[Some time ago]
The air in the underground chamber was damp and heavy, the kind that clung to the lungs with every breath. Faint torchlight flickered across stone walls lined with ancient inscriptions, shadows stretching over the gathered figures of Arcadia Academy's most powerful instructors. At the center of the chamber, a crystal screen shimmered faintly, streams of glowing letters reporting intelligence from scouts and informants.
Halreth, the knight instructor, crossed his arms, his stern jaw tightening.
"Hmph," he scoffed, his voice sharp with contempt. "Those cultists… do they truly think they can outsmart us every time?"
A ripple of agreement swept through the chamber, several instructors sneering under their breath. But before the mood could rise further, a single, steel-edged word cut across the room.
"Silence."
