"Hi," came a melodious voice that cut through the ambient sounds of the Platinum Building's top floor—the Elite Lounge, where only the academy's most distinguished students were permitted to reside.
Asher paused mid-step, turning to find himself face-to-face with a girl with almond eyes. Her smile was gentle but odd.
"...Um, hi," he responded, keeping his expression carefully neutral. Maria, he thought, recognizing her immediately.
"Can I help you?" he asked, though something in his tone suggested he hoped the answer was no.
Before Maria could respond, Jenny's patience—already worn thin from supporting Asher's increasingly heavy frame—snapped like a rubber band. "Maria, we don't have time for this. We're going somewhere." She was practically holding up Asher's sorry state, and Maria's perfectly-timed appearance felt less like coincidence and more like calculated stalking.
