A Long Ride

Time had unfurled its heavy cloak over Gum'n, casting the once vibrant academy grounds into a somber night. In the boys' dormitory, the rooms were quiet, each filled with the soft murmurs of nighttime routines. Soul was alone in his corner, his bed sparsely made, a thin blanket tossed across it. The moonlight spilled through the window, casting a glow over the sparse furnishings. It touched the edges of his desk, where a few books lay stacked, their spines reflecting the silvery light.

Across the room, Melissa was folding her clothes, carefully smoothing each piece before setting it aside.

Ruby sat on the floor nearby, working on her necklaces and bracelets. Her materials were simple beads, leather cords, and bits of metal she had bought from the market. Every so often, she would pause, holding her work up to the light to examine it, adjusting a bead here and there to get it just right.

He leaned back in his chair, the creak of the wood the only noise he made. "Sorry, there's only one bed."

"It's a little wider for a one-sized bed, though," Ruby said, eyeing it thoughtfully. "You think we can fit in it?"

"We won't," Soul replied. "I'll take the chair. You two can sleep in the bed."

"What a gentleman," Melissa said with a smile, folding the last piece of her clothes. "Thank you, Soul."

"Hmm," he replied, acknowledging her gratitude with his usual nonchalance. "We should sleep. It's getting late. I've got to wake up early tomorrow."

"I'll... I, uh, I'll wear my nightdress, Soul. Can you close your eyes?" Melissa asked, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

"Sure. I can leave the room if you –"

"No, it's fine," Melissa interjected quickly. "You can just close your eyes."

"Okay," Soul said, his voice calm as he shut his eyes. He didn't want to make Melissa uncomfortable, especially given everything else that had happened that day. He stood still, hands in his pockets, keeping his eyes tightly shut.

Ruby glanced at him, a smirk on her lips. "Better not peek, Soul. Wouldn't want to catch an eyeful, right?"

He didn't answer. He had no intention of looking, respecting Melissa's request. He could hear her shuffling around as she changed into her nightdress, the faint rustling of fabric and the occasional scrape of her foot against the floor.

Melissa took her time, ensuring everything was in place before she spoke. "Okay, you can open your eyes now."

He opened his eyes. "All set?" he asked, his gaze focusing anywhere but on Melissa.

"Yeah, all set," she replied with a small, relieved smile.

Ruby smirked as she looked at Melissa. "Hey, Melissa, you might want to cover those thighs. Soul's a thigh guy, you know," she said, her tone playful but pointed.

Melissa's face turned a bright pink, her hands quickly tugging at her nightdress to cover her legs. "Ruby, knock it off," she replied, trying to sound stern, but the blush on her face betrayed her. The last thing she wanted was for Soul to think she was dressing like this on purpose.

Soul didn't say anything.

Ruby laughed, enjoying the reaction she was getting from both of them. "Oh, come on, Soul! I saw the way you looked when Melissa walked in," she teased. "You couldn't help but notice, could you?"

Melissa felt her blush deepening. She remembered earlier, when Soul's eyes were on her legs as they entered the room. He had quickly looked away, but she noticed. Now, Ruby's teasing was making her feel even more self-conscious.

Ruby raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll stop," she said, though the grin on her face suggested she wasn't completely done with her teasing. "But don't blame me if he starts checking out those legs, Melissa."

Melissa shot Ruby a warning look, then turned to Soul, who seemed completely unfazed by Ruby's jokes. She felt a mix of embarrassment and something else – maybe hope, maybe nervousness. It was hard to tell. But she was glad when the teasing died down and they could return to the usual flow of conversation.

"Let's – let's sleep," said Melissa. "Getting late."

"Hmm." he nodded. "Goodnight."

"Yeah –" Ruby yawned. "I'm pooped."

As the room grew quiet, the soft sound of Ruby's breathing filled the space. It wasn't long before she was sound asleep, her arms tucked under the blanket, her head resting on the pillow. Melissa and Soul remained awake, each lost in their own thoughts, the previous teasing moment fading into a calm stillness.

Soul sat back in his chair, watching the moonlight filter through the curtains. He could see the faint outline of the academy's garden outside, the shadows of trees swaying gently with the night breeze. It was peaceful, but something about the quiet made it hard for him to sleep.

Melissa shifted in bed, her eyes open, staring at the ceiling. The tension from earlier had dissipated, but she couldn't quite shake the awkwardness yet. She glanced at Soul, who seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on some distant point outside.

"Soul," she said, her voice soft so as not to wake Ruby, "what are you thinking about?"

He looked at her, his expression neutral. "Just stuff," he replied, his voice low.

"Stuff?" Melissa asked, curious. "What kind of stuff?"

Soul shrugged. "Just... things that happened today. The murder, the High-Priestess, all of it,"

"Yeah, a lot's been happening," Melissa said, nodding. She paused, then added, "Are you okay with us staying here? I mean, it's a boys' dormitory, and it's not exactly –"

"It's fine," Soul interrupted, his voice reassuring. "I don't mind. You guys can stay here as long as you want."

"Yeah," Melissa replied, a faint smile forming on her lips. "That'd be great. At least once I have enough money to rent a house again."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that doesn't need words to fill the space. Melissa felt a sense of calm despite the uncertainties that loomed over them. It was good to have friends around, even if one of them had a dull demeanor that seemed impenetrable.

"Thanks, Soul," she said, almost in a whisper.

"For what?" he asked, turning his head to look at her.

"For letting us stay here," she replied. "And... for everything else today. It means a lot."

Soul nodded, his gaze returning to the view outside. "No problem."

Melissa shifted in the bed, turning slightly to get comfortable. "Soul," she said quietly, "do you think things will get better?"

Soul thought for a moment before answering. "I don't know," he admitted. "There's a lot going on, and I don't have all the answers." He leaned back, his posture relaxed but his expression serious. "But we'll do what we can. That's all anyone can do."

"Yeah – right?" She looked at Ruby. "Is it wrong for me to say that – I'm glad the High-Priestess is actually dead? Ruby was cursed without even a trial."

Soul's expression didn't change, but his words were harsh. "She deserved it," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Good riddance."

"Soul! Oi!" A voice from the corridor banged on the door. "Wake up. We gotta move."

"Ji-Hye?" Soul stood up and went to the door, opening it just enough to talk without revealing who else was inside. "Why are you here?"

Ruby stirred, waking up. "Soul? Who's that?"

"We have to go," Ji-Hye replied from the other side. "We've got to get to the Arena of the Champions. It's a long ride, and we need to be there early before the fight. Nia and Ki are ready, waiting for you."

"What's happening?" Melissa asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Soul?" Ruby sat up, her brow furrowing. "Who is it?"

"You guys can sleep," Soul said, quickly grabbing his coat and slipping through the half-open door. "I'll be back tomorrow. Don't worry."

Melissa and Ruby exchanged glances as the door clicked shut. The sudden interruption and Ji-Hye's urgent tone had them both on edge, but Soul seemed calm enough.

"Did you have girls there, Soul?" asked Ji-Hye.

"No, it's just your imagination."

"I heard two different vo –"

"Let's go," Soul cut her off. "We don't wanna be late."

Ji-Hye's expression remained stern. She decided not to push the matter further. "Fine," she said, her voice tight. "We have more important things to worry about."