The weapon hall carried a different kind of energy now, one that had shifted from movement and testing into a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere as students spread out across the space, some sitting cross-legged on the ground while others leaned against pillars or stood with papers in hand, pens moving hesitantly or decisively depending on their certainty. The earlier clamor of sparring had been replaced by a softer hum of voices, the kind that rose and fell in overlapping conversations as thoughts were shaped into words.

"I picked the spear because of its reach... it keeps enemies at a distance while still allowing control," one student said aloud, more to themselves than anyone else as they wrote.

"Hmm... I chose dual blades since they suit my speed... I can strike and retreat quickly," another muttered, tapping their pen lightly against the paper.

"Hey, what did you write?" someone asked from nearby, leaning over slightly.

"Hah, I’m not telling you," came the immediate reply, followed by a quiet chuckle, "figure it out yourself."

"I just wrote that it felt right in my hands... is that too vague?"

"As long as you can justify it, I guess it works."

The murmurs continued, weaving into a low, constant background noise as ideas were exchanged, hidden, or second-guessed.

Amidst all of that—

Damon sat alone at one of the tables, his posture relaxed yet deliberate, one leg crossed over the other as the massive black sledgehammer leaned against the table beside him, its weight grounded firmly against the floor. His expression remained calm as his pen moved steadily across the paper, his writing precise, uninterrupted, as though he had already known exactly what he intended to put down.

He didn’t hesitate nor did he pause.

And when he finished—He simply placed the pen down.

His gaze lifted slowly scanning the hall ,taking in everything and everyone.

For a brief moment, his eyes settled on Serena, who stood a short distance away, her paper held loosely in her hand as she appeared lost in thought, her brows slightly furrowed as though weighing her answer carefully. Then, as if sensing his gaze, she looked up.

Their eyes met just for a moment.

An unspoken quiet clash of gazes.

Then—Both looked away.

Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, the brief exchange leaving behind a faint trace of thought as he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

To the side—Where Eric stood.

Or rather—Struggled.

Khaira loomed beside him, her presence overbearing as she leaned in, her voice low yet forceful while Eric attempted to write, his expression strained.

"Oi, write it like I said," she insisted, her tone carrying that rough, rolling accent, "don’t go thinkin’ too much, just put it down."

"I—I am writing it!" Eric protested weakly, clearly overwhelmed as he tried to keep up.

Damon watched for a second.

Then shook his head faintly.

...Hopeless.

His gaze moved again.

This time landing on Lucian, who stood near the front, speaking with Instructor Garrick, a confident smile resting on his face as he handed over his completed paper. Whatever brief exchange followed seemed smooth, effortless, before Lucian turned and walked out of the hall without lingering.

Damon observed it briefly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Then continued scanning casually until—

His eyes stopped at the door.

Where a small head peeked in.

Pink hair.

Half-lidded pink eyes barely visible as she leaned just enough to look inside.

Damon’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

...What is she doing here?

Damon pushed himself up from the table in one smooth motion, his posture straightening as his hand hovered briefly near the massive sledgehammer resting against it, and with a subtle flick of his wrist, the weapon dissolved into particles of light and was absorbed into his manacron, leaving no trace behind as he turned and began walking toward the door with calm, measured steps.

At the same moment, Lunaria seemed to notice him as well, her half-lidded gaze sharpening just enough as she straightened from her slight lean, blinking once as if reorienting herself before moving toward him with the same unhurried, almost drifting pace.

The two came to a stop directly in front of each other, her petite frame contrasting sharply with his presence as she looked up at him with quiet curiosity.

"What are you doing here?" Damon asked, his tone neutral, though his eyes carried a faint edge of scrutiny.

Before Lunaria could respond—

A voice cut in from behind him.

"W-what are you doing here?!"

Damon’s head turned slightly as Eric appeared, practically stumbling into the scene before quickly positioning himself behind Damon, using him as a shield as he peeked out cautiously from behind his shoulder, his expression tense as he blurted out, "W-what do you want now?!"

The sudden exchange drew the attention of a few nearby students, their conversations pausing as they glanced toward the small gathering at the entrance.

