CHAPTER 82: TIME TO RETURN TO ESA

{Elira}

~**^**~

"Hi," I murmured, offering a nod as I took a seat across from him.

I sat there for a moment, wishing I could be anywhere else. The seat felt a little too formal, too upright.

The air carried the scent of roasted herbs and wine sauce—delicious, really—but my appetite was still faint.

Lennon and Zenon entered soon after. Lennon’s hair was slightly tousled, his shirt sleeves rolled up casually. Zenon looked the same as ever—polished and unreadable.

Lennon grinned when he spotted me. "Hey, Elira. How are you feeling? Did you get any rest?"

I let out a breath and tried to sound light, "Not really. I had assignments... a lot of them. ESA doesn’t exactly believe in giving students a break."

Lennon laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Good. That’s the spirit. But don’t forget—my class is tomorrow morning. And it’s not going to be gentle."

I groaned aloud. "Can’t you be lenient just once?"

"Not in my DNA," he said with a wink.

Just then, a presence shifted the room’s energy.

Alpha Cyprus and Luna Gwenith entered, graceful and commanding.

But before any of us could rise, Alpha Cyprus lifted his hand with a smile. "Please, remain seated."

He took his usual spot at the head of the table, Luna Gwenith slipping into the seat beside him like a poised shadow.

Then he turned his gaze to me, warm and welcoming. "Elira, it’s good to see you back."

I offered a small smile and bowed my head slightly. "Thank you, Alpha."

But that moment of ease didn’t last.

Luna Gwenith’s voice slid across the table, sharp and laced with disdain. "It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already run back home?"

Her tone sliced right through my fragile confidence. I didn’t dare meet her eyes. My fingers tightened around my napkin on my lap.

"This isn’t just any academy," she went on. "ESA is not a place you leave at your own free will whenever you feel like it."

My throat went dry. I stared at the empty plate in front of me, wishing it could swallow me whole.

"Gwen," Alpha Cyprus interjected, his voice calm but firm. "This is Elira’s home now. She’s free to return when necessary—especially with the school’s permission."

Luna Gwenith sneered faintly and opened her mouth again—

But Zenon’s voice came in, cool and commanding: "Mother," he said, without even looking at her, "I’d like to enjoy my dinner in silence."

I blinked. My eyes slowly flicked to him. He didn’t look away from his plate.

Luna Gwenith’s lips parted, visibly surprised. I could feel the tension in the air—the slight weight of disbelief.

Then she smiled thinly. "Of course," she said. "I understand."

And just like that, the rest of the table fell quiet.

I was stunned.

Not by her silence, but by the fact that Zenon—stoic, distant Zenon—had the power to silence her with a sentence. And she had obeyed.

The rest of dinner passed in silence. My appetite had returned just enough for me to nibble at the roasted vegetables and a few bites of herbed chicken. But my thoughts were too loud.

At the end of the meal, Alpha Cyprus spoke again, his tone gentle. "Elira, how are your studies? Are you catching up with everything that was already in motion before your enrollment?"

I nodded politely. "Yes, I’m trying, Alpha. It’s a lot, but I’m managing."

He nodded with a pleased smile. "Good. Keep at it. Focus on your education, and remember that if you ever need anything, your mates are right there. Don’t hesitate to ask."

I murmured a thank you, still keeping my gaze away from Luna Gwenith.

She didn’t say another word, but I could feel her eyes like a cold touch on the back of my neck.

However, there was something I was glad about and at the same time relieved by.

Luna Gwenith doesn’t seem to be aware of my blocked channels and anything else pertaining to them.

Even Alpha Cyprus didn’t seem to know otherwise; he would have extended his encouragement without fail.

Somehow, I was grateful to the brothers for keeping this matter private.

It allowed me to breathe better.

As dinner ended and everyone stood to disperse, I quietly followed the brothers out, hoping that Luna Gwenith wouldn’t have any plans to confront me today.

---

I woke up before my alarm.

The early sunlight streamed softly through the sheer curtains, painting golden streaks across the walls of my room.

For a long moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. I wasn’t sure if I felt rested or not—but I was calm. That was something.

It was Monday—time to return to ESA.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. My backpack was already packed. I’d arranged everything last night to avoid rushing.

I stretched, let my feet touch the cool floor, and padded toward the bathroom to freshen up.

After a warm shower and brushing my teeth, I stepped back into my room and changed into a fresh uniform—one of the ones the maids had neatly laid out on the armchair yesterday.

Next, I tied my hair, glanced once in the mirror, and nodded to myself before going downstairs for breakfast.

The table was filled again—fresh fruits, bacon strips, hash browns, buttered toast, and stacks of blueberry pancakes.

But today, the mood felt different; light and peaceful.

Breakfast passed without tension. Luna Gwenith made no remarks—blessedly. I took it as a win.

By the time I finished eating, my heart was already thudding softly in my chest.

I didn’t want to leave... not entirely. I didn’t want to face another week of uncertainty, whispers, and tasks like those during the Power Channelling class, but I had to.

As I stood up, preparing to excuse myself and grab my bag, Lennon called out.

"Wait." He and Rennon exchanged a glance before each picked up a gift bag from beside their chairs.

"What’s this?" I blinked, surprised.

"Just... something small," Rennon said gently, handing me a sleek navy bag with a silver ribbon.