The cafeteria hummed with morning conversations, utensils clattering on dishes, silent discussions on spell theories, and heartfelt laughter from grouped tables. A morning where nothing significant occurred...just life moving ahead.
Nyxar perched on the brink of it all, gaze drooping to the dish in front of him as he stabbed his eggs with indifference. His thoughts drifted, not to reflections or nostalgia or forgotten strength, but to how ridiculously salty the bread tasted.
"Is this supposed to be a punishment?" he whispered.
Kaela dropped herself down opposite him with a thud, her tray piled as if she hadn't had a meal in ages.
"Don't disrespect the bread," she remarked, tearing into it like a wild animal. "It's the only thing that keeps me alive."
"Have you ever thought that they might put in salt just to watch who'd lose it first?" he said.
"Me... Definitely me."
He broke into a smile. "Acknowledged."
Kaela gnawed on a cooked root as if it had borrowed from her and refused to pay. "So, O dark ruler, do you have any plans after breakfast? "Jumping into a spell vortex? Pondering on rooftops? Talking to imaginary voices?
"One of them is correct."
She tilted her head. "Do you actually talk to yourself?"
"I do believe am excellent company."
"That seems... fair."
They ate quietly for some time, the sort of silence that comes easily between individuals who have become at ease with each other. Just as Nyxar was about to grab his drink, Kaela said, "Want to skip class?"
He stopped momentarily while sipping. "You?"
"I understand. "I'm the one in charge." She inclined forward. "However, today I wish to explore what lies beyond the east gardens."
"That's out of bounds."Nyxar added.
She lifted an eyebrow.
"…Count me in."
***
The east gardens weren't just off grounds...they were quiet. No floating lights. No elemental patrol glyphs. Just wild paths half-tamed by lazy enchantments, and broken statues overtaken by moss.
They walked slowly. Talked about nothing important.
I did hear a rumor though, that one of the founders could turn into a swarm of crows. "Think its true?" said Kaela.
"i don't care... unless those crows brought snacks." said Nyxar
She laughed, hard.
He found himself watching her, just for a second too long. She noticed it.
"Something on my face?"
"Yeah. Joy. It's unnatural."
She shoved him, laughing again.
They reached the end of a path and found a broken bench, half-buried in wildflowers. The forest beyond whispered like it was waiting. They didn't cross it. Instead, Kaela sat on an old bench they found. Kicked off her boots, and leaned back.
Nyxar remained standing, staring into the trees.
"Do you miss it?" she asked quietly.
"The slums?"
She nodded.
"…Some parts," he said after a pause. "Not the hunger. Or the cold. But the rhythm. The way people watch your back when it counts. The silence after danger."
"Sounds lonely."
"It was."
Kaela pulled her knees to her chest. "You never talk about your family."
"I had one," he said. "They're gone now. I remember my brother's laugh. My mother's voice.... and my father's shoes."
She remained silent, only paying attention.
"That's all i've got," he said. "I remember... heat."
There were screams... footsteps and after that, silence."
He sat beside her. The wind shifted slightly, causing the leaves to tilt as if mourning. Kaela rested her head on his shoulder and they both stayed quiet for a long time.
That evening, they came back to campus, crossing the narrow bridge that connects the east and central towers. The stars were shining, twinkling like gentle lanterns in the clear, dark sky.
Then Kaela asked, "If you could summarize your day in a single word?"
"Strange," he responded. "no deaths." no voices. just peace?
"You say that like it's rare."
"You'd be surprised."
She paused. "For me... I'd say good. It was a good day."
Nyxar glanced sideways. "You know that's dangerous, right?"
"What is?"
"Saying things like that out loud."
"Why?"
"Because the world hears you, and then says, 'Let's fix that.'"
She laughed, loud and full. "Then let it try," she said. "I'll kick its teeth in."
"See? Strange."
"I'm a delight."
They stopped at the dorm entrance. For a moment, neither moved.
Kaela looked at him. "I'm glad we did this."
He nodded.
Then she turned, paused, and glanced back. "Oh, and Nyx?"
"Yeah?"
"If you do end up brooding on a rooftop later, don't fall off."
"No promises." he said
She smiled before turning away, disappearing through the door, her boots echoing softly on the stairs.
That night, Nyxar didn't go to the rooftop. Instead, he remained at the window, journal open, his pen still. He was trying to describe what peace felt like, but he lacked the words to express it.
Instead, he wrote down a single sentence.
I laughed today. Maybe twice
The world didn't break. I thought it would.
He closed the book and leaned on the windowsill. Outside, the stars shifted slightly. Within, the Obsidian Core remained silent. No whispers... No pressure... Only silence..