The feast ended, but the night inside the palace was still alive.
Guards led me, Emilia, and Renji up a long flight of marble stairs. The other Cleaners passed out from exhaustion back in the dining room. So we were led to our dormitories first. My legs burned, but I kept moving. Renji walked next to me, quiet as always, his pointed ears twitching when a cold draft slipped past. Emilia followed close behind, her copper hair catching the torchlight.
Boots echoed all around. The smell of smoke and warm stone filled the air.
More footsteps came from below. I turned my head. Another group of Cleaners was climbing the same stairs, not far behind us. Five of them. Three boys and two girls. Their voices carried upward, low and teasing.
I guess we weren't the only ones still sober from the exhaustion.
They laughed in the back, continuing to walk.
