Lio Han walked calmly through the corridors of the Alchemists Association.
His steps were firm and measured, the pace of someone who knew every inch of that place, who had walked those staircases thousands of times over the decades.
Kyrian walked beside him.
The two descended the stairs toward the first floor while occasionally conversing about herbs and alchemy, about the properties of rare materials, about refining techniques from different regions, and about the differences between the Northern and Southern alchemical schools.
Lio Han seemed genuinely interested in Kyrian's answers. The young man not only knew what he was talking about, he had opinions. Perspectives. Real understanding, not mere memorization.
But before they could even reach the exit...
A scream echoed through the hall.
"AAARRRGHHHHH!"
The sound was so loud that it reverberated through the walls, multiplying itself, creating a cacophony of pain that filled every corner of the space.
Then came another.
