Elyra leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "So, you like him too."
Charlotte blinked. ’Straight to the point, huh?’
Elena’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Elyra..."
"What?" Elyra shrugged. "It’s better to be clear about things. We both know what kind of person Noel is. It’s not strange others would feel the sa."
Charlotte let out a breath and gave a wry smile. "Yeah. I guess I do like him."
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—just thoughtful. The kind that only happened when girls dropped their masks and decided to speak plainly.
Elyra was the first to break it again. "Then let’s talk. Honestly."
Elyra tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with a calculating glint. "So, out of all the boys in the academy... why Noel?"
Charlotte didn’t answer imdiately. She glanced down at her hands, then looked up with surprising calm. "He saved my life. Protected . I don’t know if you understand how divine blessings really work, but..." —she hesitated, then continued— "they use my life as fuel."
Elena’s eyes widened. "Wait... really?"
Charlotte nodded. "When he was half-dead after saving , I tried to heal him. He knew what it would cost ... and he told not to do it. Even if he died."
Elyra raised her brows slightly, silent for a mont. Then she asked, "So that’s when it started?"
Charlotte gave a small, dry laugh. "No. That’s just when I realized I didn’t want to let go of soone like that."
Elena was visibly moved. Her lips parted slightly, as if unsure what to say, then finally asked, "Have you seen him... in other monts like that?"
Charlotte nodded again. "I’ve seen him cry."
Both girls froze.
Elyra sat upright. "Noel? Crying?"
Elena leaned in, shocked. "When?"
Charlotte nodded slowly. "It was in the cetery. After everything that happened... the children who died. Especially a boy nad Erick. I think Noel saw sothing of himself in him."
Elena’s lips parted slightly, eyes filled with quiet shock.
Charlotte continued, "He didn’t say anything. Just stood there, fists clenched... I hugged him. He didn’t push away."
Elyra’s gaze sharpened. "That’s not sothing he shows easily."
Charlotte looked down at her hands. "I think he needed soone in that mont. Even if he didn’t ask for it."
There was a long pause. The garden was quiet, save for the distant sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain.
Elyra broke the silence. Her tone was calm, but there was a faint curiosity behind her words. "So then, Charlotte... what do you plan to do?"
Charlotte looked up, eting her eyes directly.
"You already told it’s fine," she said, glancing between both girls. "That I could try. But the truth is... I don’t know if Noel feels the sa. I haven’t asked. I don’t want to rush it."
Elena tilted her head. "Then why are you so sure?"
Charlotte smiled, more to herself than anyone else. "I’m not. But I’d rather find out than regret not trying."
Elyra leaned back, folding her arms. "You’re bold. I like that."
Charlotte chuckled. "I an, I am a saint. Gotta have so faith, right?"
Elena blushed lightly. "So... what will you do?"
"I have a date with him," Charlotte replied. "Well, kind of. He promised to show around Valon. I’ve been putting off Clara’s offers just so he’d be the one to do it."
"You canceled on Clara?" Elena blinked. "She’s been dying to show you the city."
"I know," Charlotte said, grinning. "But I wanted it to be Noel. I wanted the mory to be... ours."
Elyra gave her a look. "And if he doesn’t feel the sa?"
Charlotte’s voice didn’t falter. "Then I’ll make him fall for . Sohow."
Elyra narrowed her eyes slightly, intrigued. "You sound confident."
"I’m not," Charlotte admitted, shrugging. "But I’m not scared either. If I like soone, I go for it. That’s how I’ve always been. Why wait around hoping for fate to do sothing?"
Elena played with a strand of her silver-blonde hair, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I... I used to be like that too. But with Noel, I hesitated. A lot."
Elyra raised an eyebrow. "You? Hesitate?"
Elena gave her a soft glare. "He’s different. You know it too."
Charlotte nodded. "Yeah. He’s reckless, quiet, grumpy sotis... And when he decides sothing, he doesn’t go back on it. That’s rare."
Elyra allowed herself a small smile. "He’s the kind of person who’d burn a city down if it ant saving soone he cares about."
"Exactly," Charlotte said. "He didn’t even want to heal him because it would take from my life. He was half-dead and still thinking of first. Tell , what kind of idiot does that?"
Elena and Elyra exchanged a glance.
"Our idiot," Elena murmured, smiling softly.
Charlotte grinned. "Then I guess we’re all fools for falling for him, huh?"
"Maybe," Elyra said, standing up from the bench and brushing her skirt. "But if we’re fools, we’re damn proud of it."
Charlotte stood up, brushing off her skirt and stretching her arms with an exaggerated yawn.
"Well, I think that’s enough emotional damage for one morning."
Elyra let out a soft laugh.
"You’re sothing else."
"I try," Charlotte replied with a playful wink. "Thanks for talking with . I wasn’t sure how this was going to go... but I’m glad I ca."
Elena smiled, visibly more relaxed now.
" too. And good luck. With him."
"You’re going to need it," Elyra added with a teasing but warm tone. "Noel can be a tough one."
"I like a challenge," Charlotte said with a mischievous grin as she turned. "Anyway, I’ve got training soon. S-Class instructors don’t like to be kept waiting."
"See you later," Elena said, raising a hand in farewell.
"Tell him I said hi if you see him," Charlotte called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Once she disappeared among the garden paths, Elena and Elyra remained seated in silence for a mont, staring up at the clear academy sky.
Elyra crossed her arms with a satisfied smile.
"See? I told you. Good thing you made your move that day. Otherwise, your spot would be in danger."
Elena looked down, cheeks turning pink.
"I’m still not used to saying it out loud."
"You better get used to it," Elyra said as she stood and adjusted her council jacket. "We’ve got work to do."
"Yeah," Elena said, standing up as well.
The two walked away from the garden, their steps in sync—though their minds lingered elsewhere, on a certain erald-eyed boy who had, unintentionally, beco the center of their worlds.
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