Julia sang a little song to herself as she made up some food in the kitchen, just as Wess exited the bathroom.

“Dear, can you keep the humming down?” Wess insisted, rubbing her eyes, only for Julia to keep singing at her.

“But Wess, I am, making a stew. For me, for them, but mostly for you.” Julia sang, as Wess rolled her eyes.

“I’m only up this early to use the bathr-“

“You said, you’d like, a stew sometime, so I, said hey, I’ve got the time.” Julia exclaimed, nudging Wess’ side, as she found herself cracking a smile.

“…you can’t, rhyme time, with time that way. Although, that stew, looks good I’ll say.” Wess added, as Julia leaned over to kiss her cheek.

“Alright, sleeping head. Go get your beauty sleep.” Julia teased, as Wess headed back to bed, right as Harley jumped out of her bed.

“Is she done?”

“Yeah, she jus-“ Julia said, right as Harley rushed past into the bathroom.

“Great! Really need it!” She let out, before slamming the door, getting some stirring from Wess.

Julia went back to cooking, right as the study door opened up to a visibly exhausted Essex, yawning a bit and holding Maxie to her chest.

“You’re up later than usual. I mean, still earlier than most, but you’re usually out training by now.” Julia remarked, as Essex left Maxie on Julia’s bed. “Rough night?”

Essex nodded to her tiredly. “Grela. I thank you for lending me Maxie again.” Essex said, as Julia smiled back happily.

“No worries. He’s always helped me sleep at night.” Julia explained. “You can keep him for a little longer, if you want.”

“I should be fine for the moment.” Essex said, before noticing Julia’s cooking on the stove. “Is that a stew?”

“Yeah! We had a few things to use up in the fridge, so I just sorta mixed them all together. Wess was complimenting my cookin-“

“I can hear you talking!” Wess yelled out, getting some stirring from Sola’s bed, as Julia quieted herself.

“…I’m just making some for lunch.” Julia said, grabbing the ladle and taking a small sip. “Mmm…tell me what you think.”

Julia held it out for Essex, who took a sip as well.

“…it needs a…fresher taste?” Essex attempted, as Julia nodded back to her.

“Exactly what I thought. Just need to find a good herb to add…”

Essex found herself slightly proud at the deduction, only to notice a pair of eyes coming from the bathroom.

“Ooooo.” Harley let out, snickering to herself. “You two totally had an indirect kiss.”

Essex immediately blushed in shame, as Julia glared at Harley.

Essex then bowed toward Harley right after. “Relias. I apologise for having done that.”

Harley stepped out and wrapped her arms around Essex. “I don’t really care. Hey, if I could kiss her too, I would.”

“…I-I’m just gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.” Julia muttered, trying to hide her own blush, as Harley started laughing again.

“Hey…who’s kissing Essex?” Sola let out, having walked from her bed, still trailing her sheets behind her.

“Julia.” Harley bragged.

“I’m not listening.” Julia declared, before feeling her tablet vibrate in her pocket, just as Essex tried to break out of Harley’s hug.

“This physicality is restraining.” Essex stated, only for Harley to start pouting.

“Aww, but people love my big muscles.” Harley joked, just as Sola to join the hug.

“Better get used to hugging, Essex! We both love it!” Sola insisted, as Julia read over her most recent messages from Activ.

“Oh, would you keep it down?! Some of us prefer to sleep in!” Wess called out, getting out of her bed. “We’re not all morning people like you trio of merry lovers!”

“Hey, I don’t like waking up early! I just wanted to tease Essex!” Sola assured, hugging her even more, as Essex looked to Wess pleadingly.

“Help…”

Wess raised a judgemental eyebrow, before drawing her attention to Julia, who was now covering her mouth as she stared at her tablet.

“Julia?” Wess let out. “What’s wrong?”

Julia struggled to find the right words, as her hands began shaking slightly and her mouth quickly dried up.

“…g-guys…”

The team stared at her in worry.

“…A-Avalon’s dead.”

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..........the service was sudden.

It was set up fairly quickly since the news had only recently hit the campus. Faller had already had an assembly in the courtyard to explain the matter to the rest of the third-year students. According to him and the rest of Team Exemplary, during a routine mission out near the town of Gebate, the team were tasked with taking out a Wailing stalking the area for new graduates coming from the academy.

They were lucky to have been picked up for such a high-profile mission, so they headed out to take care of it. However, quickly after they started the mission, as everything was going routine, the Wailing blindsided them, and in a sudden act of violence…killed Avalon on the spot.

There was no fanfare.

He barely fought back.

And it was over in a heartbeat.

The rest of Team Exemplary were able to take out the Wailing, only to realise the damage it had caused and travel back to the academy in broken tears. News quickly spread across campus, as these things often do, so Faller and Seears took care of it.

