The days passed in a blur of forced, meticulous normalcy.
Every evening, I maintained my cover, helping Kyle and Sira with the ridiculous Flame-Boar stall, perfectly blending into the background of the Academy's festival preparations.
But late at night, the real work was happening.
Mira had contacted me through the communication crystal. The operation was an absolute success.
Her squad had completely demolished the stone bridge at the canyon pass, severing the Capital Syndicate's southern trade route. But Mira hadn't stopped there. She had also intercepted a series of panicked, encrypted letters Marcus had been desperately exchanging with his family's underground handlers in the capital.
I stood in my quiet dorm room, staring out the window at the setting sun casting long, bloody shadows across the academy grounds.
"Just one thing left," I murmured softly.
Then grabbed my forged exit pass, slipped out of the dormitory, and walked briskly toward the main academy gates.
