Transmigrated Into The True Heiress-Chapter 114: On A Hunt

|The Next Morning.|

Ephyra drove into the school compound at exactly 7:30 AM but was surprised to see that almost all the students and teachers were already in school. A lot of things pointed out the fact that it was not a normal school day, as the students moved around with one of their parents, greeting the teachers and chatting excitedly with one another. The main auditorium, where the graduation ceremony was to take place, was abuzz with activity. Bright banners and streamers adorned the entrance, proudly displaying the school’s emblem and the words: "Class of Triumph: A Journey to Remember."

Ephyra parked her car and stepped out.

The high school campus brimmed with extravagance, as befitted the elite institution that it was. Ephyra’s eyes scanned the scene before her as she adjusted her black coat. The parents were clad in designer ensembles—suits tailored to perfection, dresses in silk and chiffon that gleamed under the winter sun. Jewelry sparkled on wrists and necks, some of the older women draped in furs. The conversations around her were laced with an unmistakable air of entitlement, each parent bragging about their child’s achievements or their connections.

The students were no different. The boys wore fitted suits and ties, some looking far too mature for their years, while the girls flaunted cocktail dresses that ranged from classic to ostentatious. Laughter, squeals, and the hum of chatter filled the morning air. Ephyra noted the subtle competition between the mothers, their smiles polite but their eyes calculating, sizing up one another like predators on a hunt.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. Without checking the screen, she answered. "Hello?"

A high-pitched, overly enthusiastic voice immediately assaulted her ears. "Ephyra! Where are you? You promised not to come late, but here you are, being late! Even Cyran is already here, and you know how hard it is to get him to care about anything like this!"

Ephyra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Good morning to you too, Malia. Calm down; I’m here. Where are you?"

"Not in the auditorium, that’s for sure!" Malia shot back, her tone both impatient and teasing. "We’re in the other building where everyone’s getting ready and dressing up. You know, the one with the giant fountain out front and the ugly beige walls?"

Ephyra frowned, trying to place the description. "You’re going to have to be more specific. I don’t have time to guess."

Malia groaned dramatically. "Fine, fine! Okay, go past the main auditorium, take a left at the garden walkway, and it’s the building right behind the sculpture of Principal Gareth that everyone says looks like a giant toad. Got it? Now hurry up and get here already! We need you!"

Before Ephyra could respond, Malia’s voice grew muffled, shouting something to someone else on her end. Then, without waiting for confirmation, Malia added, "Just get here!" and hung up.

Ephyra exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the cold air. She slipped her phone back into her coat pocket, locked her car, and made her way toward the building, her heels clicking steadily against the paved path. She muttered under her breath, her lips quirking into a faint smirk. "I don’t know who’s more dramatic—Malia or the graduation committee."

The snow crunched softly beneath her steps as she turned left at the garden walkway, spotting the so-called "giant toad" sculpture in the distance. The building Malia had described came into view, its beige walls standing stark against the pristine white landscape. Students moved in and out of the doors, their chatter spilling out into the frosty air.

As she approached, Ephyra’s pace quickened. Finally, she reached the building and climbed up the stairs. Before long, she heard Malia’s excited voice.

"Oh my! Orla, you look so beautiful! I can’t wait to see the dress Ephyra will be wearing!"

"Malia, tone it down, okay? Mum will be coming back from the Principal’s office soon. You know she told you that she must not hear your voice from several miles away, which I’m sure she would if she was already coming back."

Malia groaned dramatically, her voice echoing down the hallway. "Orla, you’re such a buzzkill sometimes. I’m just excited, okay? And can you blame me? It’s Ephyra we’re talking about! She’s going to steal the show, as always."

Ephyra stepped through the doorway just as Malia finished her sentence. She arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Steal the show, huh? I didn’t realize I had fans already."

Malia spun around, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and delight. "Ephyra! Finally!" She rushed forward, throwing her arms around Ephyra in an exaggerated hug. "You’re late, as usual, but at least you made it."

Ephyra patted her on the back with mild amusement. "I’m hardly late, Malia. You’re just overly enthusiastic. As always."

Orla approached with a more composed demeanor, her soft smile contrasting with Malia’s exuberance. She was dressed in an elegant pastel blue gown that complemented her calm presence. "It’s good to see you, Ephyra. Malia’s been going on about your arrival since we got here."

"Of course she has," Ephyra replied dryly, her eyes flicking over Orla’s gown. "You look stunning, by the way. The color suits you."

Orla smiled. "Thank you."

Before Ephyra could respond, Malia grabbed her hand and started dragging her toward the changing area. "Enough small talk! We need to get you dressed, stat."

Ephyra allowed herself to be pulled along, rolling her eyes but not protesting. "You’re making a bigger deal out of this than it really is, Malia. It’s just a high school graduation."

Malia gasped dramatically. "Just a high school graduation? Ephyra, this is the high school graduation. Half the city’s elites are here, and the other half are probably wishing they were invited. You can’t just blend in; you have to own it."

Ephyra sighed but couldn’t suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Fine. But I’m already dressed."

"What?" Malia turned back, staring at her body covered in a long, black trench coat that reached below her knees. It featured a double-breasted front with large black buttons aligned in two vertical rows. The wide lapels framed her collar, and a belt around the waist was tied neatly in a knot at the front.

Malia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That coat is gorgeous, but it’s not exactly what I’d call ’dressed’ for the occasion. Please tell me you have something stunning underneath."

Ephyra laughed, reaching for the coat’s belt. "If you insist."

Untying the knot, she held the lapels and took off the coat, revealing a stunning sleeveless, ivory-colored satin gown. It featured thin spaghetti straps and a draped cowl neckline that elegantly folded and flowed across her chest. The gown’s fitted silhouette skimmed her figure perfectly, flaring slightly toward the hem to allow ease of movement.