Two months passed.
And the academy had grown stale.
With the death of five students during the portal expedition, the school entered lockdown.
First-years were barred from entering any portals. Training continued, but the excitement—the sense of purpose—faded.
Of course, death wasn't rare. Everyone understood the risks when they signed up. But this time was different. It wasn't just that students had died—it was who had died.
Evolved students.
And it was targeted.
The academy didn't explain anything. Nothing about what really happened.
Most students didn't know that the bodies recovered had been stripped of their cores.
That the wounds weren't caused by a monster at all, but made to look like it.
Without that information, rumors stayed mild. A few believed the lockdown was overblown.
Others assumed the school just didn't want more negative attention. As far as they were concerned, cursed kids dying in a portal was unfortunate—but not surprising.
