Aeron's blade carved through the last ice wolf, its body collapsing into the snow with a final whimper. Around him, the courtyard lay littered with monster corpses, their dark blood steaming in the cold air.
Livia lowered her staff, her breathing slightly ragged.
Emilia's fingers trembled as she loosened her grip on the bowstring—both girls had held the line, covering Aeron's blind spots with fire and arrows.
"Clear," Aeron panted, wiping his sword on his sleeve.
"Let's follow after them, there might be more."
The three of them sprinted back toward the fleeing students, their boots crunching through crimson-stained snow.
The Grand Assembly Hall loomed ahead, its massive doors glowing with protective runes. At the entrance stood a slender figure with silver-rimmed glasses—Miss Luna, the academy's top-ranked student and librarian, waving urgently.
"Hurry!" she called, her voice cutting through the chaos.
