Chapter 20: A Letter, a Laugh… and a ambush
The sun filtered softly through the half-open windows of the academy dorms, painting stripes of gold across the floor. Inside Room 302, chaos reigned supreme.
Mario was tangled in his sheets, one sock dangling from the bedpost. "You ever feel like mornings are a scam invented by evil wizards?" he muttered, dragging himself toward the washbasin.
Sofia, brushing her hair by the mirror, shot him a look. "You said that yesterday. And the day before that."
"I'm consistent. That's a hero trait, right?" Mario grinned, earning a slipper in his direction from Emma.
"Will you all shut up?" Caroline huffed, walking in with breakfast in hand. "You're lucky I don't poison your toast.
"That's love," Mario said dramatically, putting a hand over his heart. "Andrew used to say if a woman threatens you with murder before noon, she cares."
The moment he mentioned Andrew, the room fell a little quieter.
They all missed him, though none would say it outright.
Just then, a blue glowing window popped open before them.
[INCOMING VOCAL MESSAGE – Sender: AndrewNickEne]
Everyone scrambled into place.
Caroline sat upright, eyes wide. Emma stopped chewing mid-bite. Mario saluted the air like an idiot.
The message began to play.
"Yo. Mario, I hope you haven't burned the dorm down yet. Caroline, if you haven't stabbed him yet, good job — character growth."
Mario grinned. "He knows me too well."
"Sofia, Emma — I miss you guys. I'd love to say this is a peaceful post-battle moment but…"
"…I don't have much time. We're preparing for a counter-ambush. Scouts say the enemy's preparing to attack from the ridge at dawn. Fun, right?"
"I wanted to tell you more. Joke a little. Maybe mention the soup here tastes like molten iron with regret."
A few chuckles echoed in the room.
"But I'll say this instead — if anything happens to me, don't cry. Just blame Mario. He probably deserves it."
Caroline covered her mouth, smiling with misty eyes.
"…they're here."
A muffled BOOM shook the message. Screams, weapons clashing, and a sudden "Hold the line—" echoed before static overtook the audio.
[MESSAGE TERMINATED]
The room was silent.
Even Mario stood still now, fists clenched.
Caroline broke the silence. "He always ends things like that…"
Emma nodded. "Too fast, too reckless."
Sofia looked toward the window. "But always fighting. Always with that stupid courage."
Mario exhaled, straightening up. "Well. He's in trouble."
"You think?" Caroline snapped. "He's in a warzone, and we're here cracking eggs and jokes."
"I'm serious, Caroline," Mario said, face hardening. "He needs us. And I say we get stronger. Strong enough that when we go find him… we don't lose him again."
Everyone nodded.
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "So… what now?"
Mario looked around, then smirked. "Now? We train, we grow, and we prepare."
Emma tilted her head. "For what?"
Mario's eyes narrowed. "For when that next letter doesn't end with a bang — but with him coming back through the door."