They heard it before they saw it.
The screeching came in bursts - sharp, layered with a distorsion that made Raizen's head ache. It bounced off the trunks and platforms and came at them from every direction at once, making it almost impossible to pin down exactly where it was coming from. Except they already knew. The Academy. Straight ahead.
Kenzo passed through the gate first. He didn't slow down - just dropped his shoulder so he wouldn't hit the edge, boots slamming the wet wood as he crossed the outer walkway and cut toward the main training platforms. Raizen and Saffi were seconds behind him, rounding the last trunk -
And then they saw it.
The main training platform was chaos.
