The walk back to my room was quiet.
Not because the academy had suddenly fallen silent.
It hadn't.
Students laughed as they crossed the marble courtyards. Groups argued over assignments that had only just been handed out. Somewhere off in the distance, a training ground echoed with rhythmic impacts as swords collided again and again. Birds perched atop the silver trees lining the academy's walkways sang without a care in the world.
Life continued exactly as it always had.
It was only my own thoughts that refused to move.
My hands stayed buried inside the pockets of my black tracksuit as I walked aimlessly through Astralis' familiar streets, my eyes fixed somewhere ahead without truly seeing anything.
I had expected many outcomes when Xaveir asked me to stay behind after class.
A disagreement.
A favor.
A secret.
Maybe even an apology for how strangely he'd been acting all day.
Instead...
I had walked away feeling emptier than I had in months.
I sighed quietly.
