The morning continued, no clear break between what had happened earlier, and what came next––only the quiet movement of students returning to their respective classrooms, as nothing had changed at all.
Which, to everyone else, was true.
The courtyard emptied as students drifted toward their respective buildings.
Jude stretched his arms above his head while they walked.
"Soo" he said, "that was already more thinking than I have planned."
...
He glanced sideways.
"...I'm assuming we're done for now?"
Leontius didn't stop walking.
"For now."
Jude nodded, satisfied enough.
"Good... I'd like to pass at least one class without questioning reality."
He chuckled.
Lunivara walked beside them,
"You should." The response came a bit late
Jude noticed.
"...Yeah," he said, brushing it off. "I probably should."
No formal goodbye was ever spoken; their path unraveled, leading them into a different worlds.
Jude veered toward his building first.
"Try not to figure out anything disturbing without me," he added, half-turning as he walked backward.
"I'd like to be present for the confusion too." Beaming his face with a smiling eyes.
Leontius didn't respond.
Lunivara gave a small nod.
"We won't."
Again––just a bit delayed.
Jude waved it off with a grin and disappeared into the flow of students.
Leontius looked at Lunivara then continued forward without slowing.
Lunivara followed her own path.
Daylight deepened, stretching lazily into the heat of the day.
The classroom was already filled of voices layered over each other in low, familiar tones––light conversations, unfinished thoughts, and small laughter.
Velarisse changed her sit and sat near the window, posture composed, hands resting neatly over her notes.
She looked up at the door and then Lunivara entered.
There was a brief pause, then she smiled
"Good morning, Lady Morcant"
...
"Good morning, Lady Thyselle"
A simple exchange
Velarisse held her gaze for a fraction of time––then lowered her eyes again.
"You're quite early today."
Lunivara took her seat.
"Yes."
A beat.
...
"...You are as well."
Velarisse let out a quiet breath that almost resembled a laugh.
"It's my habit."
["Why did she changed her sit?, is something wrong?"] Lunivara talking inside her thoughts, her face looks a bit worried.
As Velarisse adjusted the page in front of her, a subtle friction lingered beneath the surface.
A feeling that the moment had... already passed once before.
She didn't allow herself to pause; she continued by it.
The Professor entered.
The room shifted naturally into order.
Books opened.
Pens lifted.
Another ordinary morning.
A question was asked.
A student answered.
Another student responded across the room.
There was a pause––then a light disagreement.
"...That's not what was said."
"It was."
A small shift of tone.
"No, it wasn't."
The professor intervened briefly, correcting the detail. "Students!," Slamming a stick on the table, "behave yourselfs , you have anything to complain about go find a room for that, have the academy not educate you well?."
"My apologies professor"
"My apologies..." Their head down.
The discussion moved on. No one thought twice about it.
Velarisse did, only a moment her pen hovered above the paper. She grew anxious everytime she noticed the 'repeating time'.
She frowned.
The situation wasn't repeated or the discussion but the timing, the rhythm––felt like something she had already experienced.
She glanced down at her notes.
"...Strange."
The thought didn't go any further.
Velarisse felt Abit worried about it. Her head hung low, supported entirely by her left hand. She looked at Lunivara who was writing precisely then back to her notes, her eyes blinking.
"Are you alright Lady Thyselle?" A student beside her ask.
"Yes, I'm alright" Putting a smile face.
Then going back to her own pace.
["I don't feel well"]
She raised her right arm.
"Yes, Lady Thyselle?" The professor asked.
"Professor, May I be excused for the rest of the class? I have an urgent matter to attend to."
"The professor granted permission with a lenient nod, dropping their usual strict demeanor."
"Thank you professor", she bowed.
Lunivara watched velarisse going out at the door.
The class continued...
"What a teacher's pet" someone whispered
"Giggles.. right" the other one replied
The class began whispering some were good while the other's were not.
The professor the slam the stick on the table again.
"Students listen!"
"Yes Sir" Everyone said.
Meanwhile:
Velarisse walked her head down.
Thud..."ah, sorry" she said.
"Don't worry about it"
Velarisse looked up immediately upon hearing a familiar voice.
Their eyes meet.
"Ah, Lady Morcant's friend" she slip her touge. "A-ah , I apologize your highness" while bowing her head down.
"Please, don't worry about it" Then leaving.
Velarisse raised her head and watch hes highness Leontius leaving.
...
She continued walking recalling about feeling worried earlier.
On the other hand:
After 2 hours the class ended, Lunivara gathered her start and was about to leave when—
"Lady Morcant" A girl bowed gracefully so thus the other student.
Lunivara ignored them and continued walking
"Doesn't it bother you that everyone ignores you while she shines over you?"
Lunivara stopped while the girl grinned from behind.
"We can help you take back what's officially yours, think about it, this is your chance to finally let everyone know who you really are and how they should treat you right"
Lunivara looked back and give a death stare,
"I don't like being around with rascals" Then leaves.
The other girl commented "Who are!—"
"Shh Clarissa"
"Why?, we were just trying to help her"
Signaling her to stop ["Just what was that look"] her legs shivering.
Lunivara was walking through the hallway her head high but her thoughts were somewhere else.
["I don't mind what they says to me but...my heart aches...why?, I'm not The Lunivara right?"]
LUNA!
She looked at her right side looking surprise.
"Jude" she murmured involuntarily.
"I kept calling you, you weren't listening" he pouted.
"I'm sorry Jude, I was distracted a bit"
"Distracted?, of what? ,' the structured system~ again?' , I'm not complaining okay I'm just like this but you know it's sounding like a group assignment thing...haha" he chuckled.
He noticed Lunivara was not smiling.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes"
"I'll just go somewhere, Go on ahead"
"Okay"
END CHAPTER 45