The week after the council's declaration passed quietly, almost suspiciously so. The tension that had clung to the academy halls had begun to loosen, replaced by laughter, light footsteps, and the faint buzz of students preparing for the weekend festival's closing event — the "Karaoke Encore."
It wasn't an official event; the council hadn't sanctioned it. It had started years ago as a rebellious late-night tradition — a handful of upperclassmen sneaking into the recreation hall after curfew to sing until dawn. Now, it was almost expected, a ritual that came after every major storm, as if the academy itself needed to breathe out the tension through melody and noise.
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[Arios' POV]
Arios didn't plan on going.
He wasn't the type to enjoy crowds or loud music, and he had more than enough on his mind already — lingering questions about Chase, whispers about Regulus' return, and the strange quiet around Class D's upcoming field mission.
But Lucy had a way of convincing him.
