Spring had arrived at the school in full force—tree branches were sprouting fresh green leaves, and the sun increasingly graced the blue sky. The cold darkness that had once hung over their lives had completely dissipated, leaving only quiet memories in its wake.
Leon was himself again—confident, energetic, but calmer than before. His laughter was genuine, no longer tinged with tension. Sometimes he caught himself going hours without thinking about the past—and that was the most beautiful change of all.
Nadia radiated. Though her gaze could still be pensive, she carried a new strength. She had learned to manage what once overwhelmed her. Alicja joked that if the two of them opened a fortune-telling business together, they could bankrupt Netflix, because people would rather come for real drama.
Natan, a bit more composed, still enjoyed throwing in ironic remarks, but more often he could be seen sitting with Alicja, quietly listening to her stories. Roksana and Sebastian, though somewhat on the sidelines, stayed close. They were bound by a sense of normalcy that everyone now craved.
In the evenings, the whole group often sat together around the school grounds—cups of tea in hand, blankets around their shoulders, talking about everything and nothing. About the future, summer plans, what they wanted to do when school was over.
"Then we'll just… start living?" Alicja asked one evening, staring at the sunset.
"Yes. Calmly, normally," Nadia replied, resting her head on Leon's shoulder.
"Normal sounds suspicious," Natan muttered, smiling under his breath.
"We earned it," Leon added quietly, squeezing Nadia's hand.
And though each of them carried invisible scars, they knew one thing—they had survived. Together.
And that was enough to look toward the future without fear.
***
Evening settled quietly over the school, as if knowing they deserved a little breath after that day. In the girls' room, a pleasant twilight lingered, mingled with the scent of chips and cola, and something stronger, hidden illegally in a cocoa thermos. Alicja poured everyone a symbolic cup, raising hers in a toast.
"To the biology test we feared more than the General," she declared ceremoniously.
"To the miracle that no one dropped dead," Natan added, raising his eyebrows, then took a sip and made a theatrical grimace. "This… cocoa definitely packs a punch."
Leon chuckled."That's because Nadia wanted it to taste like justice—slightly disgusting."
Nadia glared at him, pulling the blanket over her knees."I barely got a D, and you're laughing."
"But you passed," Alicja raised her eyebrows. "In the name of science and drama—Leon, pour her a bit more."
"I have no heart," Leon said, handing her the cup with mock concern. "Although a D? Seriously? And we studied together…"
"You studied. I just watched your lips move," Nadia said, disarmingly honest.
Alicja laughed, Natan covered his face with his hands, and Leon froze for a fraction of a second, then leaned toward her with a mischievous smile."Now I get it. So you did study with your heart, not your head."
"Worse, my heart can't solve equations."
"But it can handle alcohol after a test," Natan murmured, clinking his cup with hers.
Soft music played in the background from Alicja's laptop. The room hummed with the atmosphere of youth—real, slightly chaotic, full of secrets, but also tenderness.
They were together. Tired, a little wild, happy.
For a moment, the world was truly simple.
***
The dorm smelled of salty snacks and youthful carelessness, and the girls' room was a mess, like after a small storm. Leon and Nadia finally set off for a "walk," which was more of a winding path through the school gardens—with his arm draped over her shoulders and her laughter spilling among the bushes.
Meanwhile, Alicja and Natan were left alone, somewhat… warmed by alcohol and jokes.
"You. You have a silly face," Alicja muttered, pointing at him, barely sitting upright on the bed.
"And you have skin and hair like… like… a ghost," Natan hesitated, frowning. "Just a prettier ghost. I mean… uh, never mind, I don't know what I'm saying."
Alicja laughed and hit him with a pillow. He immediately countered with another. Within seconds, a pillow fight erupted, rolling across the bed, laughter spilling until their sides ached.
"You have hard elbows, you demon."
"And you have no bones, you're like a pillow with knees."
Finally, they stopped, slightly out of breath, faces close, the laughter fading mid-note. They looked at each other longer than usual.
