Chapter 196 - Chapter 38: Fatal Blows

Emerging from the depths of the catacombs, the quartet's senses were immediately assaulted by the drastic shift in their environment. Gone was the oppressive, damp cold of the underground, replaced now by the ambient warmth of the Spiritual Academy. The corridors, which once echoed their footsteps harmoniously against the backdrop of the Academy's regular pulse, now seemed almost stifling. The familiar golden hue that painted the hallways, cast by mage-lit lanterns and reflecting off polished marble, seemed tainted. Instead of offering solace, the glow now felt harsh, casting exaggerated, dancing shadows that hinted at an underlying tension, a palpable unease.