Arcane (Academy)

What lies ahead

As Kaede stirred from her sleep, she was surprised to find that Ehra was already awake, her presence in the room catching her off guard. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kaede glanced at the clock and realized that it was still early, much earlier than she typically woke up.

"Ehra, you're up already?" Kaede asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Ehra turned to face Kaede, offering her a small smile. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep much," she replied softly. "Thought I'd get an early start on the day."

Kaede couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern at Ehra's words, wondering what had kept her friend up during the night. But she decided not to pry, respecting Ehra's privacy.

"Alright, well, I guess I'll get up too," Kaede said, stretching her limbs as she prepared to start her day. "

As Maya descended the stairs, her steps lit against the wooden floor, she was greeted by the aroma of breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she spotted Kaede standing by the stove, a focused expression on her face as she tended to the sizzling pans.

"Good morning, Maya!" Kaede greeted her with a smile, her attention briefly shifting from the cooking to acknowledge Maya's presence. "Sleep well?"

Maya returned the smile, her gaze drifting around the kitchen as she took in the sight of Kaede's culinary efforts. "Morning, Kaede! Slept like a dream," she replied, her voice warm with affection. "And wow, it smells amazing here. What's cooking?"

Kaede chuckled, a hint of pride evident in her voice. "Just whipping up some pancakes and bacon," she explained, gesturing to the spread of ingredients on the counter. "Thought I'd treat everyone to a hearty breakfast."

As Maya's gaze swept across the kitchen, she couldn't help but notice the absence of Ehra. Furrowing her brow in concern, she turned to Kaede with a questioning look. "Hey, where's Ehra?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Kaede's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Ehra's name, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Oh, she's... up early," Kaede replied vaguely, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm sure she'll be down soon."

Maya nodded in understanding, though a hint of worry lingered in her expression. "Alright, I hope she's okay," she said softly, her thoughts drifting to their friend.

As Azalea's voice filled the room, Maya and Kaede turned to greet her, their expressions brightening at the sight of their friend.

"Morning, Azaleah!" Maya chimed in, her tone cheerful as she gestured towards the kitchen counter. "Kaede's whipping up some pancakes and bacon for breakfast."

Kaede nodded in agreement, a smile gracing her lips. "Yeah, come join us!" she invited, gesturing for Azaleah to join them at the table.

But Azalea's question lingered in the air, a subtle shift in her tone catching Maya and Kaede's attention. "Hey, where's Ehra?" she asked, her voice taking on a note of concern.

Maya and Kaede exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring Azalea's worry. "Yeah, we were just wondering the same thing," Maya replied, her brow furrowing in concern. "She's not down yet."

Azaleah's concern deepened as she considered Ehra's absence. "Hmm, that's strange," she murmured, her tone tinged with unease.
"Jhones, I... I need to talk to you," Ehra began, her voice trembling slightly with apprehension. "I'm feeling uneasy about something... about Kaede."

Jhones listened attentively as Ehra poured out her concerns, her words tumbling out in a rush as she tried to articulate her feelings. "I'm afraid I might unintentionally hurt her," she confessed, her voice filled with guilt.