"That was a really weird evening," Alicja murmured, her voice lower, suspended.
"But you're here. And I'm here too."
"And no one is screaming that they're about to die."
Natan smiled softly, leaned in, and she didn't pull back. Their lips met cautiously, half-smiles, still testing the ground. But soon it was certain—they wouldn't retreat.
Their kisses deepened, hands exploring shyly, until they collapsed together on the bed—with a tenderness that contradicted all their previous teasing.
Meanwhile…
Nadia and Leon walked, swaying slightly, his hand in her pocket, her head resting on his shoulder. They walked aimlessly—through the garden courtyard, then around the school building.
"You know what?" Leon murmured, looking at the stars. "I think if I died right now, I'd die happy."
"Don't be dramatic. You've had three cups of what Alicja called 'spiritual cocoa.'"
"Because it was spiritual! I saw ghosts in my eyes."
"You've been seeing them all along."
She stopped, pulling him by the hand to look into his eyes. Leon leaned down, kissed her forehead, then her nose, then her lips—softly, calmly, without hurry.
"Let's go to sleep."
"And if Alicja and Natan took the room?"
"At least we know we're not the only crazy couple."
Leon laughed and hugged her tighter."And today, for the first time… I feel truly normal."
And so they returned, stepping slowly, carefully among the shadows—with smiles on their faces and a trace of hope for a truly peaceful night.
***
Morning arrived faster than anyone expected. The sun showed no mercy, piercing through the windows with ruthless brightness. Nadia and Leon entered the cafeteria first, both slightly disheveled but in good spirits. Before they could pour themselves some juice, Alicja and Natan came in.
And then, silence fell.
Alicja's hair was tied in a messy bun, wearing Nadia's oversized sweater, and… she had the expression of someone who had just spent the night with a person she had pillow-fought with only yesterday. Natan looked slightly terrified. Or dazed. Or both.
Leon raised an eyebrow. Nadia watched curiously but said nothing.
"Good morning, little lovebird," Leon drawled, leaning on the counter and looking at Natan with a theatrical smile. "Sleep… comfortably?"
"It was dark. I don't remember. Nothing happened," Natan blurted immediately, too firmly.
"Absolutely. Zero things happened," Alicja added with such gravity that Nadia snorted into her cup of tea.
Leon didn't relent:"So those divine blushes… from… a tough test?"
Alicja squinted at him."And your hair is all messy because the wind whispered romantically in your ear?"
"No. My girlfriend dragged me into the bushes," he said, kissing Nadia on the cheek, making her giggle and punch his arm.
Natan froze."So… you guys are actually officially together?"
"See, Natan, you're not alone in your… disgrace," Alicja patted him on the back with theatrical sympathy.
"We're not together," Natan replied automatically, then added after a pause, "I mean… I think… not?"
"Perfectly romantic. We should write that down," Leon muttered. "Natan: 'I think… not?'—a love bestseller."
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Alicja, rolling her eyes, sat at the table with a plate full of toast.
"Okay, enough nonsense. We've got math first period."
"And I have a reason to study with you," Natan said a little bolder.
"Because you're afraid of another lonely evening?"
"No. Because you want to hit me with a pillow again."
Leon and Nadia exchanged a glance, smiling knowingly. Despite everything that had happened, this morning scene reminded them of one thing:
They were together. And it was good. The ghost-hunter and the one who feared them most.
***
The evening was quiet, peaceful, the kind that wraps you like a blanket. Nadia sat on her bed in her room, leaning against pillows, thick socks on, holding a cup of cocoa. Leon stretched out beside her, his head on her lap, playing with her fingers. For a while, they said nothing, just listening to the sounds from outside the window—distant footsteps, the wind rustling through the branches.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm not the same person I was a few months ago," Leon murmured.
Nadia looked down and ran her hand through his hair."Because you're not."
"It's funny. I was someone completely different. Back then… Alan. Then… Leon. Then the General. And now… Leon again. But a little bit Alan too."
