Behind him, Ethan heard one of the students whisper something, a quiet curse maybe, or just a breath they couldn't keep inside. He didn't turn.
His voice stayed calm. "Don't move."
That was all he said.
And no one did.
Sera placed her back to the injured girl she was carrying and adjusted her feet, steadying her center of gravity, ready to block if anything broke through.
Evelyn and Everly slipped away from the center and took opposite sides of the path ahead, not because they were planning to strike first, but because if anything else came from the sides, they'd be ready to intercept.
Mei crouched down, her hand pressing against the forest floor, eyes narrowing as she listened through the earth, her other hand wrapped loosely around the handle of her blade.
Ethan hadn't moved yet.
His sword was still sheathed at his side.
He kept his eyes on the beast.
And the beast looked right back at him.
