The silence shattered as students jerked in their seats, their breaths uneven, eyes darting wildly despite the suffocating darkness. A metallic clang rang out, followed by the unmistakable whisper of something sharp slicing through the air.
A yelp—a short, panicked cry—before being abruptly silenced.
Liam remained still, senses sharpening. 'Tch. A test, huh? Just great. Like I needed another reminder of the damn dark forest.'
Beside him, Charlotte let out a low chuckle, entirely unbothered. "Oh? They're really going for this on the first day? Fun."
Then—movement. Swift. Unpredictable. A rush of air to the left. Someone flinched violently, a sharp gasp swallowed by tension.
And then, a voice—smooth, teasing, laced with amusement. "Come on, kids. You're supposed to be learning Tactical Espionage, and you're already panicking? Tsk, tsk." Seraphina.
Kaine's voice followed, blunt and cold. "Better start reacting."