The academy had repurposed its assembly hall for his funeral. In attendance, of course, were Team Exemplary, Avalon’s mother, brother and stepfather, as well as the rest of the third-year student body and teachers. His mother was visibly shaken, as she rested her head on her husband’s shoulder, right as Faller walked up onto the stage with a few notes in his hand, taking his place at the podium in the centre.

He organised himself, before taking a heavy breath and leaning into the microphone.

“…it’s…never easy…for me to come up here.” Faller admitted, holding himself up on the podium. “But…I never want it to be easy. Students come here every day, and I always worry what will become of them in the industry.”

Faller nervously reorganised his notes. “There’s always the threat of death. Wailing are unforgiving, but…when this sort of tragedy occurs within this academy…to one of many incredible students…Avalon deserved better.”

Faller cleared his throat as it dried up a bit, before struggling to get the next few words out.

“He was proud. He cared deeply for his team and was committed to becoming a great Venator.” Faller insisted, as his voice began to crack slightly. “W-Whenever given a challenge, he would step up to it, boasting his team when they needed it. He was a reminder of the kind of passion that goes into this profession. It wasn’t career that drove him…it was heart.”

Faller could feel his hands starting to sweat, as his voice warbled. “He was a-always so…he…”

Right as he managed to get out those words, he started breaking down into tears, before pulling himself away from the mic.

He struggled to regain his composure, just as Ferris quickly came up on stage and joined his side, before patting his shoulder and taking his place at the podium, letting him leave with a quiet dignity.

Ferris inhaled.

“…Avalon…was not an easy person to get along with.” Ferris started, surprising most of the attendees with her bluntness. “His team would agree that he was quite abrasive, and that for all his boasting, his skill rarely matched his words.”

Ferris gave herself a second before continuing. “…but he also knew what he was getting into. This is not a kind industry, and despite knowing that, he risked himself, even acting as his team’s leader, just to fulfill that promise. Very few would try doing that, even fewer would give themselves to it as much as he did.”

Ferris kept her cool, as the rest of the people present gave her their respect. “His was a life worth living. Not for vain reasons, but for the potential that lies in everyone that comes into this academy. Whether he could act on that potential is unclear, but there was never a doubt in my mind when teaching him…that he could be great.”

Ferris leaned into the mic.

“This was a tragedy. So may he rest with the other Venators who gave their lives for us to keep living.”

Ferris indicated to his coffin behind her proudly.

“Avalon McAlister. What every Venator should strive to be.”

Just as she finished, Avalon’s mother could be heard bursting into tears, trying her best to hold herself together, as his brother comforted her. Ferris left the podium right after, as the rest of the hall heard from a few more speakers, before the service cleared out, leaving the attendees to talk amongst themselves.

Condolences were extended towards his family, and to the remainder of Team Exemplary, as other third-year students tried their best to comfort them. Out of everyone in the team, Leandra was clearly taking it the hardest. Idle chatter had already suggested they were going to need a new member, but from the look on her face, that was the last thing on her mind.

“If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to let us know.” Joleicia insisted, her hand to her chest. “We’re all here for each other, and our dorm’s just down the hall.”

“…yeah, thanks…” Leandra managed, staring mostly at the floor, as Roman rested an arm around her.

“We appreciate it. Avalon really admired you guys.” Roman insisted.

“It’s never easy losing a teammate.” Chops added. “Hopefully if you get a new member, they’ll feel more like a companion than a replacement.”

“There was no replacing Av.” Acadia mentioned, sitting nearby, before weakly chuckling after.

Lenin held Saxin to his chest, before she turned to Leandra with a look of compassion.

“You hold strong, okay?”

Leandra bothered to look up at her, before nodding back, as Team Vanguard left soon after, meeting up with Nathaniel outside, leaving Team Valiant standing amongst the other grieving students, feeling somewhat out of place.

“Should we go over?” Essex asked, as Julia stared off at Team Exemplary.

“I don’t know. We’ve never really gotten along well.” Julia admitted. “I feel like we’re the last people Leandra wants to see…”

“Extending our condolences is still the right thing to do.” Wess noted. “For better or worse, we do have a relationship with them.”

“I guess…” Harley let out, patting Sola’s head. “…I still can’t believe it happened…”

“I wouldn’t wanna leave without making sure they’re okay.” Sola insisted, holding Harley’s side for comfort. “They’re the first team in our year to have a member die…”

Julia’s eyes widened at the realisation, before she took a breath and started heading over with the rest of the team.

They waited for a few more of the other attendees to clear out, before finding the right opening, as Julia gave Leandra a small wave.

“Hi.” She said, slowly approaching them. “We just wanted to extend our condolences.”

Leandra looked up and scoffed. “Of course you did…”

“Thanks. Sorry for, uhh…well, just the general antagonism.” Claudius remarked, as Harley made a point to step forward.

