"Slow down, tiger. The food isn’t going anywhere."

Liam lifted his head.

Dylan Wellington stood a few steps away from the table with a tray in his hands, looking noticeably better than the last time Liam had seen him. His blond hair was no longer full of ash and twigs, his face had more color, and the worst of his exhaustion had lifted enough for his green eyes to regain their usual mischievous glint. He still looked like someone recovering from a week of poor decisions and worse luck, but compared to his half-dead state after Nalim, he seemed almost reborn.

On his tray sat what Dylan would no doubt call delicacies, though to anyone else it looked like an unnecessary combination of sweet pastries, meat, fruit, and something covered in sauce that probably should not have been eaten before noon.

Dylan dropped into the seat across from Liam without asking.

"You know," he said immediately, setting his tray down, "I haven’t seen you once since the day we got back from Nalim. Not in the dorms, not in the cafeteria, not haunting any corridors like a gloomy academy legend. I was starting to think you got kidnapped by the Headmaster or adopted by the shadows permanently."

Liam looked at him for a moment, then continued eating. "Good to see you too."

Dylan smiled as if that answer pleased him. "There he is. Warm as a winter grave. But seriously, where have you been? Because while you were vanishing, the entire academy has been talking about you. You are the hot topic right now. First years are whispering your name like it summons bad luck. Second years are pretending they weren’t terrified watching the Berserker fight. Third years are suddenly curious about the second-year who beat Percy Granger and apparently decided Sync-class demons make good sparring partners."

Liam gave no reaction beyond taking another bite.

Dylan leaned in slightly, lowering his voice with exaggerated seriousness.

"And the girls. Oh, the girls. You have no idea what kind of tragic atmosphere you created by disappearing. Sheila kept looking composed, but I’m sure deep inside she was wondering if you were alive. Ariana probably worried politely. Charlotte was definitely planning to turn your absence into part of a dramatic love story. Even some girls who claim they hate you started asking questions with that very suspicious ’I’m only curious because he is dangerous’ tone."

Liam swallowed. "You’re exaggerating."

"Of course I am," Dylan said proudly. "But only by a little, which makes it art."

Liam stared at him.

Dylan began eating from his own tray with a satisfied expression.

"Anyway, the point is, you disappearing after showing everyone you can erase a Berserker is terrible public relations. People are either afraid of you, annoyed by you, fascinated by you, or pretending they don’t care while asking everyone else what you’re doing."

"That sounds like their problem."

"It is," Dylan agreed. "But it’s also entertainment for the rest of us."

Liam did not respond, and Dylan seemed perfectly happy to carry most of the conversation himself while they ate. He spoke about how the third years had returned looking almost as miserable as the second years had, how some first years were already acting like surviving Vlardia for three days made them hardened veterans, and how Charlotte had apparently told at least five different versions of her final days in Nalim with Liam, each one more outrageous than the last.

Liam ignored most of it, partly because Dylan’s teasing was obvious and partly because the food mattered more at the moment.

By the time both of them finished eating, Liam felt better in a way that was difficult to deny. Not fully restored, but steadier. His body seemed grateful that he had finally stopped treating recovery like an inconvenience. Dylan, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair and groaned softly as if he had achieved something heroic by finishing his meal.

After leaving the cafeteria, the two walked through the academy grounds together. The sunlight remained bright, and the students spread across the grounds made the academy feel unusually relaxed. Liam’s steps were even, while Dylan walked beside him with the loose ease of someone who had regained enough energy to make other people regret it.

"Where’s Sheila?" Liam asked after a while.

Dylan turned his head slowly toward him, and Liam immediately regretted giving him the opening.

"Oh?" Dylan said, his eyes brightening. "Looking for our newly restored rank one? How interesting. How delicate. How emotionally suspicious."

Liam looked ahead. "Never mind."

"No, no, it’s too late now. You asked. The question has entered the world, and I, as your dear friend, must honor it with unnecessary commentary."

"Dylan."

"Sheila is out there somewhere getting drowned in love and gratitude by our fellow students," Dylan said, grinning. "Probably surrounded by people saying things like, ’We always believed in you, Princess,’ and ’It feels right having you at the top again,’ and ’Thank the stars we don’t have to emotionally prepare ourselves to follow the dark mage during group activities.’"

Liam said nothing.

Dylan glanced at him. "You know they are not even trying to hide how much they hated you being rank one, right? It’s almost rude. They could at least pretend a little. I mean, I know you don’t care, but still. The disrespect has no elegance."

Liam’s gaze remained forward.

Inwardly, however, he took the information in with quiet satisfaction. If things remained as they were, then he would not have to concern himself with the responsibility that rank one might have forced toward him. Sheila was back where the class wanted her. The students were ready to look to her. That meant he could remain where he was, or even drop lower if necessary, without having to deal with leadership expectations he had never wanted.

Third was convenient.

Lower might become even more convenient.

They continued walking for a while before entering one of the academy halls leading toward the library. The atmosphere inside was quieter than outside, the stone corridor lined with tall windows that cast long strips of sunlight across the polished floor. The library doors were not far ahead when a voice called out from behind them.

"Senior Hunter!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Liam stopped.

Dylan turned as well, eyebrows lifting with interest.

A girl was running toward them from down the hall, her long dark hair flowing behind her and her dark eyes fixed on Liam with clear purpose. She slowed only when she drew close, slightly out of breath but smiling with the sort of eager nervousness that made it clear she had been searching for him. The moment Liam saw her face, recognition settled in.

Dylan recognized her too.

Gabby Iflame.

The first year Liam had promised to spar with.