Maximus ran with everything his body could muster, his breathing was uneven, and his chest was burning with every step.
His trembling hands clenched and unclenched as panic flooded his mind.
His eyes were moist, not from exhaustion alone, but from the fear that something precious was slipping away faster than he could chase it.
He sprinted toward the massive gates of the academy as his thoughts were in complete chaos.
He repeated the same idea again and again in his head. He had to leave, regardless of what it cost him, because if he stayed even a moment longer, everything would be lost.
The towering gates came into view, their enormous frames casting long shadows over the ground.
For a brief moment, the hope to just get an escape from the academy surged in his heart.
He pushed himself harder, ignoring the pain screaming through his tired muscles as he closed the distance.
