he came out of his tent and the confidence she had worn inside dissolved the moment the flap fell closed behind her.
Her hands were trembling. Not visibly — not enough for anyone passing to notice — but she could feel it, that deep interior shaking that had nothing to do with cold. Her thoughts were too loud and too fast and none of them were finishing themselves.
It's because of me. They found me here. How did they — no. Calm down. I'm safe. There are seniors everywhere. But Milli — she got the same — and if they're already here then —
She needed water.
She walked to the supply station. No one was there. She picked up the cup, filled it, and drank the whole thing in one go. Refilled it. Stood there.
Still not calm.
Someone tapped her shoulder.
The flinch was immediate — fast and full-bodied, spinning around before she'd even decided to move.
Kiro.
He raised an eyebrow. "Where's your brain? I was calling you from behind. You didn't stop, didn't turn around — nothing."
"I didn't hear you," she said. "I was thinking."
He sat down on the empty chair nearby and looked at her. "So. What did Sir Niel say?"
She looked straight ahead. She knew — there was no reason to show him she remembered. He was still playing his act, keeping his cool, pretending. So she'd do the same. If Niel told him, I'll admit it. Otherwise — let's see how long we can both keep this going.
"He said I'm one of the students going home."
Kiro nodded slowly. "Good. Makes sense — your hand, and you're not well."
She glanced at him sideways. "Hey, Kiro."
"What?"
"Do you know me?"
He stopped. Looked at her properly. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Forget it." She looked past him. "Oh — Reian's back."
She stood up, set the cup aside, and walked toward Reian before Kiro could press further — leaving him sitting with the question still open in the air.
"So?" she asked Reian. "What did you get?"
"Not much," he said. "But the summary — from our group, you're going home. It was an enemy attack, confirmed. Senior officers are arriving and before they get here they want the area clean. Clean meaning anyone injured, anyone from a high profile family, anyone who can't fully function. Sir Haru's words."
"I see."
She filed it quietly.
Haru. I need to talk to him. Not now — but soon. Something about Reian doesn't sit right and Haru needs to know.
Kiro had caught up. "Sir Vane said the same." He looked at Himari. "And Sir Niel told you the same. You're going home."
She smiled. "No. I'm not. I talked to him. I requested to stay — he may allow it."
Reian looked at her immediately. "You have to stay. We need you."
Kiro glanced at Reian sharply.
Why is he pushing this? Can't he see her condition?
"We're stronger with you here," Reian added. "You're capable."
"Reian." Kiro's voice was even. "It's her choice. Not yours, not mine." He turned to Himari. "Think carefully before you decide. Talk to someone if you need to. That's all."
"I already talked to Sir Niel," she said. "I want to stay."
Kiro looked at her for one moment — reading something in her face he wasn't sure he understood yet. "Alright. Let's go pack anyway. We don't know the final list yet. Whatever we decide, the last word belongs to the seniors."
Reian was already walking. Kiro followed.
She walked too.
But her mind was running separately from her feet. Every gust of wind made her glance sideways. Every sound behind her made her shoulders tighten. She was conscious of everything — every shadow, every movement — in a way she hadn't been an hour ago.
I told Niel so confidently that I remember everything. But I don't — not all of it. And Milli — the same symptoms. What if someone else gets taken? What if there's already another one right now—
Stop. Think positive. I'm stronger now. I have magic — unstable, yes, and my hands are useless, and I have a fever — but I—
Why are they here so early? I'm not ready. I still need time—
She arrived at her tent.
Kiro was already waiting outside it.
"Are you actually okay?" he asked.
"Why are you here? Aren't you packing?"
"I asked first."
"Yes. I'm fine."
He looked at her — that specific look, the one that didn't argue but didn't believe either. "If something's bothering you — you can say it. To me or to someone else."
"I have nothing to tell you."
He looked at her one moment longer. "Very well then." He went inside his tent.
She went inside hers.
She didn't have much — sleeping mattress, a few things. She sat down first, huffed once, then started packing and talking to herself in the way she did when no one was listening.
Not even a whole day passed. Wow. That soon we're going back. My luck really just forgot to show up. And the bad luck is never going to leave. What am I supposed to do. And now Niel is back, who I never wanted to meet again—
She packed fast. When she was done she pulled on her cape, her boots, her gloves, picked up her bag, and came outside. She sat down on the chair in front of the tent, bag at her feet, and waited.
Reian came out first, then Kiro. She looked at both of them.
"Before we go — are we supposed to take the tents down too or ask someone first?"
"I already asked Sir Vane," Kiro said. "We all go to the military academy first. Everyone. Then from there they decide who stays and who returns home."
She nodded. Fine.
She stood up. And her feet — without any particular decision from her brain — carried her across the camp toward the Leo group's area. She had noticed the auburn haired girl sitting alone near their tents, same way she herself had been sitting. She was already halfway there before she thought: wait. Why did I come here. What am I supposed to say.
She stopped a few feet away.
The girl looked up. Calm red eyes. Said nothing. Waited.
Himari straightened slightly. Okay. Just say it.
"Hello. I'm Himari from Arthford. I'm — sorry. I heard about your teammate Milli. How is she?"
The girl's expression didn't change much but something in it settled. "Hello. I'm Liliana. It's nice to meet you." A brief pause. "Milli is doing better. She's going home today."
"Oh." Himari nodded. "Could I — would it be allowed for me to see her? Even briefly."
Liliana considered this for one moment. "I'll ask her. Wait here."
She stood and slipped inside the medical tent.
"Well well."
Himari didn't have to turn around to know.
Leo. Arms folded. Cape with his team's badge. That half-lidded expression that had apparently decided she was its favorite target since the day they met at the military academy — the same day he'd called her witch and she'd called him something equally unpleasant in return.
"Look who came here. Miss Himari Tsukihara." His voice dropped into something mocking. "Are you here to laugh at her?"
She turned around fully. Looked at him. "No. I came to ask how she is. She was my opponent in the sparring match."
"Oh." He tilted his head. "How considerate."
She held his gaze for exactly one second.
Then she raised her right hand, finger extended, her expression shifting into something that was somehow both completely unbothered and deeply unimpressed at the same time — tongue slightly out, one eyebrow lifted, the face of someone who had assessed the situation and found it entirely beneath them — aimed it directly at him, turned her back, and waited for Liliana.
Behind her she heard nothing. No sharp response. No cutting remark.
The curtain moved. Liliana appeared. "She says yes. Come in."
Himari moved forward. But before she stepped through she turned back one last time. She found Leo still standing exactly where she'd left him. This time she didn't rush it. She turned slowly, deliberately, and looked at him the way you look at something mildly irritating that you've already decided isn't worth your full attention — finger raised again, unhurried, almost bored, the corner of her mouth pulled into something that wasn't quite a smile and wasn't quite a smirk but was entirely infuriating — held it one second longer than necessary.
Then walked inside like he didn't exist.
The curtain fell closed.
Outside, Leo stood very still for a moment.
Then something happened to his mouth that he hadn't planned for.
A smirk. Quiet. Involuntary.
Gone almost before it arrived.
He turned away before anyone saw it.