The next two weeks passed in a blur of classes and empty silence.
Kyle's bed remained empty each night. The infirmary was keeping him for observation. The healer wanted to make sure there were no complications, no internal bleeding they'd missed.
The first day, Marcus was absent too. By the second day, whispers had started circulating.
"Disciplinary hearing."
"They're deciding his punishment."
"He broke the rules."
On third day.
When I walked into Professor Thorne's class.
I stopped.
Marcus was back.
He sat in his usual spot near the front, surrounded by his noble friends, looking completely at ease. No sign of guilt. No tension in his posture.
Just... normal.
Like nothing had happened.
As I passed his row, he glanced up and caught my eye.
And grinned.
That wasn't the expression of someone who just got punished.
Professor Thorne entered exactly on time, as always. He set his materials on the desk, scanned the room, and began his lecture without preamble.
