For the next few days, Adrian's routine remained almost the same.
He attended his classes as usual, trained the students preparing for the contest, and then, when the sun dipped below the horizon, he spent his evenings with Annabelle.
What did they do?
Not much, really.
Annabelle simply wanted to be near him. It didn't matter where they were—on the bench outside the academy, in the garden, or even in the empty halls—she just wanted to sit beside him and listen to his voice.
They spoke about many things—memories from the past, and moments from the present.
Annabelle shared stories from her time as a Warden—the hardships she endured, and the endless politics she had to navigate.
"You really cut ties with your nation just because of that?" Adrian asked, brows raised.
Sitting casually on the table, her legs swinging lightly, Annabelle nodded. "Yep."
Adrian let out a quiet sigh.
