POV: Malia Moon
The cafeteria is louder than usual by the time I make it through the line, trays clattering, laughter rising in waves from every direction, the kind of noise that usually lets me disappear into the background without anyone sparing me a second glance. Steam rises off the long serving counters, the smell of roasted meat and fresh bread thick in the air, and for a moment I let myself pretend this is simply an ordinary school, filled with ordinary students worrying about ordinary things. I find an empty corner table and settle in, grateful for the anonymity, still turning over everything I overheard in the corridor after class, Torin's sharp word scattering the four of them apart, Vargus's expression right before he disappeared down the hall.
I don't get to enjoy the quiet f
