The sound of shattered glass rang through the café as the ground shook again.
Screams filled the air.
Plates clattered to the floor, and the soft amber glow from the lamps turned into a chaos of flickering light and rising smoke.
Lyrium's heartbeat spiked. His instincts kicked in before thought.
"Not now, fuck!!"
He hissed, voice sharp and low as static crackled faintly around his fingers.
He turned on his heel and rushed back inside.
Tables had toppled, people were ducking for cover, and through it all, Maya.
She was on the floor, half-dazed, one hand shielding her head as dust fell from the ceiling.
"Maya!"
Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice.
"L-Lyrium! What, what's happening !?"
He grabbed her wrist firmly, pulling her to her feet.
"We're under attack. Or something close to it."
Her eyes widened.
"Attack? Here?! That's impossible! The academy's barrier—"
"—should've stopped anything less than a Sage-level strike,"