Lunaria blinked slowly, her gaze shifting from Eric to Damon, her finger drifting lazily toward her lips as she tilted her head slightly.

"Who are you...?" she asked softly, her voice carrying genuine confusion.

Eric froze for a second.

Then—

"Eh?" he let out, straightening up slightly as he stepped out from behind Damon, trying to regain some composure as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small candy, holding it up as though presenting proof of something significant.

"Now you don’t remember your younger brother?" he said, his tone shifting into something almost accusatory.

Damon’s head snapped toward him instantly.

...Brother?

The word echoed sharply in his mind as his gaze moved between the two of them, his thoughts momentarily thrown off balance.

Are they... siblings?

He looked back at Lunaria.

And in that moment—

Her half-lidded eyes widened slightly as they locked onto the candy in Eric’s hand, a flicker of recognition—or perhaps something else entirely—passing through her expression.

Then she raised her hand, pointing directly at him as she spoke with sudden clarity.

"Ahh! Scaredy Cat!"

Before Damon could even process what had just happened, the candy in Eric’s hand vanished in an instant, only to reappear in Lunaria’s grasp as though it had simply chosen to relocate itself.

Eric let out a startled noise and immediately retreated behind Damon once more, peeking out cautiously as if expecting further theft at any moment, while Lunaria, now holding the candy, regarded it with a small, quiet smile, her half-lidded eyes softening as she began to unwrap it with slow, deliberate movements.

Just as she was about to place it into her mouth, however, she paused.

Her gaze shifted.

From the candy—To Damon.

Then back to the candy.

Then again to Damon.

The motion repeated, subtle yet deliberate, her expression gradually tightening as her half-lidded eyes narrowed slightly, as though some internal decision was forming.

After a brief moment, she closed her eyes, extending her hand toward Damon and offering him the candy, her other eye opening just a fraction before closing again, as if checking whether he would accept it.

Damon, visibly confused by the gesture, hesitated for a moment before taking the candy from her hand, his brows knitting slightly as he looked down at it, unsure of what to make of the situation.

From behind him, Eric’s voice broke out in disbelief.

"Y-you... w-who are you?" he stammered, stepping out just enough to point accusingly, his expression filled with shock. "You can’t be my sister..."

Both Damon and Lunaria turned their attention toward him as he continued, his voice rising slightly.

"H-how could you share your candy with someone else?! You don’t even share it with me!" he exclaimed, clearly shaken. "T-tell me who you are!"

Lunaria blinked slowly, her expression unchanged, while Damon glanced at her briefly, still trying to make sense of the interaction.

Her gaze, however, remained fixed on the candy now in Damon’s hand, her focus unwavering as she raised her finger and pointed at him, her lips parting slightly as she began to speak.

"He... husba—"

Damon moved instantly.

Without hesitation, he pushed the candy straight into her mouth, his other hand coming up to gently but firmly close it, cutting off the word before it could fully form.

"It’s just that I helped Instructor Lunaria with something," he said quickly, his tone calm but deliberate as he addressed Eric, "and she needs my help again, so we’ll be taking our leave now."

Was she really about to say husband?! his thoughts raced beneath his composed exterior, irritation flickering through them. She forgot everything else—why does she remember only this?

Eric, still visibly unsettled, frowned as confusion replaced his earlier shock.

"What help?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.

Damon looked at him with a completely dead expression.

"Why don’t you come with us?" he replied flatly.

Eric’s face paled instantly.

Without another word, he turned and bolted, disappearing from the scene as quickly as he had arrived.

Damon exhaled faintly, already done with the interaction as he took hold of Lunaria’s wrist and began guiding her away, his movements efficient as he made a brief stop to hand his paper over to Instructor Garrick without explanation before continuing out into the corridor.

Only once they were outside did he finally let go.

He shook his head slightly, muttering under his breath, "Seriously..."

Lunaria stood beside him, still chewing on the candy with a small, content expression, as though nothing unusual had occurred at all.

Damon glanced at her briefly before speaking.

"Let’s go."

Lunaria blinked slowly, tilting her head as she asked in her usual quiet tone, "Where?"

Damon’s hand rose—

And landed against his forehead with a soft smack.