Mira adjusted her coat one last time, fingers tightening briefly at the cuffs.
The lecture hall was already buzzing—voices overlapping, chairs scraping, the restless energy of students who had heard rumors about today's guest lecture.
And yet…
Where is Professor Zane…?
Her eyes flicked toward the entrance again. Empty.
He should have been here by now.
She exhaled quietly and stepped into the corridor, boots echoing softly against the metal floor. The forge-scented air felt heavier than usual, like something was pressing down on her chest.
That was when she saw Grom.
He stood near one of the support pillars, arms crossed, beard neatly braided as always—but his eyes were sharp, alert.
"You ready, kid?" he asked.
Mira nodded, forcing a small smile.
"Yeah. As ready as I can be."
Grom glanced past her, then toward the far end of the corridor.
Still no sign of him.
He's still not here…
For just a heartbeat, an absurd thought crossed Grom's mind.
Did he run away…?
