The corridor was quiet.
Too quiet.
Alex slowed his steps as he walked back toward his chambers, the distant echoes of celebration fading behind him. Torches along the walls flickered softly, casting long shadows that stretched and twisted across the stone floor.
Then he stopped.
They were there.
Seraphina stood at the front, arms crossed tightly as if holding herself together.
Ethan leaned against the wall, jaw clenched, eyes dark.
Draven stood rigid, fists shaking at his sides.
Ava's expression was cold, controlled, but her eyes betrayed her.
Alden stood straight, unreadable.
Alyssa hovered just behind them, biting her lip, already on the verge of tears.
They had been waiting.
Alex looked at them, and something in his expression softened. The confident mask he had worn all day cracked just a little.
"Looks like," he said gently, "I still have one last goodbye to say."
He took a few slow steps toward them.
No one spoke.
They just stared at him.