“We just wanted to say sorry too.” Harley added, as Leandra looked up. “It nev-“

“No no, don’t…don’t pretend you’re sad.” Leandra groaned, wiping some tears with her palm, before pointing right at Harley. “You two were at each other’s throats whenever you got the chance, so don’t act like you suddenly feel any sympathy for him. Like that makes up for it or some shit.”

“I ju-“ Harley said, right as Leandra pushed past her, nearly knocking her over.

“Fuck off.”

Harley stumbled a little bit, as the rest of Team Exemplary followed behind Leandra, trying to keep up with her.

Essex helped her up, as Team Exemplary left the hall soon after, leaving Team Valiant right where they were.

“That’s about what I expected.” Wess admitted, as Harley rubbed her neck.

“I was tryna bury the hatchet.” Harley insisted. “Geez…”

“She doesn’t want to talk right now.” Julia said, rubbing Harley’s back. “You can make your peace later.”

“Yeah, if she lets me.” Harley let out.

———

Julia opened up the room to the team’s dorm, as they all filed back in, slowly getting comfortable and changing out of their funeral outfits. Julia took a seat on her bed, as Harley collapsed onto the couch, Wess went to change, Sola sat beside Harley, and Essex decided to stand out by the balcony, watching over the horizon.

“…it’s still not hitting me…” Julia confessed, as Harley and Sola turned to her. “…the whole thing was so sudden…like, we were talking to him just a few days ago in class.”

Julia’s arms fell to her side.

“Why did…”

Julia left it there, not really knowing what else to say afterwards, before lying down on the bed and staring up at the top bunk, right as Sola sank deeper into the couch.

Harley quickly noticed. “You okay?”

“…I dunno…” Sola admitted, rubbing her arms. “…I think I’m with Julia. It hasn’t hit me yet…”

Harley sat back up and wrapped an arm around Sola, comforting her and kissing her head. “It’s alright. We’ll get through it.”

“It’s quite the shock.” Wess admitted, stepping out of the team’s study.

Essex stayed quiet on the balcony, letting the wind pass over her as she remained motionless.

Sola played with her hands nervously.

“…where do you reckon he’s ended up?”

Harley turned to face Sola. “Avalon?”

“…do you reckon he’s with the Old Gods? Somewhere up in heaven?” Sola asked, as Harley cocked her head.

“With them?”

“Yeah. If he was good in their eyes, they would’ve welcomed him there. You think he’s with them up there?” Sola clarified.

Harley scratched her head. “Well, they don’t exist, so…no.” Harley said, offending Sola. “Don’t tell me you believe in that stuff.”

“Of course I believe in them. Don’t you?”

“Well…not really, I just think the study of them’s fascinating.” Harley said, before resettling and staring at Sola with disbelief. “Do you really think the Old Gods are real?”

“Yes!” Sola exclaimed, standing up. “What’s wrong with thinking that?”

“No offense, Sola, but there’s hardly any proof of their existence.” Wess attested, staring up at the ceiling. “And as someone familiar with the texts written about them, the merits of those narratives are questionable at best…”

“Well, no one asked you!” Sola complained, as Julia got up from her bed. “I never sa-“

“Hey, hey, let’s calm down. We’re all wound up from the funeral.” Julia said, holding Sola’s shoulder. “Sola’s allowed to believe what she wants. Have your opinions on that but keep it to yourself.”

Wess stared off to the side. “…my apologies…I can carry on without thinking sometimes…”

“…yeah, sorry Sola.” Harley let out, getting up. “That’s really not for me to judge.”

“…I just want to be sure that Avalon ended up in a good place…” Sola muttered, as Harley and Julia went to hug her. “…Whilit would be good about that…”

Sola wiped her eyes a bit, before looking to the door.

“…I’m gonna go for a walk.” Sola said, surprising Julia.

“Alright. Just by yourself?”

Sola nodded back to her, before grabbing her bag and heading out, as the team stayed quiet with themselves, before Essex lifted her head and came back inside.

“I pissed her off, didn’t I?” Harley let out, landing on the couch again. “Come on, Harley…”

“This tension is natural.” Essex assured, reaching over and patting Harley’s back. “She is having trouble grieving. Death is a haunting concept.”

“You don’t have to tell me…” Julia let out, sighing deeply, before turning to Essex. “Hey…can you-“

“Check on her?” Essex finished.

Julia closed her mouth, before smiling and rolling her eyes. “Of course you were already gonna do that.”

“I will be a moment.” Essex said, before taking a second and turning to quickly give Harley a peck on the cheek. “Dovono.”

Essex left the dorm room right after, leaving Julia, Harley and Wess spread about the lounge area, each taking up a spot of their own.

Harley gently touched her cheek, before turning back to the door.

“…have you guys…”

Julia and Wess gave her their attention.

