"Dear Alya,"

That was it. I'd held my quill pen over the letter so long it had made a large dot on the paper. I couldn't think of anything else to write. I'd been here for a whole week, and this was the first time I was writing to her.

I got nothing, absolutely nothing.

I sat in the library, a candle flickering on the edge of the table, casting eerie shadows on the ancient books that surrounded me. The library had become my 3AM refuge, a place where I could escape the hustle and bustle of the Heroes' Palace and find solace in the world of words and knowledge.

But tonight, even the comforting scent of old parchment and the dim glow of the candle failed to inspire me. My mind was a blank canvas, devoid of ideas and creativity. It was as if the magic that fueled my imagination had deserted me.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, my eyes drifting to the letter I had started writing to Alya. It was supposed to be a long, detailed account of my experiences at the Heroes' Palace, my training, and the new friends I had made. Yet, all I had managed to write was "Dear Alya".

Alya was my best friend, and I'd never even thought of writing to her before. The guilt kept me awake, and I couldn't sleep, so I came here to write…except I'd just sat here for the past hour staring at a blank page.

Closing my eyes, I tried to recall the events of the past week. There were certainly plenty of things that had happened, but they all seemed to blur together into a haze of training sessions, classes, and endless drills. While the training was challenging and demanding, it also felt like a blur of routine, lacking the excitement and novelty I had expected.

I missed home. I missed Alya. I missed our cozy chats over hot tea, the laughter we shared, and the comfort of familiarity. Here, everything was so new and different, and I couldn't help but feel like an outsider among these skilled and seasoned trainees— especially Adrien.

The silence of the library was broken by the distant sound of footsteps echoing through the corridors. I glanced at the clock; it was hearing 4AM now, and I knew I should head back to my room. But I couldn't bring myself to move, to face the loneliness of my empty dormitory. Chloe was having a sleepover with Sabrina, and the room would now be completely lifeless.

In that moment, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Adrien standing there. "Marinette? Is that you? What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I... I was trying to write a letter to my friend back home. I don't know what to write," I confessed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

Adrien took a seat next to me and glanced at the letter. "Writer's block, huh? It happens to the best of us. Sometimes, the words just don't come, no matter how hard we try."

"Yeah, well. This isn't writer's block; it's stupid person's block. It's not like I'm a famous writer or anything. Being a hero isn't something I can just blob on paper and call it a day. It's felt much more like a feeling than an experience. And it makes me feel numb." I stared him dead in the eyes. "They make us go through all this training for what, Adrien? To release us outside so we can get murdered while The Dark One laughs at us? It feels like they're buttering us up to get slaughtered."

Adrien sighed, "Has Chloe been saying this stuff to you again? Being a Hero is hard, I know, but seriously, it's a huge honor and—"

I stood up. I couldn't handle this anymore. I'd had enough, My head throbbed and my eyes felt like they were about to pop out of my skull due to the lack of sleep. "That's just what you've been hardwired to say. You've been raised in your own little glass dome where the world is perfect, haven't you?"

Adrien looked hurt, and I immediately regretted my outburst. I hadn't meant to lash out at him; he didn't deserve it. But the frustration and exhaustion were overwhelming me, and it felt like the walls of the library were closing in.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, sitting back down, my voice shaky. "I didn't mean to say that. It's just... I'm feeling so lost here, Adrien. This place is so different from what I'm used to."

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me, avoiding my gaze. "I wasn't raised in a glass dome, Marinette."

"I meant figurativ-"

"I'm not an idiot, Marinette, I know exactly what you mean," Adrien interrupted.

"Sorry." I apologized again.

"It's fine." He said curtly, staring out the window.

I fidgeted with my necklace, a bad habit I'd picked up from being nervous all the time.

"I guess you are right in a way, though." Adrien admitted, "I'd never even been outside the Royal Palace before when I lived with my father. Ever. And my mother died a year ago."

"Oh."

I was really on a roll today. I'd just learned the Queen was dead and all I had said was "oh." If Adrien told Gabriel about this and if he ever managed to bail Adrien out of here, I wouldn't blame him for wanting me dead.

I buried my head in my hands. What do he want me to do? Pity him? Pamper him like everyone else? 'Oh Adrien is so this, Adrien is so that.' Adrien was like everyone's pet here. They only cared for him because he was the King's son. That was the only interesting thing about him. Nobody would give him the time of day had he been a servant or commoner before.

How was I any different? If I gave him any sympathy, would it be that I actually felt bad for him, or was I trying to use him for personal gain? When I thought about Adrien, my mind immediately went: King's son. Funny. Nice. Perfect. I could 100% guarantee that's what any other person here thought too.

Adrien had already gotten up and was searching the shelves. "I just came here to get a book on plants for the exam in Survival Basics. I have it today."

"I already had it." I said, a desperate attempt to continue the conversation.

"How was it?"

"Okay."

