บท 117: Junior Sorceress Melisa Blackflame, Part Three

{Raven} 

Raven lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. 

"..."

The room felt too quiet. Too empty without Melisa's constant chatter and the soft rustling of her tail against the sheets, or her quill scribbling against parchment. 

[Guess I've gotten used to the noise,] Raven mused, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. 

A sudden knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts.

In an instant, Raven was on her feet, a knife almost materializing in her hand as if by way of magic. Old habits died hard, and even after all this time at the academy, she couldn't quite shake the instinct to always be on guard.

She crept to the door, her footsteps silent on the plush carpet. Taking a deep breath, she yanked it open, ready to face whatever threat lay on the other side.

But instead of an enemy, she found herself face to face with Javir, the older woman's expression a mix of surprise and amusement at Raven's dramatic entrance.