The sun rose lazily over the horizon, stretching golden tendrils of light across the academy grounds as if brushing them gently awake from their slumber.
Birds chirped above the swaying trees, their melodies harmonizing with the rustling of the morning breeze that weaved through the open courtyards like an invisible dancer.
On the surface, it seemed like any other ordinary day—students shuffling into classrooms, instructors barking early orders, and the familiar rhythm of footsteps echoing through the tiled hallways.
But beneath the serene surface, a shift lingered—subtle, elusive, and most of all… troubling.
Alex felt it in his chest.
A hollow ache, like a song missing its final note.
He sat at the edge of his bed that morning, staring at the floor with a furrowed brow.
The events of the previous day looped in his mind like a haunting melody without resolution.
He couldn't put his finger on it, but something—something important—had slipped through his grasp.
