As she walked behind Renkai through the dense fog, the path stretched on in silence. Time felt strange, heavy and slow, before finally, rooftops broke through the haze.
Lira's heart lifted at the sight of the Academy's tall spires. Home.
Renkai came to a halt.
"I shall always be near," he said softly, "to lead you to our grove."
With a flick of his fan, he vanished into the mist.
Lira blinked. Our grove? she wondered. What does he mean by that?
Tired and aching, she made her way toward the Great Hall. The smell of warm food pulled her in like a magnet. She stopped at the school's dining area, grabbed a hot meal, and sat down.
All around her, students turned to stare, her clothes were stained, streaked with dirt, a few twigs still tangled in her hair. Fluffy was no better; his once-white fur was now a mess of mud and leaves. But Lira was far too exhausted to care.
She ate slowly, letting the warmth fill her again.
