Noah stood at the edge of the academy woods, staring at the darkness that filled it.
There was no moon overhead, only a blanket of clouds that smothered the stars and left the world in near-total darkness.
The academy stood behind him, quiet as ever. Guards patrolled the inner grounds, but none of them watched this far out. At least not a constant patrol.
He had managed to slip away unnoticed, something he hadn't been sure he'd be able to do without the use of magic. But somehow, he'd managed it.
The night air was cold against his skin as he stepped beneath the trees. Leaves rustled softly, disturbed by unseen creatures retreating deeper into the forest.
This place was officially part of the academy's territory, but it was wild enough that few students ever ventured here without supervision.
And now, he needed a powerful magical beast.
His jaw tightened. If he ventured out to get one, he didn't even know if dragging such a thing back onto campus was possible.