“…have you…lost anyone? Before?” Harley asked, as Wess went to take a seat on the armchair, while Julia sat against the coffee table.

“…not recently.” Julia admitted. “My grandma passed away when I was five, but that was so long ago at this point. I barely even knew her.”

“Do relationships with your parents count?” Wess joked, getting a slight chuckle from Harley. “No, not me either. I’ve been quite fortunate in that regard.”

“Yeah, same here…” Harley admitted, running her hands together.

Julia decided to speak up. “I, uhh, I did have…a teacher…pass away…back in school.”

Julia lowered her head as she recalled the event. “A Wailing had killed him while he was out on a trip, and the entire school was in mourning. Except for me. I didn’t know him very well, even though he was beloved by the entire student body.”

Julia knocked her knees together in an attempt to get some tension out. “This was right after Florey had left school, so I was in a bad spot at the time. I…came into school, and everyone was crying, saying how much they missed him. But stupidly, I asked…”

Julia shrugged her shoulders. “…who?”

Julia shook her head in frustration. “…the people I was talking to got really mad at me, but…I’d never really felt what it was like to have someone die close to me. The closest thing I had was Florey leaving, but after they called me out, I spent the rest of the day chewing myself out for being so insensitive.”

Julia sat back up, as Wess reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “So, I’d say that’s my closest personal relationship with death.”

“…how should I make it up to Leandra then?” Harley asked, surprising Julia and Wess. “You said it yourself. I can’t pretend to understand what she’s going through. I’m torn up about Avalon, but it’s not like I’m grieving like her.”

“Well, that’s the horrid thing about grief.” Wess stated. “It’s not this unending, ever-present torture that plagues you constantly. It’s small. It barely feels real at first. And, eventually it cascades and slowly becomes normal. You’re not sad forever, but you hold that sadness with you constantly.”

“…that’s the thing.” Julia said. “You might not get forgiveness from Leandra. That’s up to her. You’re just gonna have to accept her decision.”

“So I can’t get us on good terms?”

“After this?” Julia let out, before shaking her head. “I don’t know.”

Harley lay against the couch in defeat, before finding her gaze going up to the ceiling.

“…if Sola ends up being right, I just hope Avalon isn’t holding a grudge against me…”

———

Acadia tapped her foot in annoyance, trying to pay attention to the textbook in front of her, as she read over the same paragraph again and again. Her eyes kept glazing over the words, before she kicked her seat in frustration and stood up, walking around the team study.

“You’re good at this…just read the freaking words…” She insisted to herself, before sitting back down. “Ready, set…go.”

After about thirty seconds, her mind drifted again, as she pulled herself out of the chair and ran her hands through her hair, leaving the study to find Claudius and Roman just entering their team’s dorm, carrying a couple documents with them.

“I can’t do it. I don’t wanna read.” Acadia declared, as Claudius looked back at her. “You know me. I actually like studying. That’s not like me at all.”

“Your reading’s very stop and start.” Claudius pointed out, as Roman landed on the couch and Acadia wandered to the kitchen.

“This isn’t that. I’m stuck in a stupid holding pattern.” Acadia said, grabbing a milk carton from the fridge and chugging it. “Like I’m in reading traffic.”

Claudius let her finish the carton, before his eyes drifted to one of the bunk beds, then to Acadia.

“Is…?”

Acadia crushed the carton, before solemnly nodding back to Claudius, as he sighed out and made his way over, before ducking his head under the bed to spot Leandra lying underneath it, her face toward the wall and still in yesterday’s clothing.

“H-Hey…Le.” Claudius said, leaning down. “Not to…pressure you or anything, but…the academy wants to know if we’re gonna take a new member…and who’s taking over as leader.”

Leandra stayed silent, staring dead-eyed at the wall.

Acadia joined his side, while Roman sat up from the couch to catch the action.

“They said we don’t need a new fifth member since we’re already in third year.” Claudius added, looking back at Roman and Acadia in desperation. “It might help yo-“

“…it’s been three days.”

Leandra glared back at him.

“They can wait.”

Claudius just stayed silent, as he nodded his head, before getting up letting out a breath for the other two.

He walked away, before Acadia leaned down as well.

“Well, me and Claud have got to go to class, but…just let us know if you need anything.” Acadia insisted, getting no response, before feeling she should speak up. “W-We…miss him too. You’re not alone in this…okay?”

Acadia left it at that, as she grabbed her bag and headed out with Claudius, leaving Roman and Leandra alone in the dorm.

Feeling he should put his own mind at ease, Roman got up and headed to the bed, before getting onto the floor and squeezing under the bed with Leandra, lying right next to her.

Leandra didn’t acknowledge him and stayed silent, as Roman cleared his throat.

“Pretty stuffy under here.” Roman said. “Sorta like a coffin.”

