The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of Sera's room, casting a warm glow over the quiet space. Zane was still fast asleep, half-curled on the edge of her plush bed, his dark hair tousled and his breathing steady.
Sera sat on the other side, already dressed in her uniform, tying the last loop of her boots. She glanced over at him and smiled.
"He looks so peaceful," she whispered to herself. "Can't believe he actually stayed the whole night..."
Nyx hovered silently near the ceiling, also watching him sleep. "You're being unusually quiet," Sera said.
"I'm enjoying the peace before chaos. Don't ruin it."
Moments later, a chime echoed across the academy grounds.
"Attention all students. Please gather at the Academy Hall immediately. This is a formal summons."
Sera sighed. "Here we go..."
Zane stirred slightly, then blinked awake.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Sera said, stretching.
Zane blinked at her, groggy. "Wha... what time is it?"
"You have five minutes to get to the hall," she said flatly, standing up and adjusting her coat.
"What!?" Zane shot up like lightning. "Why didn't you wake me up!?"
"You looked peaceful," she said innocently.
With no time to argue, Zane threw off the blanket and immediately activated his Void Walk. Shadows swirled at his feet, and with a flicker, he vanished from the bed.
He reappeared in his room... still wearing his pajamas.
"Damn it!" he groaned, rushing to change into his academy uniform. "Of course I Void Walked in my PJs."
In less than a minute, he was dressed, coat flaring behind him as he prepared another teleport. But instead of going straight to the hall, he reappeared in Sera's room again.
She blinked. "Forgot something?"
Without a word, he grabbed her hand. "Let's go. Void Express."
Sera barely had time to respond before shadows enveloped them both and the world shimmered out of focus, pulling them toward the Academy Hall in a swirl of dark tendrils.
"Honestly," Nyx muttered, materializing above them mid-teleport, "you two are worse than a romantic action-comedy."