The next day arrived slower than usual. The academy felt different now—still lively, but calmer, as if everyone had finally remembered that they were students and not soldiers.

Arios spent the morning reviewing class notes he hadn't looked at in weeks. He sat by the window of his dorm, a book open on his desk, pen tapping lightly against the page. It wasn't like he enjoyed studying, but after so many battles, even the sound of paper turning felt like peace.

The door opened halfway through his quiet session. Lucy stepped inside, her uniform neat and her expression calm as usual.

"You're actually studying," she said, closing the door behind her.

Arios looked up. "Trying to remember what a normal day feels like."

She smiled faintly. "That's a good sign."

Liza entered right after, waving casually. "He's pretending to study, that's all. You can tell by how his pen's not even moving."

Arios gave her a flat look. "You're observant, but wrong."

Liza grinned, leaning against his desk. "Prove it. What were you just reading?"

Arios closed the book and pointed to the title. "Advanced Mana Control: Application and Distribution."

Liza blinked. "Okay… never mind. You win. I'd fall asleep after the first paragraph."

Lucy sighed softly. "That's because you never pay attention in class."

Liza shrugged. "I pay attention. Just selectively."

"Meaning when food's involved?" Arios said.

Liza pointed at him. "Exactly."

They all laughed quietly, the atmosphere light.

Pokner appeared a few minutes later, knocking once before entering. She wore her academy jacket loosely and carried a small paper bag.

"I brought snacks," she said.

Liza's eyes lit up. "You're officially my favorite person here."

Pokner handed her a wrapped pastry. "Don't eat it all before lunch."

Liza opened it anyway. "No promises."

The four of them settled in Arios's room, the same space that had seen more tension than any classroom ever could. Now it was filled with normal sounds—quiet laughter, casual chatter, and the faint hum of the academy outside.

Lucy sat on the bed beside Arios, reading through some documents. "The academy posted the official dungeon scores," she said after a while. "Our team ranked third overall."

Liza nearly choked on her snack. "Third? You're kidding."

"No," Lucy said calmly. "Apparently, the first and second teams had additional bonus points for efficiency."

Arios leaned back. "We would've ranked first if not for the trap on Floor 6."

Pokner nodded. "They said that section was malfunctioning, but… it didn't feel accidental."

Arios agreed quietly. "It wasn't. But it's over."

Liza sighed. "Still, third's not bad. We didn't die, and we get bragging rights."

"Bragging rights don't count for grades," Lucy said.

"They do in spirit," Liza said firmly.

The small debate that followed didn't mean much, but it carried the warmth of routine. No one shouted, no one argued over survival. It was just… life again.

After a while, Arios stood up, stretching his arms. "I'm going for a walk."

Lucy looked up. "Now?"

"Yeah," he said. "I've been sitting too long."

Liza jumped up immediately. "I'm coming."

"Of course you are," Arios said.

Pokner rose quietly. "I'll join too."

Lucy sighed, closing her notes. "Fine. I suppose I'll come along to keep things balanced."

The group left his dorm together, walking through the hallways of the academy. Students passed by carrying books, chatting about exams, or planning club activities. The tension that once lingered in every corridor had disappeared.

Liza spotted a noticeboard filled with event posters. "Oh hey," she said, pointing. "They're reopening the training arena for exhibitions next week."

Lucy glanced over. "You're planning to participate again?"

"Maybe," Liza said. "If I can find someone to spar with."

Arios glanced at her. "You're already looking at me, aren't you?"

She grinned. "You read minds now?"

"No. I just know you too well."

Pokner walked beside them quietly. "It might be a good opportunity to test coordination again."

Lucy nodded. "Agreed. Controlled matches would help more than reckless ones."

Liza pouted. "You both sound like teachers."

Arios smirked. "Then consider it a lesson."

They reached the courtyard, where sunlight streamed across the stone tiles. A few students were sitting under trees or by the fountain. The smell of blooming flowers mixed with the faint scent of mana-infused soil from the academy gardens.

Liza stretched her arms out, taking in the sun. "Feels good to be outside without worrying about something trying to eat us."

Lucy smiled slightly. "You're exaggerating."

"Barely," Liza said. "The dungeon nearly killed us three times."