No response.

“…you know…”

Roman tried to get comfortable.

“…my dad died really early in life…” Roman admitted, resting his hands on his chest. “I barely got to know him before he got ripped away from me. Mum didn’t take it well, but I never blamed her for getting angry. She was trying her best and all, but neither of us knew how to take it.”

Roman drummed his hands idly. “Then after I realised I wasn’t a girl, I had to go through it without a male role model in my life. The only men I could look up to were all the Venators on TV, like Team Spectrum, and so I wanted to be more like them, even though I knew it was the most dangerous profession anyone could subject themselves to.”

Roman paused for a second, hoping Leandra would respond, before taking a breath and continuing.

“He didn’t talk about it much, but Avalon didn’t know his dad either.” Roman admitted, as Leandra turned from resting on her side to on her back. “I was talking with his mum at the funeral, and she said he fucked off to who knows where soon after Avalon was born.”

Leandra glanced over to Roman, as he turned to her. “But Avalon didn’t know any better, so to make it up to him, she told him his dad was secretly working for the royal family as their personal Venator.”

Leandra breathed out steadily.

“And so he became obsessed with the northern royalty and wanted to become one, even after they disbanded.” Roman explained. “Maybe to live up to his dad’s legacy, maybe to see him again…regardless, after his mum remarried, he only got more insistent on it.”

Leandra kept looking at Roman, as Roman reached over and held Leandra’s hand to comfort her.

“Both of us became Venators to be closer to the dads we never knew…” Roman admitted. “But we never got to share that…I missed my chance to share something with him…”

Roman kept holding her hand, waiting for Leandra to rip hers away, which she almost immediately did. They both lay there in silence for the moment, as the air started getting a bit stale.

“…do you think he knew?”

Roman turned to Leandra again, as she spoke up again.

“That his mum’s story was a lie?” Leandra asked.

Roman gave it a moment’s thought, before resting his hands on his chest again and speaking.

“Does it matter?”

———

It had taken a while for Essex to find Sola. It was a fifty-fifty whether Sola was just wandering or had a destination in mind, but Essex could hazard a guess as to where she might want to walk to.

She first made a point to check the Central Forest, followed by the study area and the library. Just as her options were dwindling, she recalled the academy Spire and made her way to it, before scaling the stairs inside to the viewing platform on top.

Right as she reached it, she found Sola sitting down, staring out at the slightly overcast midday sky, obscuring most of the sunlight trying to come through. Essex decided not to say anything, as she walked over to Sola and sat beside her, noticing Sola’s sunken expression.

Sola quickly noticed Essex next to her, before staring down again, trying to hide her face.

“…I made you worry, didn’t I?” Sola let out.

Essex simply nodded back to her, as Sola pulled her legs up and held them to her chest.

“…I’m allowed to want to be alone…” Sola admitted.

“…this is something difficult to deal with.” Essex spoke. “I simply didn’t want you to work through it alone.”

“…I’m just sad about it…” Sola said, throwing her hands out. “Like, what am I meant to do? He was here. Just the other day.”

Sola turned to Essex slowly. “And he just…isn’t anymore.”

Sola huddled up to herself again. “…I’ve never had anyone close to me die before…and I barely even knew him that well…” Sola admitted.

Essex stared out at the distance in front of them, watching as it was clearly overwhelming Sola, before she let out a breath.

“…I envy you.”

Sola looked to Essex.

“I have been surrounded with the threat of death my entire life.” Essex admitted, taking her scythe off her back. “Trapped in the Aishanara Forest, defending the clan against Wailing, losing my family…I’m familiar with death, but that does not bring me comfort…”

Sola unballed a little, before she started playing with her hands.

“…you’re not alone in that, though.” Sola confessed. “I don’t know what happened to my birth parents either. They could…they could be gone too.”

Sola inched a bit closer to Essex, before resting her head on Essex’s side.

“…how do you feel about your family?”

Essex turned to Sola. “Before the clan?”

Sola nodded. “…do you know if they’re still around?”

“…I don’t believe they are.” Essex suggested. “And even if they were, I would not see a point to a reunion as of right now.”

Sola was visibly annoyed. “Wha-but you can make up for lost time! Why wouldn’t you want that?”

Essex rested her scythe in front of them. “I owe my life to the Segaru Clan.” Essex admitted. “If my family was still alive, they why was I rescued by the clan? Why hadn’t they found me within a year of being trapped in the Aishanara Forest?”

Sola calmed down a little, before nestling her head into Essex a bit more.

“The truth is I never knew them, and that realistically, they’ve passed on without me.” Essex continued, reaching out to hold Sola closer to her. “I wish I had known them, but my life did not act out like that. And I have accepted that they may never be a part of it, and that the Wailing have taken that chance from me.”

Sola just let herself be held, as she comforted herself with Essex’s presence.

