Zane stood in front of his closet—if you could call it that—with his duffle bag half-zipped and barely filled. A couple of clean uniforms, some extra clothes he actually bought instead of borrowing, and a few basic items. Done in less than five minutes.
He slung the bag over his shoulder. "Travel ready."
With a quick flick of his fingers, he opened a small Void Rift and stepped through—emerging directly into Sera's dorm room.
"Hey, Sera, you ready—" He froze.
Her bed was barely visible beneath a mountain of bags. No, not bags—suitcases, satchels, a vanity case, a mini travel trunk, and was that... a pillow with her name embroidered on it?
Zane blinked. "What the hell are you carrying inside those bags? A spare dimension? Why not carry the entire academy while you're at it?"
Sera, already adjusting her braid in the mirror, turned and smirked. "A girl needs what a girl needs."
Zane ran a hand down his face. "I swear if I open one of these and it's full of shoes—"
"Oh, it is," she said sweetly. "Shoes, skin balm, spare robes, emergency potions, my favorite pillow, snacks, the emergency-backup-snacks, and—"
"I get it," Zane groaned.
But before he could protest further, Sera turned to him, eyes twinkling with mischief. "By the way—you'll be carrying all five bags to the aircraft."
Zane blinked. "Why would I—"
"To show dominance," she said matter-of-factly. "Let the other boys know I'm already claimed."
Zane's smug grin faltered. "Wait, what?"
Sera skipped past him toward the door, humming. "Thanks, Zane!"
She closed the door behind her, leaving the tower of baggage and one dumbfounded boy behind.
Zane stared at the bags in silent defeat.
Nyx shimmered into view, arms crossed in midair. "And I'm the one with baggage? Look at you—Void Walker, Shadow Master, now... glorified luggage carrier."
Zane let out a sigh, crouching to grab the nearest suitcase. "Yeah, yeah. Keep talking while I figure out how to open a Void portal big enough for five bags and my pride."
Nyx snorted. "Oh, that ship has sailed, my friend."