Days at the Verdant Dawn Academy began to blur for Alaric. The once-thrilling rhythm of studying, training, and spending time with friends now felt predictable, almost stifling. He'd wake up early, head to his classes, train until exhaustion, share a meal with his group, and collapse into bed. The monotony, though comforting in its structure, left Alaric with a nagging sense of dissatisfaction.
One morning, Alaric sat in the mess hall, absentmindedly pushing a fork through his eggs as the lively chatter of students buzzed around him. Natasha, her auburn hair tied up in a messy ponytail, dropped her tray beside his with a dramatic thud and plopped into the seat.
"You look like someone drained the life out of you," she quipped, her hazel eyes twinkling with mischief. "What's eating you, Alaric?"
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's just... everything feels so routine now. Last year, everything was new, exciting. Now it's all just the same."
