The next morning, campus life rolled on as if nothing in the world could possibly go wrong. The air smelled faintly of wet grass and coffee, the kind of peaceful morning that almost made Ryan forget he was living under the weight of a prophecy.
Almost.
He shuffled across the courtyard with his hands buried in his hoodie pockets. Lanterns from the storm tradition still dangled above, swaying lazily like glowing pears on invisible branches. A few students stopped to take pictures. Others yawned and rushed toward their first classes.
Ryan paused for a second just to breathe it in. He didn't know why, but mornings like this always made him feel like he was watching someone else's life—one he wasn't sure he belonged to. But it was nice, even if it was borrowed.
The resonance stirred in his chest again, faint but always there. It never left him completely now. Like a whisper. Like a heartbeat he hadn't asked for.
He exhaled slowly and made his way toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was already in full swing. Trays clattered, the smell of egg sandwiches and akara drifted through the air, and somewhere in the back, someone was playing afrobeats way too loudly on their phone.
Ryan found Ethan waving like a lunatic again, nearly toppling his juice.
"Ryyy-aaaaan! My emotional support werewolf has arrived!"
Ryan groaned. "Do you have to announce my presence like it's a concert?"
"Yes," Ethan said, shoving a chair out with his foot. "You're the headliner. I'm the chaotic opening act."
Maya didn't even look up from her tea. "You're more like background noise."
Ethan gasped dramatically. "Rude!"
Ryan sat down, setting his tray on the table. "What did I miss this time?"
"Oh, nothing," Ethan said. "Just Maya pretending she doesn't care about my survival after I almost died trying to toast bread with a candle last night."
Ryan blinked. "…Why?"
"I was hungry. Power was out."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "We were literally in a cafeteria when the outage happened."
"I panicked!"
Ryan laughed, unable to help it. The sound felt good—like something unclogging in his chest. Maya smirked. Ethan grinned, clearly satisfied.
The resonance pulsed lightly, brushing against his ribs like a soft current.
[Bond Strengthened.]
[Trust Level: 24%.]
Ryan kept his face neutral, even though he felt it. It wasn't just data. It was warmth. It was Ethan's loud jokes and Maya's sharp wit. It was breakfast feeling like something worth waking up for.
After breakfast, Ryan barely had time to digest before Aria appeared, already dressed in her sparring gear. No words—just a sharp nod toward the training grounds.
He sighed. "Do I at least get five minutes to nap?"
"No."
She didn't even blink.
By the time they got to the field, the sun had burned away the morning chill. The grass was dry, the dirt soft under his sneakers. Aria drew her blade with a smooth flick.
"Again," she said.
Ryan cracked his neck. "You really need a new catchphrase."
"You need better footwork."
She lunged first, as always. Their clashes rang across the open field—claw against steel, instinct against discipline. Ryan ducked low, pivoted, dodged. He was faster now. More fluid. Less afraid.
But she was still better.
He stumbled once, and her blade stopped a hair from his collarbone. Her eyes narrowed.
"You hesitated again."
"I was trying not to die."
"Dying is what happens when you hesitate."
She stepped back, lowering her sword. Ryan sucked in a breath, frustrated. "You push me like I'm already supposed to be perfect."
"I push you," she said evenly, "because I know you're not."
That made him stop.
Aria held his gaze. "But you can be. And that's why I'm still here."
Ryan didn't know what to say to that. His throat felt tight.
Finally, he nodded. "Again."
And this time, he didn't hesitate.
Later that afternoon, they found themselves at the library again—though "studying" was a strong word for what Ethan was doing. He'd made a tower out of erasers and was pretending it was a fortress.
Maya looked unimpressed. "You're seventeen."
"Seventeen and an engineer," he corrected.
Ryan sat across from them with a book Aria had given him. He was trying to focus, but Ethan's eraser kingdom kept growing and collapsing every few minutes.
"I'm telling you," Ethan said, "Ryan's totally a German Shepherd. Loyal, serious, scary bark."
Maya smirked. "Too responsible. He's a Border Collie."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Do I get a say?"
"No," they both said in unison.
He rolled his eyes, but the warmth behind it was real. He hadn't realized how much these moments mattered. The stupid jokes. The quiet laughs. The way the world felt smaller and safer in this little corner of the library.
[Bond Strengthened.]
[Status: Potential Pack Member – Developing.]
Ryan didn't even flinch at the system voice this time. It was part of him now. Just like they were.
By evening, the campus was bathed in a golden glow again. The lanterns from the storm night still lined the courtyard. Some were dimmer now, some flickering, but they were still there—soft reminders of something shared.
Ryan sat on the stone steps with Ethan, Maya, and Aria. Students milled around, some with snacks, some playing soft music on old guitars.
Ethan sighed. "We should make this a tradition. Every time life sucks, we light lanterns and eat fried dough."
"I'm in," Maya said without hesitation.
Ryan smiled faintly. "You just want free snacks."
"Exactly."
They all laughed, and the sound mingled with the hum of the evening. For once, Ryan didn't feel like he was pretending. He wasn't waiting for the next disaster. He was here, now, with people who made him forget the weight on his shoulders.
The resonance surged gently, like a tide rolling in. Not violent. Not overwhelming. Just… steady.
[Objective Progress: Gather Your Pack.]
[Current Pack Bonds: 3.]
Ryan looked at each of them. Ethan, with his dramatic heart. Maya, with her quiet loyalty. Aria, with her sharp edges and rare softness.
Not numbers. Not just "bond levels."
They were his people. His pack. Even if it wasn't official yet. Even if the system was still "calculating."
He looked up at the sky, where a few lanterns still floated like tiny stars.
He didn't just want to survive.
He wanted to protect this.