The festival grounds were finally quiet. Lanterns flickered along the pathways as students filtered back to their dorms and houses, still buzzing about the wild spectacle of the Bean Toss and the sudden, absurd arrival of two new Familiars.
But for Aranea and her group, the noise had fallen away.
They walked together through Hesreth Street, the air cool, the cobblestones slick with dew. Beau carried a bundle of leftover sweets tucked under his arm, nibbling from time to time, while Aleck kept a protective pace beside Aranea.
Elenea walked just behind, her arms folded, while Darenn and Irving followed like watchful shadows. Zann and Leonel, for once, weren't bickering—they seemed too deep in thought.
For a while, silence held. Then Beau broke it with a muffled laugh around a bite of pastry.
"Well," he said, brushing crumbs from his fingers, "I thought I'd be taking home leftover beans tonight, not leftover Familiars."
Elenea groaned, covering her face. "Beau, please."
