As soon as Jax made it back to the inn he spotted hordes of people in the streets discussing some hot topic. At three in the morning.
He ignored them and moved toward the stairs where he spotted his group of girls. Lavinia was the first to react, screaming his name from a distance while sprinting toward him with a face that told him something had gone very wrong.
He scanned the rest. Evangeline was rubbing her forehead with visible frustration. Delphine looked worried, which was a first. And Athanasia was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
But one person was missing.
Lavinia reached him gasping for air. "Professor! There... there is terrible news—"
Jax cut through her words without blinking. "Where is Tempris?"
Lavinia's face crumbled. "That's... that's what the news is. The others said that right after you left, the Grand Marshal himself showed up. He brought an entire battalion along with Imperial Mages. They... they took her away."
