The hum of conversation filled the Dining Hall again the next day, trays clattering and the aroma of roasted meats and fresh bread wafting through the air. Alex, Riven, and Kael collected their meals and, without hesitation, made their way back to the same corner table where the two commoners sat.
The pair stiffened as the three nobles approached.
"Mind if we sit here again?" Alex asked with the same polite tone as before.
Edrin nearly fumbled his cup, startled, while the girl at his side only shrugged, her voice a little guarded. "Seats are free, aren't they?"
They sat down, the table falling into a tentative silence broken only by Riven stabbing a fork into his food with mock drama. "Well, this is cozy," he quipped, eyes flicking mischievously toward Alex. "Don't worry, Cupcake, I'll protect your bread from any thieves."
Alex rolled his eyes but smiled—soft, genuine, unbothered. "I can protect my own bread, thank you."
Edrin actually gave a startled laugh before clapping a hand over his mouth, embarrassed. The girl glanced at him sideways but couldn't quite hide the curve of her lips either.
Kael leaned in slightly, breaking the moment. "We never properly introduced ourselves yesterday. I'm Kael Skyrim. This is Alex Rosetta—" he nodded at Alex, "—and Riven Havana."
The girl lifted her chin, steady and direct. "Saphira Thorne," she said. Then she gestured lightly toward her companion. "And this is Edrin Vale."
Edrin ducked his head, cheeks coloring. "N-nice to meet you."
"Thorne?" Alex echoed softly, recognition flickering in his eyes. "Any relation to Lady Marianne Thorne of the Rosethorn House?"
Saphira hesitated, then nodded faintly. "Distant. Very distant. But I'm still a commoner."
Riven tilted his head, eyes sparkling with interest. "Commoner or not, you're at the Academy, aren't you? Means you've got talent worth noticing."
The words hung in the air, softening the tension. Edrin glanced up at them with surprise, and even Saphira's guarded posture eased just slightly.
For a brief moment, the hierarchy of nobles and commoners seemed to blur, replaced by something simpler: five students sharing bread, names, and the first thread of connection.