His voice echoed as his body vanished completely, leaving only the faint scent of ash.
Jin dropped to the ground, exhausted. "Please tell me that was the last one."
Edwin groaned. "If it's not, I quit the academy."
Cecelia sank to her knees. "That… thing… was it only Rank B?"
Kael stood still, breathing heavily. He didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the spot where Zereth had disappeared.
Elysia wiped blood from her lip. "Kael."
He looked at her.
She hesitated, then said quietly, "Whatever that shard is… it's calling them. You know that, don't you?"
Kael didn't reply.
He just stared into the crimson mist, the words of Zereth Kaine echoing in his mind.
The seals have begun to break.
The ground trembled beneath Kael's boots, shaking dust loose from the shattered ruins.
Kael turned slightly, his red shard pulsing faintly within his chest. (I'm wasting too much time here…) he thought.
(They can handle this. If I stay, I'll draw more of them… I should leave—)
