Night came slowly over Thorne lands.
The fires outside had long gone out, leaving only faint trails of smoke curling into the dark sky. Inside Noel's room, the quiet hum of the mana lamps gave everything a soft, golden glow. The battle felt like a distant nightmare — yet none of them had truly rested.
Noel sat near the window, his coat draped loosely over the back of the chair. Charlotte, Elyra, Elena, and Selene were gathered nearby, each still carrying traces of exhaustion. Noir lay curled in the corner, her tail flicking lazily, but her violet eyes remained alert.
It was Elyra who broke the silence first. "It's strange," she murmured, brushing a lock of black hair from her face. "In just a few days, we'll be back at the academy. It'll be the first term with Daemar as the director instead of Nicolas."
