Chapter 440
As the heavy doors creaked open with a low metallic groan, a rush of colder, pressurized air spilled outward, carrying the scent of polished stone, worn leather, and faint iron. And then, they saw it.
The Grand Hall of the academy stretched out like a cathedral of discipline and war.
Vaulted ceilings soared overhead, carved from obsidian-veined stone and supported by massive rib-like beams etched with protective runes.
Hanging from the beams were long crimson banners, each one marked with the emblems of top students and past victors of the academy's brutal internal tournaments.
Down the middle of the expansive floor lay a central walkway of dark marble, flanked on both sides by towering stone columns and branching corridors.
To the left, a corridor stretched toward the combat arenas and sparring chambers. The air there was warmer, tinged with the sharp scent of sweat and blood.
