Around afternoon, William arrived at the gymnasium, hands tucked into his pockets as he stepped inside. The wide doors closed behind him with a dull thud, sealing off the outside world.
The space felt heavier than usual.
His eyes immediately caught several figures gathered near the center of the hall. Every one of them was an elder—professors and instructors whose presence alone carried authority. Their gazes were calm, sharp, and judging him already.
There were no students.
Officially, the academy had announced an inspection. Entry had been prohibited under the excuse of safety and protocol. But William knew better. So did Emma.
She had wanted to come along. The rule, however, was absolute. In the end, she had only smiled and told him she would wait—unwavewringly confident, as if the outcome had already been decided.
Thinking back to the certainty in her voice, William let out a faint chuckle.
