After a while, Zeruel finally arrived.
Her breathing was ragged, chest rising and falling with every gasping breath as if her lungs were on fire. Strands of her long hair stuck to her damp cheeks, and her shoulders trembled lightly from exhaustion. She must have sprinted here with everything she had with no hesitation as well as no rest.
She stood there, catching her breath, sweat glistening on her forehead under the soft glow of the nearby crystals. Her body heaved slightly, and the way she clutched the worn bag in her hands said enough.
Judging by its contents—bundles of wrapped vegetables, a few jars, and other small items—she had clearly been shopping at the market. It wasn't hard to imagine that she had been on her way home, and the moment she heard the message, she dropped everything and ran.
So she ran… all the way here. Without stopping. From the Market City to the Academy City. That wasn't a short walk—let alone a sprint.
