---
The Aetherpad notification popped up on Nex's device while he was sitting on his bed, leaning back against the wall.
Marcus: Be at the south gate by 5 p.m. Everyone's coming.
Lucas: Yes, everyone. Don't be late this time.
Sylphie: Bring your wallet. And don't forget to eat something before we go.
Ruby: We'll meet you there.
Nex stared at the messages for a few seconds before replying with a short,
Nex: Got it.
He slipped his headphones on, turning up the music just enough to muffle the faint buzz of the academy outside.
---
By 5 p.m., the south gate was already lively. First to arrive was the main cast—Marcus in a crisp black jacket, Lucas in casual layered shirts, and Kaelith wearing a neat coat that made him look sharper than usual. The moment they showed up, a group of nearby girls from different classes began whispering and edging closer.
"Kaelith, did you change your hairstyle?" one asked.
"Marcus, where did you get that jacket?" another chimed in.
Lucas laughed it off, chatting easily, while Marcus gave short, polite answers, and Kaelith stayed distant, though not cold.
Not long after, Sylphie arrived with Rose at her side. Sylphie's golden hair caught the warm sunset light, making her look like she stepped out of a storybook. Rose's violet hair, tied back with a ribbon, contrasted sharply with her calm demeanor. They greeted everyone with smiles, Rose offering a polite nod while Sylphie drew more than a few stares from passersby.
Eren showed up next, hands in pockets, followed by Ryan, who seemed just a little nervous walking into such a high-profile gathering. The main cast welcomed him warmly—Lucas giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder—and Ryan relaxed almost instantly.
Then came Ruby, Aria, Liora, and Elaria together. Ruby looked effortlessly stylish, her hair tied in a loose braid. Aria wore a fitted white jacket over a flowing skirt. But the moment Liora stepped into view, the conversation around the gate slowed. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the light, and her poise made her look less like a student and more like a figure from a painting. Even Elaria, with her snowy hair and sharp blue eyes, drew lingering glances, her presence cool yet commanding. Sylphie and Rose's beauty added to the small circle's quiet magnetism.
They waited.
Five minutes passed. Then ten.
Finally, Nex appeared from the path leading out of the dorms. He wore simple casual clothes—dark jeans, a plain hoodie—and his headphones hung around his neck, though the faint beat leaking from them made it clear they were still on. His eyes were calm, unreadable, as if the gathering didn't faze him at all.
"You're late," Marcus said immediately.
"You know we were all waiting, right?" Ruby added, crossing her arms.
Lucas tilted his head with a half-smile. "Let me guess… music again?"
Sylphie raised a brow. "Do you even take those headphones off?"
Nex shrugged, slipping one side down. "Lost track of time."
Aria smirked faintly. "Or you just didn't want to come until the last second."
Ryan chuckled quietly beside him. "At least he showed up."
Kaelith studied Nex for a moment, but said nothing.
"Come on," Liora said suddenly, breaking the light tension. "We're wasting daylight. Let's go."
Her voice had the same cool elegance as always, but there was the faintest trace of warmth when she looked in Nex's direction—enough for Marcus to notice, though he said nothing.
The group finally set off, the small crowd at the gate watching them go, eyes drawn not just to Liora but to the strange, unshaken figure of Nex walking at the back, headphones still in place.
---
The group moved out from the south gate, the late-summer sky bleeding into shades of gold and deep rose.
Up front, Lucas was telling a ridiculous story about one of his sparring matches, Marcus throwing in sarcastic commentary that had Ruby rolling her eyes but still smirking. Kaelith walked beside them, occasionally offering a precise detail that made Lucas groan about him "ruining the flow."
Sylphie and Rose had drifted to the side, chatting with Aria about the upcoming inter-year matches. Even Ryan—who usually stayed on the edges of conversations—was in the middle of it all, nodding along, tossing in small jokes, and laughing at Lucas's exaggerated gestures.
Nex stayed a few paces behind. The rhythm of his footsteps fell into sync with the beat in his headphones, muting the chatter ahead. He noticed, almost absently, how easily everyone had accepted Ryan. No awkward pauses. No subtle glances of pity. They just talked to him like… anyone else. Like his own cognitive disorder wasn't there—or maybe, like it didn't matter.
It was strange. Comforting in a way, but also distant, like watching warmth from behind a glass pane.
Elaria's voice cut through his thoughts.
"You're walking slow."
Nex glanced sideways. At some point, she'd fallen back from the group, matching his pace. Her blue eyes flicked briefly to his headphones, then back to his face.
"You always hang behind?" she asked, not accusing—just curious.
"Sometimes," he said simply.
Her gaze lingered a moment longer, as if she was reading more than he was saying. "You don't talk much with them."
"They're already talking enough," he replied, dry but not unfriendly.
She didn't press further. Instead, she walked beside him in silence, the faint rustle of her coat almost blending with the bass line in his ears. Up ahead, Liora glanced back once—just a flicker of silver in the sunset—before turning forward again.
Nex kept walking, the distance between him and the group still there… but now, not completely alone.
---
By the time they reached the market street, the lamps lining the cobblestone path had begun to glow, washing the stalls in warm amber light. Shopkeepers called out to customers, and the scent of spices, leather, and faint mana-ink filled the air.
The group naturally slowed, eyes darting to different storefronts—armor displays, potion shelves, a smith hammering away at glowing metal. Lucas and Marcus had already split off toward a weapons shop, dragging Kaelith along despite his protests. Sylphie and Rose made a beeline for a potion vendor, with Ryan happily tagging along.
Nex stayed at the edge of the crowd, watching the flow of people and the shimmer of runes carved above each doorway. He didn't step forward until Elaria suddenly looped her arm through his.
It was such a smooth motion that for a second he didn't react—just felt the warmth of her presence at his side.
"Let's go," she said, tugging him toward one of the higher-end equipment stores.
He raised an eyebrow. "You don't even know if I need anything."
"I don't care," she said with a faint smile. "You'll help me choose, and you're not allowed to disappear in the crowd."
The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside. The shop was quiet, lit with hovering mana-crystals that cast soft light over neat rows of gear—sleek suits of enchanted cloth, gloves threaded with silver runes, and display cases holding dagger sets and spell-cores.
Elaria didn't let go of his arm as she guided him toward a rack of travel suits. "This one looks good," she murmured, holding up a deep charcoal jacket with subtle runic lining.
Nex tilted his head. "For you or for me?"
"For you," she said without hesitation.
Somewhere toward the back, he could hear Sylphie laughing at something Rose said, Ryan adding a quiet comment. Outside, Lucas's voice carried faintly from the weapon shop.
But in here, for just a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to her hand on his arm and the quiet hum of mana in the air.