They didn't linger in the courtyard. Once the wards dissolved, the group split off with the kind of casualness that fooled no one, not even themselves.
Merlin walked with Elara and Nathan down the long hallway toward the dorms. They talked about nothing—assignments, dinner, the weather—because talking about something would make the whole thing too real. As soon as they reached the stairwell, Elara touched Merlin's arm once, brief and grounding, then headed for her own floor without a word.
Nathan lingered a moment.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Merlin nodded.
Nathan didn't believe it, but he let it go.
"Wake me if something's wrong," he said, voice light, like he wasn't offering something heavy. Then he thumped Merlin's shoulder and left.
Merlin went inside his room.
Closed the door.
Let the silence settle.
