There was a constant buzz spreading across the entire academy, like a low hum that just wouldn't settle down.
People weren't even trying to hide it. Conversations overlapped, whispers bounced from one group to another, and even those who usually kept to themselves couldn't help but glance around, clearly distracted. It wasn't the usual kind of noise either. There was a certain weight behind it, something that made it feel heavier than just idle chatter.
The reason was obvious.
Right now, the number one candidate to become the Queen had finally returned after almost a month of not stepping foot inside the academy.
That alone was enough to stir things up.
She walked through the academy grounds with the same steady, composed gait she always had, heading toward her lecture room just like she used to when she was still acting like a normal cadet. Her posture hadn't changed, her pace hadn't changed, and even the way she carried herself felt exactly the same.
