章節 180: Halloween II
The music continued to pulse through the academy grounds as we moved with the crowd, laughter bubbling up around us. Rachel's ethereal fae wings shimmered under the lights as she danced, her movements light and carefree. Seraphina, in her glowing moon goddess gown, swayed gracefully beside her, the soft glow of her costume adding an almost otherworldly quality to her every step.
Cecilia, her catears twitching playfully, grabbed my arm with a grin. "Come on, Arthur! You can't just stand there all night," she teased, pulling me toward the dance floor.
I laughed, letting myself get dragged into the middle of the crowd. "Alright, alright!"
Rachel and Seraphina joined us, their laughter mixing with the music as we found ourselves caught up in the energy of the night. For once, it didn't matter who was the top-ranked student, or who held a royal title. Tonight, we were just a group of friends, enjoying the rare freedom that came with Halloween.
After what felt like hours of dancing, we stepped away from the crowd, catching our breath. The academy grounds had been transformed for the party—glowing lanterns strung between trees, and clusters of students gathered around small fire pits, their faces lit by the flickering flames.
Seraphina stretched her arms above her head, her moonlit gown catching the soft light. "I don't remember the last time I felt this relaxed," she admitted, her voice quieter now that we were away from the main crowd. "It's nice to have a break."
Rachel smiled, her wings shifting slightly as she glanced around. "It's good to have a night where we don't have to be anyone but ourselves."
Cecilia, as usual, was full of energy. She plopped down on the grass, lying back as she looked up at the stars. "This is perfect. No training, no expectations—just us."
I sat down beside them, looking around at my friends, feeling the weight of the past weeks slowly lift from my shoulders. These were the moments that made everything else worth it—the moments when the titles, the ranks, and the constant pressure didn't matter.
As we sat in the cool night air, the crackling of the nearby bonfire drew our attention. A group of students was gathered around it, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories. Cecilia, never one to miss out on fun, sat up with a grin.
"We need to get in on that," she said, jumping to her feet. "Come on!"
We followed her over to the bonfire, where the warmth of the flames created a cozy atmosphere. Rachel handed me a marshmallow on a stick, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Try not to burn it," she teased.
I grinned back. "No promises," I said, holding the marshmallow over the fire.
We spent the next hour toasting marshmallows and sharing stories, our laughter mixing with the crackle of the fire. The night felt lighter than it had in a long time, and for once, the weight of the academy didn't seem so heavy.
After a while, Seraphina looked up at the sky, her soft smile turning playful. "You know, we should make a bet," she said, glancing at the rest of us.
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "A bet? What kind of bet?"
Seraphina's smile widened. "Whoever can go the longest without mentioning training, ranks, or the upcoming festival wins."
Cecilia leaned in, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "This might be impossible for some of us," she said, giving me a playful nudge.
Rachel smirked, clearly up for the challenge. "I'll win this easily."
"I'm in," I said, shaking my head with a grin. "But what does the winner get?"
Seraphina thought for a moment. "The winner gets to choose our next group outing. Anywhere they want."
The bet was set, and for the next few hours, we made it a point to talk about anything but the usual topics—no training, no rankings, no competition. We swapped stories about embarrassing childhood moments, favorite foods, and books we'd read. By the end of the night, it didn't even matter who won. The point was the laughter and the lightheartedness we'd managed to capture.
As the bonfire flickered low, and the party began to wind down, we sat together in comfortable silence, watching the flames dance. The stars above us were bright, the cool night air wrapping around us like a blanket.
Rachel sighed contentedly. "We should do this more often," she said softly. "It's nice to just... be."
Seraphina nodded, her usual serious expression softened. "Agreed. It's easy to forget how important nights like this are."
I leaned back, looking up at the stars, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the people sitting around me. "We'll make sure this isn't the last time."
Cecilia, her playful energy still intact even at the end of the night, grinned. "Next time, I'm picking the costumes. I've got some ideas that'll blow your minds."
We all laughed, the tension of the academy fading further into the background. As we stood to leave, I found myself walking a little slower, not wanting the night to end. There was something special about it—something rare.
As I glanced back at the fading lights of the party, I smiled to myself. Tonight had been more than just a break. It had been a reminder that even in the middle of all the pressure, the competition, and the battles ahead, moments like this mattered. The friendships we'd built were just as important as any victory in the arena.
And for tonight, that was enough.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票