River stared blankly at the ground for a long moment after Alerus limped away. Then, with a slap to his cheek, he forced himself up and began to rummage. Tossing aside anything that wasn’t essential.

  Behind him, his friends stirred.

  River turned and swallowed hard.

  "I have to go," he said, voice low but steady. They traded looks. It was Amalia spoke first, her tone sharp and unyielding.

  "We’re coming, you wouldn’t fucking survive without us." River let out a hollow chuckle. He didn’t have the energy to argue, and truthfully, part of him was relieved. What would happen to them if they followed him?

  "Fine. Gather your things. Meet at the entrance before dawn."

  Dumping Emery’s book into Lud’s void backpack, River strapped it across his back and slipped into the darkened corridors. The air smelled of iron and smoke. As he moved through the halls, the bloodstains from the night's violence, blood spattered along the stone floor. At the bend of the hall, his stomach lurched. Stumbling, he braced himself against the cold wall as bile rose in his throat. He retched, but nothing came — only a hollow ache that wracked his body. He wiped the corners of his mouth and forced his legs to move.

  He slipped into the library — once a refuge, now droned in shadows. Every step pricked at him. He looked over his shoulder. What if the shadows started to move? What if Philip was here, waiting?

  He dismissed it. Fear clouded judgment — and hesitation killed.

  Moving quickly, he reached the restricted section, slipping through the concealed entrance.

  He unshouldered the void bag and summoned Emery’s book with a thought. It materialized in midair, humming faintly with suppressed power — Emery’s spectral head already drifting above the open pages. “I need your help,” River whispered. “What books would be useful?”

  He began flipping through the shelves, moving frantically, eyes scanning every spine.

  As he called out titles, Emery’s glowing eyes tracked the books in front of him. One by one, his voice replied, calm and steady:

  "Yes."

  "No."

  "Yes."

  River’s heart hammered as the minutes bled away. Dawn edged closer, brushing the world with its pale light.

  He skimmed the last few shelves, hesitating for a moment — then muttered, "Fuck it," and shoved the remaining books into the void backpack. It didn’t feel a drop heavier. Lud’s enchantment still held strong. Thank the gods for that small mercy. Tightening the straps across his shoulders, River turned back toward the door, the enormity of what he was about to do sinking deep into his bones. The closer he got to the school doors, the harder the anxiety pulled at him.

  Then — a scream echoed from behind.

  River froze.

  Someone was channeling essence.

  He felt it — a ripple in the Weave, that unmistakable tinge of power vibrating through the air.

  It wasn’t Alerus.

  Maybe another student had found the bodies.

  Without hesitation, River bolted for the entrance. His friends were already outside waiting for him.

  Running past them, his voice tore from his throat:

  "RUUUUN!"

  Albert's eyes fluttered open, chest heaving as the memories slammed into him like a hammer.

  The air ripped from his lungs. The crushing weight. The silence. Shuddering, he forced himself upright, vision swimming until it locked on River —

  who stood by the desk, hurriedly stuffing things into a bag. "I have to go," River said, voice low but firm. "If I stay, they’ll keep coming for me." Albert exchanged a glance with Amalia, then Callum. His heart twisted.

  But before he could say anything, Amalia beat him to it:

  "We’re coming. You wouldn’t fucking survive without us."

  Relief and fear warred inside Albert's chest.

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  River's face mirrored it — but he only nodded once. "Okay. Gather your things. Meet me at the front of the school before dawn."

  Without waiting for questions, River disappeared through the door.

  Albert let out a breath and forced a grin at the others.

  "Well," he said, "guess we better get our shit together."

  Albert’s body stayed tense as he moved through the corridors. Every sound, every flicker of light set his nerves on edge, each one a possible threat. He didn’t relax until the door shut behind him — and even then, it wasn’t by much. He was lucky that he didn’t have a roommate at the moment, there was no one to disturb. He packed quickly — clothes, dried meat, and the precious potions his father had given him.

  The vial of healing magic went in last, wrapped carefully in cloth. Still with time, he ducked into the bathroom and sank into the bath.

  For a few minutes, the heat washed away the memories, the dirt, the fear.

  But not the truth. When he stepped out, clean and dressed, the cold reality of what was coming settled over him like a second skin. Slinging the sack across his back, he made his way to the front of the school.

  The fresh morning air stung his face awake. He was the first there.

  Slumping into the grass, he waited.

  First Amalia arrived.

  Then Callum. No words passed between them. They didn’t need to speak.

  Terror hung thick enough in the air.

  Then — the doors shattered open.

  River’s silhouette cut through the morning mist.

  “RUN!” he bellowed, panic sharp and raw in his voice.

  Albert leapt to his feet, adrenaline screaming through his blood.

  Amalia dragged herself upright, stomach still twisting from what had happened.

  She had failed — failed to help her friends, failed to protect them.

  It made her sick. She watched River move around the room, throwing things into his bag, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I have to go," River spoke, steady and monotone. Her mind snapped before her mouth did.

  "We're coming. You wouldn’t fucking survive without us." No hesitation.

  Albert and Callum didn’t argue.

  River didn't either. A few seconds later, he left.

  Then Albert.

  Then, with effort, Amalia ran to her dorm room, heart pounding. The cold stone beneath her feet seemed to cry out with every step. She gasped for air as she shut the door behind her. Her roommate stirred but didn’t fully wake. Thinking fast, Amalia whispered, “Go back to sleep.” And when that didn’t seem enough… she glanced at the book in her hand. She needed to do it — and yet, she didn’t want to. Grimacing, she stepped forward and hit the girl hard on the temple the book. A hollow thud followed.

  The girl slumped back.

  For a moment Amalia panicked. Amalia crouched, fingers on her neck. Pulse steady. Breathing fine. Good. No time to dwell. Clothes. Food from the mess hall. Everything stuffed into her bag. When she reached the entrance, Albert and Callum were already there — slumped in the grass, breathing hard.

  She joined them wordlessly, the fear knotting tighter with every heartbeat.

  Then — the front doors slammed open with a deafening crack.

  River burst out, face white as death, voice tearing through the chill air:

  “RUN!”

  Callum had barely moved after the others left.

  His mind felt miles away, stuck somewhere between exhaustion and anger. He packed quickly, barely thinking.

  Clothes. Boots. Notebook. Done.

  He wandered the corridors aimlessly, finding himself outside Alerus' office.

  The light was still on. He hesitated. Then pushed forward, needing answers. Inside, he caught a glimpse of Kidrin storming out, her face tight with fury. What had she just learned?

  Alerus sat hunched over his desk, pale and drained. "Are you okay?" Callum asked. "Yes," Alerus rasped, but it was a lie. "What happened?" "It’s a long story. One we don't have time for," Alerus said.

  "Go with River. I’ll explain... someday." Callum nodded stiffly.

  No more answers tonight. He turned, thanked the exhausted man for saving them, and left. When he reached the entrance, Amalia and Albert were already there. They sat silently, the morning creeping in around them. Callum slumped beside them, letting the cold air clear his head. Then the doors burst open. And then the scream came — not a scream of fear, but of warning.

  River’s voice tore across the courtyard like a whip.

  “RUN!”

  Behind him, the shriek of something terrible split the sky. For a second, Callum froze, stunned. Then instinct kicked in. He sprinted after his friends, legs burning, heart pounding, the world shattering behind them.