**Chapter 108 – Between One Day and the Next**
The night of the second day fell slowly over the academy.
After dinner, the group scattered less than on the previous day. Instead of each of them heading straight to their rooms, they ended up staying for a while in the internal courtyard, occupying one of the larger benches near the fountain. The place was already emptier at that hour, with only a few students passing by every now and then.
Astrid was stretched out on the bench, arms behind her head. Marina sat on the ground, leaning against her legs. Rina and Sylvara talked quietly about the next day's training. Lirien watched the water of the fountain. Joker and Harley were sitting side by side, as always, with Harley half-lying against his shoulder.
Kuroe had stayed a little more on the edge of the group, sitting at the end of the bench, one leg crossed over the other. She didn't seem uncomfortable. She was just in her place.
For a moment, the silence between them was comfortable.
— It's weird — Astrid commented suddenly.
— What? — Marina asked.
— I don't know. It feels like the academy still hasn't really understood us.
Harley laughed quietly.
— Better that way. When they understand too fast, it gets boring.
Joker said nothing. He just kept looking toward the other side of the courtyard.
Far away, near one of the columns, Elowen walked alone, heading back toward the girls' building. She didn't look at the group. She also didn't speed up her pace. She simply crossed the space with the same contained posture as always and disappeared up the stairs.
Kuroe followed her path with her eyes for a few seconds. Then she looked away and went back to watching the fountain, without any particular expression.
No one commented.
Time passed. The group's conversation grew lazier, more dragged out by the fatigue of the day. At one point, Rina yawned loudly enough to make Sylvara laugh. Astrid was already almost asleep while sitting. Marina poked her arm lightly to keep her from dozing off.
— Let's head up — Joker said at last, standing. — There's more tomorrow.
Harley stretched her arms and stood up with him.
— Second day officially survived.
— We've barely started — he answered.
The group gradually broke apart toward the dormitories. On the way, the conversations died down. When they reached the division of the buildings, the goodbyes were short, tired, the kind that no longer needed many words.
In Room 214, Harley threw herself onto the bed as soon as she entered. Joker closed the door, took off his coat, and sat on the edge of his own bed, running a hand over his face.
— Tired? — she asked, voice already muffled by the pillow.
— A little.
— Me too.
They stayed silent for a while. Then Harley spoke again, softer:
— That blond one is still going to be a problem.
— He will — Joker agreed. — But not now.
She murmured something that sounded like a "hmm," and it didn't take long for her breathing to grow heavier, indicating she had fallen asleep.
Joker stayed awake a little longer, looking at the dark ceiling of the room. On the other side of the courtyard, in the girls' building, the lights went out one by one.
In Room 308, Kuroe was already lying down. Rina was still moving something on her own bed, but soon she stopped as well. Silence settled in completely.
Kuroe kept her eyes open for a few more minutes, without any particular expression on her face. Then she simply closed them.
The second day had ended.
And the academy, outside, remained quiet, still not quite understanding the kind of group it had accepted within its walls.
**End of Chapter 108**