"If they were so successful, why did Eleanor leave?"
The room fell into a brief, heavy silence following Irina's question. The unspoken tension hung in the air, as if the cadets were collectively turning the question over in their minds but reluctant to voice their speculations. Even Julia, usually quick to fill the silence with a quip, remained quiet, her brow furrowed slightly.
Ethan shifted in his seat, his gaze dropping to his tablet as though the answer might magically appear there. "That's… a good question," he said finally, his voice quieter than usual. "I've heard a few things, but nothing concrete."
"Same," Lilia admitted, her tone unusually restrained. "There are rumors, of course, but…" She trailed off, her green eyes flicking toward the front of the room as if half-expecting Eleanor to materialize and hear her thoughts.
Julia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Rumors? Like what?"