CHAPTER 40: HAVING LINNER

Noah and Arlo stumbled along the cobbled path, their limbs aching and shoulders sagging under from the sheer amount of exhaustion they were feeling.

The sun was lower in the sky now, casting long shadows across the academy grounds as the two trudged back towards their dorm building.

"I get it now." Arlo groaned, dragging his feet. "I finally understand why Combat Fundamentals is our only class today."

Noah grunted in agreement, barely able to keep his eyes open. "It’s not a class. It’s sanctioned torture."

They both winced as they reached the dorm entrance, each step up the stairs feeling like it added years to their bodies.

"And the duration?" Arlo continued. "Not because we need that much time to learn. It’s so that lunatic can grind our bones into dust at his leisure."

"Free reign." Noah muttered, his voice hoarse. "We were in there for hours. I’ve never done that many push-ups in my life."

"Or laps. Or squats. Or plank holds. Or whatever those evil stretches were." Arlo added.

They reached the second floor landing and paused. Noah leaned against the wall, while Arlo slumped on the stair railing, looking up toward the higher floors with something close to despair.

"This is it." Arlo said, voice filled with resignation. "This is how I die. Not in battle. Not facing a monolith. But from walking up one more flight of stairs."

Noah snorted, slapping him lightly on the back. "Good luck."

"You’re the worst." Arlo muttered, dragging himself up the stairs.

Noah chuckled, watching him go for a second before heading to his door.

The hallway was quiet, the dorm building blissfully quiet. He unlocked his door and stepped into the small, familiar space.

Thanks to the arena’s bath facilities, he was already clean. His uniform was stuffed into the laundry bag, his satchel dropped unceremoniously beside the desk.

He didn’t even bother getting under the blanket.

He just collapsed onto the bed face first, the soft mattress a welcome companion compared to Oliver’s hard-edged instruction.

The last thought to cross his mind before sleep took him was a quiet, bitter reflection.

’And this is only the first week.’

[][][][][]

Noah stirred awake to a strange sensation.

Gentle fingers brushing through his hair, the feeling soft and calming.

His mind, still foggy from sleep, clung to the comfort. The soreness in his limbs from Combat Fundamentals tugged at him, but the soothing touch lulled him deeper.

A sigh of comfort escaped his lips before he realized something.

His eyes snapped open.

He was in his room, and he was supposed to be alone.

His head was cradled on someone’s lap. Looking up, he found Juniper smiling down at him, her fingers still threading through his hair.

"Evening, sleepyhead." She said sweetly.

Noah bolted upright, heart racing. "Juniper?!"

She giggled. "Call me June, silly. That’s what boyfriends do."

He stared at her, utterly baffled. "What are you doing here?"

She pressed a hand to his chest, gently pushing him back down. "Relax. I came to check on you. You weren’t at the cafeteria for lunch, so I got worried."

"That still doesn’t explain how you got in." He said, glancing around the room. His eyes landed on the open window. "You didn’t..."

"Don’t worry about it." She winked. "I brought you lunch."

Noah opened his mouth to ask again, but paused as the scent hit him.

It was rich and savory, and it made his stomach rumble in betrayal. He looked down to see the lunchbox she placed beside him, steam still curling from its seams.

"I packed it for you." Juniper said, flipping the lid open. "From the Gold-tier section, of course."

Noah’s eyes widened at the sight. Delicate grilled meats. Seasoned rice. Thick broth with floating herbs. His mouth watered instantly.

He looked at her, then back at the food. ’Maybe having her as a girlfriend wouldn’t be so bad...’

Juniper laughed aloud. "I can practically hear what you’re thinking."

Noah looked away, embarrassed.

She handed him a spoon, teasing, "Eat up. Maybe if you behave, I’ll show you more of my... assets."

Noah choked, face turning red. Juniper laughed at the sight.

As he dug into the food, he couldn’t help but ask. "So when do you guys have Combat Fundamentals?"

"We already had it." She replied, casually braiding a lock of her hair. "On the second day of class."

Noah frowned. "Same crazy Professor Oliver?"

Juniper shook her head. "Nah. We’ve got Professor Flint. Chill guy. A bit boring, and from what I heard of your class, I like it that way. We got no illusions, and no rooftop explosions."

Noah dropped his spoon. "You’re telling me I nearly thought a dragon was gonna eat us all, and you guys got a peaceful class?"

Juniper leaned in, smirking. "Rise through the ranks quickly, babe. Then we can be in the same class. I’ll sit beside you, kiss you whenever I want."

Noah almost choked again.

Juniper burst out laughing. "You’re too easy. Seriously, though, hurry up and climb the tiers. I miss you already."

Noah focused on eating, pretending he wasn’t blushing again.

A knock echoed from the door, breaking the moment.

Juniper’s face immediately twisted into a scowl. She rose, annoyed, brushing her skirt flat before swinging the door open with more force than necessary.

Arlo stood there, grinning.

She squinted at him. "What do you want?"

"I came to see if the lovebirds were still alive," he said with a wink, and before she could slam the door on his face, he slipped inside.

Juniper groaned dramatically. "You’re like a stray dog, you know that?"

Arlo ignored her. "And yet, here I am. Living my best life."

He turned to Noah, who was still eating, and gave a mock gasp. "You betrayed me."

Noah didn’t look up. He just kept spooning the food into his mouth.

"I came all this way to collect you for linner." Arlo said, dropping onto the only chair in the room like he owned it. "That’s lunch and dinner, by the way. If brunch is a thing, linner deserves equal recognition."

Noah muttered, "Not interested."

"You would be. But you’re already being fed like a spoiled noble." Arlo clutched his chest. "You’ve betrayed the Stone-tier brotherhood. For what? A lunch box?"

Noah raised a middle finger in his direction.

Arlo collapsed in mock agony. "Right through the heart."

Juniper rolled her eyes, then smirked. "Maybe if you weren’t such a pest, you wouldn’t be single forever."

"I’m not single. I’m just... soul-searching."

"Yeah, well, keep searching. Maybe your soul’s hiding from you."

Arlo chuckled. "Oh, June, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous."

"Of what? Your nonexistent charm?"

As they bickered, Noah finished the last bite of his food and leaned back, letting out a satisfied breath.

He looked between them and said, "You two need your own comedy show."

Arlo grinned, folding his arms behind his head. "Yeah. We’re the side characters with better presence and chemistry than the leads."

Juniper leaned against the wall, her smile sharp. "Speak for yourself. I’m the female lead."

"Then Noah must be the confused protagonist wondering how he got dragged into all this."

"Well," Noah shrugged, "you’re definitely not wrong."