The air inside the room was still — warm with the faint scent of parchment and medicine. Nicolas sat by the window, the sunlight painting golden lines across his shoulders. He looked older than Noel remembered, the sharpness in his eyes dulled slightly, but the quiet strength was still there.
Noel stood a few steps behind him, unsure if he should speak first. Charlotte lingered beside him, hands clasped in front of her, her usual brightness dimmed by the weight of the moment.
Nicolas's voice broke the silence before either could speak. "You really missed it, huh?" Noel said softly.
The older man chuckled under his breath. "I built that place to last," he replied without turning, his gaze fixed on the academy's towers in the far distance. "But some things you can't teach in classrooms."
Charlotte stepped forward, her voice gentle. "You taught more than you think, Sir Nicolas."
