Chapter 86: Betrayal Unveiled
The tremors had subsided, but the tension in the air had not. Valen stood on the balcony of the academy's central tower, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Below, the courtyard buzzed with activity as students and faculty alike tried to make sense of the sudden, violent surge of energy. It had rippled through every corner of the campus, shattering the fragile calm that had lingered since the failsafe's activation.
Behind him, the door creaked open. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"They're calling it an anomaly," Aylara said, stepping onto the balcony and leaning against the stone railing. Her voice was quiet but sharp. "The council's downplaying it, trying to keep everyone calm. But you and I both know better."
Valen nodded, his expression unreadable. "It wasn't just an anomaly. The energy was too focused, too deliberate."
"The Black Vow?" she asked.
