The group's next stop was Velden & Co., a high-end tailor shop tucked between two polished stone buildings. The front display was lined with mannequins in ceremonial coats, crisp shirts, and cloaks edged with metallic thread. Inside, the air smelled faintly of clean linen and cedarwood polish, the floor a soft carpet that muted every step.
The moment they stepped in, the staff—a team of sharply dressed assistants—immediately sprang into motion, leading them toward fitting rooms in the back.
"Alright, first batch," one assistant said with a practiced smile. "Lucas, Marcus, Kaelith, Ryan, and Eren, you're up."
The five disappeared behind the heavy curtains, and a few minutes later emerged dressed in tailored suits that looked like they'd been conjured for royalty. Lucas's dark navy suit hugged his frame perfectly, paired with a silver tie that caught the light every time he moved.
Sylphie, standing near a display of embroidered cuffs, froze mid-breath. "…Oh." Her gaze trailed down and back up again like she was committing every detail to memory. Rose gave her a sidelong look but said nothing, smirking faintly.
Marcus's black suit, accented with crimson lining, carried an understated danger to it—something that made Ruby's usual sharp tone soften as she glanced his way more than once, pretending she was "just comparing fits."
Kaelith's dark emerald coat was clean-cut, paired with an open collar that gave him a princely yet effortless air. Rose's eyes lingered on him openly, not with the dreamy sighs Sylphie had for Lucas, but with a steady, intent admiration.
Ryan and Eren, though less flashy, still turned heads—especially when they stood together, laughing over a too-tight sleeve Ryan had tried on earlier.
Meanwhile, Elaria had already wandered toward a section draped in muted greys, cool blues, and soft whites. "Nex, over here."
He followed without a word, hands in his pockets, letting her tug him between rows of neatly pressed jackets. She held one up to his chest, squinted, then tossed it aside for another.
"This one," she decided, thrusting a deep charcoal suit with subtle silver embroidery into his arms. "It'll bring out your eyes."
He didn't protest, just took it and followed her toward the fitting rooms, almost like a soldier receiving orders.
"You're ridiculously obedient when it comes to her," Ryan muttered with a grin as Nex passed by.
"It's called efficiency," Nex replied flatly.
From across the shop, Ruby caught herself glancing toward Marcus again while Aria and Sylphie—supposedly "waiting their turn"—were busy exchanging whispered comments about how Lucas "looked like he stepped out of a painting."
Rose stood with her arms crossed, but her gaze was still fixed on Kaelith, watching the way he carried himself even while casually speaking to one of the tailors.
Back at the racks, Elaria gave Nex a final once-over. "Go on. Let's see if you can outshine the rest of them."
---
When Nex finally stepped out of the fitting room, the air in the tailor's shop seemed to catch for a moment.
The black suit fit him like it had been crafted for no one else—clean lines, sharp shoulders, the silver-thread detailing along the cuffs catching the light every time he moved. His white hair, freshly trimmed from the salon, framed his face in soft yet deliberate layers, while his violet eyes stood out even more starkly against the dark fabric.
Elaria's expression shifted from satisfaction to outright delight. She crossed the distance in two quick steps and wrapped her arms around him, murmuring, "Now this is my little brother." She didn't let go, keeping him close like she was afraid someone might steal him away.
Across the room, Liora's smile twitched slightly—just a small tightening at the corners of her mouth as she watched the way Elaria clung to him.
Lucas gave a low whistle. "That's dangerous," he said, grinning. "If you walk around like that, people will start asking for autographs."
Even Marcus, who usually kept his expressions under control, gave a faintly impressed nod. Kaelith only raised a brow, but his gaze lingered longer than usual.
Sylphie, Aria, and Rose all took a moment to appreciate the sight—Sylphie's hand even halfway lifting before she quickly folded her arms like she hadn't been tempted to fix his collar.
And then, just as the atmosphere reached the perfect blend of awe and admiration… someone noticed.
"…Wait. Are those your headphones?" Ryan blurted.
Sure enough, the sleek black pair was still sitting comfortably around Nex's neck, the cable trailing under the lapel of his suit jacket.
The room broke into laughter—Lucas doubled over, Marcus smirked, and even Liora's tension cracked into an amused exhale. Elaria shook her head, pinching his cheek with both hands now.
"Of course. Only you," she said, grinning.
Bags in hand and the day's purchases tucked neatly away, the group left the last shop. The earlier laughter from the tailor's still lingered faintly in the air, but now their voices dropped to an easy, quiet hum as they made their way back toward the academy.
Liora and Elaria naturally took the lead, walking side by side while explaining how to properly map terrain during their upcoming mission.
"You can't just sketch what you see," Liora was saying, her tone sharp but instructive. "You need to mark elevation changes, water sources, and safe rest points."
"And always keep track of the wind direction and sun's position," Elaria added, her voice softer but equally focused. "It can save your life when landmarks aren't clear."
The others listened in varying degrees—Sylphie nodding earnestly, Lucas pretending to take notes on his Aetherpad, and Marcus quietly absorbing every detail. Nex, as usual, trailed a few steps behind, his headphones lightly resting around his neck, letting the conversation wash over him.
By the time they passed through the academy gates, the sun had already dipped low, painting the marble pathways in streaks of gold and purple. One by one, they split off toward their dorm wings with casual waves and short goodbyes.
Ryan stayed behind with Nex, the two of them walking at a slower pace toward the Rankers' dorm section. Ryan's steps were light, almost bouncy, and his face lit up as he started speaking—more like a kid recounting a day at the fair than a first-year cadet.
"I had so much fun today," he said brightly. "I didn't think they'd actually talk to me like that. I thought I'd just… you know, be in the background."
Nex glanced at him, the corner of his mouth curling into a small smile. He didn't interrupt—just listened, letting Ryan's cheerful words fill the quiet evening air.
When they reached the point where their paths split, Nex stopped.
"See you tomorrow," he said simply.
Ryan grinned, raising a hand in a quick wave. "Yeah. Thanks for… you know… letting me tag along."
Nex gave a brief nod before turning toward the Rankers' dorm, the sounds of Ryan's footsteps fading behind him as he headed inside.