The sky cracked open like a curtain being drawn too fast. A pillar of white light burst down from the clouds, humming like some divine elevator from the heavens. Wind kicked up around the Ostarius courtyard—gravel scattering, cloaks flapping, trees groaning as branches bent toward the source.
Then—fwump.
Two figures emerged from the beam. Adam, boots first, coat trailing behind him like a cloak cut from midnight, and beside him, Joshua, with that annoying smirk still plastered on his face like it was tattooed there.
The light vanished. The world went still.
Adam blinked once.
Then again.
They weren't alone.
Every single person from the forge room was out in the courtyard. Aurora. Kaiden. Alfred. Aria. Alexandria. Jordan. Veyrion. Even Draken, who looked like he'd only just woken up from a nap he didn't consent to. They were all staring.
Not just looking. Staring.
