The academy's bells tolled noon, their deep resonance rolling across the sprawling campus. The sound seemed to vibrate through the cobblestone paths and into the walls of every building, carrying a kind of weight that made students pause mid-step, mid-sentence.
Classes had just dismissed, and the hallways of the central building buzzed with voices, students chattering about assignments, duels, and the recent rumors of Jae's feats. Some whispered about the fight in the southern wilds, half in awe, half in disbelief.
Jae moved through them with easy confidence, each step measured, deliberate. He wasn't in a hurry, but neither did he linger unnecessarily. His crimson eyes scanned the hall as he walked, unbothered by the curious stares that followed him.
