The courtyard fountain had frozen over.
A light powder of snow clung to its edges, untouched by even the bravest students. Everything at Westdentia Academy gleamed under the winter sun—ivory pillars, golden lamp posts, and the pristine navy-blue uniforms of the students who passed through them.
Leina adjusted the ribbon in her hair as she stood beside the rose archway, watching the snowflakes fall one by one onto the stone path. The roses had been covered for winter, but a few petals still peeked from beneath the garden cloth. She crouched down slightly, brushing one gloved hand over the dusting of snow.
Someone had stepped too close to the bed and left a boot print. It bothered her more than she expected.
"Leina!"
She didn't jump. She just stood, brushing her gloves together as Malvern Curtis came barreling toward her, his scarf trailing behind and his blazer open like he'd left the cloakroom in a hurry.
He nearly slipped near the edge of the koi pond—again—but caught himself just in time.
"You need better shoes," Leina said plainly, brushing past him toward the walkway.
"I need better balance," he muttered, then jogged to catch up.
The courtyard was full of small groups. A few girls giggled over a new bracelet someone's mother brought back from a designer in Versienne. The boys were mostly debating who would win in a battle between an ice knight and a warlock who controls shadows. The kind of loud fun Leina usually watched from afar.
"I was trying to find you during the quiz today," Malvern said, catching his breath. "You weren't in our group."
"Switched. Emily said I was 'doing too much' again."
"That's what she says when she's wrong."
Leina didn't answer, but she smirked slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek.
They continued walking alongside the heated koi pond where the golden fish drifted lazily under the surface. The steam that rose from the water made everything feel softer—more muted.
"I heard there's gonna be a winter play," Malvern added. "Ms. Landis is looking for people. Something about knights and ice dragons."
Leina's brows lifted, just a little. "That sounds loud."
"It probably is."
He looked at her sideways. "You could be someone smart. Like a royal advisor. Or the bookworm who knows the dragon's name and saves the kingdom."
She looked down at the pond, silent for a beat. "That sounds better."
Malvern nodded quickly. "Yeah, I thought so too. You'd probably know how to beat the dragon anyway. Or train it."
Leina looked unconvinced, but she didn't say no. She just hummed thoughtfully as her eyes followed the fish.
"I'm not sure about being on stage though," she murmured. "There's too much... looking."
Malvern grinned. "You could hide behind a bookshelf."
Her lips tugged upward—barely a smile, but close enough.
"Maybe."
The bell rang once in the distance, signaling the end of lunch break in ten minutes. Some students started making their way back into the halls, brushing snow off their uniforms and adjusting their ties.
From the other side of the courtyard, near the tall windows of the East Wing, Alexander Smith leaned against a railing with his coat slung over his shoulder. He had been there long enough to catch the tail end of the conversation—his eyes lingering on Leina a moment longer than he intended.
She didn't notice him.
But Malvern did.
The boy's smile faltered for a second before he turned back to Leina, clearing his throat. "Hey, um, wanna race to the main hall? Just to the first door."
Leina gave him a skeptical look.
"You'll slip."
He grinned. "Not if I don't fall."
She shrugged. "Okay."
And just like that, they were off—boots tapping against the cobbled stone path, laughter trailing behind them like the tail of a kite in the wind.
Alexander stayed by the railing, his gaze unreadable.
Then he pushed off the post and turned away, blending into the crowd heading inside—his expression still, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets, and his thoughts, perhaps, elsewhere.