The circular platform hummed softly as it rose through the tall shaft of the dormitory building. Beyond the glass walls, the night stretched cold and silent, the faint glow of mana-lamps tracing the path upward. Trafalgar stood with his hands loosely at his sides, his gaze fixed forward on the platform's slow ascent.
Beside him, Zafira remained quiet. She still wore the jacket Trafalgar had draped over her shoulders earlier, its faint warmth clinging to her despite the chill air. Her gray eyes lingered on him—not the serious young man standing there now, but the memory of the timid boy he once was.
Years ago, in a fleeting moment of fear and courage, Trafalgar had acted for her sake. It had not been a promise, nor some grand vow, but a small act of bravery from someone who was afraid. That simple moment had left a mark on her heart. It was then that she had begun to love him.
