Thalen rested both hands on the table, his hair disheveled and a dark scowl twisting his expression.
In front of him, Alystren and three other people stood waiting.
Silence stretched between them before he exhaled heavily.
"Helena still cannot be contacted?"
The one beside Alystren—a slim, freckled boy—slowly adjusted his glasses and clutched the book he was hugging.
"I tried to track her location with the item, but the last trace I could find was the academy island."
Thalen's scowl deepened.
"There have been reports of seismic shockwaves surging through the air all the way from the academy. The Aerial Transportation Body passed an urgent warning that no airship should traverse the academy route. As if that weren't enough, Fhugal has been completely wiped from the surface. Everything has vanished."
Alystren, folding his arms, added:
