After Seraphina and I showered together, she changed into comfortable casual clothes that she'd stored in her spatial ring: soft gray leggings and a t-shirt that somehow managed to look elegant on her frame.
"I'll see you later," she said, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek before heading toward the door. Her ice-blue eyes held a contentment that spoke to our successful reconnection after months apart.
I glanced at my smartwatch—1:45 PM. Rose would be expecting me in fifteen minutes, which gave me just enough time to shower and change into something more appropriate for a date. Even if we were confined to the academy grounds, I wanted to make an effort.
Twenty minutes later, I found myself standing outside the main dining hall, scanning the area for familiar auburn hair. The academy's central courtyard buzzed with activity as students settled back into semester routines, groups clustering around tables and benches to catch up on winter break adventures.
"Arthur!"
