"Those damn final years. I'm gonna teach them a lesson myself." Edwin spat the words as he kicked a loose pebble across the road.
His jaw was still tight from the morning's humiliation. The image of Lena's mocking smile burned in his mind.
"Don't forget about me," Jin added, a slow grin spreading across his face.
He twirled a short practice blade on his finger like a toy. The idea of a little payback cheered him up more than he wanted to admit.
"Hey guys. What are you doing?" Cecelia's voice cut through their plotting.
She stepped into the small cluster of first years with a steady gait.
Her face looked paler than usual, but her eyes held the old calm everyone trusted.
Elysia hurried forward as soon as she saw her. "Cece? You were absent for three days… What happened to you? I came to your home and you were asleep." She was worried.
Cecelia blinked and looked at Elysia.
She still held that small distance in her face.
