The flow of students scattered the moment they crossed through the main entrance. Some headed straight for the dormitories, others drifted toward the cafeteria with vacant stares and dragging feet. Exhaustion showed on everyone, but no one stopped in the middle of the path. The academy's routine asserted itself even after a night like that one.
Gerald was the first to break formation. He brought a hand to his lower back and stretched with an unsteady groan, yawning without any attempt to hide it. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose and he nudged them back into place with two fingers.
"I'm going straight to bed... if anyone tries to wake me up, I'll just die right there."
Bīng Xuě let out a quiet laugh, turning her head slightly toward him.
"That's not very heroic."
"After last night, I don't care how it sounds."
