The transport gate hummed with low energy as the light dissolved around us. When the light faded, the cold night air of the academy city hit us instantly.
We stood on one of the secondary arrival platforms in the upper part of the academy city. In the distance, the black spires and walls of Aegis Academy rose high above us, its glowing defensive runes shining softly through the night mist.
The city around it was huge — with streets, mana lamps, and buildings built to survive an attack. Even at this late hour, the city was quiet and still.
"Take those masks off," I said, unbuckling my own and letting it slip into my Void Pocket. "We're out of the underworld. We don't have to wear them now."
Caster removed his mask with a long sigh, rubbing his ]nose. "Man, I thought I was going to suffocate in that thing."
Julia pulled hers off carefully, shaking out her fluffy pink hair, while Malva simply removed hers with a quiet, efficient motion.
I looked down at Julian.
