"Cadet Elisha. Have a cup," I said, holding it out to her.
She stopped. Her eyes lit up at the smell, but she flinched when she looked at me, her guard instantly going back up. She slowly reached out and took the cup.
"…The color is different from the one in the carriage," she noted suspiciously.
"It's a different blend."
"Is it actually an illegal stimulant this time?"
"It's coffee."
This girl, honestly.
Elisha took a cautious sip. Her eyes widened, and her tense expression noticeably softened. The fatigue-recovery effects kicked in instantly, bringing some color back to her pale face. She looked at me, then primly turned her head away, handing the empty cup back.
"…Thanks."
If that calmed her nerves, good.
"Let's keep moving."
As I disabled a few more tripwires and pressed deeper into the corridor, I couldn't hide my growing anticipation. Was I excited because I had smoothed things over with Elisha? Absolutely not.
