***
Ren sprinted across the academy grounds, his breath sharp and uneven.
The evening air stung his lungs, and the faint taste of smoke lingered on his tongue.
The once serene campus was now blanketed in dust and crackling embers.
Broken mana lights flickered weakly along the pathways, struggling to stay alive as faint wisps of arcane energy danced around the shattered tiles.
He could still hear the echo of the explosion, a haunting, rolling sound that refused to fade.
Every step he took closer made his chest tighten.
As he turned a corner, the full sight of the devastation came into view.
The courtyard was ruined, a wide crater tore through the center, its edges still glowing with traces of blue mana.
The air shimmered faintly from heat, and the scent of burned stone filled his nose.
Debris was scattered everywhere, from shattered bricks to fragments of barrier runes that still sparked faintly before dying out.
Ren slowed his pace, eyes darting around.
"Rihana…"
