Elara stepped out into the hall, blinking once as the sudden brightness washed over her. The cool interior light of the hall gave way to the golden warmth of the Academy's upper terrace. The transition made the world feel momentarily unreal—too bright, too open, too alive.
Her hand rose briefly to shield her eyes, and that was when she saw him.
Lucavion.
Not far off—crossing the main terrace, half a dozen paces ahead.
He was easy to spot, even in the crowd. That careless gait of his, that faint tilt of the shoulders like he was always walking just a step out of rhythm with everyone else. His coat caught the light in flickers, black turning almost silver at the edges as he moved.
But what drew her attention wasn't just the familiarity of him. It was the pace.
He wasn't strolling like the others. He was moving with intent—too fast to be casual, too precise to be wandering.
It was as if he was heading to somewhere.
Elara's faint smile vanished without her realizing.
