Suddenly, just as Nolan's foot hovered over the villa's threshold, Lirazel's voice rang out, sharp, clear, and filled with desperation.
"Master! Where are you going?!" Her tone cracked through the night like a whip, stopping Nolan cold in his tracks. The breeze that had tugged at his cloak now felt like chains, holding him in place.
Nolan clenched his jaw. He turned, eyes blazing with resolve, heart pounding as if it might break free from his chest.
"Lirazel," he said, breath heavy, "my students are out there. They're fighting, probably dying, and I—" he pointed at himself with a trembling finger "—am their teacher. I have to help them. That's my responsibility!"
