The sun had long begun its descent, casting a deep orange hue across the academy's sprawling courtyards and looming towers. Students were returning to their dorms, the air filled with tired chatter and the occasional laughter. But amidst the shadows of the stone walls and quiet corridors, something darker was stirring.
Prince Raelius von Horsen, the fourth prince of the Horsen Empire, scowled as he sat beneath the arched window of his lavish private quarters in the C-Class dormitory. His fists were clenched, and his breath came out in short huffs of rage. Around him stood a handful of loyal followers—sons of nobles, eager sycophants clinging to his coattails for political favor.
