The academy felt different without classes.
No bells.
No structured movement.
Just scattered students and quiet corridors that should have been busy.
Saturday had begun.
Lunivara stood near the hallway window, watching the grounds below.
People moved slowly.
Some rested.
Some left the academy entirely.
"…Two days," she muttered softly.
Not a complaint.
Just acknowledgment.
[Two days before we continue.]
Her reflection stayed still on the glass.
But her thoughts did not.
Earlier — Hallway (Friday)
Jude leaned against the wall.
"…So we pause everything?"
"…Yes," Lunivara replied.
Leontius stood beside them, composed as always.
"…We don't act during unstable periods."
Jude sighed.
"…Translation: we wait."
"…Yes," Lunivara said simply.
A pause.
Jude pointed lightly between them.
"…Just don't start anything without me."
"…We won't," Lunivara replied.
Leontius gave a short nod.
"…We regroup after the weekend."
That was it.
No debate.
No tension.
Just agreement.
They separated in the hallway like usual.
Not rushed.
Not emotional.
Just different directions.
Present — Saturday
Lunivara left the academy later that morning.
Clara followed quietly behind her.
"…Milady, are you certain you want to go out today?"
"Yes," Lunivara answered.
No hesitation.
The common district was already alive when they arrived.
Vendors calling out.
People moving between stalls.
The world outside academy rules continuing without pause.
Lunivara moved through it calmly.
But her attention wasn't random.
It always settled on details.
[If something is shifting… it won't only be inside the academy.]
She stopped near a familiar stall.
Emeralds.
Green stones catching light.
"…Still here," she murmured.
"You came back."
A calm voice.
Thalric Orivane stood behind the counter.
Same posture as before.
Same steady presence.
Lunivara glanced at him.
"…You said you'd have more next week."
"…I did," he replied.
"…But I had extra stock earlier than expected."
Simple explanation.
No weight behind it.
Clara stood slightly behind Lunivara, silent.
Observing.
Lunivara looked at the emeralds.
"…These are better than last time."
"…They came from a different supplier," Thalric said.
"…Quality varies depending on the source."
A pause.
Lunivara nodded once.
"…I see."
No deeper meaning attached.
Just information.
Thalric noticed her interest but didn't press it.
Instead—
he adjusted the display casually.
"…You have a good eye for stones."
"…I just notice what I like," Lunivara replied.
"…That's usually how it starts," he said lightly.
No tension.
No hidden tone.
Just conversation between merchant and customer.
A normal exchange.
They spoke a little longer.
About prices.
About rarity.
About supply routes.
Nothing unusual.
Eventually—
Clara stepped slightly forward.
"…Milady, we should return soon."
Lunivara nodded.
"…Yes."
She looked once more at the emeralds.
Then turned.
"…I'll come back again," she said.
"…Anytime," Thalric replied.
No hesitation.
No emphasis.
Just business.
They left the stall behind.
The crowd swallowed them again.
On the way back—
Lunivara walked quietly.
[This is what "normal" should feel like.]
A pause.
[But I already know it won't stay that way.]
She didn't slow her steps.
Just continued forward.
Back at the academy grounds later—
nothing had changed.
And that was exactly what made it feel uncertain.
Because when everything looked normal—
that was usually when it wasn't.
End of Chapter 31