We pushed through the crowd and made our way deeper into the main hall. The atmosphere somehow felt even heavier now that classes had ended. Students clustered beneath the massive elder tree growing at the center of the academy building, while others crowded around the stone walkways circling it.
The elder tree stretched upward through the open center of the academy, its silver bark glowing softly beneath the sunlight pouring from the glass ceiling far above. Wooden bridges and corridors wrapped around the trunk across multiple floors, making the entire hall feel alive.
And packed.
Students were everywhere.
Some sat beneath the tree discussing strategies while others leaned against the railings overlooking the lower floors. Quite a few had already changed into partial combat gear instead of wearing their regular academy uniforms. Leather guards, light armor pieces, reinforced gloves, weapon belts… everyone suddenly looked far more serious than usual.