I didn't tell him I'd nearly failed— Adrien would probably get full points and then somehow manage to get bonus points. I was barely scraping by. This went for all my classes.

"Found it." Adrien picked up a dusty book and coughed, "Doesn't look like anyone's picked this book up besides me. Do people not study at all?"

"There's likely multiple copies. I studied with Mylene. She knows everything, just ask her."

"Thanks." Adrien slung his book bag over his shoulder and exited the library.

I really had to get started on this letter. If I couldn't write about experiences, then I'd write about feelings.

"Dear Alya,

I hope this letter finds you well. It's been a whole week since I arrived at the Heroes' Palace, and I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. The days have been filled with training and classes, and I've been trying my best to keep up with everything.

But I must admit, I've been feeling a little lost and overwhelmed. The training here is intense, and I constantly feel like I'm falling short of everyone's expectations. There are so many talented trainees around me, and I can't help but feel like an outsider among them. It's like I'm in a world that's so different from what I'm used to, and I'm struggling to find my place. Their whole palace is teaming with people. They're nice, but nobody can ever replace you, Alya. I feel lost, and at the same time, I feel ungrateful— I could talk with anyone here but I just want to talk with you. There's so many different foods here but I just wanted to dip bread into soup and tell tales of snooty royals to each other.

If you're wondering, the King's son isn't in the same training group as me, but we know each other, sorta. He's been friendly and kind, and we've had a few conversations, but I can't help but feel like he's so distant from me, like he's living in his own little world.

But you know me, Alya. I tend to overthink things, and maybe I'm just letting my insecurities get the best of me. I need to focus on my training and becoming the Hero I'm meant to be, instead of getting lost in my doubts.

On a brighter note, I've made a couple of friends here. There's Chloe, who is surprisingly not as bad as I initially thought. She has her moments, but she's shown a different side of herself that I didn't expect. And then there's Luka. He's a great listener. He has an insane amount of patience, probably because he's been here for six years. Six years, Alya! Can you imagine? Six years of dealing with people screaming orders at him. I guess the people here really have no respect for anyone who isn't a Hero.

The Heroes' Palace itself is quite impressive, with its vast library and beautiful gardens. The training facilities are top-notch, and I'm trying to make the most of the opportunities presented to me.

I apologize for rambling in this letter. I guess I just needed to vent my frustrations and share my thoughts with you. I miss you so much, Alya, and I can't wait to catch up with you when I return home. I will, I swear. Please keep me updated on everything happening there.

I'll try to write more often, and hopefully, my next letter will be filled with exciting tales of my adventures here. Until then, take care, and send my love to everyone.

With love,

Marinette."

After pouring my thoughts onto the paper, exhaustion finally caught up with me. The dim candlelight and the rhythmic scratching of the quill on the parchment acted as a lullaby, and before I knew it, my eyes drooped and I drifted off to sleep.

It was an uneasy slumber, filled with scattered dreams and fleeting images. In one moment, I was slashing my sword at dummies heads while training with Master Fu, and in the next, I was back in the cozy warmth of my room at home, chatting with Alya. The line between reality and dreams blurred, making everything nonsensical.

A gentle touch on my shoulder jolted me awake, and I opened my eyes to find Luka standing next to me, concern etched on his face. "Marinette, are you okay?" he asked softly.

I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Luka? What time is it?"

"It's time for class," he replied, glancing at the flickering candle. "I noticed you were here for quite a while and thought I should check on you. You're going to be late."

"I must have fallen asleep," I mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"It's alright, Marinette. The library can be a calming place. But you should head back to your dormitory. Get dressed and get to class."

I nodded and gathered my things, standing up with Luka's help. The exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave, making me stumble slightly. "Thanks, Luka. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't woken me up."

Luka's smile widened. "No problem. We all need a helping hand sometimes. Come on, I'll walk you back to your dormitory."

As we walked through the quiet halls of the palace, Luka kept his pace slow, matching mine. "Feeling overwhelmed with the training and everything else?" he asked gently.

I sighed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I confided in him. "Yup. It must be easy for people like Adrien."

Luka placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Marinette, you're here for a reason, just like the rest of us. You'll find your way."

As we reached the entrance to the dormitory, I turned to face him, "You're a good friend, Luka."

His eyes shone with appreciation, "And you're a good person, Marinette. Don't forget that."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I swallowed thickly. Yeah, a good person who didn't offer an ounce of comfort after hearing someone's mother died, I thought bitterly. Talking to Adrien either seemed to go excruciatingly slow or incredibly fast, and either way, I always felt tongue-tied around him.

"I won't." I hesitated only for a brief second before taking a step forward and wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace. I buried my head on Luka's shoulder, feeling the warmth of his embrace enveloping me like a soft cocoon. The world around us seemed to fade away as I leaned into him, the ruckus of the guards in the hallways and servants rushing past seemed to stop, and it felt like the whole world was going in slow motion.