The hallways of Mystic Academy were unusually quiet as Aranea walked alongside Aleck, Beau, and Elenea. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the stone tiles, each sound only reminding her of the silence hanging between them.
None of them spoke at first; it was as if the weight of Professor Gertrude's reprimand still clung to their shoulders, heavy and unforgiving.
Aranea hugged her arms close to her chest, her brows knitted. She tried to shake off the memory of Zann and Leonel standing across from her, both silent, both guilty, both looking… broken.
She bit her lip.
Why?
Why did they fight?
Just hours ago, they were teasing each other during training. Awkward, maybe, but it still felt like friendship. Then suddenly—fire and water clashing, rage burning in their eyes. She couldn't understand it, no matter how much she tried.
