Oliver Hestia, the Student Council President, sat stiff and grim by the fire. Noah Blake was at his side, his sharp eyes flicking around like a predator even in this unnatural silence. Between them sat Emily Ludwig.
Arthur's heartbeat stopped the moment his gaze fell on her.
Emily…
Before he even realized it, his body moved. His shadows surged, and he drifted across the camp like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, he landed right in front of them.
Gasps echoed.
"Enemy!!" someone shouted.
The entire group reacted instantly. Their nerves had been stretched thin for hours, and instinct ruled. Blades slashed, spears thrust, spells flared alive. Oliver lunged with his sword, Noah's spear shot forward like a lightning bolt, and Emily herself reflexively unleashed a sharp burst of light magic.
The attacks hit with explosive force, blasting the ground where Arthur stood. The air roared as dust and smoke swallowed the center of the camp.
