Gasps rippled through the crowd the moment Safa stood up.
She hadn't just volunteered, she was already walking forward, head high and hands behind her head, completely surrendering herself.
"The Saintess? No, she can't…" someone whispered, barely audible.
"Damn it… it should be us going instead," another muttered through clenched teeth.
There was a painful stir among the students. Many of them had been healed by Safa, comforted by her during the worst moments of this nightmare. She'd been their anchor, their hope, and now, she was walking straight into what could only be her death.
They hated themselves for letting her go. Guilt twisted in their guts like blades. But even then… not a single person moved. Not one stood up to take her place.
No one wanted to die.
Some glanced toward Liam, Beatrix, even Dame, but Safa had already raised a subtle hand behind her back, signaling for them to stay down. Don't act.
The man leading the masked mages tilted his head with amusement.