"And a little bit of a fool," she added with a laugh, and he gently bit her finger.
"I wanted to be someone who could protect you. Like he protected your mom. But I also didn't want to… die again."
"You won't die," she said softly. "You're here. You're alive. You're with us. And you'll stay with us."
Leon closed his eyes."Sometimes I'm afraid it'll pull me in again. That it'll come back."
"It's not you who's weak. It was him who was a coward. And you… you went through hell and you're still here. And you even know how to make cocoa, so…"
Leon chuckled."True. Cocoa is my superpower."
Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Nadia answered and immediately put it on speaker.
"Hello?"
"Sweetheart!" Sara's enthusiastic voice rang out. "We've been sending messages! What are you doing?!"
"Having cocoa," Nadia said, and Leon theatrically added:"And an existential crisis, but it's almost over."
"Oh God, is that Leon?" came Oliwer's suspicious male voice. "Don't tell me you're in the same room. ALONE."
"We're not alone," Nadia replied quickly. "There's still… a cup. Two cups."
"And a conscience," Leon added. "Well, Nadia has one. I'm still working on mine."
"I hear you're… quite nice now," Sara said with a smile. "But if you hurt my daughter, I'll remind you what a medium's wrath looks like."
"Like a tornado with spells and pins?"
"With thunder in her eyes and death in her hands."
"Sounds familiar. Kinda like Nadia this morning."
Nadia lightly kicked him in the side."Don't talk about me in front of my parents."
"But they already know you. I'm trying to convince them I'm a good match."
"A match?! That sounds like politics!" Oliwer exclaimed. "No, no, too early. No way. First university. Then career. Then…"
"Dad, we're still in high school."
"Exactly! So behave like high schoolers. I mean… very well-behaved high schoolers."
"Alright, Mr. Oliwer," Leon replied in the politest tone, then quietly to Nadia:"Do you think if I do the dishes and bring them gifts, he'll accept me?"
Nadia smiled."Only if you stop calling him 'Mr. Oliwer.'"
Leon looked up with mock drama."The hard life of a romantic."
Sara's laughter echoed once more from the speaker, followed by a quiet, "Bye kids," before the call ended.
Leon looked at Nadia."You have a very funny family."
"You're already part of it too."
"I think… I like that."
***
The sun was already warming gently, and the spring breeze softly stirred the leaves of the campus trees. On the green lawn, a large blanket was spread out—colorful, a bit faded, but comfortable. The whole group sat close together, surrounded by baskets of food and drinks.
Leon lay on his back, hands behind his head, gazing at the sky and murmuring something under his breath. Nadia leaned against his shoulder, smiling at Alicja's animated gestures as she told some joke from class. Natan handed Roksana a piece of cake, while Sebastian watched them with an amused expression.
"Leon, don't tell me you're dreaming again about being the General and fighting demons during a picnic," Nadia joked, lightly nudging him.
"Shh, or the ghost of my old self will show up and start complaining about the lack of coffee," Leon replied, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Alicja laughed."Seriously, Leon, maybe we should make you a custom exorcist coffee."
"Or a bravery elixir. I'm even scared of my own shadow," Leon added in a theatrical whisper, and everyone burst out laughing.
Natan glanced at Sebastian, crossing his arms."And you, Sebastian, have you won Roksana's heart yet, or are you still in the 'friend zone'?"
Sebastian blushed slightly, while Roksana stretched lazily."Give him a break. At least I'm trying to teach him how not to be so clumsy."
Leon grinned and called out:"Clumsy? That should be his official title at this school!"
Everyone laughed again, and Nadia looked at Leon tenderly."It's good to have you all here together," she said softly.
"So… another round of jokes and cake?" Natan suggested, passing a plate around.
The sun slowly began to sink toward the horizon, and on the blanket, a warm atmosphere lingered—friendship, laughter, and the hope that after turbulent times, they could simply be young and free.