The camp didn't seem to share his sense of humor.
Weapons came up almost instantly – steel, mana, spells ready at bay. The loose structure Darius had been building was showing, students shifting into position without needing to be told twice.
Elara moved first.
"Stop."
Her voice cut cleanly through the noise as she stepped forward, hand already raised, mana gathering faintly at her fingertips. Her eyes locked past Ronan, and then on the figures behind him.
"Identify yourselves."
"We are class A," the leader of the group said. "Lower your weapons. We are not here to fight."
Darius' gaze landed on Ronan.
For the first time since he stepped into the clearing, the attention was fully on him.
"Explain."
No anger, just questioning.
Ronan didn't answer immediately.
He let the silence sit for a fraction longer than comfortable, just enough for everyone else to feel it, and then he opened his mouth to speak.
"They already knew we were here."
A few students stiffened.
