Chương 115: The Rest of Thursday

Thursday afternoon continued with a more theoretical class. This time the topic was History of Marks and Divine Contracts, given by an elderly teacher with a slow voice and infinite patience. Most of the class fought against sleep. The orphanage group settled at the back, as usual. Elowen, for the first time, did not sit completely isolated. She chose a place a few desks ahead and a little to the left of where Kuroe was.

It wasn't close enough to look like they were together, but it also wasn't the complete distance of the previous days. Kuroe noticed. She didn't comment. The class itself was dense. The teacher spoke about the difference between natural marks, granted marks, and the rare marks of direct contract with gods. He mentioned in passing that some marks carried unpredictable consequences, especially those linked to more… unstable gods. Joker paid more attention to that part. Harley did too.

Kuroe kept her gaze fixed on the teacher, but her expression didn't change. When the bell rang, the class stood up relieved. In the corridor, the group gathered normally. Elowen took a little longer to leave the room. When she passed by them, Kuroe spoke low, almost without turning her face: — We're going to the courtyard. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. It wasn't exactly an open invitation. It was just information. Elowen hesitated for a second.

Then she simply followed the group at a short distance, without completely mixing in, but also without fully moving away. In the courtyard, the break was short. Astrid and Rina went to the open area. Marina and Sylvara stayed talking. Joker and Harley moved away a little, as they always did. Lirien took the chance to write something down. Kuroe sat on one of the benches. Elowen, after a few moments, occupied the other end of the same bench. The space between them still existed, but it was smaller than before.

Neither of them spoke for a while. It was Elowen who broke the silence, voice low: — Why did you invite me to lunch? Kuroe took a second to answer. — You were alone. — I always am. — I know. Another silence. — … Do you not mind? — Elowen asked. — About what? — That I don't talk much. Kuroe looked sideways at her, calm expression. — I don't talk much either. Elowen stayed quiet for a moment. Then she simply nodded, as if that answer had been enough. The break ended shortly after.

When the group began to stand up for the last class of the day, Elowen stood up as well. This time, while walking, she stayed a little closer to the group — still on the edge, but clearly within the same movement. The last class was light, more review than new content. When they finally released the class, the sun was already low. On the way back to the dormitories, the group walked spread out, but united. Elowen followed a few steps behind Kuroe, in silence. No one tried to force conversation with her.

No one excluded her either. When they reached the division of the buildings, Elowen stopped for a moment. — … See you tomorrow — she said, more to Kuroe than to the rest. Kuroe nodded. — See you. Elowen walked away toward her own corridor. The group watched for a second before continuing to the dormitories. In Room 214, Harley threw herself onto the bed and commented while looking at the ceiling: — The quiet girl is getting closer.

Joker, sitting on the edge of his own bed, answered without much surprise: — Kuroe pulled her in. — I saw. Harley turned her head toward him and smiled sideways. — Think she'll stay? Joker took a little while to answer. — If Kuroe decided to invite her… probably yes. On the other side of the courtyard, in the girls' building, Kuroe entered the room in silence. Rina was already lying down. Sylvara was moving something on the table.

Kuroe left her bag beside the bed and sat for a moment, looking at the wall without any particular expression. The day had been simple. But for the first time, the family's circle had opened on purpose — and someone from the outside had accepted to enter, even if she was still only on the edge. End of Chapter 115