Then, a slow clap echoed through the courtyard.
From the edge of the devastation, the Headmaster appeared, descending from the sky in a trail of shimmering light. His robes fluttered gently, untouched by the chaos.
Alaric's gaze swept the scene—the ruined benches, the fractured ground, the corpse of a demon, and Kaidën standing alone amidst it all.
"Impressive," he said quietly. "And terrifying."
Kaidën didn't turn. He simply whispered, "He wasn't human anymore."
"No. He wasn't," Alaric agreed, his tone unreadable. "But you... are?"
Kaidën remained silent. The golden-black glow still flickered faintly along his arms, his mana barely reined in. For a moment, Alaric saw not a boy—but a force.
Something ancient. Something reborn.
"I'll have to make arrangements," the Headmaster said finally. "The academy cannot ignore this."
Kaidën gave a faint nod. "Do what you must."
