The warm midday sunbathed the academy courtyard in a golden light as Aranea and Zann returned to their usual picnic spot where the others were already gathered.
"Finally! Took you two long enough," Beau called out, waving a hand as Aranea skipped toward them.
"I'm starving!" Aranea grinned, plopping down onto the picnic cloth beside Elenea. She inhaled deeply, eyes gleaming. "What smells so good?"
"Our training food," Elenea said proudly.
"We whipped up a little something for the cooking contest," Beau added, gesturing to the dishes laid out between them. "Try it and tell us what you think."
Zann sat down next to Aleck, trying his best to keep a neutral expression despite the grin that refused to leave his face. The warmth of Aranea's forehead against his lips still lingered in his thoughts, the memory too fresh to ignore.
"Well?" Elenea leaned forward eagerly as Aranea took a bite.
Aranea gasped dramatically. "This is delicious! What did you put in this?!"
