{Elira}
~**^**~
"Hi," I murmured, offering a nod as I took a seat across from him.
I sat there for a moment, wishing I could be anywhere else. The seat felt a little too formal, too upright.
The air carried the scent of roasted herbs and wine sauce—delicious, really—but my appetite was still faint.
Lennon and Zenon entered soon after. Lennon's hair was slightly tousled, his shirt sleeves rolled up casually. Zenon looked the same as ever—polished and unreadable.
Lennon grinned when he spotted me. "Hey, Elira. How are you feeling? Did you get any rest?"
I let out a breath and tried to sound light, "Not really. I had assignments… a lot of them. ESA doesn't exactly believe in giving students a break."
Lennon laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Good. That's the spirit. But don't forget—my class is tomorrow morning. And it's not going to be gentle."
I groaned aloud. "Can't you be lenient just once?"
"Not in my DNA," he said with a wink.