“We only hurt ourselves running back to what was. Wallowing is where the danger lies.” Essex explained, breathing steadily. “There is time to mourn, and time to keep moving forward. We don’t forget, we continue to live in spite of death.”

Suddenly, Sola felt Essex pull her even closer, before looking up at her and seeing her smile.

“And while I may not have my family, I have my team.”

Sola felt herself blushing, before she felt herself compelled to sit up and kiss Essex, surprising Essex, before she reciprocated, melting into it.

Sola eventually broke the kiss, before falling into Essex’s lap, holding onto her as worry started to stain her face again.

“…promise me you won’t die.”

Essex cautiously rested her hand on Sola’s head, before starting to pat it. “I couldn’t do that.”

“…I know…” Sola let out, sinking into her.

Essex kept patting her, before lifting her head up. “I will promise, however, that I will not die for anything less than the best of life.”

“…how so?” Sola asked, sitting up a bit.

“I wish to die either nobly or peacefully.” Essex assured. “It must mean something. I refuse to be taken out by a Wailing, or the likes of Rosalind and Wicker.”

Sola felt a bit of energy return to her, as she sat up a bit.

“And there’s no way they’re getting to you.” Sola said, pumping her fists. “They’re gonna need to tear through me first. As long as I’m around, you’ve got a massive lightning wall ready to defend you no matter what.”

Essex nodded back to her, before pulling Sola into a hug. “Let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Sola felt herself tear up a little, before she slowly opened her mouth.

“…I really love you…”

Essex noticed her heartbeat speeding up, as she held Sola a little tighter.

“…I…love you too…”

———

The team had been able to sit with the news for a few days now. The fervour around Avalon’s passing had started to die down, even if the melancholy was still lingering, weighing most of the student body down with its presence.

Team Valiant were spending most of the day inside, taking a needed day for themselves, as Julia, Harley and Sola watched a Team Spectrum documentary on TV, and Wess and Essex sat out on the balcony, enjoying a few glasses of wine together.

“…wasn’t Avalon a big fan of Team Spectrum?” Sola brought up, looking back at Julia.

“Probably. It’s hard to name any Venators these days who aren’t fans of them.” Julia pointed out, as Harley played with Sola’s hair.

“Still thinking about him?” Harley asked, as Sola nodded silently. “Yeah, me too…”

Suddenly, a hesitant knock came from the dorm door, as Julia popped her head up, before getting up to answer it and finding Claudius waiting outside.

“Claudius, hey. What’s up?” Julia earnestly asked, as he pretended to be distracted by something in the distance.

“Hey, Julia. Yeah, I was just passing by.” He excused, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t get to thank you for showing up to the, uhh…”

“It’s no problem.” Julia said, as the rest of Team Valiant started poking their heads to the door. “How’re you guys holding up? How’s Leandra?”

“Uhh, well, she’s…like, none of us are great at the moment, but she’s still taking it really hard.” Claudius said, nervously moving his legs about. “She hasn’t left the dorm room for days now…”

“Geez…” Julia let out, as Harley stood behind Julia.

“Yeah, we, uhh…don’t really know what to do about it. It’s not in our wheelhouse to…” Claudius stated, before clearing his throat. “Sorry, just…”

He took his hands out again, before struggling to make himself look comfortable.

“I see you guys all the time in class, and you get along really well.” Claudius admitted, rubbing the back of his head. “You’re always helping each other out, and I…think…you’d be able to handle this way better than we could.”

Julia blinked, before squinting a little. “You…reckon we could help?”

“To be honest, Claudius, I don’t think Leandra’d like us coming around.” Harley pointed out.

“Well, I don’t think she’s gonna get better anyway.” Claudius admitted. “She already refused to see Pather, or the actual therapist Faller hired for us. Once classes start for us again, she’s probably gonna stop giving a shit all together.”

“I mean…we could give it a try.” Julia said, looking back to the team for support. “I’m just worried we’d make it worse.”

Despite not really needing to, Essex raised her hand before speaking.

“I believe I may be able to aid her.”

Claudius perked up, as Sola stared curiously at her.

“Really?” Sola asked, getting a confident nod from Essex.

“As long as she is willing to receive it.” Essex clarified, as Claudius gave a thumbs up.

“Yeah, whatever you got. Just let me know over Activ when you’re ready.” Claudius said, waving his tablet. “Thank you guys, really.”

The team waved goodbye to Claudius, as he headed back down the hall, visibly exhausted from the interaction.

“So, what’s your strategy, Essex?” Wess asked, as she went to grab her scythe from the study, before coming out with it.

She held it out proudly.

“It will be a makeshift Boncala Day.”

———

“Are you sure you don’t want me to make you something?”

“I said I’m fine…”

“You haven’t tried my grilled cheese yet.”

