Zane walked alone through the quiet hallway of the academy, the echo of his footsteps the only sound around him. Sera had taken a detour to check out some ancient shrine or whatever caught her attention—typical Sera.
Zane rubbed the back of his neck. The conversation with Kaela still lingered in his thoughts. Anomalies. Dangers. Secrets. Too much at once. He just wanted one uneventful walk.
Suddenly, the air shimmered just ahead of him—like heat ripples, but tinged with a soft purple glow.
A portal tore open midair with a faint hum and—
A girl tumbled out, tripping over her own feet, flailing wildly as she fell—
Zane's instincts kicked in. He reached out and caught her mid-fall, her momentum sending both of them slightly spinning before he steadied them.
She blinked up at him, dazed. Her long lavender hair draped over his arm, and her striking purple eyes met his.
"...Oh." She blinked again. "Hi."
She quickly wriggled out of his arms, standing upright and brushing off her uniform—though it didn't look like the academy's standard issue.
"Okay, that was not supposed to happen," she muttered to herself.
Zane tilted his head. "You're not from here, are you?"
She froze, then glanced at him sideways. "Technically, no. But also... kinda yes? It's complicated."
He raised an eyebrow. "You just slipped into the academy through a glitchy portal."
She gave a sheepish grin. "I was testing something. Experimental travel rune. Didn't think I'd land in the hallway of a school. Thought it was... I dunno... an open courtyard."
Zane crossed his arms. "And your name?"
He waited for more. He didn't get it.
"...Okay, Valerie. Should I be worried?"
"Nah." She flashed a grin. "Unless you tell the faculty. Then I'm very worried."
Zane chuckled despite himself. "Your portal's still open."
She turned, saw it wobbling like a half-spilled bubble, and hurried toward it.
"Welp! Gotta bounce before it collapses and strands me in an awkward detention."
She stepped into it, paused, turned her head, and gave a short wink. "Thanks for the catch, mystery boy."
Before Zane could say anything, she was gone.
The portal flickered once and vanished with a soft pop.
Nyx appeared on his shoulder, arms folded. "You keep catching girls. Should I be jealous?"
Zane sighed, heading for his dorm. "That wasn't even my fault this time."