I could hear snippets of conversations drifting down the hallways as I walked through the academy.
"Can you believe an apex monster got that close to the academy? It's supposed to be one of the safest places in the world!" one voice said.
"I heard they barely managed to bring it down. What if it happens again?" another replied.
"They're saying the academy might have to increase security tenfold after this," a third added, shaking her head.
The chatter wasn't just idle gossip. In response to the growing backlash, the academy had issued official statements promising sweeping new security measures. Yet even with those assurances, the incident had shaken public trust. Parents fretted. Guild representatives questioned safety protocols. And students whispered nervously among themselves, wondering what this meant for their future.
