Meanwhile, back at the academy, news spread quickly that four masters rushed into a portal under emergency conditions. The word traveled like wildfire through the halls, whispered from student to student, passed along in hurried conversations between classes. Within minutes, nearly everyone on campus knew that something serious was happening.
Classes were disrupted for the rest of the day as students and staff speculated about what could be serious enough to pull so many high-ranking figures away at once. Teachers tried to maintain order, to keep lessons moving forward, but it was hopeless. Students whispered to each other, leaning across desks, passing notes, checking their wrist devices for any official announcements. The atmosphere was tense, charged with nervous energy and barely contained curiosity.
