The iron gates of Obsidian Fang Academy loomed over the city like the jaws of a prehistoric beast, permanently frozen in a silent roar.
Usually, passing through them brought a sense of dread.
Today, however, passing through them felt like walking into a blender set to "puree."
Kael crossed the threshold, his badge safely tucked away in his pocket, and was immediately assaulted by a wall of noise.
It was Exam Week.
On Earth, exam week meant libraries filled with hushed whispers, the smell of coffee, and students having quiet mental breakdowns over textbooks. It was psychological torture, yes, but it was stationary.
In Myrraden, exam week was a contact sport.
"Clear the path! My familiar is unstable!"
Kael barely sidestepped as a frantic first-year mage sprinted past him, trailing a cloud of purple smoke that smelled like burning sulfur. A small, goblin-like creature was clinging to the boy's head, screeching and trying to eat his ear.
