The sun rose gently, spilling golden light across the long table where everyone gathered for breakfast. Plates clinked, voices murmured, but an unspoken tension lingered between Iman and Layla.
Lucien sat nearby, watching quietly, while Dorian kept his calm gaze on the two of them.
Iman shifted uneasily, feeling the professor's eyes on her. His gaze was not merely watchful - it was possessive, heavy, as though he wanted to claim her for himself. The weight of it made her skin prickle, and she lowered her eyes to escape it.
Layla finally broke the silence. "Iman... about yesterday. I shouldn't have dismissed you. I was stubborn."
Iman looked up, surprised. "You saw my anger for the first time, Layla. I didn't mean to lose control, but you wouldn't listen."
Layla sighed, her voice softer. "I know. And... Elara came to me in a dream. She told me you're the key. I didn't want to believe it, but now I understand. I should have trusted you."
Iman's expression softened, though her voice carried weight. "I don't need you to agree with me all the time. I just need you to stand beside me when it matters."
Layla nodded, her eyes steady. "Then I will. I promise."
Lucien smirked lightly, breaking the tension. "Finally. I was starting to think we'd need a referee at breakfast."
Dorian chuckled under his breath, but his gaze lingered on Layla, proud of her choice.
And as the two women exchanged smile - tentative but genuine - Lucien and Dorian admired them quietly. To see their ladies smile again after the storm was a warmth neither man wanted to lose.
After breakfast, the group moved to the training grounds. The air was crisp, filled with the sound of blades clashing and spells sparking.
Layla stood beside Iman, not as a rival, but as an ally. Their movements, though different, began to complement each other.
Lucien trained with focus, his eyes often drifting toward Iman, while Dorian observed offering guidance when needed.
From the edge of the grounds, the professor watched silently. His gaze never left Iman - not with the neutrality of a teacher, but with the hunger of someone who wanted to possess her. It was a claim unspoken, but felt, and it made her heart race with unease.