The faint glow of the evening sun poured through the Veyl Academy's glass hallways, orange light reflecting across the polished tiles where seven figures gathered.
After weeks of uneasy calm since the Battle of Tildaroot, Team Nine had finally begun to heal wounds closing, laughter returning little by little.
But as the air stilled, something shifted.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
Every head turned.
It was Juno Arkai.
He walked slowly toward them, his usual composed face drawn with quiet tension.
The faint insignia of Taishin still glowed faintly on his neck — a mark of both power and burden.
Khael tilted his head, brows furrowing.
"Juno?"
Juno stopped before them, holding a sealed scroll in his hand.
He met Khael's eyes, and for a moment, no words came out just the sound of the wind outside, whistling through the Academy's glass panes.
Then finally
"We have a new mission, guys."
The words dropped like a stone into still water.
