"Alone?"
Someone spoke, and it was just like the sound of heaven in Leira's ear. That voice was more than familiar to her. It was the same voice she heard every night in her dreams.
It was Dennise's.
Her heart skipped with excitement, but her body didn't respond that way. Self-control was strenuous, but she was so glad she made it. She crouched, leaned her head on the table, over her arms as her pillow, as if she was asleep. But actually, she just wanted Dennise to comfort her.
She had already caught sight of her as she strode her way to the study hall, and Leira immediately went to her position as she planned.
"Are you not well, Leira?" Dennise asked again as she sat down across Leira.
Leira secretly smiled before she sluggishly moved her head a bit and peeked over her arm pillow. Dennise looked fixedly at her sympathetically, and Leira felt her plan worked precisely the way she wanted.
