It was 06:55. Since his outburst four weeks ago, Arthur had left every day before the morning bell rang at 07:00 to avoid Cedric. But today, they had both woken up and begun to leave at the same time.
While putting on his leather boots, Cedric smiled while humming to himself.
"Are you excited for the guest lecture from the Judicial Board representatives today?" Cedric asked, beaming. "It's too bad that the first years are the only ones that won't get to meet the Commissioner, but we're supposed to get a lecture from his deputy Vice-Commissioner, who is only a decade older than us, the youngest one to ever be appointed! Every other year we just get a free day, but for the first time, we're getting a lesson as well! Isn't that exciting?"
Arthur heard all of it, but it didn't appear as if it took away from his focus of straightening his uniform. How could you speak so casually like nothing happened?
"I heard from my friends that the staff in charge of monitoring students will all be drinking alcohol down in Varethal because the two guests will be awake the whole night!"
Is this forgiveness?
"Do you want to sneak out of the Academy and stroll around the city with me?" Cedric asked, half-joking, continuing to smile his innocent smile.
I never apologized. I never apologized…
Arthur stood up, his face hardening. "Don't speak of useless things to me ever again. You've wasted my time. We are not friends. We will never be friends. Leaving the Academy is an extreme offense. Mention it again, and I'll report it to your Instructor. I could easily tell my Magic Engineering professor to bring it up in their next meeting, I could just inform him after class, and you would be expelled just like that. I'll do the same if you aren't already asleep by the time I get back from my Magic Engineering class tonight."
He stepped out of the room with an uncertain expression, leaving the silence to swallow Cedric's smile.