{Elira}
~**^**~
The cafeteria buzzed with weekend chatter, laughter, spoons clinking, and someone's music playing too loudly from a corner table.
But all I could focus on was the new message flashing on my smartwatch.
Zenon: [Meet me at the small woods near the West training field by noon. Make sure you are putting on something comfortable.]
I reread it three times before realizing my spoon had stopped midway to my mouth.
Tamryn was watching me from across the table, a chunk of toast in her hand. "What's wrong?"
I forced a smile. "Nothing. Just… a message from Professor Zenon."
That earned me three curious stares and one knowing smirk from Nari.
I quickly stuffed the rest of my food in my mouth and mumbled something about needing to prepare, earning laughter as I escaped.
---
By noon, I was crossing the edge of ESA's western grounds, the sun warm on my mofti—fitted dark jeans, a simple top, and my sneakers crunching on the gravel path.