“Acadia, cool it with the babying already.”

“I’m no-“

Leandra turned to face the wall again, frustrating Acadia, just as a knock came from the dorm door.

Acadia waited for a second, before looking to Leandra and seeing her stay motionless under the bed.

She sighed in annoyance. “Fine, I’ll get it…”

She went to open the door, before surprising herself with the presence of Claudius and Team Valiant together.

“Valiant. What’s up, you guys?” Acadia greeted, finally getting the attention of Leandra.

She pulled herself out from under the bed, as Roman emerged from the study to catch the commotion.

“We just came to check up on you guys.” Julia assured, before looking behind Acadia and waving to Leandra.

Leandra’s face grew redder, as she stormed off to the kitchen, while the rest of Team Exemplary welcomed them in openly.

“This feels weird.” Roman admitted, as Team Valiant filled out the space. “We don’t really invite others here.”

“I insisted.” Claudius said, before nodding his head to Leandra, now sulking in the kitchen corner.

“Fair call.” Acadia admitted, as Essex stepped into the kitchen.

Leandra avoided looking at her, as she rested her hand on the kitchen table.

“Leandra.”

She flinched. “…what are you doing here…”

“Your team was worried about your recent behaviour.” Essex opened, getting a snarl from Leandra.

“Oh, were they? Cause I’m the only one mourning? Cause I’m the one still carrying the fucking burden that Av left behind?” Leandra yelled, stepping forward. “So now they called you for help?”

“You aren’t the only one mourning, but you’re the one hurting.” Essex insisted, reaching out. “This is not to make you forget, it’s to help you live.”

Essex boldly grabbed Leandra’s hand, as she felt herself fighting it for a second.

“Avalon wouldn’t want you to suffer just so he can be remembered. There is no honour in self-torture.”

Leandra could feel her eyes welling up again, as she stopped resisting Essex’s grip.

“I have a method I wish for you to try.” Essex said, moving to show the two teams staring back at her. “To aid in the grieving process. If you’ll allow me.”

Leandra stared down at their linked hands, before taking hers back and wiping her eyes, nodding back to Essex sheepishly.

As they made their way back into the dorm, Leandra noticed that the others were drawing the blinds to the window, darkening the room, with a small table set up in front of it with Avalon’s royal cape and a photo of him laid out on it, lit only by a few candles.

The two teams were standing with their backs to the wall, as Wess poured out a small glass of wine and handed it off to Leandra, which she reluctantly took, before pouring glasses for everyone else.

Essex held Leandra’s shoulder, working her through the process. “The Segaru Clan believes the soul doesn’t leave this world fully, but stays behind and watches the world that it influences. This is a chance for you to speak with him without reluctance.”

“Speak with…?” Leandra let out, before turning to Essex.

She could feel her words catching in her throat.

“…he pissed me off…so much...” Leandra said, just as tears broke from her eyes. “...s-so why am I so sad that he’s gone?”

Roman almost stepped forward to comfort her, before Harley held him back, insisting he let Essex handle this.

“Do not hold yourself back. This is not a place for judgment, but for honesty.” Essex assured, stepping backwards, before also grabbing a glass. “Say everything that needs to be said.”

She stepped back with the others, leaving Leandra to face the cape and photo alone.

“Try to make your peace.”

Leandra could feel the eyes on her, even as she did her best to ignore them. This whole thing seemed so ridiculous, but even still, she couldn’t help but feel compelled to speak, at least to get it all off her chest.

To let him rest.

“…Avalon.” Leandra stated, before holding up her glass proudly. “You were a piece of shit. We rarely got along, and more often than not, you embarrassed Team Exemplary beyond belief. No one asked you to be the leader. You insisted, and nobody wanted to challenge that. We did almost all the work in class, assignments and missions, and most of what you did was run your mouth.”

Leandra’s hand started to shake, before she held the glass firmer and inhaled. “…but you also encouraged me like no one else. You cheered me on at the tournament, you got me to open up to others, even if only a little, and you genuinely took the role of leader seriously and were the first to not laugh at my battle shield. Even Roman’s cracked a few about it.”

“Guilty.” Roman admitted, stepping forward and resting his hand on Leandra’s shoulder.

“And while you were being a prick…you still took the name Team Exemplary with pride. You always treated it like your team. Your team…” Leandra declared, before holding the cup higher. “A-And…”

Leandra’s eyes couldn’t help from welling up.

“…a-and I know it was you…y-you pushed me a-away from the Wailing on th-that mission…I didn’t see it happen…but I knew you did it…”

Leandra held her arm to her eyes, trying to wipe away her tears as best she could, as Acadia and Claudius joined her side as well.

Just as she’d regained her composure, Leandra faced the photo again.

“…to Avalon.” Leandra let out, as the team held their glasses together. “…we’ll do our best to be exemplary.”

