A Night Out and a Morning Lecture

The evening buzzed with excitement as J.J. bounced into the common area of the Lumina Dorms, practically vibrating with energy. His tousled hair and infectious grin immediately caught everyone’s attention.

“Alright, crew!” he announced, clapping his hands together. “Tonight, we’re hitting The Stardust Lounge. They’ve got glow-drinks, live music, and some of the best human craft beers. Who’s in?”

The room erupted in a mix of cheers and laughter. Lyssara’s purple eyes lit up, and she nudged Rynar with a smirk. “Sounds fun, right? We need to see how J.J. drinks everyone under the table.”

Rynar chuckled, strumming his kylarith absentmindedly. “I’m in, as long as there’s good music.”

“I could use a break,” Drakven admitted, leaning back in his chair. “What about you, Kaelion?”

Kaelion glanced up from the book he was reading, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he seemed to weigh the offer, his fingers brushing the edge of the page. "I’ll come," he said at last, his tone steady but carrying a hint of curiosity.

J.J. pumped a fist in the air. “Yes! Even the stoic Kaelion can’t resist a good pub night.”

“Not everyone can,” Velira interjected, her tone apologetic. “But I’ll have to pass. I’ve been meaning to check out The Nexus Library tonight. They just added some new holographic archives on human literature.”

Clara looked at her friend with a mix of admiration and exasperation. “Velira, you work too hard. Take a night off for once.”

Velira shook her head with a small smile. “I’ll catch up with you all another time. Have fun!”

With that, the group split. Velira headed towards the towering spires of the Nexus Library, while the rest made their way to The Stardust Lounge.

The Stardust Lounge was as lively as ever. Warm, golden lights from old Edison-style bulbs mingled with the soft glow of zaylaran drinks, while the faint strum of live acoustic music and the hum of conversation created a welcoming ambiance. The subtle tang of citrus from freshly opened glow-drinks and the earthy aroma of polished wood added to the sensory tapestry of the room. J.J. was in his element, ordering a round of drinks and corralling everyone into a booth.

“Alright, people,” J.J. said, holding up a shimmering blue glow-drink. “To Earth, Zaylara, and everything in between!”

“Cheers!” everyone echoed, raising their glasses.

Lyssara took a long sip and grinned. “Okay, J.J., what’s the big deal about these human party tricks you keep boasting about?”

“Oh, you want party tricks? Watch and learn,” J.J. said with a wink. He grabbed a stack of coasters and began flipping them one by one off the back of his hand, catching each in midair. As the stack grew, so did the cheers.

“Impressive,” Rynar said, nodding. “But can you still do it after three more drinks?”

J.J. grinned. “Challenge accepted.”

Kaelion sat quietly at the edge of the booth, sipping his drink and observing the others. Clara, seated across from him, caught his eye and offered a small smile. He nodded in return but remained silent.

As the night wore on, Clara leaned over to Kaelion. “Hey, do you have the zaylaran teachers’ office hours? I didn’t get a copy, and I’d like to put them up with the human ones in the dorm.”

Kaelion set his glass down. “I don’t have a copy with me, but I know them.”

“Oh, that’s okay. You can give them to me later.”

Kaelion shook his head. “I can tell you now. It’s quicker.”

They began discussing the schedule, their voices low but focused. Rynar noticed and leaned back, laughing. “You two need to relax. Leave the school stuff for tomorrow.”

Clara waved him off. “Just a minute.”

As they finished, the others exchanged amused glances. “You’re like night and day,” Lyssara teased. “But when it comes to work, you’re both unstoppable.”

Kaelion’s expression didn’t change, but Clara laughed. “Maybe that’s why we work well together.”

Meanwhile, J.J. had moved on to challenging Lyssara to a game of darts, claiming Earth’s games were superior. Lyssara laughed as her first throw missed the board entirely. “You’re on!” she declared, determination lighting her features.

When it was finally time to leave, Drakven swayed slightly as he stood. “I might have overdone it,” he admitted.

Kaelion moved to his side without a word, steadying him. “Let’s go.”

J.J., still loud and exuberant, led the way back to the dorms, singing a half-remembered tune. Lyssara tried to grab another drink, but Clara and Sarah stopped her.

“Not a good idea,” Sarah said firmly.

“Fine, fine,” Lyssara grumbled, though she didn’t resist.

Emily and Noah lagged behind, exchanging shy smiles. When the group’s patience wore thin, they finally shared a quick kiss before catching up, leaving everyone groaning in mock exasperation.

The next morning was unkind to several of them. J.J., Lyssara, and Drakven shuffled into the lecture hall, clearly nursing hangovers. Velira, bright-eyed, raised an eyebrow at them but said nothing.

Clara and Kaelion arrived early, carrying stacks of books and equipment for the lecture. Clara tried to grab more to lighten Kaelion’s load, but he refused.

“I’m fine,” he said simply, adjusting his pace to match hers.

“You don’t have to carry everything,” Clara insisted. “I can handle more.”

Kaelion glanced at her, his tone calm. “It’s not a problem.”

She sighed but didn’t press further. “Well, I’m excited for this lecture. Dr. Thompson always has great demonstrations.”

Kaelion nodded. “It should be interesting.”

They set up the lecture hall, arranging books and tools as instructed. Clara spotted Sarah rushing in just before the lecture began and smiled. “Made it just in time.”

Sarah grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Dr. Harold Thompson entered, his presence commanding but approachable. “Good morning, class. Today, we’ll explore the histories of Earth and Zaylara.”

Velira’s hand shot up immediately, her curiosity driving the lecture forward. "Dr. Thompson," she began, "how did early Earth-Zaylaran alliances influence technological exchange?" The room stilled, her peers momentarily captivated by the depth of her question. The class engaged enthusiastically, even the hungover ones managing to participate.

The lecture delved into the complexities of cross-cultural exchanges, the hurdles faced during early alliances, and the breakthroughs that reshaped interstellar travel. Dr. Thompson’s engaging anecdotes about the pioneers of these advancements kept the room spellbound. Even J.J. managed to jot down a few notes between groans about his headache.

Afterward, Dr. Thompson asked Clara and Kaelion to help pack up. As Clara gathered papers, she winced. “Ow!”

Kaelion was at her side instantly. “What happened?”

“Just a paper cut,” she said, waving it off.

Kaelion frowned and pulled out a small bandage from his pocket, carefully wrapping her finger. His hands worked with a surprising gentleness, and Clara felt a brief warmth at the care he showed. For a moment, she wondered what lay beneath his composed exterior, but the thought was fleeting, lost as she glanced up to see his usual calm expression. “Be more careful.”

Clara blinked at him, surprised by his gentleness. “Thanks, Kaelion.”

He didn’t reply, focusing on the task at hand. But Clara couldn’t help but smile, beginning to see a side of him she hadn’t noticed before.

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