The afternoon light filtered lazily through the clouds above the three Villa, casting long shadows across empty walkways and flower-trimmed stone paths.
Silence reigned.
Not the usual screams of bullying victims, not the distant hum of power from sparring students, and definitely not the moans leaking from windows above. The hostel grounds were deserted—like a ghost town.
Except for one.
Anessa walked the courtyard of the Destroyers Abode barefoot, her shoes swinging loosely from her hand. Her long coat trailed behind her like royalty too bored to care. She hummed softly, circling the koi pond, letting her fingers skim the surface.
Then—she paused.
Ahead, past the courtyard gate, a small group approached.
They are not first years. This was the first thing she noticed about them as they were dressed in the Academy uniform—their batch have not started classes officially, so no uniform.
