The morning after the dungeon arc ended came quietly. The academy halls no longer carried the tension that had been there for days. There were no alarms, no instructors barking orders, and no students rushing to meet survival deadlines. Instead, there was an odd stillness — the kind that followed exhaustion and victory alike.

Arios woke up late that day. For once, he didn't have to think about traps, monsters, or a time limit ticking in the background. The sunlight streaming through his dorm window felt normal again. His eyes stayed half-closed as he listened to the faint sounds outside — students talking, someone laughing down the hallway, and a bird tapping against the sill.

He let out a quiet breath and turned on his side. His bed creaked slightly as he shifted. He looked toward the desk beside him where his sword rested against the wall, polished but untouched since he'd returned.

For a while, he just lay there, letting his mind settle. It had been nonstop chaos — from Garron's betrayal to the dungeon exam that nearly collapsed midway through. Every step had demanded sharpness. Every mistake could've been fatal. But now, none of that felt immediate.

The knock came lightly — two taps, a pause, then one more.

Arios knew that rhythm. "Come in," he said without getting up.

The door opened slowly, and Lucy poked her head in. She wore casual clothes — a white top tucked into simple blue jeans. Her usual tidy ponytail was messier than normal, but she looked more relaxed.

"You're awake," she said, smiling faintly as she stepped inside. "Liza said you'd still be sleeping."

"I was," Arios replied, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "Guess you two decided to come check?"

"Something like that," Lucy said, holding a paper bag in her hands. "We brought breakfast. Or, well, lunch, technically."

Liza entered right behind her, balancing a tray with three cups of juice. "He's alive," she said with a grin. "I told you, Lucy. The hero of the exam doesn't die of sleep deprivation."

Arios smirked slightly. "Barely."

They set the food on his desk. The smell of bread, eggs, and something buttery filled the room. Lucy arranged the plates neatly while Liza simply plopped herself on the chair near the window.

For a while, they didn't talk. It wasn't awkward — just quiet. The kind of silence that followed long, shared battles.

Lucy looked around his room as if noticing how plain it was again. "You still haven't added anything," she said. "No decorations, no posters, no personal touches."

"I'm fine with it this way," Arios said, pulling the bread apart. "It's easier to clean."

Liza laughed. "Of course you'd say that. Simple and efficient — just like your fighting style."

He shrugged. "It works."

They ate together. Liza talked most, filling the silence with random things — how she'd overheard students arguing about rankings, how the cafeteria had introduced new dishes, how someone claimed to have seen Chase in the library again.

Lucy didn't talk as much, though she listened with quiet focus, occasionally scolding Liza for chewing too fast or making exaggerated gestures.

After they finished, Liza leaned back on the chair, hands behind her head. "You know," she said lazily, "it feels strange not worrying about anything for once. No monsters, no exams, no traps trying to blow our legs off."

"That's how it's supposed to feel," Arios said. "We were due for a break."

Lucy nodded softly. "You should rest properly, Arios. You overexerted yourself in that last battle."

He looked at her, one brow raised. "You're one to talk. You fainted the moment we got back."

Her cheeks reddened. "That was— different. I was just—" She hesitated. "You know what, never mind."

Liza chuckled under her breath. "You both sound like an old married couple."

Lucy glared at her, though the glare lacked heat. "Do you ever stop talking?"

"Nope," Liza said cheerfully.

Arios just smiled faintly. "I'd be more worried if she did."

The conversation drifted from teasing to casual talk about classes resuming next week. The academy was already preparing for the next schedule cycle, though the dungeon incident had caused delays.

Lucy mentioned that instructors were holding review sessions for surviving students. Liza complained about the idea of sitting through more lectures. Arios mostly listened, content to let them talk.

After a while, Lucy stood to collect the empty plates. Arios moved to help, but she shook her head. "You rest," she said firmly. "You still look like you haven't recovered fully."

"I'm fine," he said.

"Sit down," she said again, and this time her tone left no room for argument.

He sighed and obeyed.

Liza snickered quietly. "See? Lucy's already taking charge."

"I'm keeping things orderly," Lucy replied without missing a beat.

The door suddenly opened again, and Pokner peeked in. "So this is where everyone went."

She stepped inside, still wearing her casual jacket from the day before. Her long brown hair was tied up loosely, and she looked more relaxed than Arios had ever seen her.

Liza waved. "You're late. We already finished breakfast."

"I wasn't invited," Pokner said calmly.

Arios gestured toward the desk. "There's still some bread left."

She gave a small nod and sat down across from him. "Thank you."

