reason,” I admitted.

“That could just be the conflict between your elements,” Stasia replied as she finally sat down on her bed, tossing her half-unpacked bag aside.

“She probably feels exactly the same way about you.”