"So..." Danny glanced between the two. "You two... talked about anything yet?"
Both of them stiffened.
Victor cleared his throat. "We've... been busy."
Amara didn't respond. She just stared down at her plate.
Derek watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow wondering what that was all about.
Victor quickly changed the topic. "So how's training been?"
Danny grinned. "I've been pounding rocks and climbing walls every day. You should see the calluses on my fingers. They could deflect a spell."
Victor chuckled. "And you?" he asked Amara.
She finally looked up. "I'm managing. It's intense, but... I like the challenge."
Victor nodded. "Same."
Despite the tension, it felt good to be around them. Familiar faces. Grounding energy.
The cafeteria was pretty noisy around them with other students laughing, talking and swapping stories.
For a moment, it didn't feel like war. Or trials. Or secrets.
Just a bunch of kids... trying to survive.
...
...
