Marisse held his gaze for a long, silent moment, and then, with a small incline of her head, turned away.
Her departure was brisk—measured steps, robes shifting in sharp lines, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in her wake. The students who had followed her moved with her, their whispers starting almost before they cleared the archway.
Lucavion didn't linger either. His smirk faded into something more neutral, his eyes lowering as though whatever spark had lit him a moment ago had simply been switched off. Without another word, he stepped back into the dispersing crowd, his posture relaxed and unreadable.
For a moment, the yard seemed to still—students glancing between Selenne, Lucavion, and the empty space where Marisse had been, each of them cataloging the scene for later gossip.
Selenne remained in place, her gaze tracking Lucavion's retreat.