Arios walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge. "You're not wrong."

Pokner leaned against a nearby post, watching them. "You all adapt fast. Most students would still be recovering."

Liza looked at her curiously. "And you're not tired?"

Pokner shook her head. "I was trained to recover quickly."

Lucy tilted her head. "That sounds very formal."

"It's just the truth."

They stayed in the courtyard longer than planned. Students passed by, some greeting Arios or whispering about him. He ignored most of it, focusing instead on the casual chatter among his group.

At one point, Liza pulled out a small ball of mana gel—a training tool—and began tossing it in the air. "Bet I can hit that branch over there," she said, pointing.

Arios looked at her. "You're going to miss and hit someone."

"Have faith," she said dramatically.

Lucy crossed her arms. "Liza…"

Before she could finish, Liza threw it. The ball arced high, missed the branch completely, and bounced off a passing student's bag.

The student turned around with a puzzled look. Liza froze.

Arios sighed. "What did I say?"

Liza laughed nervously. "Just testing the wind."

Lucy covered her face with one hand. "Unbelievable."

Pokner said quietly, "Her accuracy hasn't improved."

Arios nodded. "At least she's consistent."

The moment dissolved into laughter again.

Later, they made their way toward the campus café. The line was longer than usual, filled with chatter about grades and the upcoming exhibition week.

They managed to get a small table near the window. Arios ordered tea, Lucy took a pastry, Liza got the sweetest drink on the menu, and Pokner ordered plain black coffee.

Liza leaned forward after the first sip of her drink. "Okay, new rule. Whenever we survive something insane, we meet here. No swords, no magic, no talking about danger. Just this."

Arios raised an eyebrow. "You're making rules now?"

"Someone has to," she said proudly.

Lucy smiled slightly. "It's actually not a bad idea."

Pokner stirred her coffee. "Agreed."

Arios nodded. "Fine. You have your rule."

Liza grinned triumphantly. "Perfect."

The sound of laughter from other tables mixed with the soft music playing in the background. It felt normal—peaceful, even.

Lucy looked out the window, watching the sunlight reflect off the academy courtyard. "Do you ever wonder how long this peace will last?" she asked quietly.

Arios followed her gaze. "Probably not long. But that's fine."

Liza frowned. "You sound like you're expecting trouble."

"I'm just realistic," Arios said. "But until then, we enjoy this."

Pokner nodded slightly. "Agreed. Rest is part of preparation."

They all sat quietly for a few minutes after that, watching the sunlight fade slightly as the afternoon carried on. The day wasn't remarkable, but that was exactly what made it special—nothing was threatening them, no mystery hung over their heads.

When they eventually left the café, the sun was starting to dip lower, painting the academy walls in shades of orange. They walked back together, unhurried.

Liza hummed a tune as they went, Lucy carried a small bag of pastries for later, and Pokner adjusted her jacket as the wind picked up slightly.

Arios walked at the center of the group, glancing occasionally at each of them.

It wasn't the kind of scene that would make it into academy records or system logs. But to him, it meant something more—stability, familiarity, the kind of calm that made all the fights worth it.

When they reached his dorm, they lingered at the door for a moment.

Liza stretched. "So, same time tomorrow?"

"Maybe," Arios said.

Lucy smiled. "We'll see how your studying goes first."

Pokner added quietly, "Don't oversleep again."

Arios gave a light nod. "Noted."

They said their goodbyes and left down the hallway, their voices fading gradually. Arios watched them go, then stepped back inside his room.

The window was still open. The air felt fresh. The quiet returned, but it wasn't empty—it carried traces of laughter, of easy conversation, of something close to home.

Arios sat on the edge of his bed and looked out toward the horizon. The sun dipped further, and the academy lights began to flicker on one by one.

For once, there was nothing urgent to do. No looming danger. Just quiet, ordinary life.

And for now, that was enough.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone, I just want to say thank you for reading and supporting this story. It truly means a lot. Unfortunately, the book will be coming to an end soon. It's been feeling stagnant lately and hasn't been doing as well as I hoped, so I'd rather end it properly than let it drag on.

Thank you again for sticking with me and the characters till now. I'll do my best to give it a meaningful conclusion.

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