Victoria nudged her gently, pulling Adeline out of her thoughts. "You're unusually quiet," Victoria remarked, her sharp eyes studying Adeline closely.
Adeline gave a small shrug, forcing a smile onto her face. "Just thinking."
Victoria raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
As the tour wrapped up, Adeline found her gaze drifting back to Benedict. He was speaking animatedly to a group of first-year students, his red hair catching the sunlight like a beacon.
For a moment, Adeline felt a pang of nostalgia. She remembered how Benedict had once been cold and distant, a product of the strained relationships in his life. But now, he seemed so…different.
Perhaps the academy really did have the power to change people.
Adeline glanced toward the horizon, where the towering spires of the academy gleamed against the blue sky. She took a deep breath, the resolve in her heart hardening further.
This year would be the turning point—not just for Cassian, but for all of them.
