<h4>Chapter 83: Another Letter</h4>
<strong><i>{Elira}</i></strong>
~**^**~
Lennon and Rennon both looked at me with that quiet kindness that made my chest warm.
I smiled—wide, and probably a little silly. "Thank you."
They didn’t ask me to open it in front of them, which I appreciated.
I knew better than to expect a gift from Zenon, who was already standing up and headed toward the front door.
"It’s time," he said simply.
I nodded and grabbed my backpack and the two gift bags, cradling them in one arm.
The drive back to ESA was quiet.
Zenon didn’t say much, but the silence didn’t feel as tense as before.
Maybe it was because of yesterday, or maybe it was because I was slowly learning how to exist around him without feeling like I was shrinking.
When the gates of the academy finally came into view, my breath caught a little.
I was back here again.
Zenon pulled into the car park meant for the professors and brought the Jeep to a smooth stop.
"Thank you... for the ride," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door handle. "And... for everything."
He didn’t say anything at first. Then, just as I pushed the door open, his voice came low and steady.
"Pay attention to your sses."
I gave a small smile. "Yes, Sir."
Shouldering my backpack and holding tightly to the gift bags, I stepped out of the Jeep and closed the door behind me.
The warm morning air swept across my face, carrying the faint scent of coffee and fresh grass.
As I stepped off the pavement and onto the school grounds, I reached for my phone and opened the dorm group chat and typed out a text.
[Hey, I’m back on campus now.]
Nari was the first to reply.
<strong>Nari:</strong> [About time. Hope you brought us gifts.]
<strong>Cambria:</strong> [Wee back, Elira.]
<strong>Tamryn:</strong> [Don’t forget to rest when you can.]
<strong>Juniper:</strong> [We will save you a seat for lunch. You better show.]
I smiled faintly and typed a quick reply:
[Thanks, guys. I will see you allter for lunch.]
Tucking my phone away, I rounded the next hallway and arrived at my locker.
That’s when I saw it—another red envelope stered right onto the door of my locker, just like thest one.
I froze for a second, my brows pinching together. I didn’t even reach out right away. Instead, I just stared at it. Red. Clean edges.
There was no name written across the back, no school crest. It was just like the first one.
<i>’Please don’t let this be what I think it is.’</i>
Still, I peeled it off and opened it right there, not even waiting to sit down or tuck it away untilter. I unfolded the crisp letter and scanned the contents.
<i>"Miss Elira Shaw,</i>
<i>You are expected at the Student Council Office today at 3 PM.</i>
<i>Please be prompt."</i>
No reason. No exnation. Just like before.
I let out a quiet sigh, my shoulders sagging a little.
Was this going to be a regr thing now? A mysterious summons from the all-powerful student council every few days?
I stuffed the letter into my locker with more force than I intended after I unlocked the door.
I pulled out the notebook I needed for Combat Tactics and Pack Defence, flipped through it quickly to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, and then set it aside.
My backpack, along with the two gift bags Lennon and Rennon gave me, went straight into the bottom shelf of the locker.
I wasn’t about to carry those around all day, even though I was dying to open them.
Once everything was settled, I shut the locker door.
My phone buzzed softly. I nced at it—it was a notification from the <strong><i>First Year ss D Combat ss</i></strong> group chat.
I’d been added to it on the drive this morning. Good. I hadn’t missed anything.
There it was, pinned at the top: "ss relocation update: Morningbat ss to be held at Small East Training Hall. Attendancepulsory. Be there by 8:00 AM."
I checked the time. 7:48 AM.
I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and pulled up the map on my smart watch.
The Small East Training Hall wasn’t too far, but it was in a part of campus I hadn’t been to before.
My smart map blinked and adjusted, creating a path I could follow.
Boots scuffed on the pavement as I made my way toward the hall, winding past the main lecture buildings and into the more open areas where training halls, sparring arenas, and practice fields stretched in every direction.
Other students were heading the same way, all wearing serious expressions and tight ponytails. Some even had fingerless gloves.
I clutched my notebook to my chest, because I wasn’t ready to fight like them.
The Small East Training Hall was already buzzing when I arrived.
The ceilings were high and open, withrge panel windows letting in the soft morning light.
The smell of polished wooden floors and faint sweat filled the air, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It smelled like focus. Discipline. Purpose.
Several students were already stretching or doing light warm-ups in their sparring uniforms.
I stepped off to the side, hugging my notebook close to my chest, not sure if I should find a corner or try to blend in.
Then the doors at the far end of the hall pushed open—and in walked Lennon.
He wore ck joggers and a sleeveless zip-up vest that showed off the strong lines of his arms. His signature messy hair looked even wilder today, but his expression was calm, confident, and focused.
The chatter in the room died instantly.
"Morning," he said, his deep voice echoing across the hall. "Hope you’re all awake. Because I’m not here to babysit."
Some students chuckled nervously.
I swallowed and moved a little closer to the center of the room, joining the others.
Lennon stood at the front and pped his hands once. "Today is about control, coordination, and learning how to adjust your instincts in a real-time scenario. Some of you think fighting is just throwing punches harder than the other guy. It’s not. You’re going to learn that today."