The door creaked open with a groan, and a faint layer of dust danced in the air as Noel stepped inside.
His room in the Class S dorms looked exactly like he left it—only now it had gained the scent of wood, parchment… and neglect.
Two months.
That's how long it had been since he last stepped foot in here. Between the missions, the Holy Capital, and the aftermath, he'd barely had time to remember this place existed.
He sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and grabbed a cloth from the drawer. "Let's get this over with."
Shelves coated in dust. The desk slightly cluttered with notes. His bed still made, though a thin film of grime had gathered on the frame. He swept, wiped, folded, reorganized.
On the bed, Noir lay curled in her pup form—peaceful, silent, her fur rising with every slow breath.
As he passed her, he adjusted the sheets gently.