The group settled again, the room now filled with the faint hum of conversation. Pokner ate quietly while listening to the others talk about random things — the new exam schedule, the possibility of another dungeon event, even rumors about Chase and his suspension that never came.

At some point, Liza looked toward Arios. "So, Captain Calm," she said, leaning forward on the desk. "What now? You've cleared dungeons, fought dragons, exposed shady instructors. What's next on your big list?"

Arios leaned back slightly. "Getting through normal academy life sounds fine."

"That's boring," Liza said immediately.

"That's peace," he corrected.

Lucy nodded in quiet agreement. "We could all use some peace."

Pokner set down her cup. "Peace doesn't last long here."

Arios looked at her. "You're probably right."

For a moment, they all fell silent. It wasn't heavy, just thoughtful — a shared acknowledgment that the academy was never stable for long.

After a while, Liza clapped her hands suddenly. "Alright, this is too serious. Let's do something fun."

Lucy blinked. "Like what?"

"Cooking," Liza said immediately. "You've got ingredients, right?"

"I don't," Arios said flatly.

Liza grinned. "Then we'll go buy some."

Before anyone could object, she stood up and grabbed Lucy's wrist. "Come on, we'll go get stuff. You two stay and clean."

Lucy barely managed to grab her bag as she was dragged out the door. "Wait, Liza— I don't even know what we're cooking!"

"That's the fun part!" Liza shouted from the hallway before the door slammed shut.

Silence returned.

Arios glanced toward Pokner, who was still seated, sipping what was left of her drink.

"They're… energetic," he said.

"That's one way to describe them," Pokner replied calmly.

He leaned back again, resting his elbows on the bed behind him. "It's strange how fast things feel normal again."

Pokner nodded slightly. "You adapt quickly."

"I've had to."

They didn't say much else for a while. It wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, the quiet between them felt natural — a steady balance after all the chaos.

After about fifteen minutes, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door burst open again, and Liza entered carrying two paper bags while Lucy followed behind her, slightly out of breath.

"We're back," Liza announced. "And we got— well, a bit of everything."

Arios blinked. "How much is a bit?"

She dumped the bags on the desk, revealing vegetables, meat, seasoning packets, and several random items that didn't seem related at all. "Enough to experiment."

Lucy sighed. "She bought things just because they 'looked good.'"

"It'll be fine," Liza said confidently. "You've got me — professional improviser."

Pokner quietly stood to help unpack, arranging things neatly on the counter. Lucy joined in, while Arios reluctantly moved closer.

Cooking turned into a slow, messy, but oddly enjoyable process. Liza nearly set a pan on fire within the first five minutes. Lucy scolded her. Pokner corrected their measurements with calm precision. Arios mostly followed instructions, occasionally stopping Liza from mixing things that clearly didn't belong together.

When the smell of actual food started filling the room, they all paused to look around. Despite the chaos, it was working.

Liza tasted something with a spoon and grinned. "See? Told you we'd pull it off."

Lucy crossed her arms. "Barely."

Pokner quietly handed Arios a bowl. "Try this," she said.

He took a bite. It wasn't perfect, but it was warm, rich, and somehow comforting. He nodded. "It's good."

Liza raised her spoon triumphantly. "Victory."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Don't celebrate too much."

Still, when they all sat down again to eat, the mood was light. The air was filled with laughter, minor complaints, and the simple comfort of shared time.

Arios leaned back slightly, watching the three of them interact. Liza was talking animatedly again. Lucy was quietly listening while adding her own small remarks. Pokner remained calm as ever, but even she smiled once or twice.

It wasn't dramatic or grand. Just normal.

For the first time in a while, Arios let his guard down completely.

When the meal ended, they lingered a little longer, refusing to rush the moment.

Liza eventually stood up, stretching. "We should do this again," she said.

Lucy gave a faint smile. "Maybe next time in the cafeteria."

Pokner nodded. "Or somewhere less flammable."

Arios chuckled quietly. "Agreed."

As the girls packed up and began leaving, Lucy looked back once more. "Don't overthink everything tonight," she said softly.

He raised a brow. "Do I do that often?"

She smiled faintly. "Always."

Then they left — Liza loud as always, Lucy patient behind her, Pokner calm as ever.

When the door closed, Arios exhaled slowly. The room fell silent again, but it wasn't empty anymore. The faint scent of their cooking lingered, along with the warmth of their laughter.

He looked out the window, watching the fading light outside. For once, he didn't think about what came next.

For now, this was enough.

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