Nova's pov
The car glided to a stop in front of the Academy gates, its sleek black frame catching the late morning sun. Nova stared out the tinted window at the ivy-covered walls of the school she once thought would be her entire world. Her heart twisted—nostalgia, grief, and gratitude battling in her chest.
She stepped out, her boots clicking on the familiar stone as she took a deep breath. The air smelled the same—pine needles, distant training sweat, and wildflowers from the nearby hill. She’d been gone less than a month, but everything felt smaller now. Not in a bad way, but in a way that said she had changed.
Inside her dorm, she moved slowly. Touching books, photos, and the blanket Elara had given her at the beginning of the semester. Her duffel bag filled quickly, but she lingere
