SSS-Class Profession: The Path to Mastery

The mattress creaked softly as I stood. Morning light hadn't yet reached the horizon, but it didn't matter—we weren't here for sunrises or poetic goodbyes.

Anika stirred first, rubbing sleep from her eyes and blinking at me beneath the tangle of her dark hair. "How do you find it comfortable to sleep in your mask?"

I glanced down. The grin of Mr. Jester still covered my face. "Force of habit."

Elliot groaned from the armchair, twisting like a cat on hot bricks. "What time is it? Feels like someone poured cement into my spine."

"Time to move," I said, already turning on my heel. "Train departs in a few hours, and I'd hate to miss my dramatic window exit."

We gathered in the kitchenette, such as it was—a busted stove, a couple chairs, and a fridge that hummed louder than it cooled. I cobbled together a breakfast of questionable eggs and toast that tasted more like the pan than the bread.

Elliot nearly fell asleep mid-bite, while Anika chewed slowly, watching me with narrowed eyes. She knew something was up.

After we cleaned, I stood near the window, checking the burner again. Nothing new. Just Connor's timestamped confirmation from hours ago.

"Elliot," I said without so much as a glance over my shoulder, "be a darling and fetch our train tickets, will you? Preferably before I decide to stow away instead."

Elliot blinked. "Alone?"

"You'll be fine," I said with a wink. "Anika will be along in a tick—try not to cause too much damage before then."