Luca stood under the Academy gate's arch, arms crossed, eyes scanning the entrance as the midday sun warmed the cobblestones. A minute later, soft footsteps approached.
Lilliane appeared—head slightly lowered, a light pink top tucked into a cream-colored skirt, her pink hair tied back in a loose ribbon. She looked… different. A little nervous. But cute, in a shy, bookish way.
Luca raised a brow. "Are you ready to make friends now?"
She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, glancing off to the side. "I… still don't understand why I need anyone else besides Aiden."
Luca sighed softly, then smiled. "Let's go."
She blinked. "W-Where are we going? You didn't tell me anything."
He started walking. "That's the point. You'd overthink it if I did."
---
Their first stop was the Academy's public park—wide open lawns, benches shaded under tall trees, and a handful of students chatting or playing magical chess in small groups.
