I was having a nice dream. A wonderful, peaceful dream. There were no portals, no monsters, no complicated feelings about a certain purple-haired instructor—just the blissful nothingness of deep sleep.
And then—
"RIHANNON!"
My bedroom door slammed open with the force of an explosion.
I jolted awake, heart leaping into my throat. My sheets tangled around my legs as I tried to sit up, my brain barely catching up to the whirlwind of movement entering my room.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up!"
I blinked blearily at the figure now standing over me, my vision still adjusting to the sudden onslaught of energy.
Leora.
Wearing a chef's uniform.
My still half-asleep brain took a moment to process the sheer enthusiasm radiating off her like a second sun. The pristine white uniform, the little embroidered golden details, the way she was practically vibrating with excitement—
I swallowed. "...What."
