The tension eased—not all at once, but enough to breathe again.
Noel leaned back slightly in his chair as the weight of the conversation settled. The shard. The Northern Isles. Pillars. Allies. It was all out in the open now, at least with them.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Laziel cleared his throat. "So," he said casually, folding his arms behind his head, "before classes start… can we talk about something actually important?"
Marcus raised a brow. "This wasn't important?"
"No," Laziel replied, dead serious. "This is."
Everyone turned to him.
Clara tilted her head. "That never sounds good when it comes from you."
Laziel coughed once. "…I might be getting to know someone."
There it was.
Roberto choked on his drink. "WAIT. Stop. Rewind. You?"
Garron blinked. "Like—romantically?"
Marcus stared. "After almost two years?"
The table exploded.
"No way," Roberto laughed. "The academy's ending and this is the miracle we get?"
Laziel scowled. "I hate all of you."
