The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, bruised shadows over the residential district surrounding Ares Academy.
Zen walked down the brick-lined street with his hands stuffed into his pockets and his boot heels clicking softly against the pavement. The simple matte-black iron ring sat snugly on his finger, its runes compressing his Low A-Rank mana pathways down to a quiet, unremarkable D-Rank.
Maya walked close to his side, her fingers lightly gripping his elbow. Her wooden healer's staff was slung over her back, and she kept casting anxious glances over her shoulder.
"Zen..." she whispered. "Are you sure they didn't follow us?"
"They are S-Rank entities under strict core suppression," Zen said calmly. "Even if they wanted to shadow us, they can't do it without Nyx's network. And Nyx is currently registering her student ID. Relax, Maya. We are going to the townhouse. It's warded."
