He stayed there, a statue carved from disbelief.
The crowd of students, once a buzzing hive of excitement, had thinned out, their chatter fading down the long, bright corridors.
One by one, they left for their new classrooms to see how it looked, their new buildings, the start of their new lives. But Azrael didn't move. He just stood there, his eyes locked on the glowing projection, on the name that felt like a death sentence.
On the other side of the hall, Selyne was also standing alone. Her mother had given her a quick, formal nod before parting ways, vanishing into the stream of faculty members.
She was alone. She wanted to make friends, to talk to someone, but she couldn't find the courage. Her eyes scanned the few remaining students until they landed on a familiar figure.
Azrael. The only person she knew here.
She saw the look on his face. It was an expression of pure, hollow shock, as if his soul had been scooped out, leaving an empty shell behind.
