Luther left Seraphis's office feeling a weariness that wasn't just physical but also mental. It had been an intense session, full of uncomfortable revelations and exercises that had left him drained. He walked through the academy's hallways, noticing how the light from the magical lamps was dimmer, and the bustle of the day had given way to a quieter serenity. Almost without realizing it, he reached his room.
Upon opening the door, the first thing he saw was Kay, sitting on his top bunk, his face illuminated by the soft glow of a small lamp as he read a book. It was an almost comforting, familiar image.
"Studying again, Kay?" Luther asked in a hoarse voice, trying to sound more relaxed than he actually felt.
Kay lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes reflecting interrupted concentration. "Uh-huh," he replied, with a tone that suggested he was annoyed by the question. "You look exhausted."
Luther nodded without offering details. He didn't feel like explaining Seraphis's strange closeness, his hand over his, the uncomfortable compassion, or the pain of dark magic. He let out a sigh and noticed something else: Ithan and Kael were absent. Normally, at this time, the room would be filled with their bickering or sarcastic comments, especially given the tense relationship between the two since day one.
"Where are Ithan and Kael?" Luther asked, frowning.
Kay shrugged without looking up from his book. "Haven't seen them. Ithan left a while ago, and Kael's probably in the library or somewhere else. Who knows."
Luther fell into thought. Ithan leaving without a word wasn't unusual, but his lack of typical grumpiness at this hour was curious. With a slight shrug, he walked over to the window and slightly pulled back the curtain, wanting to clear his mind with a view of the outside.
From there, he could see part of the forest surrounding the academy. Under the silvery light of the moon and stars, the forest took on a mysterious air. Gazing absently, Luther frowned when he spotted a male figure waiting at the edge of the trees. As he focused, he unmistakably recognized Ithan, who seemed very nervous, looking around as if afraid of being caught.
"What the hell are you up to now, idiot?" Luther muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes.
He was about to step back and lie down when he noticed another figure appear alongside Ithan. A hooded silhouette with fluid movements emerged from the foliage to stand in front of him. They seemed to be conversing. Luther couldn't make out their words, but he could sense the tension in Ithan's body language: rigid shoulders, clenched hands. The hooded figure, in contrast, remained calm, exuding a disquieting composure.
That image was enough for Luther to sense that something wasn't right. This wasn't a casual meeting. There were few reasons Ithan would sneak out in the middle of the night to meet someone like that at the forest's edge, far from prying eyes. There was danger—or at least the scent of a secret that wasn't meant to be uncovered.
Kay, noticing the prolonged silence, glanced up from his book at Luther. "Something wrong?"
Luther stepped slightly away from the window, trying to maintain his composure. "Not really. I just thought I saw Ithan out there."
Kay let out a faint "Oh," as if it weren't a particularly interesting detail. Even so, Luther couldn't shake his unease. He looked out the window again, this time more carefully. The hooded figure and Ithan were no longer there, as if swallowed by the darkness.
"Whatever," Luther said quietly, trying to convince himself. "He's probably up to some annoying nonsense as usual."
Back in the room, he removed his cape slowly and got ready for bed. He noticed Kay watching him from the corner of his eye, perhaps sensing his uneasiness.
"Better get some rest," Luther thought, rubbing his sore neck. "Tomorrow's going to be another long day."
Lying in bed, Luther closed his eyes, but not before mentally locking in the image of Ithan and the hooded figure. For a moment, he wished it was just another one of Ithan's antics, something trivial. But his intuition told him otherwise.
The next morning…
After a restless sleep, Luther awoke with a sense of alertness. The events of the previous night—seeing Ithan meeting that hooded figure at the edge of the forest—were still fresh in his mind, refusing to fade.
The first thing he noticed was Ithan's absence from his bed. Usually, that troublemaking slacker would oversleep, forcing the others to wake him up or leave him behind. But today, the bed was untouched since early morning—a rarity that only confirmed Luther's suspicions.
He got dressed in silence, carefully putting on his uniform, and walked out into the hallway with determined steps. He needed to tell Elise, Borik, and Naomi about what he'd seen. Maybe together, they could figure out what Ithan was up to.
The hallway bustled with the usual morning activity. Some students adjusted their capes, while others discussed the day's schedule. Luther moved among them, searching for the familiar faces of his friends. It didn't take long to find them: Borik leaned against a wall, arms crossed; Elise smiled upon seeing him approach; and Naomi was focused on a scroll but acknowledged his presence with a slight glance.
"Luther!" Elise greeted him in her light, cheerful tone, while Borik gave him a sly smirk and Naomi raised her gaze slightly, recognizing his arrival.
"What's with the look?" Borik teased, raising an eyebrow. "Rough night?"
Luther walked up to them, and as they started heading toward the classroom, he kept his voice low while explaining. "Last night… I saw something. Ithan wasn't in the room. I looked out the window and saw him in the forest. He wasn't alone—he met someone hooded. I don't know what it means, but—"
He couldn't finish the sentence. A gruff and unmistakable voice interrupted them before he could explain further.
"What are you looking at, idiot?" snapped Ithan, suddenly appearing right in front of them. His abrupt arrival hit like a cold shock. He stood there, more awake than usual, and his expression made it clear he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.