The final bell rang long and drawn out, its echo rolling through the academy halls like a held breath finally released.
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then the building came alive.
Chairs scraped back. Conversations burst free. Relief bled into laughter, and plans shouted across the room. The pressure of the first day loosened its grip all at once.
Archie stretched so hard his joints popped. "I swear that bell sounds different from the last one. Like it knows."
Suzune gathered her notes with practiced efficiency. "That's just your imagination."
"No, no," Archie insisted. "That one had mercy in it."
Kirsty was already on her feet. "You two done? I want out before the hallways turn into a battlefield."
Enark rose more slowly, slipping his bag over his shoulder. The building's acoustics shifted as students funneled toward the exits.
The corridors were chaos incarnate. Students flooded through in every direction, voices bouncing off stone walls, boots and shoes drumming against the floor in uneven rhythm.
"Yep," Archie said, raising his voice. "Definitely a battlefield."
Enark stayed close, matching the cadence of his friends' steps. Archie's heavier tread. Suzune's light, precise pace. Kirsty's confident stride that never hesitated.
"So," Archie said as they pushed through the main doors, "first day thoughts?"
"Acceptable," Suzune replied. "The instructors are competent. The subjects don't seem too difficult."
Kirsty raised an eyebrow. "'Not too difficult'? Are you kidding me?"
Suzune smiled faintly, a trace of amusement in her eyes. "Exactly. All of them."
Outside, Caldonia greeted them with its beauty. The academy gates spat students into the city's flow like a river meeting a larger current.
They made their way to the elevated rail station. The platform buzzed with movement: merchants hustling, guards checking tickets, the hiss and clang of arriving trains. The smell of oil and metal mingled with roasted chestnuts from a nearby vendor.
Archie grinned as they climbed into a carriage. "Best part of going home: the train ride. It's just got a feeling to it, you know?"
Enark snorted, folding his arms. "Or the worst part: being stuck with strangers until the stop. Your choice."
Suzune offered no reply, eyes scanning the carriage as they found seats together. Archie collapsed into one with a sigh, stretching his legs. Enark slid in beside him, adjusting the strap of his bag. Suzune took the aisle seat, posture upright, while Kirsty leaned against the window.
The train started with a rumble and a shudder, then settled into a steady rhythm. The sound of wheels on rails became a low, comforting pulse for Enark—each click and clack grounding him more than the chaotic city streets ever could.
"Hey, Enark," Archie said after a pause, "so what did you think? First day, new classmates, all that jazz?"
Enark shrugged. "It was… fine. It's the first day after all."
Kirsty leaned back, arms crossed. "For now. Wait until we get to sparring—that's when things actually get interesting."
Suzune smirked, tilting her head. "So… anyone else already thinking about dinner?"
Archie groaned. "There you go again, Suze. You really like getting us hungry."
Enark and Kirsty spoke at the same time. "Yeah, I know, right."
Suzune chuckled. "My bad, guys."
The train passed over bridges and through tunnels, the cityscape gradually changing from tall stone buildings to shorter, worn structures. Vendors along the tracks waved or shouted greetings and children ran along the railside, their laughter carrying despite the train's roar.
Kirsty's gaze drifted to the window. "Caldonia can be pretty, when it wants to be..."
The train slowed, rattling over the tracks as it approached their stops.
Archie was the first to gather his things, tossing a grin over his shoulder. "See you guys tomorrow." He slipped off the train and disappeared into the evening crowd.
Kirsty followed shortly after at her stop, giving a brief nod. "Don't get into trouble."
Suzune stayed seated a moment longer, scanning the city lights before her stop. "Until tomorrow, Enark," she said, then stepped off.
Enark remained alone in the carriage until it reached his district.
The doors hissed closed behind him, and the city streets were quieter now, the bustle of day fading into the calm of early evening.
He counted his steps, following familiar landmarks by sound and scent—a bakery on the corner, the soft trickle of water from a cracked pipe, the low murmur of neighbors settling into their routines.
Finally, he arrived home.
He rested his hand against the door for a moment before opening it.
The city's noise dulled as he stepped inside.
He closed the door behind him, the latch clicking softly.
The day was over.
Tomorrow would come soon enough.
For now, he was home.