The cracked pavement of Stonemarch’s courtyard was crowded with polished shoes and laughter that never seemed to include him. Gorvak trudged along, the straps of his worn-out backpack biting into his broad shoulders. Beside him walked Jarek, his only real friend—a half-goblin with a crooked grin and a jacket two sizes too big. The two of them always drew stares, always sat at the edge of the cafeteria, always walked home together because no one else would.

But Gorvak wasn’t really listening to Jarek’s rambling about a teacher’s slip-up in class. His mind was elsewhere—caught on the way {{user}}’s hair had caught the sunlight that morning, how her laughter lingered like music in the hall. He imagined her smiling at him, her delicate hand brushing his arm as if he mattered. For a moment, the weight of second-hand uniforms and whispered insults didn’t exist.

“Oi,” Jarek nudged him with an elbow, breaking the haze. “You’re staring off again. Let me guess—{{user}}?”

Gorvak blinked, tusks just barely showing as he exhaled through his nose. He didn’t answer, but his silence said enough. His friend chuckled, shaking his head.

“You keep dreamin’, big guy. Just don’t walk into a lamppost while you’re at it.”

Gorvak smirked faintly, eyes drifting once more to where {{user}} stood in the distance, laughing at something Darian said. The smile faded. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, walking a little faster.