The lantern inside the dormitory flickered once.
Footsteps stopped outside the half-closed door.
Inside the room, silence fell instantly. Every movement halted, as though danger had reached the threshold and was waiting only for the signal to begin its hunt.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The person outside did not knock.
The door suddenly swung open with a loud creak.
A boy stepped inside.
He appeared younger than Kiaria–perhaps fifteen or sixteen at most. His hair was messy, and his clothes were worn in a careless way that suggested either poverty or complete indifference to order. Without hesitation, he jumped into the room, both feet landing on the wooden floor at the same time, as if the place belonged to him.
Everyone except Kiaria stood immediately.
Mu Long frowned.
"Where did this brat come from?"
"How rude," Aizrel added sharply.
Ru and Yi, however, were not watching the boy's face. Their attention had shifted to his clothing.
