On the next day!
Everyone in the first years had gathered at ground zero.
Elysia tied her long hair into a loose braid and adjusted the edge of her training robe, her brows knitting slightly as she scanned the crowd.
The field, usually buzzing with chatter, felt hollow today.
Students were whispering in small groups, exchanging glances toward the empty rows where two of their friends were missing.
"Where's Jin?" someone whispered.
"I heard he didn't show up yesterday either," another replied.
"And Cecelia too. Did they skip class today too?"
"Cecelia and Jin are absent…" she murmured under her breath, her voice almost lost to the morning wind.
"Does it… have to do with Kael?"
Her gaze flicked toward the far side of the field.
Kael stood alone near the line of trees, drenched in sweat.
He'd just finished his laps — faster than most, even though his expression showed clear exhaustion.
his shirt clung to his chest, and his hair was slick with sweat.
