The aroma of freshly brewed coffee curled through the small café, mingling with the low hum of conversations and the occasional clatter of cups. Sunlight streamed through the windows, falling in golden slivers across the wooden tables, but Nyx barely noticed. Her gaze moved with quiet precision, scanning exits, entrances, and every detail the casual eye overlooked. Every shadow had a story. Every movement was cataloged.
Lyra Hale, on the other hand, radiated motion and excitement, drumming her fingers against the table, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can't believe tomorrow we're actually going to Aurelius International University together, Ten!" she said, leaning forward, voice bright and lively. "It's going to be amazing!"
Nyx sipped her coffee, expression unreadable, letting the warmth slide down her throat without a flicker of emotion.
"See," Lyra continued, nudging her, "you have to be a little… chalant. You're always so… cold. Emotionless. Unbothered. Everyone notices you, but not in the fun way. If I get along with my new friends, I'll pull you into the circle, but you can't act like this—it sounds rude. My new friends won't like it. And… I've seen you rarely smile. A little charm won't hurt."
Nyx set her cup down, tilting her head slightly, calm and precise. "I don't care what they think. This is me. If they want to accept it, let them. Anyways… I have you," she said, her voice steady, the words carrying a weight that lingered.
Lyra giggled, a bright, infectious sound. "Stop! You're making me blush. I'm so excited for tomorrow—we'll go together, all right? After all, I'll make new friends… maybe even a new boyfriend or two." She winked, nudging Nyx playfully.
Nyx's eyes flicked toward her, steady, unflinching. "I don't want one," she said, calm, precise, almost like stating a fact rather than an opinion.
Lyra leaned back, mock horror on her face, though her smile never faltered. "You know, you're always so calm, Ten. I envy that about you. I wish I could be that… composed all the time."
Nyx said nothing, tilting her head slightly toward the window, observing a passerby outside. For a brief moment, the sunlight caught the corner of the café sign, and the shadows seemed to cling closer to her, subtle, almost imperceptible.
Lyra's voice cut through, full of energy. "Come on, stop brooding. Tomorrow's a big day, and I need my best friend on my side to survive all the social chaos. Smile a little, will you? For me?"
Nyx's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly. "I'll consider it," she replied.
Lyra squealed softly, covering her mouth. "Oh, Ten… that counts as a smile!"
The café seemed ordinary—warm, mundane, familiar. But Nyx's eyes caught the slight flicker of movement behind the counter, the way a stranger's gaze lingered too long, the subtle shuffle of a chair that didn't belong. Small details, meaningless to most—but to her, every twitch was a story, every glance a possible thread.
And tomorrow, stepping into Aurelius International University, nothing would stay ordinary for long.