As she walked through the academy's wide corridors, Azara acknowledged the greetings directed toward her with polite nods. Whenever she encountered fellow junior or senior professors, she responded with the appropriate smile and exchanged a few courteous words.
Yet, every one of those interactions felt hollow. Her expressions were perfect, and her manners were impeccable, but none of it carried any genuine meaning.
It was already morning, and the academy was as lively as ever; students moved between buildings, discussions filled the pathways, and the atmosphere buzzed with the energy of another productive day. Meanwhile, Azara's thoughts were focused elsewhere entirely.
Her primary objective was simple in theory but troublesome in practice: she needed to find a way to introduce Aezaleon and Aphryne into the academy while attracting as little attention as possible. The process had to be seamless, quiet, and free of unnecessary complications.
