The last bell of the day echoed through Solvayne Academy’s halls. Its deep chime ringing off the stone walls as classrooms emptied in a rush. Students poured into the corridors like a flood. Talking, laughing. Dragging their backpacks behind them as they made their way toward the dorms. The cafeteria, or anywhere else that wasn’t class. Kyle Valemont walked beside Eleanora D’Argent. Their steps naturally falling into rhythm. Neither of them spoke. But the silence between them didn’t feel awkward. The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows, casting soft golden lines across the floor. Kyle’s white hair caught the light, glowing faintly against his black uniform. Eleanora’s fingers twitched at her sides. Curling and uncurling like she couldn’t quite relax. She’d planned to talk to him later, maybe at the East Garden Café where the quiet hum of people would make it feel less serious. But now, she couldn’t wait any longer. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He didn’t look back. Just kept walking, eyes ahead. Ever since the Black Gate, Kyle had changed. They all had, in one way or another. She felt like she was barely holding herself together. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. How the Elements responded to Kyle like he wasn’t just using magic. But commanding it. Ice, lightning, wind, water... they moved with him. Not just because of him. And when he fought Rodrick. He hadn’t just defeated him. And the cost. His body cracking apart from the inside, veins glowing like they were about to burst, only barely saved by his sword. Then there was the hospital. No one talked about it much. Seris had made sure of that. But Eleanora had her ways. Her sources told her the truth: someone had gone after Kyle. The room that was destroyed? It was his. Not an accident. Not a random attack. The world is shifting too fast. When Eleanora had woken up in this timeline, she knew things would be different. She thought she could handle it. But not . A group of students ran past them. Bumping into her shoulder with a quick "Sorry!" before disappearing around the corner. The thought stung, sharp and bitter. She had trained every day. Pushed herself until her hands bled. Studied until she could barely keep her eyes open. And still—still—she hadn’t been strong enough. Kyle had almost died. Multiple times. And both times, she could do nothing. She breathed in slowly. The scent of old paper and polished wood lingered in the air—familiar and grounding. Today, she decided, she wouldn’t hide. No more secrets. No more half-truths. Whatever came next. They’d face it together. That thought should have been comforting. But instead. It made Eleanora’s heart beat faster as they walked the final stretch toward her quarters. The academy grounds were quiet now. Most students were either back in their dorms or off-campus. A few professors passed by. Robes rustling as they hurried to their own rooms, too distracted to notice anything else. Anastasia’s quarters, now Eleanora’s as well. Were tucked away in the faculty wing. A spacious suite befitting a princess. Even if she was technically just a Assistant professor. The academy had made an exception, granting Anastasia accommodations on par with the professors. Kyle followed Eleanora inside. Her boots sank into the thick rug with a soft crunch. The sitting room felt warm and lived-in. So different from the cold, perfect halls of the palace. A wide couch faced a glowing fireplace. Its flames dancing across bookshelves packed with worn volumes and strange little artifacts. Original content can be found at novｅlfire.net On the low table sat scattered scrolls. A fancy tea set, and a few lipstick-stained cups left from the morning. "You live here now?" Kyle asked, looking around. His hand drifted over a thick book on alchemy left open on the armrest. Eleanora nodded and walked toward the small kitchenette in the corner. The scent of jasmine tea and vanilla still hung in the air. "Anastasia insisted. Said the dorms weren’t fit for me." She gave a faint smile as she reached for the kettle. "I think she just didn’t want to lose track of me." Kyle chuckled and dropped onto the couch with a quiet sigh. "Yeah, sounds like her." Eleanora focused on the task at hand, measuring the coffee carefully. Her hands were steady, but her thoughts weren’t. She didn’t need to ask how he liked it. She already knew. Chocolate latte, extra sweet. The same drink he always ordered. She used to tease him in the past, calling it a "kid’s drink." That memory made the corners of her lips twitch. The smell of cocoa and coffee filled the room as she stirred in the sugar and added whipped cream. She handed him the mug and sat beside him. Holding her own cup of chamomile tea close, letting the warmth soak into her fingers. Kyle looked down at the drink, raising an eyebrow at the familiar swirl of whipped cream. Eleanora sat a little closer than usual. Their knees nearly touched. Her skirt made a soft sound against the cushions. "You drink it every morning in the cafeteria," she said simply. "It’s not a secret." Kyle grinned and licked a bit of cream from his upper lip. "So you have been watching me, huh? Stalking me, Princess?" "Observing," she said, smiling faintly. But the smile didn’t last. It faded too quickly, buried under the weight of everything she hadn’t said yet. The room went quiet. The fire crackled. The tea in her cup rippled slightly in her hands. Kyle watched her, eyes calm but sharp. Like he already knew something was coming. He took a sip and set the mug down. "So," he said, voice low, "what did you want to talk about?" Eleanora’s hands tightened around her cup. She took a deep breath.