Chapter 5: Accusations and Reversals

[Yes! Our girl’s a star! Mutated ice—so OP! Sidekick never had this in the last timeline.]

[She didn’t even show up last time. After the swap, she was healthy and didn’t need to compete. Main girl’s different—she’ll fight to live, no matter what.]

[That’s fate. Main character wins, sidekick loses. Even without the rare gift, she gets a new cheat code.]

[Sidekick should just quit. Bet her rare gift won’t even show up, lol.]

The comments surged. I clenched my palm, steadied my gaze. My gifts weren’t just for someone else’s story.

I took a deep breath, letting the crowd’s noise fade away. My resolve hardened.

Suddenly, only one person was ahead of me. He stepped up, touched the crystal, but nothing happened. He left, head down, disappointment all over him.

I knew that look—I’d worn it myself too many times. I watched him disappear, feeling an odd sense of kinship.

Joining was all about fate and talent. No shortcuts.

"Next." The white-robed young man called out.

"Ivy." Mom’s eyes met mine, full of encouragement. I exhaled and stepped onto the stage.

Lauren, seeing me, pressed her lips together, clearly hoping I’d fail. Her gaze burned into my back, cold and sharp. For a moment, the world narrowed to just me and the crystal.

Under everyone’s curious eyes, I reached out to the Gift Testing Crystal.

One second, two seconds…

Ten breaths passed—nothing happened.

The silence was brutal. I felt the crowd’s disappointment, their pity, their relief. Lauren’s eyes glittered with triumph.

Lauren relaxed, her gaze shifting from fear to contempt. From today, our roles would start to reverse.

She’d be the genius, I’d be the nobody.

I’d no longer control her fate—now I’d be the one looking up to her.

The thought made Lauren tremble with excitement. Slowly, her look turned from terror to smugness.

The change in her expression stung. I gripped the table, refusing to let my knees buckle.

"Dang, that’s rough. Thought the Carters would have another prodigy."

"That girl’s always been sick. Just making it this far is a miracle—joining the society? Dream on."

"The Carters are about to flip the script."

"Shh, Mrs. Carter’s right there. She treats her daughter like gold—talent or not."

...

The whispers reached my ears. I clung to the crystal, my eyes stinging with unshed tears and fury.

[So satisfying! The sidekick finally got put in her place. Told you, you can’t force what isn’t yours.]

[Even rare gifts are wasted on the sidekick. What a shame, lol.]

[Main girl’s just gonna keep winning, and you, ghost girl, will die mad.]

The comments turned vicious. I clutched my chest and coughed up blood—hot, bitter, staining my sleeve. The pain stabbed through me, but I stayed standing, glaring at the invisible voices.

Why? Why do my gifts only shine for the so-called main character?

Before the young man could dismiss me, my mother’s panicked cry and the crowd’s gasp echoed through the hall.

A blinding white light shot up. Only then did I realize the crystal in my hand was burning hot—my blood had stained it, finally revealing my hidden roots and rare gift.

The light was so bright it left spots dancing in my eyes. The crowd erupted—shocked whispers, people grabbing their phones, a reporter pushing forward. For the first time, I felt truly seen.

"No way—it’s a top-tier, heavenly-grade gift!" The young man was so excited he nearly dropped his clipboard. He didn’t explain, but his reaction said it all.

Even the man in the purple-and-gold robe looked over, interest piqued. I let out a shaky breath, fighting the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.

The world spun, but I refused to collapse. Not here, not now.

"May I have your name and age for the record?" the young man asked. I’d rushed to test, forgetting to introduce myself.

Lauren’s success had shaken me, especially knowing she was the main character, blessed by fate.

I swallowed the blood in my throat and answered, voice trembling but proud.

"Ivy Carter, Carter family, fourteen. Thank you, sir." Since he treated me as a peer, I met him on equal ground.

My voice shook, but I stood tall, refusing to let them see fear.

The young man nodded, about to speak, but Lauren cut in.

"Wait."

All eyes turned to her.

"Sir, this girl’s got a mean streak—she’s not fit to join." Lauren’s words rang out, sharp as a slap. In front of the whole town and the society, she tried to expose my attempt to steal her body.

Her accusation landed like a bomb. The crowd turned, hungry for drama.

"Whoa—body snatching? That’s messed up."

"Can’t believe the Carters would do that. Even if she’s not the favorite, she’s still family."

"Man, selling out your own for a sick kid…"

People murmured, some pulling out their phones, others whispering behind their hands. I met Lauren’s gaze, cool and calm.

I straightened up, meeting every accusation with icy calm. I wasn’t letting her control my story.

"You got any proof I tried to steal your body? Who says you’re even worth it? That old pastor’s long gone—who knows where he is now."

I kept my voice even, refusing to show fear. With the pastor gone, Lauren had no way to back up her claims.

"These scars are proof!" Lauren was desperate. She yanked up her sleeve, showing off angry red welts.

The crowd gasped, some sympathetic, some skeptical. I narrowed my eyes, holding my ground.

"You stole the family’s medicine. That’s a serious offense. Those marks? That’s a slap on the wrist. If I really wanted your body, you wouldn’t be here to whine about it. You’re just a house servant lucky enough to wear the Carter name. Even if you got punished, it’s nothing."

I let my words hang, daring her to contradict me. The audience shifted, some whispering, others filming.

"Now you want to use your gift to outshine me, your so-called master, but things didn’t go your way. I’ve got rare roots too—your plan’s ruined."

I shot her a smirk, flipping the accusation on its head.

"You’re lying, I didn’t…"

"Isn’t the stolen medicine in your purse right now? You won’t confess, so you try to frame me. Typical. A servant gets a taste of favor and thinks she runs the place!" I cut her off, drawing on those pop-up spoilers—I knew Lauren had a bottle of medicine stashed away.

Lauren’s face went pale. She clutched her purse, busted. Now, with everyone watching, she had no defense.

The crowd saw her reaction and murmured, the tide of sympathy shifting. A local reporter edged closer, microphone ready.

The tension in the hall was thick as honey. I felt the weight of a hundred eyes, the shifting tides of suspicion and support.

Finally, the man in the purple-and-gold robe stood and cleared his throat, his next words promising to change everything.