Chapter 40: Fend for yourself
Zephyr stood outside the infirmary, fists clenched and teeth grinding as the sting of the nurse’s words lingered. His body ached from Lunethra’s attack, the burns on his arms pulsing with each heartbeat despite the aid of those bandage. He took a deep breath, forcing the frustration back down. Right now, there were more pressing matters—like finding food.
His stomach growled audibly, a sharp reminder that he hadn’t eaten since...well, he couldn’t even remember. Ignoring the judgmental glances from passing students, he whipped out his phone and navigated to the map. His fingers traced the screen until the cafeteria icon blinked to life.
"Finally," he muttered, and began his long tiring trek.
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The cafeteria was a sprawling marvel of glass and steel, towering windows stretching from floor to ceiling and flooding the space with natural light. Long metallic tables filled the main hall, neatly arranged to allow for both space and movement. The ceiling arched high above, dotted with suspended lights that mimicked the warm glow of sunlight, casting an inviting ambiance over the large area, despite the vastness and the sweet aroma that was drifting around, they was no one here.
At the far end, multiple food stations served a variety of cuisines, each marked by floating holographic menus that flickered with real-time updates as dishes were prepared. Zephyr squinted up at the menus, his eyes scanning the options.
His steps froze when he could sight of the holographic menus displaying the prize of the food he intended to get.
"Pastry sounds good, yeah that will do". Without bothering to stick around he went outside of the cafeteria cursing at the school and entered the little cafe beside it.
To the left of the cafeteria, separated by an archway draped with ivy and soft lantern lights, stood a café—The Solstice Brew. Unlike the cafeteria’s bustling atmosphere, the café exuded a quiet serenity. Wooden beams gave it a rustic charm, while low-hanging lights bathed each table in warm, amber hues. Shelves lined with rare tomes and potted plants gave it an almost arcane feel, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air.