Chapter 91: End of Willowbrook Town Defense
The next five hours passed uneventfully, much to the relief of the students who had feared another attack. Once the time had elapsed, they finally relaxed and left their posts, gathering in the town plaza where Draven Farwynd, the lead teacher, gave instructions.
"Take this hour to pack your belongings and prepare to regroup here. We'll leave for the Academy shortly after."
The students, eager to comply, dispersed to their temporary homes. Mikael, Amelia, and Lyra did the same. Upon entering their assigned house, however, they were met with an unexpected surprise.
"Here, this is for you!" Emma exclaimed, holding out a piece of paper as the trio entered.
Amelia stepped forward, crouching down to take the paper gently. "What's this?" she asked with a warm smile.
Emma beamed with pride. "It's a drawing I made of you three. I'm so happy you helped keep the bad monsters away, and I wanted to give you a gift. Gifts make me happy, so I thought it would make you happy too!"
The drawing depicted the trio in a simple yet colorful sketch. Mikael was easily recognizable with his black hair and green eyes, Amelia stood beside him with her equally striking black hair and green eyes, and finally, Lyra was drawn with her distinctive purple hair streaked with pink and her vibrant purple eyes.
Amelia felt a surge of warmth at the young girl's gesture. "Thank you for this beautiful drawing," she said softly, carefully taking the paper.
Afterward, the trio returned to their rooms and began packing their belongings, most of which were already stored in their spatial rings. As they worked, Lyra's mood was noticeably improved, a direct result of Emma's heartfelt gift.
The three said their goodbyes to Emma's family before regrouping with the other students and teachers at the plaza. The town mayor gave a short speech of gratitude before everyone boarded the bus, one of the teachers taking on the role of conductor.
As they settled in, Mikael reactivated the same barriers he had used during their journey to Willowbrook Town. Amelia, seated to his left, quickly fell asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. On his right, Lyra leaned against him, her mind clearly preoccupied with the day's events. Though she couldn't fall asleep, Mikael's warm embrace helped her relax.