The next morning, the sun hung just above the academy grounds, casting its soft morning glow across the courtyard. Fie was walking toward the main building, hands stuffed into her pockets, her steps light and bouncy. She felt strangely warm inside, but it wasn't from the sunlight or the breeze. No, it was something else—a lingering feeling from the way Laura had treated her yesterday.

It wasn't that Laura had done anything grand. Fie could hardly count holding her hand and staying by her side as life-changing gestures, but…

She listened to me.

Fie knew she could be a handful, saying things that sometimes sounded silly even to her, like wanting Laura all to herself. Yet Laura had just smiled, understood, and given her what she needed. Fie didn't know why it stuck with her so much. Maybe because it felt special. Like Laura could see through the armor Fie often put up, right into who she really was.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice Laura's figure approaching until she heard a familiar voice, soft yet steady.

"You seem in high spirits this morning, Fie."

Fie blinked, pausing mid-step as Laura stopped beside her with that calm, radiant smile of hers. "What?" Fie replied, feigning indifference as she looked up at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Laura chuckled lightly, folding her arms. "Exactly what I said. You seem like you're in a good mood."

"I don't know, maybe," Fie shrugged, looking away.

Laura tilted her head slightly. "Oh, come now," she said. "I'm not blind, Fie. You've been humming under your breath for the past minute, your steps have a little spring to them, and your posture—" Laura gestured with her hand— "is far less slouched than usual."

Fie blinked. "You noticed all that?"

"I always notice," Laura replied warmly, her expression amused but sincere. "You're smiling, too."

Fie's cheeks warmed, and she quickly wiped the smile off her face—unsuccessfully, because it came right back. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Wow. You really do see right through me, don't you?"

Laura raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching upward into a knowing smirk. "Of course. You're not as unreadable as you think, you know."

"Guess not…" Fie muttered, rubbing the back of her neck as she let out a breath. She stuffed her hands deeper into her pockets, still smiling to herself. "Well… it's nothing much, really."

Laura waited patiently, her curiosity evident but never pushy.

Fie finally glanced up at her, something playful and soft flickering in her green eyes. "I guess I'm just jazzed that a certain special someone was taking such good care of me yesterday."

Laura's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but it only took her a moment to recover. A light pink flush covered her cheeks, though her smile never wavered. "Oh? A special someone?"

Fie grinned faintly, feeling her face heat just a little as she kicked at the ground with the toe of her boot. "Yeah. A big, kind knight who always knows what to do. You might've heard of her."

Laura's cheeks turned a touch redder, but her eyes shone brightly, that soft and steady warmth radiating from her as always. "Well, I'm honored to be held in such regard."

Fie chuckled, looking up at Laura through her bangs. "You should be. Not everyone gets to be my knight, y'know."

Laura let out a small laugh at that, shaking her head. "I'll keep that in mind."

The two began walking side by side again toward the main building. For a while, the only sounds between them were the chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was comfortable, easy, as it always seemed to be with them.

Before they entered, Laura glanced down at Fie again, her voice quieter but still strong. "You know, Fie, if you ever need me to take care of you again, you only need to say so."

Fie let that hang in the air for a moment before grinning to herself. "I'll keep that in mind, my brave knight."

Laura laughed at the title as they stepped inside the academy, the two of them side by side, as if they'd always been meant to walk that way.