Standing in the academy hallway, near a large window that offered a clear view of the outside, Ash remained silent.
The grass, trees, and flowers swayed gently in the wind, painting a calm, almost dreamlike picture. But above that peaceful scenery, the sky was shrouded in dark clouds.
It was going to rain soon.
Ash wasn't alone. Beside him, Elva stood quietly. Her eyes didn't leave him—not even for a second. And this time, she was smiling. But her smile wasn't soft or kind.
It was sharp, the same dangerous kind she had worn the day she appeared during the academy's entrance exam. The kind of smile that made your instincts tingle and your guard rise.
"I knew you were special," she said, her voice smooth but laced with amusement. "But special enough to return alive from the Elven Continent? Now that… I didn't expect. So tell me, what exactly happened?"
