The room went quiet when he walked in.
Not fully. Just that specific half-second where conversations paused and heads turned and then everything resumed like it hadn't stopped at all.
Murmurs followed him up the steps.
"He's back."
"Heard he got into some kind of accident."
Arthur kept walking.
Havier was writing something. He didn't look up.
Theodore caught his eye from two rows over and waved. Slightly awkward. The wave of someone who wasn't sure how much enthusiasm was appropriate.
Arthur waved back.
Kreasial had her chin resting on both palms. She looked at him, smirked once, then looked away like she hadn't.
He sat down.
Exhaled.
Alright. Now what.
"I can detect multiple aetheric fields," Roz said quietly from his shoulder. "More than usual for a classroom."
Arthur looked at him.
Then closed his eyes.
