Myra stepped into the courtyard with a stack of fresh reports clutched in her hands.
The papers rustled in the light breeze as she scanned the gate at the far end of the stone path.
Her sharp beast-like senses picked up the faint sound of footsteps—a group approaching from outside.
Myra narrowed her eyes.
"Who enters the academy at this hour?"
A group of strangers was striding confidently through the entrance gate.
They wore dark blue uniforms with silver trim, a style unfamiliar to most Arcadia students.
At the front of the group walked a middle-aged man wearing a long coat, flanked by two younger men who carried themselves like seasoned fighters and other teachers.
Myra's instincts flared. The aura of these strangers carried neither the calm grace of Arcadia professors nor the respectful caution of visiting scholars.
She tossed the papers onto a nearby bench and strode forward.
