They left the apartment together not long after, Merlin tugging on a simple black coat while Elara walked at his side in her usual elegant stride. The city air was brisk, filled with the scent of bread from corner bakeries and the faint hum of enchantments woven into carriages rattling past.
Merlin kept his hands shoved in his pockets, head tilted slightly toward her. "…So where exactly are we meeting them?"
"The gardens behind the academy," Elara answered. "It seems they wanted somewhere quiet. Away from the sparring grounds."
He snorted. "Quiet. With Nathan there? Good luck."
That earned him a rare, quiet laugh—soft, almost hidden. Merlin found himself staring, more startled by the sound than by anything else.
"…What?" she asked, noticing his gaze.
"Nothing." He looked away quickly, though his lips twitched. "Just didn't know you could laugh like a normal person."
Her violet eyes narrowed, but the corners of her mouth betrayed the faintest upward curve. "…Careful, Merlin."
