William walked toward the student centre at an unhurried pace, his hands resting casually inside the pockets of his coat.
Almost a full week had passed since the academy officially started, yet time felt strangely uneven for him.
Some days seemed to rush past in a blur of lectures and noise, while others dragged slowly, weighed down by thoughts he could not easily dismiss.
Most of that week had been spent with Seraphine.
Every morning, William woke up early for classes.
He made his way to the female dormitories while avoiding the watchful eyes of the warden, who guarded that place like a hawk.
By now, he had memorised the timing of patrols and the blind spots in the corridors.
Once he reached her room, he knocked lightly, always in the same pattern, and Seraphine would open the door with a soft smile that made the trouble worth it.
They attended classes together, sat beside each other, and endured lectures that ranged from mildly interesting to painfully boring.
