Entering the back corridors of Killian Hall's sprawling training grounds, I moved quietly through the restricted access zone, led by two professors acting as my guides.
Their expressions were unreadable, their steps brisk, but there was a clear hint of respect—or perhaps wariness—in their tone as they gestured toward the private waiting area.
"This way. Please take a seat. Miss Alice will arrive shortly."
With a small nod, I stepped into the waiting room and sat down.
The moment I sank into the cushioned bench, a quiet stillness washed over me.
Despite the years that had passed since I'd last been here, the room looked more or less the same.
Dim lighting filtered through mana-infused glass panels, giving everything a gentle violet hue.
The polished floor remained unblemished, and the enchanted clock on the far wall ticked forward with its soft chimes.
A faint scent of old books and fresh ink lingered in the air. It was nostalgic.
But not everything was untouched.
