Zephyr and Ki waited in Zephyr's room, the silence heavy and awkward. Ki lay on the bed, his eyes half-closed, while Zephyr tapped his fingers on the table, restless. They were both waiting—anxious—to hear what Septh had to say.
A knock on the door broke the quiet. Zephyr jumped up and opened it. Ki didn't move.
Septh stood there, clutching two books: The Lore of Summons and The Cycle of Devil. She hurried inside, gently pushing Zephyr aside, then peeked out the door before closing it. She dropped the books on the table and buried her face in her palms.
"We have to leave this place… as soon as possible," her voice trembled.
Zephyr stepped closer, concern written across his face. "Why? You've been acting strange lately… avoiding us. You don't even greet us properly anymore. What's going on?"
Septh looked up, her eyes darkened by sleepless nights and stress. "You don't understand," she whispered at first, then her voice cracked. "I… I don't know how to explain it."
For the first time, Ki spoke. He opened his eyes and glanced at the ceiling. "Everyone is acting… off," he said calmly. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Zephyr frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ki turned to him, his expression serious. "I can't explain everything… my knowledge is limited. But for now, we lie low. Act like we know nothing. And remember… the walls have ears, and the ceiling has a mouth. We have to be careful."
Zephyr swallowed hard. Septh nodded, her shoulders tensing, before quietly leaving the room.
Ki walked calmly to the balcony. He opened the door and leaped down. The fall barely made a sound; he landed lightly, a display of his training, then vanished into the darkness.
Zephyr, left alone, sank into a chair. The room felt heavy, oppressive. He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "What the hell is going on…?