The ancient towers of Celestial Harmony Academy pierced the morning sky like spears of crystalline light, but beneath their serene beauty, the most prestigious institution on the continent writhed in the grip of its greatest crisis.
Protocol Seven had transformed the academy from a place of learning into a fortress under siege, its barriers humming with power that could repel armies while trapping enemies within.
Headmaster Valdris Celestine moved through the academy's corridors with the fluid grace of a Pre-Celestial cultivator, his senses extended to encompass every corner of the sprawling complex.
The lockdown had been necessary, but it had also created a pressure cooker where infiltrators, legitimate students, and faculty were all confined together while the truth slowly emerged.
"Archive Vault Seven status report," he commanded through the communication network that connected every major facility within the academy grounds.
