The weekend had passed in a blur.
Luca had spent his time training hard at dawn and dusk, his twin sabers slicing through air like ribbons of silver and shadow. But outside those hours, he found himself walking the cobbled streets of the city beyond Arcadia's gates—with a cloaked baby dragon trotting beside him in disguise, her eyes wide with wonder at every market stall, every street performer, every burst of color.
She would chirp excitedly at sweets, tug at his sleeve to visit flower shops, and once even tried to chase a flock of pigeons until Luca scooped her up with a laugh. No one recognized the creature for what she truly was—just a strange, shy girl clinging close to her older brother figure.
They were moments of warmth. Of fleeting normalcy.
But Monday came far too quickly.
The sun crept above Arcadia Academy, casting golden light on the sprawling campus. There were no classes today. No combat drills or spell recitations. Only one thing filled the air—excitement.
