"I'll be learning fire next," Esteria replied, her voice barely above a murmur as she looked across the quiet academy grounds. "I'm just waiting for El-Kharis to come pick me up and… well, we'll see how it goes." A faint smile tugged at her lips, though an undercurrent of apprehension ran beneath it.
Celene gave her a reassuring nod. "You'll handle it just fine, Esteria. You've already learned so much, and fire will just be another step in your training."
They stood for a moment, letting the conversation settle between them, and then Celene glanced toward the shimmering waters visible in the distance. "I'll be heading back to the Water Palace on the shore soon," she added, a touch of sadness in her voice. "You know, to be with my family."
