{Elira}
~**^**~
"And Elira," she paused and met my gaze, "make sure to do them. Even small projects carry marks, and those marks add up at the end of the semester."
I nodded quickly. "I will."
The nearer we got to the cafeteria, the noisier it became. I felt my stomach curl a bit from nerves, but also from hunger that had begun to gnaw again.
That protein bar from Cambria had expired.
Cambria glanced at the big clock near the entrance. "We're about six minutes late," she said, her tone amused rather than scolding.
Inside, the cafeteria bustled with life—rows of tables, bright hanging lamps, and students in casual clothes chatting over steaming plates.
I blinked, surprised by how almost full it was despite being just for first-years.
"There are four cafeterias," Cambria explained, weaving us through the small crowd. "One for each year, and one just for the professors and staff."
My eyes widened. That explained why the halls hadn't been packed solid.
