ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱɴᴏᴡꜰᴀʟʟ

𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

Sejanus watched as Clemensia's hand stayed outstretched in a wave directed towards the train that already had taken its departure.

In the distance, he could still make out Coriolanus' bright blue tie, flapping as he pulled himself up further on the sliding door of the train car. As the rest of the train whizzed by, he noticed Tigris and Coryo's grandmother taking their leave, a small handkerchief brought out for the soft tears that began to flow.

Only Clemmie stayed, waiting for the entirety of the train to pass by, only turning around once it left her line of sight.

"Oh. Sejanus. I didn't think you'd still be here."

"Neither did I." he murmured, looking down at one of the only people in the Academy he had deemed a friend, "he's going to be all right, you know."

He had never been particularly good at comfort, or at least he believed he wasn't. But seeing the distraught look on his friend's face always brought out a softer side of him that hadn't been exploited since his departure from District 2.

"He's been set to District 12, Sejanus. What would you expect someone whose whole life has been in the Capitol to adjust inside District 12 of all places?"

Sejanus hummed in an effort to keep his own opinions down. He knew that of all times, it wasn't the best to open his mouth yet until Clemensia's fire had settled.

"I grew up in the Districts." he offered.

Her eyes widened, then nodded softly, placing a warm hand on his shoulder.

"I know. But you made the switch from District to Capitol, Sej. The other way around? It could be deadly."

"The Districts aren't all ruffians and miscreants, Clem. Who knows? Maybe Coryo might find a life out there; better than the one he had here, that's for sure."

With that, Clemensia's expression hardened, and she withdrew her hand. She looked down at the ground, as if silently going over the idea in her head. He had seen her doing the exact thing during one of Professor Click's lectures.

"Clemmie?"

"I'm fine," she whispered breathlessly, "i'm fine. You're right, Sejanus. Come on, let's get going." her footsteps were kept to a minimum as she left him behind.

His heart fell as she walked off, dejected, though he managed to snap himself and follow her back into the Capitol.

---

Days passed by, and the questions of Coryo's whereabouts increased, though notably, Arachne hadn't bothered to make a scene as she usually did.

It had bewildered Clemensia of her supposed shocking behavior, with Coriolanus' expulsion and Crane's terrible plot, but she found her mouth tied shut as she watched Arachne twirl her ballpoint pen in her hand.

"Hey, Clemmie." Sejanus greeted her.

Classes had resumed as if nothing had happened; though Clemensia's indifferent behavior to Coryo's absence at her side bothered him. He took his seat next to Festus, who nudged him in curiosity.

"Where's Coriolanus?" he asked.

Inhaling deeply, he prepared himsef to respond, but was interrupted by Clemensia's gentle voice.

"Coriolanus won't be joining us today." she continued to pen her name on the right hand side fo the paper, not even bothering to look up at Festus' puzzled expression. Sejanus eyed his partner, who shrugged and went back to his work.

"Coryo won't be joining us today? How unfortunate. That boy has never missed a day of class." Arachne's mockery was clear, even though her back was to them, and he watched Clem's hand clench around her pencil.