The following week, they all returned to the academy. It had been a while since they last saw each other, so the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Students greeted one another warmly—laughing, hugging, and catching up on everything they had missed.
The corridors felt alive again. Voices overlapped in the common areas, stories traded back and forth about breaks spent training alone, visiting family, sleeping too long. Jelo spotted Atlas near the eastern archway, and they fell into step together without a word, the kind of comfort that only came from time earned. Mira was already waiting at the entrance to the main hall, arms crossed, pretending she hadn't been watching for them.
"You're late," she said.
"We're exactly on time," Atlas replied.
She didn't argue. Just turned and walked inside, and they followed.
