Chapter 57: Assassination Attempt
Zephyr stirred beneath his blanket as the faint, purplish hues of morning filtered through the slit in the curtains. The sky beyond still looked like a bruise—dark violet gently giving way to lilac light.
He blinked groggily, eyes still heavy with sleep. For a few seconds, he lay still, cocooned in the warmth of his bed, brain clouded in a gentle fog. And the faint chatter of voice in the background.
He sat up slowly, looking toward the shared bath entrance.
A faint trail of steam lingered in the air. The girls had already finished. They always woke before him—sharp, dutiful, never needing a second call. It was an unspoken agreement in the dorm— they bathed first, no exceptions. Zephyr didn’t complain. He got to sleep in a little longer.
Dragging himself out of bed, he stretched, bones popping. The lingering scent of floral bodywash drifted through the room—light, clean, and strangely motivating.
A few minutes later, once the bathroom had cleared, he slipped in, showered quickly, dressed just like the day before, and fastened his uniform’s jacket with practiced fingers. He didn’t bother checking the mirror. He looked fine. Passable was good enough.
Then he headed out.
The walk to the cafe was a familiar one—stone corridors humming faintly with low Aether currents, morning murmurs drifting from other students headed to drills or theory.
At the café, the usual warmth enveloped him—baked goods, filtered coffee, and the murmur of tired conversation.
He found a window seat and collapsed into it, ordered two muffins and a cup of coffee. Biting into the muffin as the bitter scent of coffee drifted up and filled his lungs. Outside, the dark purple sky slowly gave way for a lighter shade.
Zephyr sipped his coffee, savoring the bitterness—when it hit him.