———

After Leandra had made her peace, the teams made a point to open up the room and let the light back in, before spending the remainder of their time together chatting and enjoying the rest of the wine, discussing Avalon and the impact he’d left on them, as the makeshift eulogy became more of a social gathering.

Despite Leandra still not enjoying Team Valiant’s company, she made a point to thank Essex for the ceremony, if begrudgingly so, while the rest of Team Exemplary took the opportunity to rib her for it and tease her for her attitude.

After a couple hours had passed, Team Valiant decided to call it and let Exemplary spend the rest of the day with themselves, but not before helping clean up Avalon’s shrine. Roman, Acadia and Claudius were incredibly gracious as they left, politely saying goodbye, before closing the door to their dorm.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t think we gave them a fair shake.” Roman admitted, as Claudius snapped his fingers.

“Right? They’re so nice.” Claudius let out. “I guess Avalon and Leandra’s feuds just meant we never got the chance to, like, hang out or talk.”

“That Harley’s a real party animal.” Acadia insisted, grabbing a couple of the empty wine glasses around the room. “And, oh my god, did you see her and Sola flirting? Oh, my heart was just stop and start with those two…”

“Essex can put it away too. She drank, like, five glasses and wasn’t even buzzed.” Roman bragged, before noticing Leandra on the couch, still sulking a bit. “Didn’t you like their company, Le?”

“…they’re fine.” Leandra stated. “Wess is a prude, but whatever…”

“Uhuh.” Roman let out, before rolling his eyes to the other two, as they all snickered to each other.

Still thinking on the day they’d had, Leandra’s eyes idly glanced over the coffee table, before noticing the documents Claudius and Roman had brought in a bit ago.

She picked them up and scanned them a bit, before realising something she’d been thinking about and holding them to her chest, as she stood up and faced the others as they cleaned.

“…I…I wanna ask you guys something.” Leandra said, before holding out two fingers from her chest. “Two things, actually! One!”

Her faced betrayed her, as it stained crimson despite her serious expression.

“…I…don’t think we should have a new member!”

The other three looked at each other, before nodding in agreement.

“I was kinda thinking that too.” Claudius said.

“Yeah, I’m good with just us for now.” Acadia admitted, before Leandra held out her other finger.

“Alright! Two!” Leandra declared, as she felt her tongue catching again.

She worked through it as best she could, before reaffirming her confidence.

“I-If you’ll have me…I…”

She closed her eyes, before stamping her foot.

“…I want to be the new leader!”

The room stayed silent for a second, as Leandra worried she’d overstepped a little, before Roman slapped his forehead.

“It’s about time you asked.” Roman confessed. “We were all wondering when you’d volunteer.”

“Yeah, you’re clearly the best choice.” Acadia added. “Your stubbornness is perfect leader material. I mean, I was saying this when Av was still the leader.”

“It’s true, I can vouch for her.” Claudius insisted. “It should’ve been you from the start.”

Leandra was feeling a strange cocktail of emotions, all culminating in an overwhelming sense of pride welling up in her, causing her to start crying again, even as she did her best to keep a serious face.

“O-Okay! Y-You’ve got a promise from me!” Leandra declared. “I’m gonna be the b-best team leader you’ve ever seen! We’re blowing every other team out of the water!”

“You got it, leader lady!” Roman cheered back, saluting teasingly, as Leandra found herself cracking a smile, before jumping over the couch to wrestle him. “Hey!”

“Respect the new leader!” Leandra exclaimed, pinning Roman down, just as he tagged out to Claudius, who tackled Leandra out of the way.

“Oh no, we’re already fighting each other!” Acadia joked. “Quick, make me the leader instead!”

The team carried on happily, enjoying each other’s company, as Leandra found her previous attitudes melting away, elated by the comradery she wasn’t expecting from the same team she’d been with for years now.

But now was her chance to make it right.

To live up to its name.

———

Leandra found herself still awake.

The rest of the team were asleep, and judging by the clock, it was a little past midnight by this point.

She found she couldn’t really go back to bed, as she decided to get up and grab herself a drink.

Rummaging around the fridge, she found a leftover wine bottle from Team Valiant’s visit, before saying fuck it and pouring herself a glass.

She made her way over to the balcony, but not before reaching underneath her bed and pulling out a small chest. Opening it, she grabbed out Avalon’s cape, before draping it over herself and stepping out, feeling the frigid air immediately hit her.

Fortunately, the cape’s absurd weight and bulk managed to keep her warm, as she rested on the banister, sipping her wine occasionally and staring out at the night sky.

The cape gave her some level of comfort, as the wind stopped being a factor and she appreciated the stars, even at the distance they were. They managed to break up the void around them, as Leandra wondered to herself whether she’d be lucky enough to consider herself among them.

And whether they’d accept her too.