Lirien's POV
The Academy felt almost normal that morning, a fragile bubble of peace I desperately wanted to believe in.
I sat at our usual table near the back of the studio, sunlight streaming through the tall windows and warming my skin. The familiar, comforting scents of charcoal dust, fresh paper, and linseed oil filled the air. My fingers moved steadily across the sketchbook as I worked on a portrait study, trying to capture the subtle play of light on the model's cheekbone. For a little while, the rest of the world faded away.
Mira was chattering excitedly beside me, gesturing wildly with her charcoal-stained fingers. "...and I swear, this self-portrait is going to be my best yet. I'm calling it 'Inner Chaos.' You can literally see the storm in my eyes, right?"
Kai leaned back in his chair, smirking as he glanced at her paper. "Sure, if by 'storm' you mean you made your nose look twice as big as it actually is. Bold artistic choice."
