The air in the desert was thick and heavy, as if the sun itself had decided to bear down harder on them after Luca's words. Sand shifted beneath their boots, every crunch echoing louder than it should in the silence.
"It was definitely a corrupted beast," Luca said, his tone low but steady.
Everyone around him nodded grimly.
Eric broke the silence first, his brows furrowed. "What does this mean?"
Selena's sharp voice cut in immediately, her eyes narrowing. "But how can cultists be here? And if they really are here… then why did the academy send us here without a single word?"
Her suspicion rang loud in everyone's minds. Luca remained silent, his gaze sinking into thought. What are they planning?
Eric crossed his arms. "But we don't know for sure that the cultists are here, right? Just one corrupted beast doesn't prove anything."
Luca's lips tightened. That's possible as well… but wait— His eyes snapped to the Saintess.
