Chương 107: The Rest of the Day

Lunch on the second day was calmer than on the first. The group took the same table as always. The food was still bland. Astrid talked about the Combat Theory professor. Marina answered in the middle of a laugh. Rina and Sylvara discussed the next training session quietly. Lirien listened more than she spoke. Joker and Harley were in the middle of the table, exchanging low comments between bites. Kuroe ate in silence at the end of the table. A few tables ahead, near the window, Elowen ate alone. As always.

Straight posture, economical movements, without joining anyone. The other girls from her kingdom were at another, livelier table, and none of them had come over to her. Kuroe noticed. This time she paid a little more attention than usual, but without interrupting what she was doing. She continued eating normally. At one point, when she got up to get water, on her way back she sat in a way that left her a little more turned toward the window side. Nothing obvious. Just a small change in position.

Stolen novel; please report. Elowen lifted her gaze for an instant. Their eyes met briefly. There was no greeting, no smile, no special reaction. Just a short recognition that one had seen the other. Then both looked away and continued with what they were doing. No one at the table commented on anything. Later, during the afternoon break, the group spread out across the courtyard. Astrid and Rina went to the more open area. Marina and Sylvara stayed talking on a low wall.

Joker and Harley disappeared for a few minutes. Lirien took the chance to read. Kuroe went to a more secluded bench, under the shade of a tree, and sat there without hurry. A short while later, Elowen walked along that same path. She didn't change direction and didn't stop near the bench either. She simply continued forward. After a few steps, however, she stopped near another tree at a reasonable distance and stayed there for a while, watching the movement of the courtyard in silence. Kuroe remained on the bench.

She didn't say anything. She didn't make any gesture. She simply stayed in the same place. The two of them stayed in the same area for a few minutes, each in their own space, without interacting. It wasn't real company. But it also wasn't the complete distance from before. Then Elowen held the strap of her bag and resumed her path, disappearing among the students. Kuroe stayed a little longer on the bench before getting up and returning to the group.

When she joined the others, Harley commented in passing: — You disappeared for a bit. Kuroe simply shrugged. — I stayed on the bench. She didn't explain anything more. And no one asked for details. The rest of the afternoon passed without major events. One more practical class, some training, and then the way back to the dormitories. At the end of the day, while they climbed the stairs of the girls' building, the group talked normally.

Kuroe came a little behind, quiet as always, with no apparent change in behavior. Inside the room, she left her bag beside the bed and lay down right after. Without looking out the window in any special way. Without a different expression. Just another day ending. End of Chapter 107